Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Island and Main is a compelling dystopian thriller which explores both the darkness of human nature and the hope and positivity connected to communities. Veith's text is a bold combination of horror, science, and traditional wisdom married with a striking and engrossing storyline.
Prose: Veith's text is gripping and absorbing, written with poise, verve, and lyrical intensity. This depth of literary precision results in a sweeping and often cinematic landscape which is both captivating and terrifying in equal measure.
Originality: Island and Main is a vivid and compelling novel which contemplates the collapse of civilization following a viral epidemic. Veith effortlessly places the reader in familiar landscapes which have been dramatically eroded almost beyond recognition.
Character/Execution: Veith's vibrant cast of characters is spearheaded by Keith Two-Crow, a Vietnam vet and Anishaabe elder. The brilliantly orchestrated secondary characters, including traffickers and Eco-Elves, are similarly raw, poignant and believable.
Blurb: A dark and poignant dystopian thriller.
Date Submitted: August 07, 2024