books

Favorite read of the year? Favorite recently discovered author? Recent book surprisingly made you DNF? - Lemmy I tore through The Faith of Beasts by JSAC, really loving the new universe they’ve developed. Very much looking forward to rereading FoB, Livesuit and TFoB very soon and the show being developed. I’m reading book 4, Children of Strife by Tchaikovsky and enjoying it thoroughly. AT has been my favorite contemporary author for the last few years based on how wide-ranging and prolific he is. I discovered AT by reading The Final Architecture series, which is still my favorite series by him. Honorable mention is his Dogs of War series, also amazing. Last year I discovered China Mieville by reading Embassytown, the mindfuck storytelling and intelligent prose blew me away. That book still haunts me and twists my brain almost a year after reading it. I’ve never had a book that still makes me think and feel strange months after finishing it. Perdido Street Station was also amazing, super fun and original steampunk world. Very much looking forward reading the next two in that series and digesting more of his catalogue, I think he’s my new favorite. Also recently read The Prefect by Alaistar Reynolds, set in the Revelation Space universe and it’s also fantastic, really good stuff. Stoked to finish the series. As far DNF I was surprised I couldn’t push through The Algerbraist by Iain Banks, I got bogged down in Jupiter just couldn’t keep at it. Page · lemmy.ml <p>cross-posted from: <a href="https://lemmy.ml/post/48430665" rel="nofollow">lemmy.ml/post/48430665</a></p><p><p>I tore through The Faith of Beasts by JSAC, really loving the new universe they’ve developed. Very much looking forward to rereading FoB, Livesuit and TFoB very soon and the show being developed.</p><p>I’m reading book 4, Children of Strife by Tchaikovsky and enjoying it thoroughly. AT has been my favorite contemporary author for the last few years based on how wide-ranging and prolific he is. I discovered AT by reading The Final Architecture series, which is still my favorite series by him. Honorable mention is his Dogs of War series, also amazing.</p><p>Last year I discovered China Mieville by reading Embassytown, the mindfuck storytelling and intelligent prose blew me away. That book still haunts me and twists my brain almost a year after reading it. I’ve never had a book that still makes me think and feel strange months after finishing it. Perdido Street Station was also amazing, super fun and original steampunk world. Very much looking forward reading the next two in that series and digesting more of his catalogue, I think he’s my new favorite.</p><p>Also recently read The Prefect by Alaistar Reynolds, set in the Revelation Space universe and it’s also fantastic, really good stuff. Stoked to finish the series.</p><p>As far DNF I was surprised I couldn’t push through The Algerbraist by Iain Banks, I got bogged down on Jupiter just couldn’t keep at it.</p></p>

<p>General Location:</p><p>The Kamchatka Peninsula, one of the most isolated and rugged regions of Russia. In the post-apocalyptic world of the 2030s, however, it became a true “lost paradise” for survivors—at least at first.</p><p>Geography: The peninsula is almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world: to the west lies the Sea of Okhotsk, and to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean.</p><p>Avacha Bay — The central location. Large and sheltered, it features a relatively mild microclimate thanks to volcanoes and geothermal activity. Although a thermonuclear bomb struck here, nature (volcanoes, wind, and the specific geography of the bay) quickly “cleansed” the area of intense radiation. Furthermore, a unique “wind rose” (prevailing wind pattern) prevented other WMDs (including the “Biomorph”) from entering the region. It is safe to live here, grow food, hunt, and fish. The flora and fauna, with the exception of a few invasive species, are identical to pre-war times.<br>Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — The main city. It was destroyed by a nuclear strike.<br>Vilyuchinsk and Primorsky — A closed city and a settlement located in the Krasheninnikov (Taryinskaya) Bay area. This is the home of one of the primary survivor communities—the “Primorsky Quartet” (led by Andrey Zharov, Evgeny Gorin, Nikita Vishnevsky, and Alexander Tsoy). This is a more organized settlement with attempts to maintain order and establish a normal life.<br>Svetly / New Hope — An American settlement (appearing primarily in the second book).<br>Former Barracks — Located by the road between Vilyuchinsk and Primorsky. They are home to the trio of volcanologists.</p><p>Atmosphere and Features of the Post-Apocalypse</p><p>Unlike the Moscow Metro or other regions of the universe, Kamchatka is not a total radioactive wasteland. Nature recovered quickly due to volcanic activity and the peninsula’s geography. Survivors sustain themselves through fishing, hunting, and gardening.</p><p> **Faction**</p><p>The Volcanologist Trio — One of the most colorful and important character groups in the “Edge of the Earth” dilogy. They are a small, close-knit team of scientists living in former military barracks along the road from the settlement of Primorsky to Vilyuchinsk.</p><p>Members of the Trio:</p><p>Mikhail Krasheninnikov — The only Russian in the group, a Kamchatka volcanologist from the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in Petropavlovsk. He is the leader and “diplomat” of the trio, as well as the main protagonist of the book.<br>Olivia Sobeski — An American volcanologist from Yellowstone National Park (USA) and Mikhail’s wife. She possesses a distinctly Western outlook on things, often viewing local leaders as “bandits” and treating them with deep distrust.<br>Antonio Quaglia — An Italian from Naples, a volcanologist with an artistic streak. He wears a beard (which has turned gray over time), loves sketching, and has a fiery Italian temperament. He walks with a limp (the aftermath of past events), which is why he lives on the ground floor of the barracks. He was the one who predicted the explosion.</p><p>They settled in old, three-story barracks (a building with two entrances), setting up their living quarters on the first and second floors. The location is highly convenient: relatively close to Primorsky, yet sufficiently isolated.</p><p>Why They Are Not Part of the “Primorsky Quartet”</p><p>Despite the barracks being geographically located within the Primorsky settlement’s sphere of influence, the trio is formally not part of the “Primorsky Quartet” community.</p><p>The reason for this is Olivia and Antonio’s foreign origin. In the conditions of post-war isolation and rising nationalist sentiments among some of the survivors, having a foreign background carried serious risks. Consequently, Mikhail had to run an independent household: they secure their own food, make their own repairs, and trade or barter with Primorsky, but they do not participate in the community’s collective management and resource distribution system.</p><p>The Cover Story</p><p>To avoid unnecessary questions and conflicts, Mikhail fed the locals a convenient cover story:</p><p>Olivia was supposedly a native of Finland.<br>Antonio was supposedly from Cuba.</p><p>This legend worked for a while, especially in the early years after the war, when people were far more preoccupied with basic survival than running background checks.</p><p>The Primorsky Quartet</p><p>The name “Primorsky Quartet” primarily refers to the four young leaders of the community:</p><p>Andrey Zharov<br>Evgeny Gorin<br>Nikita Vishnevsky<br>Alexander Tsoy</p><p>These are four friends and comrades who, at the very beginning of the post-apocalypse, managed to unite, take control of the situation, and become the de facto leaders of a significant portion of the survivors in the Avacha Bay area.</p><p>Over time, the name “Primorsky Quartet” also came to designate the entire large community they lead. The community occupies:</p><p>The settlement of Primorsky (the Quartet’s main base),<br>A significant portion of Vilyuchinsk.</p><p>It is one of the largest and most organized settlements in post-apocalyptic Kamchatka.</p><p>Goals and Ideology</p><p>From the very beginning, the Quartet set an ambitious goal: not just to survive, but to preserve the remnants of civilization. They actively:</p><p>Introduced public courts and written laws.<br>Made education mandatory for children and teenagers.<br>Strove to maintain discipline and order.</p><p>Their approach can be described as authoritarian-enlightened: a heavy hand toward bandits and marauders, combined with an effort to build a normal society for ordinary people.</p><p>Economy and Way of Life</p><p>The community’s economy is primarily agrarian and gatherer-based:</p><p>Fishing (a vital sector, as Avacha Bay is rich in fish).<br>Hunting.<br>Animal husbandry.<br>Gardens and greenhouses.<br>Foraging for wild plants and berries.</p><p>They actively use surviving machinery and repair old equipment, but there is almost no industrial manufacturing.</p><p>Governance Structure</p><p>The Quartet itself (the four leaders) is usually based in Primorsky.<br>Vilyuchinsk is governed by Evgeny Saprykin—an older, tougher man who originally helped the young men of the Quartet eliminate local bandit leaders. Saprykin is considered a reliable but more “old-school” leader.</p><p>Military and Technical Ambitions</p><p>The community put serious effort into restoring the surviving machinery in the bay:</p><p>Military minesweeper — They successfully repaired and launched it. Its relatively simple diesel engine allowed local specialists to get it running.<br>Nuclear submarine — Despite all efforts, they failed to restore it. The post-apocalyptic society lacked the qualified personnel, resources, and infrastructure required to service a nuclear reactor.</p><p>Overall Image</p><p>The Primorsky Quartet is the most “state-like” entity in Kamchatka during this period. On one hand, they truly provide people with order, protection, the opportunity to educate their children, and a relatively stable life. On the other hand, some (including Olivia from the volcanologist trio) view them as authoritarian, and sometimes even bandit-like in their methods.</p><p>The Settlers</p><p>The Americans of New Hope are one of the key factions in the second book of the “Edge of the Earth. Fire and Ashes” dilogy. They emerge as a new, rather unexpected force on the map of Avacha Bay.</p><p>Origin and Arrival</p><p>In 2033, a group of American survivors arrived in Kamchatka from the Aleutian Islands, specifically from Dutch Harbor (a major port and former US naval base in Alaska).</p><p>When they ran out of resources, they crossed the Pacific Ocean and landed in Kamchatka, occupying the settlement of Svetly (located on the opposite shore of Avacha Bay from Primorsky). The settlement was relatively intact and deserted, so the settlers quickly adapted it to their needs and renamed it New Hope.</p><p>All of them are former US citizens, just like Olivia Sobeski. Among them are military personnel, rangers, civilian specialists, and ordinary people who managed to survive the war on the Aleutians.</p><p>Leaders</p><p>Karl Riggs — The primary leader and sheriff of the community. Pragmatic, charismatic, and tough, yet striving to maintain the appearance of democracy and the rule of law. He is the one who most often conducts negotiations and speaks publicly.<br>Ron Johnson (referred to as Roy in some sources) — A former US Army Ranger and private military contractor. He is more bellicose and straightforward than Riggs.</p><p>Symbolism and Self-Identification</p><p>One of the most notable details is their flag. The settlers use the Gadsden flag (“Don’t Tread on Me”—a yellow banner featuring a coiled rattlesnake) instead of the traditional Stars and Stripes or the First Navy Jack.</p><p>This is a conscious choice: they position themselves not as official representatives of the old United States, but as a post-apocalyptic quasi-state (similar to Hansa, the Red Line, or the VDNKh Commonwealth in the Moscow Metro).</p><p>The Community and Way of Life</p><p>New Hope is a fairly well-organized settlement. The Americans quickly established defenses, set up their economy, and began developing the new shoreline. They are more “individualistic” in spirit than the Primorsky Quartet, yet they remain just as united when facing external threats.</p><p>The Jokers</p><p>They appear in the second book and drastically change the balance of power in Kamchatka, turning the already tense “Cold War between the Quartet and New Hope” into a living hell.</p><p>Origin and Arrival</p><p>The Jokers are cannibals who arrived from Southeast Asia (circumstantial evidence points most likely to Thailand or Bali). They survived the nuclear war in those regions and, by all indications, spent a long time roaming the seas in search of a new “feeding ground.”</p><p>In August 2033, they landed on the shores of Kamchatka on their ship and immediately began terrorizing the coastline of Avacha Bay.</p><p>Appearance and Customs</p><p>Facial Scarification: They deliberately inflict deep scars and gashes on their faces and bodies. The goal is to make their skin tough, thick, and more resistant to radiation and infections. As a result, their faces look horribly distorted, frozen in permanent “smiles” and grimaces.<br>Aesthetics: They are obsessed with “bloody works of art”—the walls and decks of their ship are decorated with human remains, skin, entrails, and trophies. A flag made of actual human skin flies from their vessel.</p><p>Name and Self-Identification</p><p>The name “Jokers” was coined by Ron (Roy) Johnson (from New Hope). It stuck due to their visual resemblance to the Joker from DC Comics—mad smiles, chaos, a complete lack of morality, and a love for theatrical horror.</p><p>They call themselves the “New World Order.” In their worldview, anyone who has not joined them is simply “food.” They make no effort to hide their nature: for them, cannibalism is not a measure of last resort (as in Yamantau), but an ideology and a way of life.</p><p>Equipment</p><p>Despite their degenerated nature, they are fairly well-armed and organized:</p><p>A military French helicopter carrier (likely a Mistral-class or equivalent).<br>At least one quadcopter (drone) for reconnaissance.<br>Firearms, boats, a jet ski, and a multiple rocket launcher system—everything they managed to preserve or capture during their years of wandering.</p><p>Behavior and Psychology</p><p>They are cowardly when facing organized resistance—quickly scattering under heavy, disciplined fire.<br>However, they are extremely dangerous during ambush attacks, in close-quarters combat, and when they feel they have the upper hand.<br>They also consume each other, but they shroud this practice in an entire religious dogma. Supposedly, by eating a fallen comrade, they save their soul, preserving it within their own body.</p><p>Judging by their behavior, Kamchatka is where they encountered serious, organized resistance for the first time. Before this, they had apparently had an easy time capturing weak settlements, sustaining themselves solely through terror and cannibalism.</p>