The New Dark Ages

When a deadly pandemic spreads rapidly across the globe turning those infected violently aggressive, an American family becomes trapped in a fortified hill town in Italy, where survival depends on relearning ancient skills, the use of medieval weaponry, siege warfare, steam propulsion, and other pre-modern technologies. In this “smart, thrilling, and hopeful post-apocalyptic epic” (THRILLER MAGAZINE, 5-star review) a desperate struggle to survive in a dystopian wasteland ensues, where rival bands of humans compete for limited resources, all devolving into the chaos and brutality of THE NEW DARK AGES. As modern supply lines dry up and advanced systems fail, adults resurrect ancient skills and technologies to face an unknowable future, showcasing the ingenuity, resilience, and courage of ordinary individuals. Meanwhile, teenagers and young adults fight pitched battles against hordes of infected roaming the countryside. Wearing cobbled-together armor combining the best of medieval design with the practicality of modern equipment, they venture into the post-apocalyptic wasteland to gather vital supplies and rescue isolated survivors. When modern ammunition becomes scarce, these young warriors rely on medieval weapons and ancient Roman battle tactics in ferocious hand-to-hand combat to defend their home. Insightful, horrifying, and at times heart-warming and humorous, THE NEW DARK AGES explores the extraordinary power of individuals working together in a community to survive the collapse of global civilization. THE NEW DARK AGES is a gripping saga that unites the emotional realism of THE LAST OF US with the intrigue and political complexity of GAME OF THRONES. Ideal for readers of Michael Crichton and S. M. Stirling. “THE NEW DARK AGES is a smart, thrilling, and hopeful post-apocalyptic epic that turns a Renaissance Italian hill town into humanity’s unlikely fortress against extinction. Ideal for readers who enjoy zombie fiction with substance, realistic community survival, military strategy, historical ingenuity, strong family dynamics, moral dilemmas, and stories where saving civilization means preserving not only human life, but the traditions, humor, relationships, and shared memories that make that life worth saving.” ~ THRILLER MAGAZINE (https://thrillermagazine.org/2026/10/17/the-new-dark-ages/)