Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse

I have read much better novels. Patriots was okay, but not great

I have read much better novels. Patriots was okay, but not great. Give
up on Rawles and read some GREAT novels.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

I found this book disappointing

After reading PATRIOTS (written by the same author) which I found difficult to put down, I found that plot in this book progressed too slow for my liking.

I prefer a story to be completed in its entity in one book. This one appears to be paving the way for another book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

was dissapointed

Not in the same league with "patriots", very disappointing. Seemeed like a half-hearted attempt at a writing. I like Rawles and follow his blog but will not buy another book if this is what he going to be putting out.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I kept waiting for it to get better

I enjoyed Patriots, and looked forward to this book (even pre-ordered it). It started off slow. I expected this, and kept waiting for it to pick up. I got about half way through it, and was still waiting for it to pick up the action. 3/4 of the way through, and I was still waiting. Then I was done, and I was still waiting. It's not a "bad" read, just not the exciting times that I was expecting. It reads more like a technical manual than a survival type novel. I was glad to see some amateur (Ham) radio info in it, as I am a Ham and like to see the hobby expanded.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Although the story concept was OK I could only read it by skippi

Although the story concept was OK I could only read it by skipping the chapter beginning quotes, the biblical references and discussions of the bible. Beyond that it was far from complete and with very little action. It's appears to be written as a political book and is derogatory of Ian's (a main character) commander in chief, the popularly elected President of the United States.

My least favorite of the three Patriots books. This book mainly

My least favorite of the three Patriots books. This book mainly focuses on one military member making his way from Europe back home to the US after the economy collapses.

Where is the rest of the story?

Way too much prayer & bible study - too little character development and the book/story just ended leaving this reader unsatisfied and the nucleus of a good story incomplete.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good reading for a boring night

i have read all of Rawles's books. As a work of fiction it was very entertaining. I will say this, this prequel comes nowhere near the caliber of "Patriots" I was grossly dissapointed in Survivors. the story seemed seemed like it was written in a jr high writing class. Too much time was spent on redundant detail like radio codes and weapons instruction. To me that is wasteful writing unless there is nothing else to write about. Total trivial filler IMHO. Good ? Yes. Great ? No. Maybe Mr. Rawles should concentrate on character and plot development instead of pushing his religous agenda. I expected more from him. Thinking this would take me 2-3 days to read I finished it in one night . Not what I would call a real gripper. James, you can do better.

Almost got me.

Half way through the book I was seriously considering buying a gun. The read is fast paced and disturbing but does make one think. Fortunately I have read enough history that I can realize that this dismal future is very unlikely even in the worst of worst case scenarios. But it is an emotionally engaging story that moves fast and sheds some light on the way the survivalist reasons, or tries to reason.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Had Great Potential - Way Too Much Going on to Follow

This story takes place just as the United States' economy crashes. The first thing that happens is the dollar becomes increasingly useless. Silver, gold, or barter is the way many people end up getting goods. But others try to rob, loot, or kill to make their own way. This story follows several people as they struggle to survive in the crunch.

Andy Laine is in Afghanistan and sees how everything is working toward a crash. He gets himself some off base supplies and makes a plan to get back home to his family.

Lars Laine is Andy's brother. He is living on the family farm trying to keep everyone safe and the farm running. He is a veteran that was injured during his service.

Ian and Blanco Doyle are ex-military that first try to get their daughter then provide security for a group of homeowners for a place to stay.

Ignacio Garcia is the leader of a gang that start looting to feed all in the group.

Matthew, Reuben, and Shadrack Phelps are orphans that are sent out on their own. They find Lars Laine and help out on the farm.

Sheila Randall has her son and mother and starts a general store to help out others in the little town she moves to.

The story is full of truth. The way events happen in the book, I can easily see the same thing happening in the country today. The value of the dollar crashing, only silver, gold, or barter used for transactions, and how people rob, steal, or kill for things they need. I really liked the different quotes at the beginning of each new section. They really make you thing about human nature.

Sadly there is just way too much happening in this story. You follow way too many people and not always in the same time frame. There will be a not at the top of each section that tells who is being followed in that section and when. The problem comes when you read about Andy in November then Lars in January or Ian twenty years prior.

Also, there was way too much information. There is exact figures for how the dollar rate goes down every day, all the acronyms for the military things, exact short hand for the radio, and even a three page list of who all the characters are. I couldn't keep up with most of it and ended up skimming through a lot of the book.

I couldn't finish this book. It just bounced everywhere, had way too much information, and too many characters to follow. It has good potential for a end of the country book, but I couldn't stick with it.

I received this book for free from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab in exchange for an honest opinion.

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