SAECULUM

Dystopian Global Collapse and Homestead Survival Novel, Book 1

By: Joshua Morris

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

If you knew exactly what dystopian catastrophe scenario was in your future, how would you prepare? What would a survival and prepping expert do? Meet Jacob Mooreland, Prepper, Homesteader, and Combat Veteran, as he fights to save his family and farm from a Catastrophic Global Societal Collapse. Jacob, Former Army Ranger, and his Beautiful Wife Ana, the fierce daughter of a Croatian Sniper, have prepared their family for every contingency. Or have they?? Jacob and Ana are masters of self-reliance and experts of both off grid survival homesteading and self-defense. Their intriguing global connections grant them an inside look at the sinister geopolitical maneuvers behind the calamitous events and a first row seat to observe the seismic forces of this terrifyingly plausible scenario. See how they fend off one disaster after the next as they witness the perfect storm of the Global Collapse.

Best case scenario dystopian..?

This story felt as though the plot was generated by ChatGPT and wasn’t edited to remove redundancy or develop deeper layers in the characters or sensory descriptions. While I appreciated the concept and the effort to inspire homesteading, as well as the big-picture reasons for learning practical skills and understanding the importance of prepping, the lack of emotional depth made it difficult to connect with the characters. Without that connection, it was hard to feel invested in their struggles, which made the story less gripping overall. The book also felt like a glamorized, best-case scenario of dystopian life—where everything works out ideally—which took away some of the tension and realism I was hoping for.

The realism of fragility of our nation in the world

The AI reading takes away from the storyline itself. The story overall makes one reflect on how near we are to this actuality. It is disheartening thinking that it trained combat veteran with survival skills has such struggles. What chance do the rest of us have?

Thoroughly Fascinating

Enjoying this with my wife and kids. We have been preparing for the worst which starts with getting rid of excess. Humans are too entertained to care and when it matters; it’s too late. Cannot wait for Book 2.

Not impressed

I like the premise, and maybe I’m not the intended audience, but the writing seemed pedantic or preachy. The main character ( or maybe it’s the author) seems to be talking down to the reader, explaining character specifics several times or using the same phrases over and over. Like “these troubled times” is used at least a dozen times in the book. We are reminded multiple times that one character is in the Air Force. Like whenever this character is mentioned, he’s described as military or Air Force,

Low action, abrupt ending and the automated voice narration made the story hard to listen too.