BURN DOWN THE SKY By James Jaros

In James Jaros’s BURN DOWN THE SKY, global warming has scorched the earth, resulting in mass die-offs over several hundred years, and a new virus, passed on through sex, infects millions of the survivors, making them suicidally or homicidally insane. In this MAD MAX America, a small community struggles to survive–until a marauding gang comes to steal its prepubescent girls, who are able to produce children, and sell them to a local elite. The story is fairly gripping, with strong characters, particularly the women, brought to life through good writing and pacing. Overall, it’s a highly enjoyable apocalyptic read.