The Final Winter: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel [Kindle Edition]

First published in May of 2011, British author Iain Rob Wright's debut novel 'The Final Winter' found itself falling snugly into the recently popularised post-apocalyptic revival that had seen a sudden resurgence of similarly 'end of the world' themed tales.

DLS Synopsis:
Ever since Harry Jobson's wife and son had died at the wheels of a convicted drink driver, Harry's life had been a constant and purposeful descent into misery and drunken despair. Night after night the unemployed thirty-one year old spends his life drowning his sorrows in alcohol at his local - The Trumpet. And tonight was no exception. The usual faces were in the pub with him, each drinking alone, passing the hours with just their pints for company. The only thing that was different from every other night was the weather. The snow was falling heavier than anyone could ever remember it having done. And not just where they were...but across the entire world.

When the power cuts out, the pub and the rest of the snow-covered street is left in complete darkness. The pub's longstanding barmaid Steph is the first to jump into action - gathering together candles for some form of light. The sudden arrival of Lucas - a charismatic Irishman that strangely none of the locals had ever laid eyes on before, quickly brings the group together. Those taking shelter from the unrelenting blizzard outside are far from a solid knit of personalities. Old Graham - the local old drinker, Nigel the long-distance lorry driver and Damien the young drug dealing thug, together with Harry, Lucas and Steph make up the entirety of the group.

With the snow falling heavily and the temperature steadily dropping, drastic measures are certainly needed. And Lucas seems to be the man to bring them all together in this desperate time of need. But the snow and the dropping temperature suddenly becomes just one in a long line of life-threatening problems that face the group. Everything suddenly becomes a hell of a lot worse when the mutilated body of the Polish supermarket employee - Peter, comes crashing through the pub window. And carved into the flesh of his chest is the message "Send out the sinner".

Suddenly this is hell on earth. Outside beastly hounds from hell are roaming the surreal white landscape, where visibility is near impossible. Others from nearby shops are seeking rescue, when the first of the savage attacks occur. There's a hell of a lot more out there than just snow...

DLS Review:
Wright starts off the tale setting down a nicely localised post-apocalyptic scenario that encapsulates a very British setting, with a handful of well-developed characters bringing together a very character driven storyline. The tale itself stands firmly with its very British roots throughout, playing with the clashing personalities of the realistically portrayed characters from within this very small locale.

The novel unashamedly homes in on just this very small location within a much more expansive and grander apocalyptic premise. Drawing together a religiously themed premise from the likes of Stuart Vowell's 'The Lucifer Wars' (2005) or indeed John Prescott's 'Pray' (2010), Wright zeros in on how one small group of individuals battle against all odds in order to hopefully survive the long perilous night. Very much in the similar vein as one of Ian Woodhead's apocalyptic scenarios, such as with his tale 'Shades Of Green' (2010), the reader finds themselves watching a very close-knit reaction to these monumentally devastating events, somewhat diminishing the otherwise epic scale of the scenario.

Just when the reader begins to think that they have an understanding of where the tale is going, Wright throws in a whole new twist to the tale's direction, nicely throwing the reader off-guard once again. As piece by piece the novel gradually (and I really mean gradually) begins to take form, Wright pumps up the pace with sporadic splatters of action, bringing the novel to a dramatic and compelling finale. This final showdown (nope - I won't give away with whom) is slightly clumsy with its actual execution, but remains satisfying with its broad wrapping up of the tale.

The handful of additional subplots that constantly run alongside the main thrust of the tale, are what really make the novel what it is. Ok, so the 'religious-apocalypse' backdrop is by far and away the main thrust for the tale, but the Richard Laymon-esque gritty substories breathe a much needed energy into the otherwise struggling plot.

The novel reads very much like a debut, with the author's writing style not really found. At times the pace does begin to show signs of sagging, with a touch too much emphasis on the interaction between the characters rather than slinging down another impactful scene of action and horror. However, Wright has still achieved a hell of a lot with the novel, pulling together an enjoyable and quite light-hearted apocalyptic romp.

The publication also includes the following bonus short story:

The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins - 9 Pages
Already 90% of Europe has been affected by the disease popularly dubbed 'The Peeling'. Like its named suggests, the symptoms that ultimately result in the infected person's death, are a slow disintegration of the body. Flesh falls off piece by piece. Toe nails slip off, hands rot away and pus filled sores drop from all across the body. And one man sits there recording his and the entire world's downfall. One man who wants just one answer. Who's responsible?

Gloriously gory from the outset, this miniature end of the world scenario wallows in the splatterpunk sickness of the short tale, feasting on the first-person-perspective of the human deterioration offered by the writings from our narrator's diary. Very much in the same grotesque vein as Phil Smith's 'The Incredible Melting Man' (1978), Guy N Smith's 'The Festering' (1989) or indeed David Cronenberg's film 'The Fly' (1986), the short delights in the repulsive elements of the narrator's collapsing body, until a final, almost by this time irrelevant, twist ending concludes the twisted little tale.

The book as a whole runs for a total of 262 pages.

WARNING. MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. (NOTHING MAJOR, BUT MAYBE A FEW SMALL ONES :)

This came up on my 'recommendations' list and it caught my eye straight away as the blurb sounded different from the usual post apocalyptic fare.

The writing was very good and I thought the characters personalities were described well. The story turns over at a decent pace and throws in some good dramatic twists and turns along the way. The thing I really liked though was the way your preconceptions of characters change quite radically throughout the course of the story.

The story itself was entertaining and absorbing. I actually started feeling cold reading it! It did have some similarities to a few other books/films that are about, specifically Stephen King's 'The Mist', but was by no means a copy. Incidentally, 'The Mist' is awesome so any book that has a similar feel can't go far wrong!

The only critism I would say, is that there is the occasional moment where the characters do (or don't do) something that would seem like common sense. For example, if they were short on firewood, then maybe destroy the bar itself or the no doubt, numerous bar stools and tables for the wood? To be honest though, if that's the worst thing about the book then I think the author has done a pretty good job.

I think the book really came together for me though, in the last 20 pages. I thought the ending was excellent and really finished things well. Although, I clocked onto who Lucas was in the first couple of pages of him showing up and it may have been a little better for that to have come as a massive surprise at the end? Just a thought...

I believe (although I may be mistaken) that this is the author's first novel? If so, a really great achievement! I'm currently trying to write one myself and, trust me, it ain't easy! Mr Wright has managed to produce a well written and engaging horror story that I would recommend to anyone who likes the fantasy/horror genre. I'll certainly be looking forward to his next book.

Harry is a frequent visitor to the pub, with his life around him shattered he tends to sulk in the darkest corners nursing one beer after another.The tempreture is dropping outside and its snowing all over the world. Yes, I can hear the words "That time has come and gone my friend.." echoing. However, for Harry its just the start. Inside this cosy run down pub are the usual suspects nursing there own agendas behind there beer.
However, things take a turn for the worse, the snow is getting deeper and the temp keeps dropping....Then it gets very interesting. The author throws in a likable rogue character, Lucas Fergus. (I guessed who it was from the name....no spoiler alerts sorry!)Then its all about survival, not only from the wintery cold outside, or the hooded figures that are waiting outside, but from themselves as they battle to survive.
Harry must overcome his darkest fears as he tries to keep himself and others alive. I loved this book, hated it when it came to the end!!
Four stars ;) would recommend this book ;)
Including at the back of the book is a small tale "The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins "......hint, dont read this if you dont like a bit of true horror, its gory! Loved it.