Godspeed, Cedar Key (Michael Presley Bobbitt's Cedar Key Trilogy) - Softcover

Bobbitt, Michael Presley

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798218360849

Publisher: Aphroditois Books, 2024

Synopsis

Kirkus Reviews · Literary Titan · Independent Book Reviews

This isn't an end-of-the-world story. It's a despite-the-end-of-the-world story.

"A propulsive, character-driven post-apocalyptic ride. A brutal tale of survival with a refreshingly kaleidoscopic perspective."— Kirkus Reviews

"The straightforward prose is deceptively rich… about enduring friendships and the power of love woven into Cedar Key's storied past."— Literary Titan

"A touching end of the world story filled with hope and community."— Independent Book Reviews

THE STORY
On a quiet February morning, a flash of light across the bay ends the world as we know it. But on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico, 300 people decide — quietly, stubbornly — to survive.Cedar Key, Florida. The smokestacks across the bay vanish in a microsecond. No warning. No rescue. No news from the outside world — only gray skies closing in, and the long silence that follows. In the days, months, and years ahead, Cedar Key's islanders must learn to live again the way their ancestors did: by the sea, by their hands, and above all, by each other.They battle invaders from the mainland, hurricanes, disease, and the compounding dread of not knowing what became of the rest of the world. But they also celebrate weddings, plant spring vegetables, raise children, and grieve together. Godspeed, Cedar Key spans 180 years of the island's oral history — and finds in that history the blueprint for survival.

WHY READERS CAN'T PUT IT DOWN

• It's anti-dystopian — not a story of collapse and despair, but of resilience and community.
• Characters are defined by what they build, not what they've lost.
• Set on a real Florida island — Cedar Key's geography, maritime culture, and three centuries of history are woven into every chapter.
• It reads like a place that actually exists, because it does.
• Characters you'll miss when it's over — the deep friendship between the island's mayor and an eccentric clam farmer anchors a cast readers describe as "believable" and "richly developed.
• "Written by a playwright — Bobbitt's theatrical background means dialogue that crackles, scenes that breathe, and a prose style readers call "deceptively rich."
• Standalone AND a series opener — satisfying on its own, with two more books waiting if you're not ready to leave the island.Free with Kindle Unlimited — start reading in the next 60 seconds.

PERFECT FOR FANS OF
Alas, Babylon · Station Eleven · One Second After · The Dog Stars · A Land Remembered · The Road

FROM READERS
"Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. It's not all doom and gloom — there's celebrations, joys, and laughter along the way. It's about love and friendship and how people need each other. This is a must-read, just be mindful that you might not want to put it down."5/5 Stars · Verified Purchase"

The prose is evocative and original, the characters well-developed with deep backstories. The painting of life for Cedar Key residents before and after the catastrophic event is a beautiful tapestry."5/5 Stars · Verified Purchase

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Presley Bobbitt is an off-Broadway playwright, novelist, and working clam farmer who actually lives on Cedar Key, the tiny island in the Gulf of Mexico where this trilogy is set. His plays have sold out NYC venues and toured regionally. Every page carries the authority of someone who knows this island not as a setting, but as home.

"Bury your loved ones in the morning. Plant the spring vegetables in the afternoon." Book 1 of the critically acclaimed Cedar Key Trilogy — free with Kindle Unlimited.

Edition details

• Publisher: Aphroditois Books
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798218360849
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 333