Cover Unveiled for Soft Apocalypse by Will McIntosh

Art by Nonie Nelson

Soft Apocalypse is Will McIntosh's debut novel based off his short story of the same name first published in Interzone. I've always had a soft spot for apocalyptic tales and this one certainly seems different enough that it will stand out especially given McIntosh's recent win of the Hugo for his short "Bridesicle." As for the cover it doesn't do anything too out of the box and should do fine to attract the right audience, but leaves me a little cold.  Soft Apocalypse will be released in this April from Night Shade Books.

What happens when resources become scarce and society starts to crumble? As the competition for resources pulls America's previously stable society apart, the "New Normal" is a Soft Apocalypse. This is how our world ends; with a whimper instead of a bang.

"It's so hard to believe," Colin said as we crossed the steaming, empty parking lot toward the bowling alley.

"What?"

"That we're poor. That we're homeless."

"I know."

"I mean, we have college degrees," he said.

"I know," I said.

There was an ancient miniature golf course choked in weeds alongside the bowling alley. The astroturf had completely rotted away in places. The windmill had one spoke. We looked it over for a minute (both of us had once been avid mini golfers), then continued toward the door. "By the way," I added. "We're not homeless, we're nomads. Keep your labels straight."

New social structures and tribal connections spring up across America, as the previous social structures begin to dissolve. Soft apocalypse follows the journey across the South East of a tribe of formerly middle class Americans as they struggle to find a place for themselves and their children in a new, dangerous world that still carries the ghostly echoes of their previous lives.

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