Tuesday, April 10, 2012

B2B Book Review & Giveaway: Remnant by Roland Allnach

When I think of the word remnant I see a small piece of fabric left on a bolt. The word remnant has other meanings:
  1. A small remaining quantity of something.
  2. A surviving trace or vestige.
  3. A small surviving group of people.
Remnant by Roland Allnach is a collection of three novellas where each of the above meanings surfaces. Here's the excerpt from the back cover:

When all that's left is broken which piece do you pick up
first?

So the question stands, and seeks fulfillment-- a path reaching
from the shores of a doomed paradise, through an illusory reality,
and ending in a devastated future. REMNANT, a collection of three
novellas, is both the sum of theses tales and the element that binds 
them together.
 
In the first story, "All the Fallen Angels", a man named Stohko is in desperate need of money so he agrees to a job that will take him back to the planet where he committed unspeakable war crimes. The planet Hermium may look like a beautiful paradise but nothing is what it seems. Going back means he will have to face the demons of his past and fight to hold on to the remnants of his sanity.

The second story, "Enemy, I Know You Not", is about a military training exercise that goes horribly wrong. Losing touch with reality the men are unable to tell what is real and what is part of the program. As the exercise seems to be unraveling, fear causes them to turn on one another and to come to the conclusion that one of them has been compromised by the enemy. 

The last story, "Remnants", is about the aftermath of a plague that virtually wipes out humanity, only 1 in 50,000 survives. Alone, Peter is trying to come to grips with his new fate when he meets another survivor. While heading to an abandoned store to get supplies they encounter other survivors. In survival mode Peter is somewhat unable to adjust to the new group setting. It soon becomes apparent that this wasn't just a chance encounter. Soon he is forced to make a choice: Go south with the others or stay alone and fend for himself. 

My favorite was "Remnants". I have always loved the end of the world/mankind type of stories. I really liked this book. I don't normally read short stories because they always leave me wanting more, I guess I just get attached to the characters or the story. having read this I will definitely broaden my horizons!

Roland Allnach  worked the night shift in a hospital for 20 years. He gets inspiration for his writing from literary classics, history, and mythology. One of his short stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and his stories have appeared in several publications.

One of you lucky readers is going to win your own copy of Remnant! Just follow the instructions below to be entered. Here are the rules:
  1. Open to US & Canada residents only.
  2. Mandatory entry must be completed before extra entries will count.
  3. Leave all user names pertaining to each task so that I can verify your entry.
  4. Leave the correct number of comments for each task. If it says (+3 entries), leave three separate comments.
  5. All comments must contain your email address so that you can be notified if you win.
  6. Winner will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner will be selected.
  7. Giveaway starts 4/10/12 and ends 4/22/12 at 11:59 PM CST
Good luck to everyone!!

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* I was provided a copy of the book to read as well as financial compensation however the review is my opinion and completely unbiased.*