The Wastelanders Final Report

The Wastelanders by Tim Hemlin

The Wastelanders is a Cli-Fi book written by Tim Hemlin. The story is set in a dystopian future in the Houston area of Texas in the year 2116. The globe is currently suffering from a drought brought about by climate change predictions from scientist in the mid-twentieth century. The Water Cartel controls America as a corporate oligarchy run by The President and his Sub-Czars. In 2089 a global pandemic known as the Yellow Plague originated in Asia and claimed half of the population of China and India as well as many Americans. Due to the outbreak, countries have isolated themselves by closing their borders.

Previously in the story, Joey was rescued from a pack of wild dogs in the Wasteland by Scrapman Hunter Graves. Hunter escorts priest-warrior Joey Hawke back to his encampment, where Joey meets Moonshine Graves, Hunter’s estranged niece. Born in the Wasteland, Moon is accustomed to the savage life in the Wastes. Joey lowers his guard to enjoy drinks with Hunter and passes out, when he comes to he discovers he’s been bound and Hunter plans to turn him in to the Water Cartel for a reward. Joey pleads with Moon to release him, offering to take her with him to Sophia Settlement; a sanctuary in the Wasteland. Joey’s conviction and Moon’s curiosity to see prosperous trees and running water convinces her to release him and they escape from Hunter’s camp.

As Bear attempts to reunite Bernie Hawke with his son they approach the ruins of Zen-Res, a Zen Buddhist encampment. Bear attempts to look for survivors and is injured in a shootout with some scavenging Rads. Bear bunkers down with Sisters Judith, Sarah, and Rachel, elderly Buddhists whom Bear knows tend to his wounds, hoping to remain hidden from the army while Bernie Hawke continues ahead to Sophia Settlement to look for Joey. Simultaneously, Si-Ting, who was believed to be sent back to the bubble, finds herself kidnapped by Dr. Eagleton, a scientist working with the Water Cartel to discover the location of Joey Hawke.  

Hunter enlists the assistance of Duke Hughes and his crew to track down Joey and kill the traitorous Moon, while pursuing Hawke, Hunter learns that Salvador Pena, a Wasteland kingpin, is fortifying his compound in preparation for an army invasion. Hunter engages Joey, Moon and Brother Bartholomew in a chase and blinded by rage is ambushed by Bernie Hawke. Foiled Hunter retreats and seeks out Pena for refuge and another attempt at revenge.

Meanwhile, President Bishop’s purge of the Wasteland sends Rex Fielder and his imperial like armada of hovertanks, speeders and ground troops to clear any resistance, laying waste to everything that crosses their path. In an attempted Water Cartel coup, First Lady, Isabel Bishop disappears, intentionally vilifying President Bishop. Bishop conscripts Chief Inspector O’Hare to siege Number One Cartel Center and bring in conspirators, failing Isabel escapes and O’Hare and many others die in an explosion.

As the characters converge on Salvador Pena’s compound they are involved in small skirmishes with clones preparing a mass exodus into the Wasteland. The enigmatic Pena divulges a secret with Joey Hawke. The synthetic clone of Leonard Litz is a perfect replication and is truly immortal, except for one flaw, secretly Pena encoded a failsafe in the event that the Water Cartel didn’t hold up their end of his deal. A Mother-Goddess figurine held they key that would reintroduce the same cancer genes that originally killed Litz. Joey plants the icon on Litz body as the military attacks the compound. 

After an intense battle with Hunter involving time loops, Moon sacrifices herself to save Joey Hawke.

Pena flees with a number of his clones and Joey Hawke and company are forced to evacuate before destroying the body. In the aftermath of the attempted coup and the Wasteland purge Fielder is promoted to Home Sec general and President Bishop removes the Water Cartel from power. Martial Law essential ensues in the bubble societies and Bernie Hawke and Si-Ting join Joey to live in the Wasteland at Sophia Settlement. Litz rises from the rubble and is picked up by a leader of a Cartel Cell before quickly disappearing into the wind, a ghost revitalized.

This story of a dystopian America depicts humans as having fallen fate to their own actions. The political agenda is one that claims to address the people but openly oppresses them and is more interested in the affairs of elite members of society. The struggle to survive in a desolate land leads people to turn against one another, in some cases family, and brings out the animalistic nature of mankind. I believe it is imperative to remain compassionate and endearing, especially in troubled times, to one another and I believe that may be one of the key themes the author illustrates in this book.

Quiz Questions

¨  Who is the Geneticist responsible for the clone army and Litz Ressurection?

¨  What is the name of the group that attempts the coup?

¨  What year does the story take place?

¨  What provokes the Wasteland purge?

Discussion Questions

• Is it possible for governments to have too much power? If so, is it possible to prevent corruption?
• Human nature is egotistic. Is it futile to believe that human nature will someday transcend the idea of ego or is it forever bound in its definition of mankind?