After the Quiet by Carl Lakeland follows connected events showing how institutional decisions continue operating after global damage. Nathan Masters, an Australian intelligence officer, introduces a procedural delay inside Operation Eagle Shield to slow the transfer of authority tied to Angel O’Connor, whose work as a journalist exposes unacknowledged military actions. Major Scott Thompson’s detection of coordinated missile traffic at Pine Gap marks the moment when diplomatic management ends and launch systems in the United States proceed to execution. The nuclear exchange reframes civilian life through Michael and Charlotte, who prepare for the fallout in Canberra and later join survivors moving toward the Molonglo River. In parallel, Alfonso Bagala becomes the recorder of Mario Costa’s criminal archive, guided by Maggie Gallagher and Nathan, turning documentation into a weapon that dismantles power networks. Across the stories, the characters act within systems that endure after accountability collapses, choosing delay, disclosure, preparation, or custody of information as forms of agency.

After the Quiet by Carl Lakeland is a contemporary speculative anthology with stories that are a shining example of what literary dystopian fiction can look like in the hands of a talented writer. The shifting lens format works well here, and we see it in Bagels and a White Rose, inside Nathan Masters’ habits during a late search, and in Early Warnings as it moves from Pine Gap, monitoring to an American launch capsule. There are two standout characters to me. Angel O’Connor, who risks her career by asking a single unsanctioned question on air, and Michael, whose resolve turns planning into shelter as he protects those beside him. The settings are all visual and fantastically detailed, and we see the reinforced cellar in What We Keep, with ration logs and failing instruments, to the river camp in The Cost of Water, where abandoned tents shape movement there. For readers who love intelligent dystopian fiction that reaches beyond the usual fare, this is the collection. Very highly recommended.

After the Quiet: Volume Two by Carl Lakeland is a tightly woven collection of stories that all circle back to a single, looming catastrophe. What’s interesting is how the narrative approaches the disaster from so many different angles. It starts with Nathan Masters, an ASIS operative struggling to balance his mission with a past relationship that could blow the whole Eagle Shield operation. Then the perspective shifts to the technicians at Pine Gap, where the abstract idea of nuclear war suddenly becomes very real through a live launch. My favorite part was the story of Angel O’Connor, a journalist in Melbourne who basically goes rogue during a scripted interview with the US Secretary of State to ask about an unauthorized carrier in the bay. It’s a bleak but fascinating look at the "what if" of total systemic collapse.

Carl Lakeland’s writing is interesting and incredibly engaging. The plots are layered and smart, but they never get confusing. Each story builds tension in a way that feels totally believable—whether it’s the moment Pine Gap hits DEFCON 2 or Angel’s live-on-air ambush. I really enjoyed how the characters aren't superheroes. Nathan, Angel, and Michael all feel like competent adults who are still genuinely conflicted and full of doubt. After the Quiet digs into deep questions about duty versus conscience and the actual price we pay for "early warnings." I finished the book feeling genuinely impacted, which I think is the highest praise for a book in this genre. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you, forcing you to replay those "what if" scenarios long after you’ve put it down.

After the Quiet by Carl Lakeland is a collection of stories. In Bagel and a White Rose, Nathan Masters had been searching for Roslyn for many years without success. But on one particular occasion, he checks somewhere he should have checked before, and that's when he realizes that he had been searching in the dark for someone who was already standing in the light. How will things unfold when he learns that he is to see her just once? In The Circle Opens, Angel gets into trouble as a journalist for asking the US Secretary of State questions she shouldn’t ask. Why was a US aircraft carrier in an Australian port without the authorization of ANSC? How will things turn out in The Memoir when Alfonso is given a winning lottery ticket by a stranger in the street? Is it a gateway to solve his accumulating financial problems?

After the Quiet by Carl Lakeland is a collection of highly emotive stories filled with human connections and the complex nature of choices and their consequences. The writing style is crisp and engaging, and I loved the well-utilized suspense, which kept me looking forward to subsequent events. This thought-provoking work got me thinking about the importance of having systems that work and why there should be checks and balances to avoid the excesses of some systems. It also expertly captures how, sometimes, professionalism is compromised and how some countries bully others without regard for honesty and equality among perceived partners. The characters are well-developed, and the reader will also appreciate the amazing narration, which adds to the overall beauty of the work. I can’t wait to read something else by Carl Lakeland.

After the Quiet: Volume II is an enthralling collection of loosely connected short stories by Carl Lakeland. An Australian intelligence operative risks it all to find someone from his past, only to come across a few uncomfortable truths. When an Australian Air Force soldier spots an anomaly in his comms, it threatens to trigger a sequence of events from which there is no turning back. A woman in Canberra reluctantly agrees to help her husband prepare for the apocalypse, not realizing the worst is yet to come. In the post-apocalyptic world, the couple finally decides to leave the safety of their sanctuary to venture into the unknown. They join a small group of survivors in search of water, supplies, and refuge. But fate has other plans.

Dark and gritty, After the Quiet: Volume II is a gripping collection of tales any short story reader will love, especially if they enjoy dystopian stories. Author Carl Lakeland draws inspiration from current world events and geopolitics to craft these cautionary narratives. These shed light on the lives of those who quietly work behind the scenes to save the innocent against overwhelming odds. The way Lakeland sets up the plots and characters in these stories is one of the highlights of this anthology. You will find yourself instantly hooked, and with each page, you will become more immersed in this world. Among the stories, "The Wine Cellar" was my favorite. If there's a Volume III of this series, I will happily read it. Highly recommended.