What do you think?
Rate this book
Slowpocalypse #0.5
Durable Impressions
—From Protected to Protector
As civilization has slowly crumbled, Katherine Miles has led a life of privilege—but also one of preparation. Now, under the ominous shadow of a society coming apart at the seams, her mettle will be tested for the first time.
This prequel short story is a triptych portraying how Kat became a hero.
As civilization has slowly crumbled, Katherine Miles has led a life of privilege—but also one of preparation. Now, under the ominous shadow of a society coming apart at the seams, her mettle will be tested for the first time.
This prequel short story is a triptych portraying how Kat became a hero.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2015
4 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
James Litherland
21 books128 followersI’m a graduate of the University of South Florida, and I now reside as a Virtual Hermit in the wilds of West Tennessee. I've lived various places and done a number of jobs – been an office worker and done hard manual labor, worked (briefly) in the retail and service sectors, and been an instructor. But through all that, I've always been a writer.
I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and devoured all the pulpy adventure stories I could get my hands on before moving to genre greats like Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov. Then in junior high I became a writer. I started studying the craft of writing – reading books and magazine articles, joining a writers’ group, and taking creative writing classes – and I wrote short stories, eventually a novel, and even some poetry. After thirty years of practice I thought I’d learned a little something, and that’s when I wrote and published my debut novel, Certain Hypothetical. And I learn a bit more with every book I write.
I’m a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)
I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and devoured all the pulpy adventure stories I could get my hands on before moving to genre greats like Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov. Then in junior high I became a writer. I started studying the craft of writing – reading books and magazine articles, joining a writers’ group, and taking creative writing classes – and I wrote short stories, eventually a novel, and even some poetry. After thirty years of practice I thought I’d learned a little something, and that’s when I wrote and published my debut novel, Certain Hypothetical. And I learn a bit more with every book I write.
I’m a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 7, 2015
I received this novella from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This novella is a quick read to introduce a character that I assume will be important in the Slowpocalypse Trilogy.
The "story" consists of three vignettes that display the progression of Katherine Miles over the course of about a year's time. In the background we see glimpses of the steady decay and decline of civilization, but there is very little deeper explanation. There are many hints at other important characters, places, and events, but the author is obviously saving the real meat for the books in the trilogy.
There are flashes about roving gangs, sealed security communities, some metaphysical "senses", and a hint at spirituality all presented in a short 45 pages. It has many of the ingredients of a well thought out dystopian leading directly into some kind of doomsday/apocalyptic situation.
Although this is not a complete plot/story and just serves as a kind of prelude to the real plot, I felt there was a lot to enjoy. I plan to at least read book 1 of the trilogy before I get too critical.
This novella is a quick read to introduce a character that I assume will be important in the Slowpocalypse Trilogy.
The "story" consists of three vignettes that display the progression of Katherine Miles over the course of about a year's time. In the background we see glimpses of the steady decay and decline of civilization, but there is very little deeper explanation. There are many hints at other important characters, places, and events, but the author is obviously saving the real meat for the books in the trilogy.
There are flashes about roving gangs, sealed security communities, some metaphysical "senses", and a hint at spirituality all presented in a short 45 pages. It has many of the ingredients of a well thought out dystopian leading directly into some kind of doomsday/apocalyptic situation.
Although this is not a complete plot/story and just serves as a kind of prelude to the real plot, I felt there was a lot to enjoy. I plan to at least read book 1 of the trilogy before I get too critical.
July 1, 2015
This is an intriguing introduction to Litherland’s Slowpocalypse series. Readers come to know the characters and their backstory. He also does a great deal of world and history building here. I really enjoy being immersed in the world that he’s created. It’s so vivid & believable, yet at the same time completely dystopian.
It was intriguing to know the why & how behind the series, but it also brings new readers to the perfect entry point. Personally, I feel as if this would have had more impact as a prologue in the 1st novel. I was really getting into it and then it was over. However, it was quite informative in and of itself. It really fills in the background information for the series as a whole. It was also a quite enjoyable read on its own, setting you up for the series as a whole.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
It was intriguing to know the why & how behind the series, but it also brings new readers to the perfect entry point. Personally, I feel as if this would have had more impact as a prologue in the 1st novel. I was really getting into it and then it was over. However, it was quite informative in and of itself. It really fills in the background information for the series as a whole. It was also a quite enjoyable read on its own, setting you up for the series as a whole.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
A good introduction and some insight into Kat, one of the main characters in the Slowpocalypse series, and how she got her skills. You also get to meet Tony, another character, with close ties to Kat and her family. Definitely worth reading if you're going to be starting the series.
September 20, 2019
*I received a free copy of this short story, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I am going to differ from many of the other reviews I have read, by saying that I personally would read this short story AFTER Critical Contingencies!
Chronologically it is set before the events in Book 1 of the Slowpocalypse series, but without having met Kat first and got to know her character in the context of the main action of the series, this short story feels a little uneventful, whereas as backstory for a familiar character it provides a great insight for fans.
The story is framed as a triptych, with three snapshots of Kat’s development; from her initial training sessions, through an unofficial safety intervention, and finally to an official intervention as a Security officer for the FURC. These scenes show Kat’s strong moral compass and willingness to intervene at her own risk, and give a little more detail about the privilege of her upbringing.
I felt this story made a nice bonus for fans of the series, but doesn’t really stand alone for those unfamiliar with the setup of the compound and characters.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I am going to differ from many of the other reviews I have read, by saying that I personally would read this short story AFTER Critical Contingencies!
Chronologically it is set before the events in Book 1 of the Slowpocalypse series, but without having met Kat first and got to know her character in the context of the main action of the series, this short story feels a little uneventful, whereas as backstory for a familiar character it provides a great insight for fans.
The story is framed as a triptych, with three snapshots of Kat’s development; from her initial training sessions, through an unofficial safety intervention, and finally to an official intervention as a Security officer for the FURC. These scenes show Kat’s strong moral compass and willingness to intervene at her own risk, and give a little more detail about the privilege of her upbringing.
I felt this story made a nice bonus for fans of the series, but doesn’t really stand alone for those unfamiliar with the setup of the compound and characters.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 21, 2017
Slowpocalypse (books 0.5 - 3)
An interesting series that's easy to read and has plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages.
Durable Impressions is a short introduction to a new and exciting world and to Kat, one of the main characters.
Although Certain Hypothetical (book 1) starts off slowly, it soon picks up and sets the pace for the series.
Each book has an intriguing plot that's well thought out and is a good mix of action, mystery and suspense.
The two main characters are dimensional and they grow and evolve through the series.
The large supporting cast are occasionally hard to keep track of, but the 'returning characters' list at the in the later books reminds you, who's who
Each book wraps up the story lines satisfyingly, leaving the way open for further instalments, but without any great cliffhangers.
Having read books 0.5 to 3, I'm now looking forward to reading book 4, Peripheral Encounters.
I received a copy of Durable Impressions from the author, James Litherland - Thank you!
An interesting series that's easy to read and has plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages.
Durable Impressions is a short introduction to a new and exciting world and to Kat, one of the main characters.
Although Certain Hypothetical (book 1) starts off slowly, it soon picks up and sets the pace for the series.
Each book has an intriguing plot that's well thought out and is a good mix of action, mystery and suspense.
The two main characters are dimensional and they grow and evolve through the series.
The large supporting cast are occasionally hard to keep track of, but the 'returning characters' list at the in the later books reminds you, who's who
Each book wraps up the story lines satisfyingly, leaving the way open for further instalments, but without any great cliffhangers.
Having read books 0.5 to 3, I'm now looking forward to reading book 4, Peripheral Encounters.
I received a copy of Durable Impressions from the author, James Litherland - Thank you!
March 26, 2019
I really liked this story, start of a new series that I am really looking forward to! Glad to have found a new writer who's books grab me!
January 22, 2016
From The Musings of a Starving Author:
THIS IS A COMBINED REVIEW WITH Certain Hypothetical!
It’s a two course meal on the table today, my foodies! A double-shot of near-future dystopian eating, Durable Impressions is a small appetizer, setting us up for the main course of Certain Hypothetical. As the first is so short and is meant specifically as the lead-in to the second, I’ll be giving my review as one complete meal, with one final rating to wrap up the whole dish.
Now before we get to that review, let’s recite the Starving Review oath:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible’
Both Durable and Certain contain some interesting flavors, different touches and approaches to the rather large pot of dystopian fiction. The name of the series really says it all, that this meal is set to describe a ‘slowpocalypse’, a slower, gradual descent into chaos as opposed to a sudden crash. With the volatile political environment in the real United States, this kind of dystopian slide is certainly something that feels more realistic than some of the extreme scenarios in other recipes. It’s a refreshingly fresh flavor to add to the pot.
Likewise, there are a lot of solid recipe choices made. The main protagonists are fairly well fleshed-out and the core wordsmithing is well done. The primary plot, as well, is well-thought out and does a fine job with the mystery at its core. The pacing is a bit sluggish, but that has more to do with the world-building problem that is the main sour note of this recipe.
We really can’t go on without talking about this point. The world-building is almost non-existant and that is a critical problem, especially with a speculative future recipe. There are acronyms and abbreviations that are not explained in the texts. We know little about the specifics of where we are and the environment we are in. Not until the very, very end of Certain do we have any real idea of what is going wrong in the rest of the United States.
The reason this makes such a huge difference in how tasty this meal winds up is that, without this vital information, we have no idea what the actual stakes are. We have vague implications that things could go wrong, but we’re never told how this bad event would actually hurt anything. We get a vague sense that this compound the characters live at is somehow vital, but no clue as to why. We don’t even really get a sense of *why* the antagonists are doing what they are doing, only a very vague political reason. Without any real conception of the stakes of the situation, with no real dramatic pressure, there’s no dramatic tension to the situation, making the pacing seem sluggish and stretches of the plot feel meandering.
So, to sum it all up, Durable Impressions and Certain Hypothetical contain a lot of fine ingredients and one big, sour note that throws it all off. Let’s be clear, the lack of world-building doesn’t turn these into awful stories. It simply greatly diminishes them. What would have been nearly perfect turns into something much more average. Still, if you enjoy speculative dystopian works, this isn’t a bad one and it may possibly get the proper world-building in later volumes to make it really pop.
FINAL VERDICT: *** (A lot of fine ingredients but a major lack of world-building throws it all off!)
THIS IS A COMBINED REVIEW WITH Certain Hypothetical!
It’s a two course meal on the table today, my foodies! A double-shot of near-future dystopian eating, Durable Impressions is a small appetizer, setting us up for the main course of Certain Hypothetical. As the first is so short and is meant specifically as the lead-in to the second, I’ll be giving my review as one complete meal, with one final rating to wrap up the whole dish.
Now before we get to that review, let’s recite the Starving Review oath:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible’
Both Durable and Certain contain some interesting flavors, different touches and approaches to the rather large pot of dystopian fiction. The name of the series really says it all, that this meal is set to describe a ‘slowpocalypse’, a slower, gradual descent into chaos as opposed to a sudden crash. With the volatile political environment in the real United States, this kind of dystopian slide is certainly something that feels more realistic than some of the extreme scenarios in other recipes. It’s a refreshingly fresh flavor to add to the pot.
Likewise, there are a lot of solid recipe choices made. The main protagonists are fairly well fleshed-out and the core wordsmithing is well done. The primary plot, as well, is well-thought out and does a fine job with the mystery at its core. The pacing is a bit sluggish, but that has more to do with the world-building problem that is the main sour note of this recipe.
We really can’t go on without talking about this point. The world-building is almost non-existant and that is a critical problem, especially with a speculative future recipe. There are acronyms and abbreviations that are not explained in the texts. We know little about the specifics of where we are and the environment we are in. Not until the very, very end of Certain do we have any real idea of what is going wrong in the rest of the United States.
The reason this makes such a huge difference in how tasty this meal winds up is that, without this vital information, we have no idea what the actual stakes are. We have vague implications that things could go wrong, but we’re never told how this bad event would actually hurt anything. We get a vague sense that this compound the characters live at is somehow vital, but no clue as to why. We don’t even really get a sense of *why* the antagonists are doing what they are doing, only a very vague political reason. Without any real conception of the stakes of the situation, with no real dramatic pressure, there’s no dramatic tension to the situation, making the pacing seem sluggish and stretches of the plot feel meandering.
So, to sum it all up, Durable Impressions and Certain Hypothetical contain a lot of fine ingredients and one big, sour note that throws it all off. Let’s be clear, the lack of world-building doesn’t turn these into awful stories. It simply greatly diminishes them. What would have been nearly perfect turns into something much more average. Still, if you enjoy speculative dystopian works, this isn’t a bad one and it may possibly get the proper world-building in later volumes to make it really pop.
FINAL VERDICT: *** (A lot of fine ingredients but a major lack of world-building throws it all off!)
March 14, 2015
I highly recommend people to read this one first. It's a shame it was published afterwards, as it explains a bit more about the FURC compound and actually gives more details about character details (such as Kat and Tony's relative ages.) Still no explanation of FURC though. I'm glad I read this, although it seems rather odd and short. Litherland was right to not insert it into Certain Hypothetical, but the novel really would have benefited from the extra knowledge gleaned from this short prequel. It also ends abruptly, and left me wanting more. Which is a moderately good thing.
In general, Litherland has obviously created an interesting world. You can tell there are some really rough things happening in the United States causing riots, and everyone lives in constant paranoia. I would have loved to get at least a little more insight as to what the big deal was. I'm pretty impressed with Kat's character. She's strong, passionate, and not once needed help from anyone else. I'm glad Durable Impressions gave me more of her background.
In general, Litherland has obviously created an interesting world. You can tell there are some really rough things happening in the United States causing riots, and everyone lives in constant paranoia. I would have loved to get at least a little more insight as to what the big deal was. I'm pretty impressed with Kat's character. She's strong, passionate, and not once needed help from anyone else. I'm glad Durable Impressions gave me more of her background.
November 3, 2015
I received this book directly from the author at his own expense.
It is a short three part prequel to the events of Certain Hypothetical and revolves around three instances of Kat's life. One as a student, one as a freshman (or freshwoman) and one as an officer.
They show that her instincts were always there to protect herself and do the right thing. It also hints at the decline in society that the series is based on. think the book could be read either in tandem with book 1 or after it to centre the reader in the series.
I enjoyed the prequel as much as I did the series.
It is a short three part prequel to the events of Certain Hypothetical and revolves around three instances of Kat's life. One as a student, one as a freshman (or freshwoman) and one as an officer.
They show that her instincts were always there to protect herself and do the right thing. It also hints at the decline in society that the series is based on. think the book could be read either in tandem with book 1 or after it to centre the reader in the series.
I enjoyed the prequel as much as I did the series.
March 3, 2015
Durable impressions by Litherland. I quite enjoyed Litherland's style in this novella and like other reviewers, I think it needs to be read first to get a handle on the main characters and the FURCS compound. Kat is the main protagonist who goes where others fear to go. Is her infatuation with Tony due to his training her? We obliquely meet her parents and a few other characters who turn up in future stories. But they are only bystanders to Kat's martial arts prowess.
March 2, 2015
I received an electronic copy of this short story for an honest review. I wish that the author had inserted the entirety of these pages into Certain Hypothetical. Some of Kat's motivations and actions in that book make more sense after reading Durable Impressions. This was well written and helped to provide a snapshot into Kat's life.
August 19, 2015
Here we meet likeable Katherine Miles and are introduced to her surroundings prior to the events in the the first novel in the series: Certain Hypothetical. In a sense almost like a character's bio.
February 11, 2016
I was surprised at getting this book despite winning for this and ended up getting the collection for this and I have really enjoyed them all so much and I really want to pass these books on to friends!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews