Written in the form of a case study the book is collection of Journals studied by a man name J. Singfire. His anthropological study is on a period of time in America known as the Dark Decades (2019-2041) in which the country all but disintegrated. There are four Journals belonging to a diverse group that lived through the early days of the aforementioned period. Sharon Kimball is an IT professional living in Phoenix who comes face to face with a human trafficking ring. Kurtis O'Leary, a father who lost so much in the early days of this time period and is struggling to keep Connor, his son, alive. Gilbert Hernandez is a criminal, plain and simple. Fighting for food and money keeps him from mugging and hurting people.

Terrance Howard is the prepper. Deep inside a bunker with his family Terrance reflects on the days leading up to this terrifying time, that is, until a group of marauders gets a whiff of his location.