I started this book without knowing anything about its plot, having only read one other work by its author, Boy's Life, which I had liked a lot. I quickly realized that I was dealing with a story of a global thermonuclear war and the terrifying post-apocalyptic world that resulted (in the US, of course).

McCammon chooses to tell in broad strokes what led up to the war, without bothering to assign blame or trace specific causes - beyond human self-destructive irrationality at least, and in an even briefer way the moment the nukes were dropped. But then, having concentrated on certain groups of survivors, he presents a vivid and detailed picture of the 'Next Day', to recall the famous TV movie on the same subject. And this picture is truly horrific, so much so that one is gripped with despair and the reader fears that he or she is simply reading a very pessimistic and nihilistic version of our future.

In the end, however, the dystopian landscape he creates becomes, in this story too, the theatre in which the age-old battle between good and evil is once again played out, with human characters and supernatural elements. It is therefore reminiscent - also on this level - of Stephen King's The Stand, which seems in many ways to be its big brother.

Although in many places it is rather predictable and the plot armor of some of the heroes is impressive, the molding of the characters - good and bad - is excellent and you become attached to them, even if they appear for a short time. Despite being massive, despite describing a very grim world for the most part, I liked it!