Review: At the End by John Hennessy

At The End by John Hennessy

Night 1: 12 billion taken.

Day 1: Confusion.

Night 2: 13 billion taken.

Day 2: Panic.

Night 3: 13 billion taken.

Day 3: The fight for survival begins.

In 2048, the human population borders 39 billion after the termination of the birth control industry, and the realities of overcrowding have sunken into the minds of the world, until billions mysteriously go missing. In the wake of civilization’s collapse, a trio of teenage gamers from Washington struggle to endure. Maggy, a strong-willed intellectual, leads Darrel and Félix, two shy geeks, on an expedition down the west coast, as they try to determine the source of humanity’s downfall.

Let me preface this review by saying that I didn't hate this book. In fact, its a quick read that has some interesting moments that I didn't completely forget about right after I was done reading. And I finished it, so there's that.

The opening of the book is strong. Hennessy creates a pretty cool apocalypse concept of many people simply going missing. I also liked that the story begins during-apocalypse versus post-apocalypse. The main character Darrel (is likeable enough, although perhaps a little too "woe is me" at the beginning of the book. I'm all for letting a character develop into the hero of the story, but it was a little cliché just how pitiful Darrel is when you first meet him. Hard to root for a guy who's so boring. Darrel is also known as "Jelly"...one of the most ridiculous nicknames for a character ever, matched only by the equally stupid "Tortilla" for someone of Latin American origin. You could blame Maggy, the character who gives these boys their nicknames, but I'm putting that responsibility on the author.

Speaking of clichés, all of the clichés were a bit much. It was utterly predictable actually. The teen protagonists set off of their own to battle the alions (yes, you read that right. Aliens who look like lions: Alions), there is mention of a potential love triangle, they get into some trouble and the military shows up to save the day. Only the military can't save the day on their own, but  require the help of four teenagers whose only qualifications for doing any sort of military operations are that they play video games. Sigh.

The only surprising aspects of the story, once it got going, were the parts of the story that really didn't work because they were so out of place. About a third of the way through the book the plot turns into an episode of Criminal Minds: two small girls are kidnapped by the child molester/serial killer type and the teens have to go save them. It was strange.

Redeeming qualities are that in the end it wasn't a love triangle, the action is pretty good actually, and the initial concept was strong. I just don't know if I can get beyond the silliness to recommend it.