Though the Earth Gives Way

A Novel

By: Mark S. Johnson

Narrated by: Jeffrey S. Robinson

Mark Johnson tells a timeless tale of the struggle to find truth in belief, faith in fact, and friendship in times of fear. It is a new survival story, one that takes place post-climate apocalypse where our main character, Elon, 37, alone, hungry, and desperate to hear just another voice, is determined to discover what is next for a world sunken and on fire.

When Elon discovers a hidden retreat deep in the woods of Northern Michigan, he soon finds himself on the verge of regeneration, as a pack of loners band together amidst a society turned hostile and an environment turned violent. No longer must he travel alone with his shopping cart, his jug of gasoline, and rotten crabapples. Now, he has the chance to rediscover friendship and intimacy.

Johnson's novel asks the question: "What would it take to start over?" Listeners walk away from Elon's story pondering their own responsibility to the climate-challenged world outside their own front yards. The chapters sound like campfire tales, and Johnson's lyrical voice heightens Elon's perceptions of shame, guilt, and accountability. The setting of this treacherous world creates an intriguing backdrop, as each night the new residents of the Kenneally Retreat Center slowly reveal stories from their lives before.

These stories are admissions of guilt, secrets, failures, and grief, and they challenge our ability to forgive. Johnson uses the art of storytelling to critique the categorizing nature of the American identity.

©2021 Mark S. Johnson (P)2022 Bancroft Press

Interesting, new perspectives

Excellent narration. Fine story-telling perspective in writing style with new ideas. Got me thinking. Thank you.

intriguing ideas but not new

The narrator started well and eventually it sounded as if he were just reading. Words and phrases came out wooden, as if being read for the first time with no real injection of the character they came from. The story is a fair warning. Will it reach an audience who can do something about it?

Pretty Good Book But Bland Storytelling

An interesting perspective on a postapocalyptic story. The narrator does a great job but the story itself is somewhat bland and uneventful.

Though the Earth Gives Way

Not the usual post-apocalyptic story, the characters were mostly decent people, surprisingly no one was looking to be King of the end times. Though the Earth Gives Way is one of the rare post-apocalyptic stories in that it wasn't violent. Violence was hinted at and not graphic in your face. I appreciate that, and I realize I am probably in the minority with that opinion. A good book and I liked the ending. Recommended.

A thought provoking well narrated novel.

This book is gripping. The characters are well developed and extremely interesting and relatable. The subject is very current and the narration makes you feel as though you are hearing each character in the first person. You can identify with their stories and emotions in some way. Now that the book has ended I find myself hoping for a sequel to hear more of what will happen next!