A RIDGE UNIVERSE READER GUIDE
Explore the Ridge
Meet the neighbors, explore the terrain, and discover the isolated rural community at the center of The Ridge Plan.
More Than a Place on a Map
The Ridge is a small rural community tucked into the forested foothills of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Its residents are connected by winding roads, shared boundaries, and the reality that help is never close at hand.
Before the grid failure, they were simply neighbors. Afterward, the distance between their homes, the roads connecting them, and the terrain surrounding them begin to shape every decision they make.
The Ridge is fictional. This map has been deliberately altered and is intended only to help readers understand the community and the relationships among its locations.
Tom Donovan - Ranger One
Proficient prepper, field leader, security chief, and logistics planner. Analytical, quiet, and conviction-driven; leads without theatrics through consistency and competence. Calm under pressure, strategically cautious yet optimistic, and deeply grounded by his partnership with Claire.
Claire Donovan- Nexus One
Strategic planner and continuity-of-operations (COOP) lead. Precise, systems-oriented former intelligence analyst who spots cascading failures early. Analytical, quietly authoritative, and a cautious optimist who translates foresight into practical preparation.
John Harlan, MD — Patch One
Retired ER physician and medical anchor. Strong-willed, opinionated, and stubborn when he believes he’s right; decisive under pressure and values capability and results over credentials or theory.
Susan Harlan — Patch Two
Retired OR nurse, morale keeper, and community-kitchen founder. Warm, motherly, and emotionally perceptive; defuses tension with gentle humor and quietly keeps people fed, functional, and connected.
Helen Bauer — Nexus Two
Elder advisor and keeper of Walter’s doctrine. Quietly strong, observant, and measured; brings long-view perspective, crisis-hardened judgment, and a steadying presence shaped by a lifetime of high-stakes uncertainty.
Alan Brooks
Measured, process-oriented former CFO. Conflict-avoidant, institutionally minded, and highly competent within structured systems; slow to adapt when those systems fail.
Brenda Brooks
Quietly competent Master Gardener. Industrious, adaptable, and focused on practical, visible results rather than ideology or deliberation.
Melissa Robinson — Ranger Two
U.S. Army Sergeant First Class and primary security leader. Reserved, direct, and disciplined; mission-focused, controlled under pressure, and deeply reliable.
Trust is earned slowly; she leads through competence rather than volume.
Luke Carson — Patch Three
Diagnostic radiologist. Highly analytical, methodical, and status-conscious; places strong value on formal credentials and institutional systems, and is uncomfortable when those structures disappear.
Sofia Carson — Patch Four
Former registered nurse and part-time athletic instructor. Grounded, practical, and more adaptive than her husband; watches people closely and adjusts when reality contradicts theory.
Harold Bishop
County road maintenance foreman and hobby farmer. Practical, steady, and unpretentious; values preparation, maintenance, and prevention. Direct communicator who prefers fixing problems quietly before they become visible.
Jenny Bishop
Part-time librarian, observant strategist, and the organized force behind their hobby farm. Composed, detail-oriented, and quietly incisive; manages planting schedules, the greenhouse, and the practical side of growing food while noticing what others miss..
Fred Holzhauer — Ranger Six
Retired Air Force KC-135 pilot and communications specialist. Disciplined, methodical, and calmly confident; leads without drama and brings structured planning and technical depth to the Ridge.
Linda Holzhauer
Culinary organizer and logistics partner. Creative, industrious, and highly organized; turns limited resources into nourishing meals and quietly keeps people grounded and functional.
Zach Holzhauer — Ranger Three
ROTC cadet and youthful physical asset. Disciplined, eager to prove himself through hard work, and fiercely loyal once respect is earned; prioritizes the welfare of others.
Jonas Nystrom — Ranger Four
Backcountry and mechanical specialist. Quietly competent, deeply skilled in terrain, tracking, foraging, and field repair; practical, grounded, and a patient teacher.
Elsa Nystrom — Ranger Five
Environmental protection specialist and crisis coordinator. Calm, deliberate, and highly observant; the procedural voice of safety who steps forward when others hesitate.
Caleb Nystrom — Falcon One
Junior scout and aerial observer. Respectful, eager, and quietly prepared beyond his years; learns systems quickly when they have real-world purpose.
Hannah Nystrom
Organizer-in-training and morale spark. Spirited, determined, and naturally administrative; keeps lists, notices what’s missing, and brings energy into tense spaces.
The Ridge Community
The Ridge is not a fortified compound or a planned survival community. It is a collection of rural properties occupied by people with different backgrounds, skills, priorities, and levels of preparedness.
When normal systems fail, these separate households must decide whether they can become something more.
See What Happens When the Grid Goes Down
On January 1, the grid fails.
For the people living on the Ridge, the first challenge is understanding what has happened. The next is deciding whom to trust, what to protect, and whether a group of ordinary neighbors can become the community they will need to survive.