I’m not really sure what to rate this, it’s entertaining, but it’s got a lot of flaws. I’m a big fan of the post apocalyptic genre and I know it’s filled with a lot of tropes, cookie cutter characters, and similar plot points and pacing. So the fact Way of Dan is full of all of those didn’t bother me. But I liked Franklin Horton’s other books in part because they put a new twist on these tropes and did it in an entertaining way.

The problem with Way of Dan to me is that while it had some funny moments and likeable characters, the funny moments weren’t as humorous as other similar humor in less serious post apoc books. Coupled with, in my opinion, a really unlikeable protagonist. And not an intentionally unlikeable one, at least I don’t think so, I just don’t feel he was written well. He started as an every man but got off the rails and became really unsympathetic. That could be fine if it’s done well, but this wasn’t. It felt like the old joke about someone turning into a cannibal 8 hours into an emergency. It was a very abrupt shift and there didn’t feel like any rhyme or reason for it, he just started making decisions that seemed out of character for a white collar dad to be making 5 minutes into a societal emergency without any moral conflict. His only justification seems to be “that’s how we do it in east Tennessee” which seems really weird for a long time desk jockey working in logistics from the Knoxville suburbs. And as of the 3rd book he gets exasperation but undivided loyalty from his companions, which just feels lazy.

It’s not a bad listen, as far as post apoc goes, it has its fun and interesting moments. it’s also really a good deal for a credit. So if you are on a tight audible budget and just want to fill a lot of hours I’d recommend. if, however, you aren’t on a budget or just don’t want to invest time in something that is just ok, I’d recommend skipping. If you haven’t checked out Franklin Horton’s Mad Mick series if give that a look. If you like the genre and the narrator I personally thought Ryan Schow’s series was quite good.