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The Raft: A Novel Hardcover – May 3, 2016

by Fred Strydom (Author)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 81 ratings
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“The day every person on earth lost his and her memory was not a day at all. In people's minds there was no actual event. . . and thus it could be followed by no period of shock or mourning. There could be no catharsis. Everyone was simply reset to zero.”

On Day Zero, the collapse of civilization was as instantaneous as it was inevitable. A mysterious and oppressive movement rose to power in the aftermath, forcing people into isolated communes run like regimes. Kayle Jenner finds himself trapped on a remote beach, and all that remains of his life before is the vague and haunting vision of his son. . .

Kayle finally escapes, only to find a broken world being put back together in strange ways. As more memories from his past life begin returning, the people he meets wandering the face of a scorched earth—some reluctant allies, others dangerous enemies—begin to paint a terrifying picture. In his relentless search for his son, Kayle will discover more than just his lost past. He will discover the truth behind Day Zero—a truth that makes both fools and gods of men.

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Talos
  4. Publication date
    May 3, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.5 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1940456606
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1940456607
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A wildly imaginative science fiction odyssey. Always compelling, it works on a lot of levels, and they all come together like clockwork in the end. Highly recommended.”
—Scott Hawkins, author of The Library at Mount Char

“Enchanting, captivating, intriguing...none of these do The Raft justice. Strydom's fresh voice and confident prose will completely engross you. A stellar debut!”
—New York Times bestseller Jason M. Hough, author of Zero World

"Strydom’s debut subverts postapocalyptic fiction with a scathing parable of pain and paranoia ... reinvigorates the genre with a suspenseful concept and intimately realized characters. [A] sucker punch of a novel."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“If you think you’ve seen it all, read it all when it comes to dystopian fiction, you really haven’t—not until you’ve experienced The Raft. I was enchanted, awestruck, and ultimately moved by Fred Strydom’s rip-cracking debut.”
—Nick Cutter, bestselling author of The Troop and The Deep

“This eerie debut about one man’s search for truth, even though what he finds may hurt more than it heals, features a protagonist with raw emotions and a strong voice, carrying what could be a convoluted plot to an unforgettable ending.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“This novel really is a masterpiece. It’s different and haunting. It’s devastatingly good. And it’s beautifully put together. If you don’t read another SF novel this year, shame on you. If you do, make it The Raft.”
—John Love, author of Faith and Evensong

"One of the sharpest premises in 2016 . . . The Raft is a must-read."
—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“F***ing fantastic. The writing, from start to finish, is wonderful. The Raft is easily the best book I’ve read this year, and one that I’m not sure will be topped.”
—We the Nerdy

“The Raft was a refreshing, unique read. [I] can see it sticking with me for a long time. I look forward to seeing what Fred Strydom writes next.”
—Christy's Love of Books

“A strong debut in the genre and sure to interest SF readers in general—and dystopia fans in particular.”
—Booklist

“Riveting and moving science fiction ... I read The Raft in one sitting.”
—Rant and Rave Reviews

“A must-read, even for hardened 'realist' readers.”
—Aerodrome

“A writer to watch ... a philosophical adventure story that takes the reader into a terrifying world where no one can remember who or what they are.”
—BDlive

“A brilliant book, and one not to be missed ... a rollicking good dystopian novel.”
—Cape Times

About the Author

Fred Strydom studied Film and Media at the University of Cape Town. He has taught English in South Korea and has published a number of short stories. He currently works as a television writer and producer in Johannesburg, where he lives with his wife, three dogs, cat and horse.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Talos; 1st American Edition (May 3, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1940456606
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1940456607
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.19 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
81 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Boo Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely BRILLIANT! A great read
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
Absolutely BRILLIANT! A great read, I couldn't put it down. A totally different genre for me. Fred is an outstanding writer and takes you deep into each characters head. I was lost when I finished the book..I didn't want to return to reality! Highly Recommended!
8 people found this helpful
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Sunny
4.0 out of 5 stars and ties up everything nicely when you get there
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2016
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Complex story that has been well written. It keeps you guessing until the end, and ties up everything nicely when you get there.
6 people found this helpful
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Brian Ellerby
3.0 out of 5 stars weird
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
Weird, weird, weird but I finished it.
Coming from the East coast of South Africa myself (Durban) I recognise the town names mentioned.
I also know of Durban Poison and I am sure the author is well acquainted
With it and smoked it whilst writing this book!
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FD Spencer
5.0 out of 5 stars This one of the most amazing sci-fi books I have read in a long time
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2016
Verified Purchase
This one of the most amazing sci-fi books I have read in a long time, with twists in the plot to keep you guessing!
2 people found this helpful
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Colin levey
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2015
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Absolutely phenomenal! Loved every page. Fred really takes your imagination for a field trip with more twists than a mountain pass. Can't wait for his next book
2 people found this helpful
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Leigh S.
2.0 out of 5 stars Well written but not my style
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
I found it incredibly difficult to get into the story of The Raft and it was only in the last 20% that I was actually hooked. Thankfully, the ending is very well done with all loose ends neatly tidied up so I felt better for finishing it and getting the whole point.
This is not my usual style of read at all so my rating is more a reflection of my personal taste rather than a reflection of the author or the way the book was written. I can appreciate that it was well written, if a bit confusing to start, and very well thought out.
8 people found this helpful
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Nerine Dorman
4.0 out of 5 stars More literary than speculative
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2020
I'm going to be straight-up honest. I don't think The Raft by Fred Strydom quite worked for me. I've heard so much about the book, that it's amazing, and all that, but my feeling upon finishing the novel was that it could probably have had about a quarter of its content dropped on the cutting room floor and been a stronger novel for it.

If you're looking for a post-apocalyptic quest in a similar vein as kind of world you'd expect in The Last of Us, or The Walking Dead, sans the zombies, this is not that book, although there is an inner and outer journey–just not in any strict linear fashion. What we do have is a nested narrative filled with seemingly unconnected vignettes and a fair amount of existential dread.

So if something a bit more reflective and ambiguous in tale-telling is your thing, go for this book. This story will most likely speak to you then. I personally found it a little too loose, and taking just a little bit too long to reach a point. Reality is fluid, and it's difficult telling dream sequence apart from the actual happenings, to the point near the end that I was almost too afraid to trust anything the author laid down in the story. And who knows, maybe that was his intention. There's even a space where Strydom shifts to second person, instead of first, which just jarred me out of the story.

There were times where things got a little Event Horizon for me, so I suppose this is sufficiently SF, but even so, I do feel that the navel gazing Mr Kayle engages in kinda rubs the edges off the impact of the ending. The twist in the ending, when it came, wasn't wholly unexpected, and it had a pleasant sting. I just feel that we could have fewer twists and turns before we got there. Strydom can write, though, and he makes some great observations. I feel if The Raft is viewed in a more literary light, it stands a little straighter. But right now, lit-fic just isn't my jam.
One person found this helpful
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CHANTEL COMINS
3.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written!
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2015
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This book is filled with beautiful sentences that are so descriptive and so clever! It took me a while to get gripped. But once I was engaged, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Denis Tiplady
5.0 out of 5 stars The Raft
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2016
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Brilliant book !
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Rev. Andy
2.0 out of 5 stars Rambling & unfocussed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
There was a nice idea behind the novel but it was poorly done, hard to read & difficult to follow. Could have dome with some serious editing IMHO.
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