We’ve reached the final week of the fourth annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC4), and Team Tar Vol On is ready with our final three scores. After joining with Space Girls and Red Stars in the semifinals to advance Accidental Intelligence, Bisection, and On Impulse, we have now read the three books selected by the other semifinal group of Peripheral Prospectors and Ground Control to Major Tom. As always, remember that our tastes are idiosyncratic, and every book that has made it this far has gotten glowing reviews from several readers. Whether we like or dislike a book, we’ve tried to do our best to capture our thoughts in a way that helps readers figure out which books will hit for them.

Today, we’re looking at the post-apocalyptic first contact novel Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker.

Azrah’s Review and Rating

This book is a slow burner but honestly stick with it because it is such an engrossing take on human nature when facing a first-contact situation and a post-apocalyptic society.

Azrah has rated Saint Elspeth 7.5/10. For more, check out her full review.

Champ’s Review and Rating

Saint Elspeth is a contemplative journey through the rubble of a post-apocalyptic West Coast of the United States, as humankind is in its adolescence of rebuilding.  The book carries with it, all the hallmarks of the genre, and it gives me The Road meets The Postman vibes, while remaining fresh and unpredictable at the same time. The author utilizes societal commentary, dangerous stakes, and a moody tone as you would hope for in any story set after the collapse of modern society, but the reasons behind the story’s setting are doled out in bits and pieces of dialogue, and brief flashbacks centerest around the main character, keeping the reader inspired to go on in order to piece the puzzle together.

Welker’s main character: Dr. Elspeth Darrow, is neither an outspoken intellectual clashing with the society evolving around her, nor a rugged survivalist who has embraced the world she finds herself in twenty years after the modern one comes to its end; which is both refreshing and inspired.  The author’s grasp on medical science, politics, and the cities of the West Coast is evident throughout the novel; and lends an authenticity to the role Dr. Darrow finds herself in.  All supporting characters are just as rich, sometimes allies and other times antagonists to the main character; but always with just enough background to justify their motivations.

The writing is paced well, and offers a blend of poetic humanism as well as tension building action throughout, making Saint Elspeth a quick and enjoyable read, despite the story sometimes relying too heavily on its critique of civilization’s violent past.  This is more often than not quickly overshadowed by the mystery of the motivations behind the surviving colonies, the politics of Eslepth’s own colony, and above all: the role of the Hilaman aliens who came to Earth sparking the beginning of the end.

Champ has rated Saint Elspeth 7.5/10.

Dave’s Review and Rating

A creative and ambitious story of a doctor in a post-apocalyptic world unraveling the mysteries of first contact. The aliens were cool and I especially appreciated the setting of nation states in California. On its own, the whole dynamic between the cities could fill a novel. Here, it’s only a backdrop to the real story of aliens who’ve come to Earth. I liked the main character, who is grounded in her world through her efforts as a healer. A unique POV in a much loved trope.

It took me a while to get engaged in the story, as there’s a lot of action at the beginning, but not much progress on the main storyline. Wasn’t sure until the 40 percent mark where this was going. When the story finally got moving, I was intrigued by the mystery and wanted to know about these aliens, who aren’t human at all, which was great. But the whole apocalyptic backstory didn’t ring true (we destroyed our civilization because aliens landed?), nor did the mystery why the aliens came here.

Dave has rated Saint Elspeth 6.6/10.

Erin’s Review and Rating

This was my favorite of the books I read this SPSFC. It got genuine tears out of me on more than one occasion. I loved how imperfect-yet-real the humans felt, and how weird the aliens were. Though the plot stretched my suspension of disbelief at times, the author made me willing to stretch.

Erin has rated Saint Elspeth 9/10.

Jay’s Review and Rating

Saint Elspeth is a quality post-apocalyptic first contact novel with a lot to say about human nature. It’s my favorite SPSFC4 entry to date and is in the conversation with past winners.

Jay has rated Saint Elspeth 7.5/10. For more, check out his full review.

Josh’s Review and Rating

There’s some good writing here and some certainly interesting characters, but overall I just couldn’t get past the deep thick cynicism about humanity here. It’s a cynicism the book does everything to enable, to the point of having characters suddenly have certain technology that seems unbelievable given the scrounging of this setting just to make it work. I know others really liked this and yes there’s a theme of hope in the end, but I really wanted to DNF this one for all the impossible cynicism about humanity.

Josh has rated Saint Elspeth 6.5/10. For more, check out his full review.

Official Scores