As you read this, Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the East Coast of the United States in a manner that suggests people need to take extreme caution.
No, let me rephrase that. This storm needs to be taken seriously and you should steer clear of it if you are in its path at all—to keep you safe. Yes, you are hearing this from news organizations and the like, but I don’t think it can be said enough. The scary thing is, the path of this storm seems to be focusing on one of the largest—if not the largest—population areas in the world. So a lot of people are in danger.
I happen to live in Seattle WA, land of constant rain and mountains of fire. We see flooding but nothing like a hurricane or tropical storm can do in a short amount of time. So when you hear a rain expert tell you to take care, believe it.
When I first heard about this scary possibility, I immediately thought of The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. The epic fantasy features one of the most detailed worlds I’ve ever read. The worldbuilding is fantastic. And it centers around a land where hurricanes are commonplace and how the people, animals and even the plants have adapted—all within a much larger conflict going on. It’s a fantastic read and if you haven’t done so, do so.
The cover art was supplied by the amazingly-talented Michael Whelan, who just this last weekend won another Chelsey Award from his peers for the artwork on The Way of Kings.
If you are doing the wise thing and vacating the areas that will be struck by Hurricane Irene, take The Way of Kings with you. Sure, it’s ironic, but it’s also a damn fine read.
Hurricane Irene is no fantasy though. She is very real. Treat her that way. And I’m sure I can speak for Brandon and Michael when I say treat this storm very seriously.
And please. Be safe.
