Techno-Thrillers discussion

February 2025 Book of the Month
The Extinction Trials by A.G. Riddle (2021)


Publisher's Summary
THE END... IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

After a mysterious global event known only as "The Change," six strangers wake up in an underground research facility where they learn that they're part of the Extinction Trials—a scientific experiment to restart the human race.

But the Extinction Trials hides a very big secret.

And so does the world outside.

My other books weren’t keeping me engaged for weeks on end. Usually I read at least 5 or 6 at the same time, and was underwhelmed on all fronts. Then, my library app crashed and it lost everything on half of my books, so I got frustrated and just skipped ahead to read this one. It was readable enough that I ripped through in less than a week I think. Entertaining enough. An apocalypse story of sorts, and those tend to get a bit far-fetched. I think I’d take World War Z over this one, but it was entertaining. Thanks to Evan(?) I think who recommended it.

The epilogue at the end, probably an entirely optional addendum to the story, got carried away. A good ending for a technothriller is a challenging feat. Oh, well.

My review is out there if you look for it.
- 4 stars (a rounded up low 4)
- Ranked it #4 in Technothrillers: Best of the 2020s
- Was it better than Eruption? Hmm. Maybe.