Year Zero by Jeff Long (2003, Paperback)

I had just read "The Descent"(about humans discovering the vast underworld beneath the earths surface and the beings that live and die there) by Jeff Long when I bought and read "Year Zero"(a plague/apocalypse tale). I enjoyed both books and both are written with the same basic format. They both span substantial amounts of time and "jump around" from places and events. Normally I wouldn't go for it but this author pulls it off and manages to keep the reader focused. Both books offer interesting and thought provoking tales steeped in science, myth, and religion. The characters in both books are non-stereotypical and multi-dimensional. The "heros" are people that have fallen on many levels and yet endure on to find their true humanity and strength through adversity. The author strips the characters down to their cores and then rebuilds them in the most interesting ways. In these books Long portrays the best and worst of man-kind and our sciences and religions.
I wouldn't recommend these books for younger or more sensitive readers as there is graphic violence and adult situations/language. I also wouldn't advise it for anyone who is offended by or finds subject matter dealing with religious "fiction" to be "blasphemous". The Descent is based on a twist on Satan/Hell, and Year Zero centers around Christ/biblical history. I don't believe the author is trying to replace anyones bible or religion - this is purely fiction - and good fiction at that. There is alot of scientific jargon and theories in both books, almost to the point of being science fantasy at times.(several characters are "scientists") but this adds to the atmosphere the books create of nature vs science/ man vs nature/man vs science.
If you enjoy books that are written intelligently (but not pretentiously)-and that are thought provoking and challenging-then these books are for you.
Happy Reading!