THE INFERNAL AGE

After a mishap occurs at a secret research site, a soldier and a scientist travel through a post-apocalyptic America in a desperate bid to save the world in Joaquín’s series starter.

A scientific experiment goes horribly wrong, unleashing destruction on Betelgeuse, New Mexico, and U.S. Army Capt. Gabriel Rodriguez and Dr. Tamarind “Tam” Sinclair are among the few survivors. Now, demonic monsters prowl suburban streets and a mysterious illness wreaks havoc on the human populace. Joined by a fellow traumatized survivor, whom they nickname Ripley (as a specific nod to the classic SF/horror thriller Aliens), and with a host of improvised weapons and stolen camping equipment, the pair set out on a potentially futile mission to deliver information that could rescue the planet from disaster. The trio encounter strange predators, roving gangs, and new friends in this first installment of Joaquín’s ongoing series. It has a compelling premise that combines multiple genres, delivering SF apocalypse-horror by way of HBO’s dramatic TV series Chernobyl. The novel ends on a cliffhanger after a promising start, but its greatest asset is its skillful character development. Gabriel and Tam are likable and endearing, and their banter makes for an enjoyable read. Ripley is an extremely strong character—she isn’t merely a damsel in distress, nor is she a one-dimensional, no-nonsense fighter, and her emotional complexity makes her all the more realistic and human. The novel’s weak point, however, is its portrayal of a developing romance between Gabriel and Ripley, which feels forced and sometimes grinds the narrative to a halt. However, the various players and their relationships will certainly evolve in future installments. All in all, readers who like post-disaster fiction with plenty of action and engaging characters are likely to enjoy this end-times tale.

An engaging and inventive horror-combat adventure.