Hollow Kingdom: A Novel  by Kira Jane Buxton

Grand Central Publishing, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1538745823

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD

Hollow Kingdom is literally a bird’s eye view of the apocalypse: it is narrated by a smartass domesticated crow S.T. (for Shit Turd). S.T.  was raised by Big Jim, and lives with him and his dog, Dennis.  S.T. is an independent-minded, educated bird who has watched plenty of television and is addicted to Cheetos: he has developed an admiration for humans, and affection and loyalty to Big Jim. One day Big Jim’s eyeball falls out, and he starts acting mindless. S.T. attempts to cure him with medicines he collects at Walgreens, to no avail, and on his trip to and from the drugstore, realizes that whatever has gone wrong with Big Jim has happened to the other humans as well, and it’s not looking good for the animals, either, especially pets. S.T. and Dennis leave Big Jim, braving a variety of hazards together, from angry bears and malicious crows to deadly tigers,  to visit Onida, a mysterious creature who is supposed to be able to tell them what is going on. S.T. learns that humankind has been attacked by a virus through their electronic screens after consuming more than their fair share of resources and losing touch with nature, so the world can return to balance.  He decides that it’s his mission to rescue other domesticated animals trapped in their houses now that the humans are gone. This is quite a challenge, since neither he nor Dennis have opposable thumbs, useful for opening doors.

The horrific thing about what’s happening to the humans is that they aren’t dying suddenly, or even slowly. They’re just deterioriating, still alive even when there’s nothing really left to animate, except for those who are evolving into something even more dangerous. Mostly aimless, they are triggered into action and violence by the appearance of a screen or the “ding” of a notification. S.T. can see a bigger picture than most of the other animals, but as a domesticated bird, he is not used to being in the outside world. What’s interesting is watching him balance his attachment to humans, and especially Big Jim, with his newly rediscovered relationship with nature, as trees, vines, and all kinds of animals retake the city.

In all the books of apocalyptic fiction I’ve seen, I’ve never come across one quite like this. Original, funny, and sometimes grisly or gross,  even though it takes place during and after an apocalypse it ends on a note of hope.  This bird’s eye view of the end of the world is definitely worth a look.

Contains: some animal harm and death.