"It all started around the Fall of 2022 … you know, after we all thought we were clear of the coronavirus. And it all happened kind of slowly. As slow as an autumn leaf falling from a tree." In The Fall by Michael S. Vassel, Paul Davidson and his wife Lorie decide to move to Florida to be with Lorie's father after losing their jobs. However, the world is deteriorating in a mysterious way no matter where they go; decreased birth rates, animals perishing, and people dying in their sleep while some go crazy and only venture out during the night to wreak havoc. The bizarre phenomenon has a name; The Surge. Paul is determined to survive but fate has a different plan for him, whether he likes it or not.

It's fascinating and eerie and at the same time how the post-apocalyptic concept of The Fall reflects the world's current situation. It's easy to relate to the protagonist and narrator, Paul Davidson, as his opinion and approach when it comes to dealing with a difficult reality is logical - at least in the early chapters of the story. Excerpts of song lyrics at the start of each chapter indicate the events that readers can expect. As The Surge progresses, Paul comes close to death many times while dealing with significant losses and precarious moments; there were times when I questioned his decisions in critical situations. As chaos and doom intensify in a major battle of survival between two human factions, the Norms and the Crazies, fans of the genre will be entertained by the memorable characters in Michael S. Vassel's The Fall.

Set in a fictional near-future after the coronavirus pandemic, The Fall by Michael S. Vassel is a dystopian survival story. On vacation from their hectic schedules, Paul and Lorie Davidson discover that something is amiss about their surroundings. They find a general lack of birds and animals and start witnessing abnormal behavior in other people. The couple soon learns about the outbreak of a new pandemic called The Surge that causes people to commit suicide or turns them into Crazies who attack each other. Paul, alongside Lorie, now travels to Fort Myers, Florida to take care of Lorie's father, Bill. But Bill and Lorie soon fall victim to The Surge. Feeling abandoned and alone, Paul decides to heed the calls of Nina Blackwood and head to Los Angeles in search of a community.

If you enjoy apocalyptic dystopian shows such as The Walking Dead or movies like Zombieland, grab a copy of The Fall. Author Michael S. Vassel's survival tale blends emotional and heartfelt moments with gritty, no holds barred action and lighthearted humor to make for a wildly entertaining ride. Michael S. Vassel keeps a pacy narrative that is easily accessible and feels like a breeze to go through. The characters are colorful and quirky, and their personalities make them easily distinguishable. Paul Davidson feels like your everyday man who has been dropped unawares into difficult circumstances, and it makes him easily relatable. I particularly enjoyed his taste in music. Overall, I very much enjoyed The Fall. I will recommend it to readers who love dystopian survival stories.