Amazon.in Page
Out: October 5, 2021
[Note: The book I'm reviewing is the 144-page multi-issue story.]
This is the story of a technological apocalypse and a post-apocalyptic Alexander the Great who was born of it. The bulk of the story reveals the cataclysm and life in the early days of its wake. But there is an interspersed subplot that takes place in a present-day that is well after the apocalypse. The big difference between this "world-conqueror" (actually, it seems to be only a small area of what had been southern France) and other power-consolidating titans is his luddism. He vehemently hates [almost] all technologies and insists that all (but one) post-Amish technology be eschewed because he feels human innovation to be cause of humanity's fall. Otherwise, he checks the boxes: narcissistic, nihilistic, and probably a psychopath.
The story is compelling, and it definitely draws one in. I thought the pacing was well-executed and the concept was intriguing. Both the art and story have a unique feel, though I don't know that the book will be able to distinguish itself within an extremely bloated dystopian / post-apocalyptic sub-genre.
There were a few elements that felt clunky. First of all, the mid-twenty-first century technological landscape is strange. I didn't think anyone still imagined flying cars on the near-future time horizon. I think they only existed here to make the moment of doom impressively fiery. Second, a romance is established with great effort that is allowed to flameout to a lukewarm puddle of nothing. Perhaps, this was the point - to show the romance as victim of the demands of life under an anarchic dystopia. (If so, it gets lost amid the more exhilarating happenings.) Third, there is one modern technology that the protagonist is quick to adopt. This might be an intentional way of showing his love of self far exceeds his hatred of technology, but it's curious.
If you don't have dystopia fatigue, you may want to give this book a look.
