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Chris Dietzel

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Michele
5,978 books | 161 friends

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Chris Dietzel

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences

Member Since
April 2013

URL


Chris graduated from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College). He currently lives in Florida. His dream is to write the same kind of stories that have inspired him over the years.

Sign up for his mailing list to receive updates on future projects and some neat freebies: http://chrisdietzel.com/mailing_list/

In his free time, Chris volunteers for a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program for feral cats. (If you would like more information on how best to care for abandoned and feral cats in your neighborhood, please check out the Alley Cat Allies website at: http://www.alleycat.org/)

Dietzel is a huge fan of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and mixed martial arts (MMA). He trained in BJJ for ten years, earning the rank of brown belt, and went 2-0 in amate
...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Chris Dietzel Thanks for the question!
5. Slaughterhouse-Five - Vonnegut's humor and cynicism are executed masterfully. I aim for the same blend of sci fi and litera…more
Thanks for the question!
5. Slaughterhouse-Five - Vonnegut's humor and cynicism are executed masterfully. I aim for the same blend of sci fi and literary in my writing.
4. The Catcher in the Rye - Love the casual voice and the feeling of the narrator against the world. I attempt to make my writing as accessible to readers.
3. Disgrace - Amazingly stripped down writing and a brutal story that is told so well you feel sick to your stomach. Coetzee taught me that a book doesn't have to be a certain length; it can be done when the story has been told.
2. The Road - I was blown away by McCarthy's vision of a bleak end for mankind. I love his 'less-is-more' approach to dialogue.
1. East of Eden - Just a perfect book in every way and my favorite book of all time. Steinbeck said it took all of his tools as a writer to produce this masterpiece and you can see that in the story. A great blend of morals, epic story-telling, and making the reader feel like they are learning about life as they read.(less)
Chris Dietzel Hi Tracey, thanks for the question, and thanks for recommending my book to others. Two things inspired the world of the Great De-evolution. The first …moreHi Tracey, thanks for the question, and thanks for recommending my book to others. Two things inspired the world of the Great De-evolution. The first was constantly being flooded with apocalyptic stories where the few survivors ended up fighting each other or zombies instead of just doing their best to survive. I wanted an end of mankind that was quiet and reflective. The second influence was seeing stories on the news a couple nights in a row on the increase of autism rates. It got me to thinking what would happen if the rate kept increasing until it was 100% of all children born. The two ideas came together and the Great De-evolution was born. (less)
Average rating: 3.73 · 4,616 ratings · 772 reviews · 26 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Man Who Watched the Wor...

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The Green Knight (Space Lor...

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A Different Alchemy (The Gr...

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The Hauntings of Playing Go...

3.46 avg rating — 398 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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The Last Teacher (The Great...

3.76 avg rating — 342 ratings — published 2015
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The Theta Prophecy

3.70 avg rating — 345 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions
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The Last Astronaut: a quiet...

3.89 avg rating — 219 ratings4 editions
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The Theta Timeline

3.56 avg rating — 143 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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The Theta Patient: A Time T...

3.80 avg rating — 75 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions
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The Faulty Process of Elect...

3.62 avg rating — 69 ratings2 editions
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More books by Chris Dietzel…

Best Books Read in 2023

I'm a little late this year but better late than never. Here's my
my annual list of the best books I read for the first time, regardless of when they were published:


Read it here
 •  0 comments  •  flag
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Published on January 14, 2024 07:55 Tags: 2023, anthony-doerr, best-books, blake-crouch, blog, sally-rooney
The Man Who Watched the Wor... A Different Alchemy The Hauntings of Playing God The Great De-evolution: The... The Last Teacher The Last Astronaut: a quiet... The Last Voter
(7 books)
by
3.64 avg rating — 2,646 ratings

The Green Knight The Excalibur The Round Table The Space Lore Boxed Set: S... Lancelot: The Sword in the Stone: Spa... Avalon
(8 books)
by
3.84 avg rating — 588 ratings

The Theta Timeline The Theta Prophecy The Theta Patient: A Time T...
(3 books)
by
3.68 avg rating — 563 ratings

Klara and the Sun
Chris Dietzel is currently reading
by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Chris’s Recent Updates

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Sometimes,’ she said, ‘at special moments like that, people feel a pain alongside their happiness.”
Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Until recently, I didn’t think that humans could choose
loneliness. That there were sometimes forces more powerful than the wish to avoid loneliness.”
Kazuo Ishiguro
Chris Dietzel started reading
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
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Chris Dietzel rated a book liked it
4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
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Auster is one of my favorite contemporary authors. He also just passed away, so this is the second to last work of fiction he'll ever publish. As such, I really wanted to love this book.

Instead, I found myself disappointed throughout. He starts with
...more
Chris Dietzel rated a book it was ok
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Hidden Pictures
by Jason Rekulak (Goodreads Author)
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I'm just not the right reader for a lot of genre fiction that uses standard formulas. When reading this, it's easy to immediately spot the lie that will make the one character who trusts the protagonist go on to later not believe the protagonist at a ...more
Chris Dietzel is currently reading
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
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The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
The Ferryman
by Justin Cronin (Goodreads Author)
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This book started off really slowly and I had a tough time trying to be invested. The first 25% was 2 stars for me. It gradually picks up, though, and the next 25% was 3 stars for me. The next chunk of the book was my favorite, with a plot twist arri ...more
Chris Dietzel rated a book it was amazing
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
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This was surprisingly good. I only say "surprisingly" because books that employ obscene titles typically rely on humor over substance, but that was not the case here at all. Manson does a great job discussing how to lead a happier, less stressful lif ...more
Chris Dietzel rated a book it was amazing
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
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Chris Dietzel is currently reading
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
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More of Chris's books…
Quotes by Chris Dietzel  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Anything said is gone as soon as it leaves my lips. Things written down at least have a chance to leave a soft echo of what had been.”
Chris Dietzel, The Man Who Watched the World End

“Maybe that’s why I get frustrated sometimes, because there’s no one to blame for how our lives have turned out. I wouldn’t change any of the things I’ve done, but at the same time I wish things were different than they are. I have no regrets, but there’s also no satisfaction in where I am.”
Chris Dietzel, The Man Who Watched the World End

“Scared people don’t really mean what they say, they’re just looking for ways to rationalize everything so they have someone or something to blame. They need to have a reason for what’s happening because when they have that they can take comfort in knowing it’s out of their control.”
Chris Dietzel, The Man Who Watched the World End

Polls

[POLL NOW CLOSED]

RUNOFF POLL! Please vote for a book you'd like to read for a bonus mid-October book, written by a member of the Apocalypse Whenever group! This is poll #2, a runoff of the first poll. Happy voting!



Ain't No Grave by S.A. Softley
2015, 260 pages
Kindle $2.99 (on sale from Sept 20 to Oct 1 for 99¢), print $15.99

"A man is struck by an unknown illness high over northern Canada. The plane is forced to make an emergency landing in an isolated northern town. When he awakens, he finds himself naked and cold in an empty hospital. He soon discovers that the town is deserted and all its people missing. Alone in the unforgiving winter, he must struggle to survive and uncover the truth. Nothing can prepare him for what he finds."
 
  9 votes, 47.4%



Rocky Mountain Locust: Opus I, Trio by M.I. Lastman
2014, 323 pages
Kindle $6.78, print $17.86

Review: "The storyline is fast-paced, and thrilling, the commentary a sensitive and thoughtful discourse on 21st century life and times. Read it and weep.” Susan Koswan, KW Record. “This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. . . the story riveting and the characters believable, . . . it is also terrifyingly plausible, and maybe even inevitable. This is a MUST READ for every adult. . ."
 
  4 votes, 21.1%



The Hauntings of Playing God by Chris Dietzel
2014, 225 pages
$3.99 Kindle, paperback from $7.97

"Everyone is dead. All that remains is an old woman and a gymnasium full of unresponsive bodies. Each day, another storm approaches, threatening to destroy the building they call home. Each night, a series of nightmares leaves the woman screaming for help. Alone and overwhelmed, will the final member of the human race be thought of as a caretaker or as a monster?

A Great De-evolution Story."
 
  2 votes, 10.5%



The Last of the Ageless: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure by Traci Loudin
2015, 410 pages
$4.99 Kindle, $14.99 print
CreateSpace has a $4 off coupon: SQ9T5GUG

No zombies, no romance, just an adventure through the apocalypse.

"After the end of the world, every survivor must choose who to become... Victim? Or villain?"
 
  2 votes, 10.5%




After the Storm by Don Chase
2012, 204 pages
99¢ Kindle, cheap used paperback

"After the Storm is a post apocalyptic novel set five years after a meteor wipes out 95% of the population. A group of survivors in Boston have to find ways to survive and contend with a reemerging government that wants to take back control after deserting them for years... Hilarity ensues."
 
  1 vote, 5.3%



Devastation Point -5 Years Post Viral Apocalypse by Paul Kirk
2014, 568 pages
Kindle $2.99, Print $18.97

"The world collapsed after the spread of the hyper-aggressive H5N1 Avian plague and several airborne mutations. By simply breathing the air, billions around the world died in less than a few months' time. Airborne Special Forces Colonel Connor MacMillen survives the dark and dangerous times. DEVASTATION POINT begins with Connor Mac's exploits in the fifth year of the New Dark Ages as he encounters a strange and changed America turned upside down by the "Cuckoo Flu". "
 
  1 vote, 5.3%



Blank: Mind the Gap by Matt Eaton
2015, 300ish pages
$3.99 on Kindle and iBooks

"The oceans of the world rise five metres without warning on the heels of a massive solar event."
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

More...
“Anything said is gone as soon as it leaves my lips. Things written down at least have a chance to leave a soft echo of what had been.”
Chris Dietzel, The Man Who Watched the World End

“This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”
T.S. Eliot

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
Henry David Thoreau, Walden

“At this moment, many people have stopped living. They do not become angry, nor cry out; they merely wait for time to pass. They did not accept the challenges of life, so life no longer challenges them”
Paulo Coelho, The Fifth Mountain

“Maybe that’s why I get frustrated sometimes, because there’s no one to blame for how our lives have turned out. I wouldn’t change any of the things I’ve done, but at the same time I wish things were different than they are. I have no regrets, but there’s also no satisfaction in where I am.”
Chris Dietzel, The Man Who Watched the World End

967 Apocalypse Whenever — 13437 members — last activity 22 hours, 57 min ago
The most active group for apocalyptic and dystopian stories! Join a monthly book discussion, get recommendations, or just tell us if you like canned p ...more
101747 Dystopia Land — 5130 members — last activity Jul 22, 2024 11:07AM
THE BIGGEST GROUP FOR DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE ON GOODREADS. What you can do in the group? * You can say 'Hi', or tell us what you are reading * Yo ...more
1218 The Next Best Book Club — 24906 members — last activity Jul 20, 2024 08:07AM
Are you searching for the NEXT best book? Are you willing to kiss all your spare cash goodbye? Are you easily distracted by independent bookshops, bi ...more



Comments (showing 1-45)    post a comment »
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message 45: by Erin

Erin Thanks for the friend request.


message 44: by Jim

Jim Pomeroy Chris wrote: "Jim wrote: "Chris - really struck by your latest batch of "want to read." If you have not read Canticle or postman, I am very glad to see that you are planning to. Both rather old books, and certai..."

Chris wrote: "Jim wrote: "Chris - really struck by your latest batch of "want to read." If you have not read Canticle or postman, I am very glad to see that you are planning to. Both rather old books, and certai..."

I agree - my TR pile is so out of control that I have given up on much of it. It is this pile of snow and every time I take a shovel full off the bottom it snow two more on top! - woes me - I guess if the worst problem I have is to many books to read I'm pretty well off!! As to the books - both are fantastic, and and both stuck with me for a long time. One similarity is that both books take place a bit of time after the actual disaster, and what caused the disaster is not discussed that much. The postman is rather different than other Post-apocalyptic books in that it really posits a path out of hell. It is by far the easiest and breezier read, and the author is actually one of my all time favorite authors - if you haven't read his uplift series you must add it to your list. Canticle is not as easy a read, but sticks with you for much longer. Without spoiling too much, it really deals with the whole "history repeating itself" adage. Being raised Catholic i also could see a lot of things that I could connect with that many non-catholics would not. Enjoy!😁


message 43: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Jim wrote: "Chris - really struck by your latest batch of "want to read." If you have not read Canticle or postman, I am very glad to see that you are planning to. Both rather old books, and certainly are date..."

Hi Jim, I haven't read either of them (so many books, so little time) but I'm excited to do so. My stack of to-read books is out of control these days. Which did you enjoy more between the two?


message 42: by Jim

Jim Pomeroy Chris - really struck by your latest batch of "want to read." If you have not read Canticle or postman, I am very glad to see that you are planning to. Both rather old books, and certainly are dated in spots, but are also must read books for any sf fn.


message 41: by Yodamom

Yodamom Thanks for the friend-vite. Star Wars fans rule the world :D I hope we can chat books soon


message 40: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks, Martin. When you read it, I'd love to hear what you think.


message 39: by Martin

Martin Thanks for the friend invite Chris. I found your book on here when looking for suggestions for the Dystopian reading group I attend. I put it forward but wasn't at the meeting to argue in its favor so it didn't get selected this time, but I will put it forward next time we take a vote. I plan to read it before then though as it sounds pretty good, and seems to have some good feedback in the comments on here.


message 38: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks, Pamela! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. And thank you for the support.


message 37: by Pamela

Pamela Thank you for the friend request Chris. It's been awhile since a book as grabbed my attention from the very beginning and even longer since I have read something that feels completely original (funny note; the last one was about the end of the world.) Thank you for that and I look forward to jumping into more of your books.


message 36: by Will

Will Hey Chris, thanks for the invite, enjoying The Hauntings of Playing God


message 35: by Midu

Midu Hadi Thanks for the invite!


message 34: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Hi Samu, that's wonderful! Thank you for the support. When you do read it, I'd love to hear what you think.


message 33: by Samu

Samu Hey Chris! I actually just ordered The Man Who Watched the World End and can't wait to read it!


message 32: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks, John! Not just for the support, but the encouragement with the cats. I can't wait to hear what you think of my book when you're done. And I completely agree: writing is the easy part.


message 31: by John

John Wiltshire Hi, Chris, happy to be a friend and more than happy to give an apocalypse novel a go from a fellow Goodreads Author. I've read pretty much all the great and good with mixed feelings about some of them. I don't know about you but I find writing relatively easy; getting anyone to actually read the books after is the hard part. I'll post a review when I've read it. Good luck with the cats, by the way. Great project. John Wiltshire.


message 30: by Louise

Louise  Tessier Hi Chris! thanks for the invite friend.Loking forward to read your books:)


message 29: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Yes, Steinberg and his classic, "The Winter of Our Disconterg." : )


message 28: by Matt

Matt Nice new profile photo, Chris. And in good company too! I can make out Vonnegut, McCarthy, Coetzee, Steinberg :)


message 27: by Joanne

Joanne I didn't realize you were the author. I'm looking forward to reading it! Thanks.


message 26: by Katrina

Katrina Just saw you graduated from WMC/McDaniel.
Go Green Terrors!!
Katrina, a fellow alum


message 25: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Katrina wrote: "Thanks for the friend invite. Looking forward to reading your book."

Thanks Katrina. I can't wait to hear what you think of it. Thanks for the support.


message 24: by Katrina

Katrina Thanks for the friend invite. Looking forward to reading your book.


message 23: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Charlotte wrote: "looking forward to reading your books."

Thanks, Charlotte. I hope you enjoy them. Definitely let me know what you thought after you finish.


Charlotte looking forward to reading your books.


message 21: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Pepperpots wrote: "Thanks for the request :) I have it on my kindle ready to read as soon as I've finished 'The Rice Paper Diaries' (it's the book my local book club has chosen).

EDIT: I will read 'The Man Who Watch..."


Great! I can't wait to hear what you think of them. Definitely keep me updated with your thoughts. I always like to hear if there are specific parts readers particularly like or dislike as they read my books.


message 20: by Pepperpots (last edited Feb 01, 2014 12:32PM)

Pepperpots Thanks for the request :) I have it on my kindle ready to read as soon as I've finished 'The Rice Paper Diaries' (it's the book my local book club has chosen).

EDIT: I will read 'The Man Who Watched The World End' first.


message 19: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks Robyn, I hope you enjoy it. After you read it, let me know what you thought.


message 18: by Robyn

Robyn Andersson Chris, thank you for the friend invite :) I just ordered your book online and I'm very much looking forward to reading it!


message 17: by Dale

Dale Thele Chris, thanx for accepting my friend request :)


message 16: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Caio wrote: "Hey Chris! Your book is quite interesting! I'm a Brazilian translator, if you need help to translate your book into portuguese I could gladly do it."

Very cool, Caio! If I ever have translations done, I'll definitely let you know.


message 15: by Caio

Caio Sossolote Hey Chris! Your book is quite interesting! I'm a Brazilian translator, if you need help to translate your book into portuguese I could gladly do it.


message 14: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Karen wrote: "Hi Chris, Thanks for the friend request! I am sure I will enjoy your novel, sadly I will not likely get to it soon though."

I definitely understand. My to-read list is out of control as well. Whenever you do get around to it, I hope you enjoy it.


message 13: by Karen

Karen Hi Chris, Thanks for the friend request! I am sure I will enjoy your novel, sadly I will not likely get to it soon though.


message 12: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks Ahmad. I can't wait to hear what you think of it.


message 11: by Ahmad

Ahmad Thanks for the invite, Chris. Just ordered "The Man Who Watched The World End". Can't wait to read it.


message 10: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks Ketty. Whenever you do get around to reading it, definitely let me know what you think.


Ouroboros Thanks for the invite! I'm looking forward to starting The Man Who Watched the World End. Sadly, it won't be soon, but I'll get there!


message 8: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Stephen wrote: "Hi Chris,

Thanks for the invite. I'm finding your book, The Man Who Watched the Word End, to be tremendously entertaining. I'm very thankful to Mack for the recommendation."

Thanks Stephen, I appreciate the support. I'm really glad you enjoyed it.


Stephen Campbell Hi Chris,

Thanks for the invite. I'm finding your book, The Man Who Watched the Word End, to be tremendously entertaining. I'm very thankful to Mack for the recommendation.


message 6: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Alexandra wrote: "Hi, Chris.
Thanks for the 'friend' invite!"

Hi Alexnadra, thanks for stopping by. It's always great to meet new people and discuss great books with them.


Alexandra Bogdanovic Hi, Chris.
Thanks for the 'friend' invite!


message 4: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks CJ, I appreciate the support. If you read it, definitely let me know what you think.

I have to say, I'm in awe of the fact that you have 5 works already published and your average rating is a PERFECT 5.0. That's amazing. You are obviously doing something right. Great job.


message 3: by C.J.

C.J. Heck C.J. Heck C.J. Heck

Hello Chris,

It's such a pleasure having you for a friend. I am looking forward to reading your work! Thank you and best wishes to you.

Warmest regards,
CJ


message 2: by Chris

Chris Dietzel Thanks Roxanna, same here.


Roxanna Rose Hi Chris,

Thank you for the friend invite. I look forward to learning more about your work.

Roxanna


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