False Dawn by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

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False Dawn (1978) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

I first read False Dawn as a 16-year old thanks to my Science Fiction Book Club edition. Its grim nihilistic depiction of a post-apocalyptic America disturbed me greatly at the time; I was excited to revisit it as an adult to determine the cause. The answer came rushing back to me in the very first chapter as I was reintroduced to a brutal world of intense violence, rape, murder, mutants, and giant predatory water spiders. And all described in as muscular a style as possible. 

Later in her career Yarbro would become synonymous with the ongoing Count Saint-Germain vampire series that drifts toward gothic romance. But that is far from what we have here as we follow our main characters, crossbow-wielding mutant Thea and former pirate-leader Evan, on a perilous journey through what’s left of America after wars, pollution, famine, and disease have poisoned everything and left both mutated wildlife and humanity in its wake. 

They encounter bloodthirsty vengeance-seeking pirates (their leader has a grudge against Evan), various forms of feral animals, the elements, unexpectedly volatile volcanic eruptions, and even a monastery full of murderous religious zealots. While there’s plenty of well-described action, there’s a melancholy sadness and sense of desperation permeating the whole book that lends itself to some deep introspection by the main characters as they grow closer together in spite of their seemingly pointless painful day-to-day existence. 

Glimpses of what might be are destroyed by the ever-present realities of a ruined world filled with constant threats of violence and death. This one comes highly recommended to anyone wanting something a bit more literary than the standard military-centric post-apocalyptic fare. This is strong stuff!

And just stare for awhile at that amazingly awesome cover art on the Book Club Edition above!

Review by Steve Carroll

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