“‘Can’t you keyboard a little bit faster?’ Todd asked.”

From Eric Walters’ The Rule of Three.

If you’ve ever wondered what the world would be like if there was suddenly no electricity, then have I got the perfect book for you!  The Rule of Three follows Adam, his family, and his neighbors when all the power goes out. The background (pre-blackout) story is very, very brief and sort of on the dull side, but when the power goes out then the story really takes off.  One day the power goes off and anything with a computer chip is rendered completely useless.  Just when it starts to become evident that the blackout is going to be more than a quick fix, Adam’s neighbor, Herb, starts to make plans and purchases that don’t make sense at first to everyone; the steps that Herb takes quickly become a lifesaver for the neighborhood while the rest of the world quickly falls apart. The suburban neighborhood builds walls to keep danger out, armed guards are trained to protect the wall, malls are scavenged for useful items, crops are planted in front yards, pools are treated to become drinkable sources of water, antique cars (and Adam’s ultralight plane) become one of the few workable methods of transportation, and the world is completely thrown upside down.

The story is intriguing, fast-paced, and well-planned. Walters keeps the story interesting even during low points in the story; the very beginning of the book is a bit dry, but it serves only as a starting point for the characters, because the blackout is the real character development tool. The story is told in a very descriptive way, so that it almost walks the line between survival how-to manual and fiction.  Adam’s point of view leads the story and his worldview as a 16 year-old living through a worldwide blackout is unique and honest; Adam’s fears, pain, and joy are clearly felt by the reader.  The Rule of Three takes on a different aspect of the distopian literary world, while still attracting purist fans of the genre.  It is a book that is definitely worth the read.