Book Nook: The Remnant

There's something about apocalyptic and dystopian literature that is very appealing. Living in an imperfect world, it's interesting to imagine how low society can go. And by reading things at the far-out end of the spectrum, it can be comforting to realize that we have it better than it conceivably could be.

I recently got the chance to review The Remnant by Monte Wolverton. Set in the year 2069, the Apocalypse has occurred and a terrible war leaves a totalitarian government in charge. All forms of religion are banned, with the devout being sent to work camps or in hiding. One such inmate hears rumors about Christian communities in the Wilderness, and escapes with his family and friends. He runs across a variety of religious communities, none of them what he's looking for. They decide to start their own settlement, but are ambushed by a group of human traffickers.

It's an interesting concept, and a novel with enough suspense to keep me interested in what happens next. I sure hope we never live in a world as extreme as in the novel, but like most dystopian futures, it's a portrayal of the worst that could be. Check out the book's page for an excerpt to get a taste of the story and to pre-order (available September 15).

Monte Wolverton is an award-winning author and syndicated editorial cartoonist and an associate editor of CWR magazine. He is an ordained minister and holds a MA from Goddard College in Vermont. Along with his wife Kaye, he makes his home in southwest Washington State.