One Is None by Mark Nihlean is a dystopian novel that explores the harsh realities of doomsday prepping and survivalism. Doug, a committed prepper, believes his family is safe after an apocalypse devastates the world, leaving it a barren wasteland. However, the bunker he built becomes inadequate as internal conflict divides the family. As they venture out, they face violent militias, cults, and survivalists, forcing Doug to confront the truth: survival isn't just about preparation but also about the unpredictability of human nature. This cautionary tale challenges the obsession with prepping and reveals the isolation inherent in end-of-the-world fantasies.

Author Mark Nihlean offers a refreshingly realistic take on post-apocalyptic fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional unraveling of a prepper rather than just external threats or paranormal phenomena like most books of this kind. Characterization is key to this novel’s success, and the internal family dynamics that spring from Doug's flawed mindset are brilliantly portrayed, as we see the cause and effect between the choices he makes and the way he treats people around him, and how that comes back to bite him when it matters. There’s no small amount of dark irony to Nihlean’s intelligent exploration of how prepping can foster isolation and selfishness, and his sharp critique of the doomsday mindset is cleverly interwoven into the plot to poke fun at his central hero even as we might empathize with Doug’s frustration and the disasters that befall him. This is all enhanced by the vivid brutality of the setting, populated by paranoid survivalists and dangerous cults, painting a grim picture of humanity's darker instincts in the face of collapse. Overall, One Is None is a chillingly immersive read with many wry lessons about the true meaning of the end of the world, and I would highly recommend it for fans of intelligent social commentary and thrillers.

Doug McCrae believes he and his family have survived the worst aspect of the disaster that has befallen the world. He spent months building a survival bunker guided by the directives of Dolores, a woman who mysteriously entered his life before the event. Doug plans to hide out in the relative safety of their bunker for the foreseeable future with his son Ben and daughter Amy. However, when Dolores receives a set of distressing visions implying they must move away from their present abode to survive an incoming threat, their adventure takes an unexpected turn. Now, the McCrae family must decide if the path to survival is worth risking their lives in a strange new world where everyone is expendable in Mark Nihlean’s One Is None.

Mark Nihlean uses a leisurely pace and laid-back storytelling style to amplify the suspense in One Is None. He focuses on the small family units as they pick their way through the disaster instead of the bigger picture, creating an immersive story where readers piece together the exact nature of the extinction-level event. The dialogue is easy to follow as it flows from conversations among individuals trying to perform their daily activities to eerie recollections of the past and decisions concerning the future, making it easier for readers to see the motivations of the principal characters. The best part is the level of attention to detail about the cast of supporting characters and the subplots crafted around their activities as Doug, Amy, Dolores, and Ben discover the extent to which they are willing to bend their principles to survive. One is None is dystopian drama at its finest.