In his first novel, The Reversion, Steven Smith took the modern post-apocalyptic genre to a new level of general fiction, introducing us to a world after a cataclysmic collapse and taking us into the lives of those who survive and begin to rebuild.In his second novel, The Revival, he once again broke a barrier into adventure fiction, mixing humor and intense action with social commentary, political philosophy and in-depth examinations of comparative justice and cultural constructs - all skillfully woven into a compelling story of personal and societal survival so as to be both powerful yet comfortable to the reader. It was, in essence, an examination of relative societal design wrapped in a story of survival, love, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility and the desire of people to live peacefully if possible while remaining ready to respond to violent, existential threats when necessary.In this, his third novel and the third installment of the Stonemont series, Smith takes us a step farther - or perhaps several steps.The worst of the die-off is over. Over ninety percent of the continental population has perished due to starvation, disease, the violence accompanying societal collapse and the general inability of most to provide for themselves. Those who remain have come together in communities of various types and have learned to survive - some in cooperative fashion, some under the authority of strong leaders and some under the savage control of fanatical tyrants. Survival, however, is not enough for the people of Stonemont, and in them we see the renewal of industry, inter-community commerce and societal interaction, and a desire to rebuild a world that is better than the one in which they had previously lived.Civilization is returning, but in the world around them lurk difficulties and dangers of which they are not yet aware. The question is what comes next - and Smith takes us there in a way no one has before. His approach is original and his style unique, having been described as a combination of Jack London, Robert Heinlein, Stephen King and Louis L'Amour. And perhaps only this combination could have brought forth a vision and a series like this.Many have said, after reading the first two books, that they would rather live in the new world of Stonemont than in their current world. I have come to agree. And after The Renewal, you will want to as well.
