The Raft

A Novel

By: Fred Strydom

Narrated by: Julie McKay, James Patrick Cronin

"The day every person on earth lost his and her memory was not a day at all. In people's minds there was no actual event and thus it could be followed by no period of shock or mourning. There could be no catharsis. Everyone was simply reset to zero."

On Day Zero, the collapse of civilization was as instantaneous as it was inevitable. A mysterious and oppressive movement rose to power in the aftermath, forcing people into isolated communes run like regimes. Kayle Jenner finds himself trapped on a remote beach, and all that remains of his life before is the vague and haunting vision of his son.

Kayle finally escapes, only to find a broken world being put back together in strange ways. As more memories from his past life begin returning, the people he meets wandering the face of a scorched earth - some reluctant allies, others dangerous enemies - begin to paint a terrifying picture. In his relentless search for his son, Kayle will discover more than just his lost past. He will discover the truth behind Day Zero - a truth that makes both fools and gods of men.

©2015 Fred Strydom (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Intense, pay attention!!

A compelling fist-, second- & third-person narrative that bends the mind and leaves me all twisted up and, paradoxically, fulfilled. I’m glad I read it, and suggest you do, too.

A Masterwork

The Raft is one of the most incredible books I’ve read. Strydom builds meaning into the simplest phrases, the most fleeting of moments. Commenting on ‘the story’ would fall short of its true value. The Raft tells you a story, and an exciting one at that, but the meaning of the story is not told to you, it is demonstrated within your own mind as you read. Strydom leads you to meaning by way of allowing you to undermine your own assumptions about meaning, purpose even language. This book has changed my life and I hope it will do the same for you. Read it twice!

Unique Apocalyptic Tale

I can't even begin to explain the experience of The Raft. It's one of the most complex, unique Post Apocalyptic novels yet it's extremely accessible and engaging at the same time. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, it took I turn into even more intriguing territory. It's play on memory and post apocalyptic tropes made it like someone putting together a beautiful puzzle using pieces from different boxes. The narration was solid. James Patrick Cronin handled the bulk of the tale, getting the feel just right, acting as the guide to the story but never getting in the way. Julie McCay's segment was short but handled well.

Could not go past a third of it. Did not improve for me

Lots & lots of narrations of people’s lives/dreams/memories/hallucinations... no real SF technology, just a dystopian alternate reality. Reminds me of Southern Reach Trilogy, which I mostly HATED waiting for it to get better... review by Rick, Sept 17, 2018.

Meandering interminable book devoid of plot with nonsensical vignettes about character whom are never heard of again.

I would rather endure a pure capsaicin suppository while simultaneously gagging on a pinecone than ever see this book again. 90% of the story is terrible vignettes that seem designed to dissuade you from reading this, no cool sf tech, and the end reveal is that the protagonist isn’t who he thought he was and never did any of the things that were in the book. If somehow you whether the incomprehensible pseudo poetic musings of a man who clearly has never had an education beyond the second grade, you arrive at a conclusion that makes a pathetic emotional appeal for a character who is entirely one dimensional because a mere two sentences are ever dedicated to him, to an audience that has no idea how they arrived at the conclusion of the story. Furthermore, the philosophy of this book reads like it was written by an AI modeled off a concussed lobotomite tripping on lsd while being forced to watch every single hallmark move about family and identity ever created.
Every single review of this book spare one that gives it two stars is undoubtedly a fake sponsored review. Also the performance was horrendous, each sentence was said as though it was the final word in a dramatic speech from a 90s villain about to be torn down by a witless international man of mystery.