# The Apocalypse is a Side Quest: Book One

By Liam Lawless · The Apocalypse Is a Side Quest, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/the-apocalypse-is-a-side-quest-dda2e1b7/

When a System apocalypse pulls humanity into a multidimensional dungeon, Nathan Lee receives an enormous pool of skill points and accidentally spends them on fishing. He enters a deadly tutorial with few combat skills, but keeps chasing side quests and dodging the main objective.

## What makes it funny?

The System scolds Nathan for spending rare points on fishing. He is still thinking about his sister’s wedding and a bargain toaster while the tutorial gets deadly.

### The comedy at work

The story gives a world-ending quest the distractions of a player who would rather fish or follow an optional objective. An exasperated System voice pushes Nathan toward heroics, while the opening also makes room for a sincere talk with his sister.

### Try this if…

LitRPG readers who enjoy unusual character builds and protagonists who wander off the main quest may like Nathan’s fishing-focused progression. Readers in LitRPG groups single out the side-quest fixation as funny even at high stakes.

### Good to know

One reader found the story darker and more emotional than expected and paused reading. Expect graphic fantasy violence, moderate gore and profanity.

## What to expect

- Genre: Adventure · Fantasy · LitRPG · Science fiction
- On the shelf: Portal fantasy · Post-apocalyptic · Progression fantasy
- Kind of humor: Absurdism · Situational comedy · Wordplay
- The atmosphere: Irreverent · Warmhearted
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2025

## A few distinguishing details

- A System apocalypse gives Nathan power, and he spends it on fishing.

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Shadow Alley Press Book Two page and complete-series listing](https://shadowalleypress.com/book/the-apocalypse-is-a-side-quest-book-two)
- Reader list: [Royal Road stub and reader reviews for The Apocalypse is a Sidequest](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/96924/the-apocalypse-is-a-sidequest)
- Reading sample: [Free Chapter 1 sample, Fishing: 1000, on Royal Road](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/96924/the-apocalypse-is-a-sidequest-litrpg-system-apocalypse/chapter/1872564/1-fishing-1000)
- Book information: [Google Books front-cover image for The Apocalypse is a Side Quest: Book One](https://books.google.com/books/content?id=ZGNt0QEACAAJ&img=1&imgtk=AFLRE70mTB8Dc2qeWpJi2nMQHG8cEMNc0ztmZJ9Z1NQmOM_Cq1Av4oEyc1k8lKBR6PXka-7d5KJt2iW-20oHICvSMHxJ47MQRlBRmxTx1Dn_EcY-HjbhEEnchxAeM5V-BcKgMDxaCV5V&printsec=frontcover&zoom=1)
- Book information: [Google Books bibliographic record for The Apocalypse is a Side Quest: Book One](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZGNt0QEACAAJ)
- Review: [Daily Dragon Q&A with Liam Lawless about LitRPG and The Apocalypse is a Side Quest](https://dailydragon.dragoncon.org/2026/litrpg-progression-fantasy-and-other-burgeoning-genres-showcase-qa-with-authors-part-1)
- Reader discussion: [Muse reader leads, October 2026, part 4](https://facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books/permalink/25906933825569942)
- Author commentary: [Liam Lawless official author homepage for The Apocalypse is a Side Quest](https://liamlawless.com/)