Review: CyberStorm by Matthew Mather

As of the 2012 census, there are approximately 2.1 million farms in the entire United States, versus 8.3 million people living in New York City alone! It’s obvious that America has become a nation that expects to be taken care of; the next meal is only a grocery store away, emergency services are just around the corner, and an endless supply of water flows freely from the tap. So what happens when it all stops?

“People aren’t prepared because they assume that

somebody else will always fix the problem,

and they’re usually right.”

- CyberStorm

Mike Mitchell is one of those oblivious millions living in New York City, even mocking his best friend, Chuck, for his “prepping” lifestyle. When the power first goes out, it’s quite inconvenient. Then a winter storm drops feet of snow and the temperatures drop below freezing. Cell towers fail. Law and order begins to break down, fires break out with no way for EMS to respond. Water pipes burst and human waste is dumped from thousands of apartment buildings into the city streets. Within days, Manhattan becomes a war zone. Lucky for Mike and his family, Chuck is ready with a locker full of supplies.

At first, it’s kind of like an unexpected camping trip, sharing beers with the neighbors in the hallway. But it doesn’t take long for the line to be drawn between the haves and the have-nots; you are either part of the “group” or you are on your own. When the island of Manhattan is quarantined, the fundamentals of humanity completely break down into acts of sheer survival.

Although I live in Texas, I have witnessed ice storms that have shut down entire highways, knocked out power for weeks, and left thousands in need of aid. Matthew Mather has flawlessly captured the fear and desperation of people faced with the collapse of civilization. Because the book is told from Mike’s point of view, Mather creates a deep connection between the reader and his lead character. You can’t help but feel the bitter cold and the gnawing hunger as Mike suffers.

With fall coming, CyberStorm definitely has me looking at how unprepared I am for the “what-if”. What about you? Are you prepared?