Collapse

Collapse is awsome!!!!!!!!

I can not wait for the entire book to come out. It has a great story line, well thought out ideas. When i read it i could not put it down.

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Collapse by Richard Stephenson is an amazing book. Well-written

Collapse by Richard Stephenson is an amazing book. Well-written and
well-plotted. The cast of characters are well fleshed out and
believable, each in their own right. From the Asperger’s
multi-billionaire Howard Beck with his own HAL computer, to Maxwell
Harris, a crippled chief of police with an amount of honor and dignity
lost in our current world, to Richard Dupree, an escaped con who only
wants to find his children. They all come together in an America that
Stephenson has made terrifyingly real in the near future. An America
falling apart on its way to Armageddon.

Best read I've had this year. Very interesting story, lots of gr

Best read I've had this year. Very interesting story, lots of great characters. I hope the story will continue in another book.

Terror, tragedy and a world in chaos. The year is 2027 and Ameri

Terror, tragedy and a world in chaos. The year is 2027 and America as we know it is no longer. The second great depression is taking its toll on the American people, who are beginning to lose faith that their beloved country will rise again. This intriguing tale by Richard Stephenson was skillfully written and provided a terrifying glimpse into a future of what could be. I won't divulge any details as they've already been posted through other reviews, but I do highly recommend this enlightening read (even if it isn't something you would normally pick up).

Richard Stephenson’s debut novel held me in its grip from

Richard Stephenson’s debut novel held me in its grip from start to finish. Based in the not so distant future, the background for Collapse is a frightening projection ripped from today’s headlines. In the context of today’s Western financial crisis and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Stephenson’s dystopian setting does not come across as a far-fetched fictional ploy, but rather one of several worst case scenarios developed by Beltway think-tanks.

The year is 2027. The war with the new Empire of Iran is not going well. America’s heartland resembles a scene from Mad Max, with the newly formed Unified National Guard barely keeping control on the streets. The unemployment rate is no longer a relevant measure of the economy, because the employed are in the minority. America is still a super power, but that distinction is fading rapidly.

This is the backdrop for a fast paced, character driven story that explores the best and worst of humanity. The reader will be introduced to a host of characters, all with a role to play in the outcome of this sweeping apocalyptic tale. Character development is one of Stephenson’s strongest skills, bringing each character’s motivations and background to light at the right time, in the right place. You won’t find cardboard cut-outs in this story, but watch out…the author often spends time developing characters that meet an untimely fate.

Most of all, Stephenson tells a riveting tale that starts with a bang and doesn’t lose momentum. There is just the right amount of “telling,” where you learn about the background leading up to the war with the Empire of Iran or American’s financial collapse. Most of the story is told from the characters’ perspective, where you will find them battling through incredible circumstances…eventually winding up on the same journey. Stephenson effectively employs the popular, yet often poorly executed strategy of alternating between characters in different settings. The tension escalates in each of his scenes, culminating in several mini-finales. I found myself reading with rapt attention, but constantly looking forward to getting back to the other main characters’ stories.

I would give Stephenson’s debut 4.5 stars. My only complaint was that some of the technology available to one of the main characters seemed unrealistic for 2027. The character is Howard Beck, the wealthiest man in the world, and likely the most intelligent. Stephenson’s incredible imagination shines brightly here, but I found myself slightly distracted by the disparity between what I found inside his compound and outside. In retrospect, I understand what the author was trying to accomplish. In the face of abject dystopia, Beck’s wealth and genius has allowed him to keep pace with the world that ‘could: have developed. Likely far exceeding it. Perhaps it would be like walking into Bill Gate’s house today, which would be an experience nearly unrecognizable to most of us.

If you like post-apocalyptic scenarios, this story will fully satisfy your hunger for gritty, unapologetic “end of the world” literature.

The story is set in the year 2027 and in the middle of The Secon

The story is set in the year 2027 and in the middle of The Second Great Depression. One hurricane has already destroyed a coastline and hundreds of life in its wake and a second one has already set its target. As if that is not enough to test the Americans, the Middle East has united as one and has created an intimidating army and there are terrorists are on American soil. Can things get any worse? Who can save the day?

Howard Beck, Richard Dupree and Maxwell Harris are three regular men – well almost average if you can overlook the fact that one is the richest man with Asperger’s syndrome, the second an ex-Navy Seal turned convict and the third is a crippled chief of Police. They need to save themselves first and survive in order to fight the most daunting tasks set ahead of them.

Do they manage it? Who knows?? The 7 chapter sneak peak has merely managed to set the scene and give a taste of what’s to come. And if these 7 chapters are any indication of what the book is like, well then, get ready for hordes of action, drama and suspense. It has got into such a great rhythm that I can hardly wait for the book to be out!!!

This has to be one of the most gripping beginning EVER!!!

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