Disaster's Children: A Novel

Written by Emma Sloley

Narrated by Natalie Naudus

As the world dies, a woman must choose between her own survival and that of humankind.

Raised in a privileged community of wealthy survivalists on an idyllic, self-sustaining Oregon ranch, Marlo has always been insulated. The outside world, which the ranchers call “the Disaster,” is a casualty of ravaging climate change, a troubled landscape on the brink of catastrophe. For as long as Marlo can remember, the unknown that lies beyond the borders of her utopia has been a curious obsession. But just as she plans her escape into the chaos of the real world, a charismatic new resident gives her a compelling reason to stay. And, soon enough, a reason to doubt—and to fear—his intentions.

Now, feeling more and more trapped in a paradise that’s become a prison, Marlo has a choice: stay in the only home she’s ever known—or break away, taking its secrets of survival with her.

Set in a chillingly possible, very near future, Disaster’s Children is a provocative debut novel about holding on to what we know and letting go of it for the unknown and the unknowable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781799749028

Emma Sloley

Emma Sloley began her career as a features editor at Harper’s BAZAAR Australia, where she worked for six years. In 2004, she and her husband made the move to New York. As a freelance travel writer in NYC, she has appeared in many US and international magazines, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and New York magazine. She has also published fiction, short fiction, and creative nonfiction in literary publications such as Catapult, The Masters Review Anthology, and Yemassee Journal. Her work has been twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and she has received a fellowship from the MacDowell Colony, where she wrote her debut novel, Disaster’s Children. Today she divides her time between the United States, Mexico, and various airport lounges. Visit her at www.emmasloley.com.

Reviews for Disaster's Children

[squirrelhead_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The draw of this book was the apocalyptic theme, doomsday preppers and how a society could function outside the traditional norm. You are drawn into the small society and gradually realize they just aren’t likable.The group is made up of professionals such as doctors, journalists and architects – also those with farming knowledge and apparently many of those from a wealthy station in life. The isolated life these people lead could be described as a gated community (think very large scale) where you must apply for membership. They drink wine and eat Brie as they meet on various subjects.There is a journalist who reports news to them as he goes on the Internet; all others aren’t restricted from web surfing but they just don’t indulge. Marlo is a central character – a 25 year-old who has been sheltered from life. You just can’t warm to anyone in the story and honestly, I almost bailed on the book. Once a new character was brought in (he applied, was turned down and then showed up) it gets a tad more interesting. Overall, this didn’t engage me enough to seek out more of the author’s work.More on the author Emma Sloley Here.This book is my sixth book for the Aussie Author Challenge.This book was published November 5, 2019.Much thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

[auntmarge64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A leisurely, meandering story of a wealthy 25-year old living on her parents' communal ranch, where they and their equally rich neighbors plan for a self-sustaining future during the coming ecological crises. They call the outside "The Disaster" and barely acknowledge their own complicity in the state of the world. The ranch requires a steep financial investment and hard physical work from all, but because of the group's wealth they lack for nothing and buy what they need if they can't produce it themselves. Most of them stay off the Internet, relying on news synopses prepared by one volunteer. There are lovely picnics near one of their private lakes and long evenings drinking expensive wine in the clubhouse (they call it the Commons). Every now and then someone goes off to try to recruit more people of their status to join the ranch.Marlo lives in her own home on the ranch, which she loves (they moved here when she was 5), but she wonders about staying for a while in the outside world and if she should follow her two best friends there to try to fix the world from within it. Before she can actually leave, a stranger shows up, she falls for him, and they decide to plan a future at the ranch. A surprise revelation makes her doubt her choice, and the book ends with her betraying those closest to her in the most unforgivable manner.Marlo is not particularly likable and operates more like a teenager than a well-educated and sexually-mature woman. For most of the book I tended to dislike the ranchers, who have all they want materially but feel that somehow they're helping ensure the survival of civilization. But what Marlo does at the end of the book is so awful it makes the ranchers into victims, and her actions make little sense for a character who tends to think things through ad nauseam. The author, however, ends the book in a celebratory mood, with Marlo triumphant and her parents and other ranchers, including a close friend of hers, with a crushing surprise ahead of them. All in all, the book is distasteful in its tone deafness and left a sour aftertaste.