One hundred and twenty years after The Fall, and a hundred years after the grays swept in to pick over the last dregs of humanity, John has found himself bonded to Martok Barden nee Black Hand, one of the "good" grays. Sure, Martok is broke, homeless, and borderline manic, but he’s always treated John like an actual person, and sometimes like a friend.
But when Martok puts John’s bond up as collateral against a house in the woods that he hopes to turn into a wilderness retreat for wealthy grays, John learns that there are limits to Martok’s friendship. Soon he finds himself caught between an underworld boss, a girl raised by feral humans who has nothing but contempt for John, and Martok himself, whose delusions of grandeur seem to be finally catching up with him.
Oh, and something in the woods has been killing people.
John has sixty days to buy back his life before Martok’s loan comes due, all while avoiding getting butchered by feral humans, killed by the thing in the woods or having his head crushed by an angry gray. Easy peasy, right?
Genre: Science Fiction
But when Martok puts John’s bond up as collateral against a house in the woods that he hopes to turn into a wilderness retreat for wealthy grays, John learns that there are limits to Martok’s friendship. Soon he finds himself caught between an underworld boss, a girl raised by feral humans who has nothing but contempt for John, and Martok himself, whose delusions of grandeur seem to be finally catching up with him.
Oh, and something in the woods has been killing people.
John has sixty days to buy back his life before Martok’s loan comes due, all while avoiding getting butchered by feral humans, killed by the thing in the woods or having his head crushed by an angry gray. Easy peasy, right?
Genre: Science Fiction
Praise for this book
"The best buddy road trip dramedy about a guy and his bumbling alien overlord you'll read all year. Bad decisions and deep existential questions co-exist on this thoroughly enjoyable quest to build a true found family--and maybe even a new sort of civilization." - Tina Connolly
"Incredibly entertaining. Funny... and so, so smart." - Lev Grossman
"If John Steinbeck had written a novel of a post-alien invasion, it might very well look like Edward Ashton's After The Fall. It is a story of struggling to survive by wit, luck, and dogged determination. It is also equally as harrowing as it is hilarious-a balancing act that few dare try and even fewer can pull off. I didn't want the book to end. I would've happily followed John and Martok anywhere. I miss them already." - James Rollins
"Enormously engaging. Ashton carefully pieces together a fascinating world full of entertaining characters and intriguing mysteries." - Adrian Tchaikovsky
"Incredibly entertaining. Funny... and so, so smart." - Lev Grossman
"If John Steinbeck had written a novel of a post-alien invasion, it might very well look like Edward Ashton's After The Fall. It is a story of struggling to survive by wit, luck, and dogged determination. It is also equally as harrowing as it is hilarious-a balancing act that few dare try and even fewer can pull off. I didn't want the book to end. I would've happily followed John and Martok anywhere. I miss them already." - James Rollins
"Enormously engaging. Ashton carefully pieces together a fascinating world full of entertaining characters and intriguing mysteries." - Adrian Tchaikovsky
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