Extinction : A novel

“I heard voices in the valley last night. Didn’t see a fire or flashlight or nothing. I heard ‘em though, talking… I know I did.”

A bit about the book:

“Somer raises disquieting questions about our relationship with nature, and the debt we owe to the beings with whom we share our planet – even, or perhaps especially, when there is no longer any chance of restitution.” – The Guardian.

In a lonely valley, deep in the mountains, a ranger watches over the last surviving grizzly bear.

With the natural world exhausted and in tatters, Ben has dedicated himself to protecting this single fragment of the wild.

One night, he hears voices in the valley – poachers, come to hunt his bear.

A heart-pounding chase begins, crossing forests and mountainsides, passing centuries of human ruins. Sometimes hunter, sometimes prey – Ben must choose the bear’s fate and his own.

Is he willing to lay down his life for a dying breed?

Is he willing to kill for it?

In addition to your local vendor, here are a few links to order Extinction:

USA: From Blackstone Publishers (print/audio) From Indiebound, From Barnes & Noble, From Amazon (print/audio)

UK: From HarperCollins Publishers UK, From WHSmith, From Waterstones, From Blackwells, From Foyles, From Amazon (print/audio)

Australia & NZ: From Dymocks, From Angus & Robertson, From Amazon (print/audio)

Canada: From Chapters/Indigo, From Amazon (print/audio)

Some reviews and buzz:

“…in lean, propulsive prose… Somer raises disquieting questions about our relationship with nature, and the debt we owe to the beings with whom we share our planet – even, or perhaps especially, when there is no longer any chance of restitution.” – The Guardian.

“…a stupendously written survivalist adventure… Somer takes a simple pro-environmental argument and hides it deep inside a thrilling survival-of-the-fittest action story that could (and should)… cause people to take climate change more seriously.” Paul Dinh-McCrillis, Shelf Awareness.

“We are all being asked to make choices. Our species, our animals, our world…. Somer hones these questions down to the knife-edge of a lonely man and the last surviving grizzly bear, in the ragged grandeur of the remaining West. An unforgettable story, a fierce and thrilling ride.” – Maxim Loskutoff, author of Ruthie Fear and Come West and See.

“Extinction reads like a fable in the form of a survivalist adventure story, with the fate of the bear evoking the experience of our own times. This is particularly so given the pervading sense of isolation and alienation that… Somer cultivates. The wilderness has become a place and inner space, where, as one character puts it, one learns ‘what alone really feels like.'” – Alex Good, Toronto Star.

“From the very first page, [Somer] pulls us into a novel landscape residing somewhere between a Jack London wilderness and a Cormac McCarthy lawless dystopia. Then he ignites a fire of suspense that burns until the very last page.” – Scott Stambach, award winning author of The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko.

“Extinction is a gripping read; well-written and well-researched. What the subject matter lacks in escapist fantasy it more than makes up for in offering a rich narrative over the course of a harrowing tale. Is it a thriller? Is it high adventure? Is it speculative fiction or literary fiction? The best answer is “all of the above.” – The Penticton Herald.

“Harrowingly tense and cerebral, Somer’s Extinction is a primordial game of cat-and-mouse-and-cat that confronts the costs of survival while boldly redefining what it truly means to survive. Bravo!” – P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus and When You Find Me.

“A heart-pounding thriller built out of a ranger’s mission to protect his territory’s last surviving bear against oncoming threats. Somer’s writing is visceral and immediate, and he brings the natural world into focus in fascinating ways.” – CrimeReads.com

“A beautiful tale of hope in the face of hopelessness, Extinction is a haunting nightmare of the future, and a lyrical love song to nature.” – Tim Lebbon, New York Times bestselling author of Eden, The Silence, and The Last Storm.

“… an intense, psychological thriller, that starts off fast and never lets up. You will not was to put the book down.” – Red Carpet Crash

“… the humanitarian and ecological commentary that lies under the surface is quietly profound and deeply thought-provoking.” – David Temple, host of The Thriller Zone and author of The Imposter.

“Somer paints an unsettling picture of a future in which Earth is all but abandoned to the ravages of climate change… In vibrant, lyrical prose, Somer depicts Ben’s struggles with loneliness and the approaching winter as he watches over the last living grizzly bear…” – Publisher’s Weekly.

“With Extinction, Bradley Somer presents an unflinching view of the dangers mankind poses to the natural world, and yet he wraps these horrors in gorgeous and nuanced language. Highly recommended!” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Kagen the Damned and Relentless.

… And more stuff:

The Guardian – “The Best Recent Science Fiction and Fantasy – Reviews Roundup” (08/12/22). Read full review HERE.

Toronto Star – “Four Science Fiction Titles for a Brave New Year.” – (12/22/22) Read the full review HERE.

Penticton Herald – “Tough to Save a Bear in a Thoughtful New Read.” – Read full review HERE.

CrimeReads.com – “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of Fall 2022 (and Beyond!)” (11/22/22) Read the full list HERE.

ShelfAwareness.com – “Extinction” – Read full review HERE.

TheThrillerZone.com – Episode 112 (aired 12/22/22) Interview “Bradley Somer, author of Extinction”. Download from your favourite podcast provider, or directly from The Thriller Zone HERE.

“Dear Reader” Letter – HERE.

“All the Pretty Beasts: What We Choose To Save of Our Natural World.” – An associated essay on conservation and fiction writing published by CrimeReads – HERE.