“It all started with a nuclear war…” Arid takes off from there with some unfortunate drought and some more sinister ambitions. Greedy companies and slimy politicians climb in bed together and their offspring is nothing but misery for the masses. The country’s water sources are now official property of the moneygrubbing water barons. For those Americans who can’t afford the exorbitant taxes or those who are deemed useless, they are dumped outside of town and left to die. Countless lives have been upended and lost under the vice grip of the merciless water barons. The story follows a mismatched group of survivors thrust into this scary new world. Only these men and women aren’t content to roll over and wait to die. Some things are worth fighting for.
Anne Joyce has crafted a hauntingly plausible tale set in a stark future. The characters aren’t heroes. They are real people ripped from their corporate jobs and their comfortable homes in the suburbs. The decisions they are forced to make are difficult and uncomfortable. The writing style is uneven in places… It’s like a play without stage directions leaving a weird sense of timing. However, Joyce shows incredible insight into the human plight when under unbelievable stress. Arid takes great risks and isn’t afraid to eliminate seemingly indispensable characters for the sake of a convincing story. A story this intense will leave your throat dry and your senses shaken!
