Hell Divers IX: Radioactive (Hell Divers Series) Paperback – June 21, 2022

Iowa author Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a movie star handsome young man whose extracurricular activities include a passion for racing (he is an Ironman triathlete). He entered the literary world after serving in the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, working in disaster planning and mitigation. His genre is science fiction with an emphasis on post-apocalyptic tales. His initial short story SOLAR STORMS was written in 2013 and was prescient: our history remembers when we were put on alert for a large solar explosion (fortunately it didn't affect our power grid) so we were attuned to the title. Nicholas has published the following series - THE EXTINCTION CYCLE (seven volumes), TRACKERS (four volumes), OBS (four volumes), THE SONS OF WAR (three volumes), E DAY series (two volumes), and HELL DIVERS, of which Radioactive is volume nine. He is the recipient of many major awards in addition to having developed a devoted reading audience.Thanks to the provided recap of volume VIII we have more of an appreciation for the cast of characters and the chills they face. Smith opens this novel with an atmospheric Prologue, set 12 years ago: ‘At an hour to midnight, Kade Long stood in front of his three sons, zipping up his jumpsuit. They were all wide-awake and packed into the small living room of their two-bedroom quarters. “Dad, do we actually get to touch the ground tomorrow?” Sean was only four, far too young to know what there was down there or what had happened to the Old World. But his older brothers, Jack and Rich, knew the truth. Monsters were real, and the Old World was gone…’Nicholas respects ‘first-timers’ to this series, providing substantial background in the plot synopsis: ‘The battle for Panama is over, and King Xavier Rodriguez secretly deploys the airship Vanguard to Queensland. The hunt for the Coral Castle is on. The rest of the fleet returns to the Vanguard Islands with new ships and supplies, but tensions rise with rumors of a hidden food cache. When two sky people are murdered, Chief Michael Everhart knows the stage is set for mutiny. And with King Xavier off in search of the Coral Castle, he feels the target on his back. At Panama, a new leader emerges as an ancient evil threatens Outpost Gateway. The only hope of defeating it is a youth who has learned to survive in the deadly ruins. On Australia’s Sunshine Coast, King Xavier leads the search for the Coral Castle while Captain Rolo deploys the Hell Divers to hunt for a new source of seeds. As losses from both missions mount, the king wonders if finding this place is worth the cost. But turning back to the Vanguard Islands without a new food source could doom all humanity to starvation. Or to all-out war.’Pure steampunk science fiction is delivered by the master chef! Nicholas Sansbury Smith has this jargon and admixture of science and speculation down well - he has the talent to maintain interest and fascination for a long series. Grady Harp, June 22

I really enjoyed the search for the Coral Castle because it kept the mystery of it going. I also cannot wait to hear more on Outpost Gateway in the future. I absolutely love this series! I purchased it on AudioBooks and on Kindle. The voice that was chosen for the AudioBooks was PERFECT! I love how much detail and thought goes into this series. I truly hope it never ends.

Several years ago when I read the first in this incredible series, I remember asking myself whether or not this author would continue with this series. That novel was filled with action, adventure and a mystique that I loved. Well, here we are years later and this author never....ever....fails to deliver. Plot is still tightly woven, characters are amazing, and the action/adventure is intense. This time, the readers are off to Australia for an added adventure.Good versus evil set in a post apocalyptic environment, characters that are developed extremely well and the plot is smooth. The answer is a resounding 'yes' to my question from years ago.My favorite author continues to be Mr. Smith. He delivers this novel with the same intensity as before... This one is another 'edge of your seat' reading experience. Buckle up and settle in for this latest ride.Complexity is combined with captivating to ensure an enthralling read... I loved it from beginning to the end.Most highly recommended and for multiple reasons.

Fantastic series, can't stop reading the books... Ready to start next book.. Keeps you on the edge to see what happens next

There are very few books I've torn through as quickly as I did Radioactive, driven by the need to know the answer to my perpetual "Oh snap, now what?" which carried me over from Book VIII: King of the Wastes. The books keep getting better and better, and the characters are so alive and believable, you can't NOT get emotionally invested.The only brutally painful part of this read was reaching the final page, knowing that the rest of the story won't be revealed until February 28th, 2023, in Book X: Fallout. Here's hoping that the Vanguard forces can hold out until then

Wow! Wow!! WOW!!! What can I say about this fantastic story? It's even BETTER than the previous Hell Divers story! X gets a huge surprise out on a mission with Miles and Jo-Jo... wow! Did NOT see that coming!Nicholas Sansbury Smith has created a unique post apocalyptic world where humans are sorely outnumbered by deadly flora and fauna... and they need to stick together to survive. However, humans are... human. There are great characters who aren't perfect yet do their best to help others: X, Miles, Jo-Jo, Michael, Magnolia, Rodger, Sofia, and others... and then, we have the worst of humanity who hide their intentions until the time is right...The adventure leads us to Australia in search of supplies and hopefully more survivors... the action is fast paced while the unexpected happens... I sure didn't see THAT coming! Wow... Sorry, that's all that I can say! You need to read it for yourself! Get it and see for yourself!The author has bested himself yet again with this installment of Hell Divers! Nick has me hooked on this series, and I can't wait for the NEXT one! With each story, his stories are always better as we go along! Thank you, Nick, for a healthy addiction to books!

Love love love it! Can not get enough! Going to be sad when the series ends. Might have to read it again.