The Steading

A Story of Survival and New Beginnings (The Steading Trilogy, Book 1)

By: Peter Wood

Narrated by: Aubrey Parsons

The modern world has vanished, the human race is on the verge of extinction; Mother Nature is firmly back in charge. A desperate band of survivors seeks out a place of possible safety, The Steading, where they hope to carve out a new life. However, simply staying hidden is not enough. It is a battle for survival in a world which is indifferent to their plight. Will mistakes of the past be repeated? Can this remnant of humanity find a different path and save itself?

This gentle tale is set in a world similar to our own, with various Nordic and Celtic influences, at some unspecified ‘post-modern’ point in the future. Society as we know it has long since vanished. The natural world has fully reasserted itself, leaving a few isolated pockets of human existence, teetering on the verge of extinction. Birth rates are very low and infant mortality very high; the cause is unclear. Remaining settlements are slowly withering out of existence.

The story is told as if it is being recounted around a campfire. It is a tale of new beginnings, which follows a small group as they carve out a new life. The story is intrinsically part guide to survival and the basics of homesteading, a blend of fiction and non-fiction. This unusual style of storytelling reflects the author’s preferred means of communication as an autistic person. The tale sets out a more positive possibility for a future where rampant and destructive ‘modernity’ has vanished.

With a natural check on the human population, Earth has become a properly functioning ecosystem and is mostly a near Eden. This book is therefore a somewhat idealised best-case scenario, a #cosyapocalypse. Book two, The Fallen, is its counterpart! Listeners may recognise influences for some locations in the story, loosely based around the breathtaking landscapes of Snowdonia and beyond, the Author’s home in North Wales.

©2025 Peter J Wood (P)2025 Peter J Wood

A well told tale

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. At first, when listening to the author’s notes I wasn’t certain about the way the story would be told (no dialogue), but the author does an extraordinary job of drawing in the listener and creating a very immersive world full of rich details and characters. I enjoy post apocalyptic fiction, and this one was different from most in the genre but in a good way. The author created realistic situations with thoughtful solutions that most post apocalyptic books do not explore. I will be downloading the next in the series

Different and not at all what I was expecting

A very different unexpected dystopian tale. When I first started listening to it, I was not sure what to think of it. I’m glad I stuck with it. As noted with by other readers/listeners it’s a #cosydystopian story. It’s almost peaceful despite it being a book of survivors undertaking a gargantuan task of establishing their lives all over again, and a place to call home.

Just a good listen

I loved the narrator. Fantastic job there. I kept expecting a plot twist and there were none. I think compared to other apocalypse type books, this could be seen as quite boring. But it’s not boring at all. This book makes me want to get my bow out and start shooting again. It makes me want to learn more “primitive” skills. It’s just a good listen.

Amazing book and an amazing performance

I stumbled into this Trilogy long before it was a trilogy. It all started as one of those "since you read that, then you will love this". I had never heard of Peter Wood. After reading the Steading, I started messaging Peter about a second book, then again about a third one. His books are like reading a documentary that you hope will never happen. Great Job to everyone involved, and I am still waiting on the fourth book.

a hard read, but worth it!

This book breaks so many of my own rules, and still I enjoyed it, and will likely read the rest of the series! Great narrator!