WANTED: Men and women willing to drive through the valley of the shadow of death. The world’s population has been decimated by the Change, a chain reaction of events triggered by global warming. In Europe, governments have fallen, cities have crumbled and the wheels of production have ground to a halt. The Alps region, containing most of the continent’s remaining fresh water, has become a closed … closed state with heavily fortified borders. Survivors cling on by trading through the Runners, truck drivers who deliver cargo and take a percentage. Amid the ruins of central Germany, two Runners, Cassady and Ghazi, are called on to deliver medical supplies to a research base deep in the Italian desert, where scientists claim to be building a machine that could reverse the effects of the Change. Joining the pair are a ragtag collection of drivers, all of whom have something to prove. Standing in their way are starving nomads, crumbling cities, hostile weather and a rogue state hell-bent on the convoy’s destruction. And there’s another problem: Cassady is close to losing his nerve.
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A convoy of four monster-trucks embarks on a suicide mission, braving post-cataclysmic deserts, deadly mountain switchbacks and an entire dystopian army in a bid to save the world. In each of the four cabs, two Runners take turns driving and riding shotgun. It’s Mad Max big rigs in a hell-on-earth logistics run that could give humanity back its future.
Nail-biting action and constantly rising tension are counterpointed by the varied philosophies underpinning each Runner’s decision to take on such an impossible supply run in the first place. With life and death challenges awaiting them at every turn of the journey, each member of the team will question everything they’ve ever believed by the time the mission is over.
The novel takes its title from a passage in Walden by Henry David Thoreau. That an apocalyptic action story would seek to claim such a literary and spiritual heritage might seem incongruous. In my opinion, though, By the Feet of Men is worthy of both legacies.
In By the Feet of Men, we aren’t told exactly what happened in “the Change” but we are given enough information to know humanity has destroyed its home and this is the world our characters now inhabit. It’s a hard, often violent world where people are just trying to survive one minute to the next. We hear, thankfully not in graphic detail, of cannibalism, rape, torture, cults, children as killers and other horrors.
The author, Grant Price, has a wonderful turn of phrase; check out this imagery: “The carcass of what was once a two-seater car lay in rigor mortis by the tree line.” I can just picture the carcass, which is also such an appropriate image for this desolate, dying world.
The main characters, Ghazi and Cassady, are Runners, driving supplies between settlements, always just one step ahead of starvation and violent attack. They take on an apparent suicide mission with three other crews of Runners and we follow their journey through some extreme physical and emotional trials.
I was so often struck by the varying philosophical views we see, not just in discussions/debates between Ghazi and Cassady, which appear throughout, but also in secondary characters Tagawa, Hearst, Katarina and Brandt. The reader can imagine how these views might develop as a result of the world they live in but also their own personal histories and temperaments. Interestingly, even tertiary characters like Renfield and Faustine are well-developed.
Price’s writing makes the reader think, not only about our personal contributions to the state of our environment, as a good dystopian book should, but also about how we might deal with such a harsh place if it became an eventuality. I love this line:
“The mind is a repository of convictions and fears and you are the sole gatekeeper.” I often found myself asking: how would I act in this situation? What would I be willing to do? What kind of person might I become?
By the Feet of Men is a wonderful book and one that will stay with me.
4.5 stars
I read this book via a paperback copy sent to me to review for Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
I was really impressed by this book, set during an unspecified time in the future when all that has been predicted about our destruction of the planet’s ecosystem has come to pass. Across Europe, meagre supplies of fresh water, medical supplies and other essential cargoes are delivered between settlements by ‘Runners’ – the drivers of huge trucks. The stars of this book are two of these Runners, Ghazi and Cassady – who are called on to make a delivery to deep in the Italian desert, where scientists are working on a way of reversing the ‘change’.
‘Standing in their way are starving nomads, crumbling cities, hostile weather and a rogue state hell-bent on the convoy’s destruction’
I read the paperback version of this book, unusual for me as I prefer to read on Kindle, but I’d just like to say how well-presented it is, and I am pleased that I now own it.
As for the story itself, the world-building is terrific, totally believable, inventive and clearly well-researched, with details building up gradually to present a full picture of this fantasy world that may or may not be a taste of what lies ahead for humanity. The atmosphere is just as it should be for a story about a dying planet; it’s raw, dark, sinister, and there is also a certain strength, cameraderie and resignation of their circumstances between the characters that keeps you rooting for them. Aside from anything else, they know only the world they now inhabit; they refer to the actions of the ancestors who destroyed the world within which they now have to scratch an existence.
This is only this author’s second published novel, and he clearly has a lot of talent. Definite recommendation for anyone who is interested in this genre, or loves reading about resolute men and women overcoming adverse circumstances in a hostile landscape.
Actual Rating – 3.5-3.75
An intriguing and unique dystopian tale, By the Feet of Men addresses hopelessness, hard-wired survival instinct, and what it truly means to be human in a dark, desolate and dangerous post-apocalyptic world. It’s thrilling…it’s gritty, it’s haunting… and will leave readers wondering and contemplating about life and more.
I love dystopian stories and while this may not have completely worked out for me, I still think it’s quite interesting and compelling. I haven’t read anything quite like this, so I really did enjoy the storyline. Grant Price managed to create a realistic post-apocalyptic future with complex characters that feel genuine and real to me. That being said, I just didn’t really get into the story as much as I thought I would. There’s action, suspense, and thrills, but I didn’t feel a strong connection with the story or characters. So, in the end, it’s a fascinating read that made me think, but it’s not something I would consider “fun.” I mostly read for fun and to escape reality and while I do like the story and could probably discuss the themes and significance with other people, I personally would not choose this book to relax with at the end of the day. BUT, this book is definitely worth the read and I would absolutely recommend it.
I like the world-building well enough. Price immediately thrusts the readers in this terrifying and chaotic world without really explaining how humanity has fallen into drought, destruction, death and savagery which definitely made me more interested. The storyline is clever, unique, and engaging with plenty of fast-paced and heart-pounding scenes, intriguing dialogues, and unexpected twists, turns and surprises. The characters are likable and fascinating in their own ways. I like the runners – Cassidy, Ghazi, and the others I meet throughout the story. They each have their own stories, their own flaws and insecurities, and their own hopes and dreams. The writing is exceptional and I think Grant Price is an incredibly talented author. He writes with purpose and passion and I could definitely feel that in this book. I have never read anything by Price before and even though this isn’t a 5 star read for me, I would absolutely read more of his books.
Overall, I think this novel is well-written, intriguing, and gripping. Even though I didn’t love it as much as I expected, I think Grant Price masterfully created a chilling and believable dystopian narrative filled with nerve-wracking action, great character development, wonderful suspense, and relevant and realistic exploration of survival, loyalty, camaraderie, sacrifice, and ultimately what it means to hold on to our humanity when faced with impossible life and death decisions. If you’re in the mood for an interesting, somewhat disturbing, but fascinating story that will definitely leave a lasting impression, then add this book on your TBR.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.