Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Huntington House Pub (1999), Edition: 1st, 342 pages
Description
America faces a full-scale socioeconomic collapse in the near future. The stock market plummets, hyperinflation cripples commerce and the mounting crisis passes the tipping point. Practically overnight, the fragile chains of supply and high-technology infrastructure fall, and wholesale rioting and looting grip every major city. As hordes of refugees and looters pour out of the cities, a small group of friends living in the Midwest desperately try to make their way to a safe-haven ranch in northern Idaho. The journey requires all their skill and training since communication, commerce, transportation and law enforcement have all disappeared. Once at the ranch, the group fends off vicious attacks from outsiders and then looks to join other groups that are trying to restore true Constitutional law to the country. Patriots is a thrilling narrative depicting fictional characters using authentic survivalist techniques to endure the collapse of American civilization. Listening to this compelling, fast-paced novel could one day mean the difference between life and death.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member FredB
I listened to the first chapter of this book. The narration was fine. However, the book gave the impression that it was written by a right wing, bible-toting, militaristic kook, and so I lost interest. I looked the author up and found this to be the case.
LibraryThing member 7DogNight
A field manual with about two chapters of story attached as an after-thought. If one were to be pursuaded that any amount of preparation could insure one's survival amid the total collapse of the United States, then this is the book to have on hand. Unfortunately, this kind of preparation requires
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a minimum of a decade to complete. So, what'cha gonna do? Show Less
LibraryThing member gmicksmith
The writing is not up to par with the dramatic, and increasingly plausible scenario, but the novel holds your interest. The writer has an eye for detail and it appears as though he is thoroughly familiar with details of the terrain, topography, and the descriptions of the physical areas he
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describes. It may be helpful for those who would like to be self-sufficient even if they do not buy into the survivalist nature of his work. No one should be thinking it could never happen. It could. Show Less
LibraryThing member cmwilson101
Basically a survivalist manifesto - what to do to survive an apocalyptic event - with a little bit of story wrapped around the details of which guns to purchase, how to gird your house with shutters and extra thick doors, etc. Mr Rawles seems to know his stuff, and has actually written a survival
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manual, which no doubt is great (I haven't read it). But as far as stories go, this one wasn't well written. The characters are caricatures, the detail is tedious, and the moral of the story seems to be that Americans should never lose the right to bear arms because guns will ensure their survival if society breaks down. Show Less
LibraryThing member emed0s
All the reviews that I read before buying this book portrayed it as a collection of SOPs and valuable survival information made amenable through its novel form, not exactly what I think after reading it.
The valuable information and SOPs shouldn't enlighten anyone with, even the most basic,
Even worse I found the novel side of the book rather annoying. I kept on thinking that it read like something cooked up by a teenager with not literature knowledge whatsoever, finding that the author works as a technical writer was not surprise.
None of the characters has any depth, and what's worse the oversimplified female characters border on insulting ... and this comes from someone with the right kind of piping not an old fashioned feminist.
To round it the book turns to every American redneck cliche in existence. The good guys are all christians that spend their days praying (***SPOILER something that apparently turns them into invincible holy warriors SPOILER END***) the bad guys are the Federal government, the UN, the communists, ze Germans ... at least the author could have included some evil Muslims to keep his hatred up to date.
The valuable information and SOPs shouldn't enlighten anyone with, even the most basic,
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military/paramilitary/adventure training. And the fact that lots of paragraphs in the book are mere lists of equipment described to the point of listing the name of the company that produces the item and where it has its factories, besides being boring it amounts to little more than commercial catalog without pictures or prices, let alone the possibility of direct comparison between similar items or access to reviews from different users ... so internet would serve you better, and free, in this regard.Even worse I found the novel side of the book rather annoying. I kept on thinking that it read like something cooked up by a teenager with not literature knowledge whatsoever, finding that the author works as a technical writer was not surprise.
None of the characters has any depth, and what's worse the oversimplified female characters border on insulting ... and this comes from someone with the right kind of piping not an old fashioned feminist.
To round it the book turns to every American redneck cliche in existence. The good guys are all christians that spend their days praying (***SPOILER something that apparently turns them into invincible holy warriors SPOILER END***) the bad guys are the Federal government, the UN, the communists, ze Germans ... at least the author could have included some evil Muslims to keep his hatred up to date.
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LibraryThing member cwflatt
The book has changed my life. Not in a spiritual way but in a simple way of attempting to have my family and home protected and ready to defend if society ever collapses. You think that could never happen, but then think about huricanne Katrina, or Riots or Wildfires. There will be a time in your
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life when 911 will not and cannot answer. Are you prepared for that day? Show Less
LibraryThing member csweder
If the world were to collapse, right now...how prepared would you be? Would you have the food, medical supplies, weapons to fight off looters?
Well here is a story of people who WERE prepared, how they defended themselves and restarted society. :)
A little preachy perhaps, but a good book. :)
Well here is a story of people who WERE prepared, how they defended themselves and restarted society. :)
A little preachy perhaps, but a good book. :)
LibraryThing member csweder
If the world were to collapse, right now...how prepared would you be? Would you have the food, medical supplies, weapons to fight off looters?
Well here is a story of people who WERE prepared, how they defended themselves and restarted society. :)
A little preachy perhaps, but a good book. :)
Well here is a story of people who WERE prepared, how they defended themselves and restarted society. :)
A little preachy perhaps, but a good book. :)
LibraryThing member KylePratt
Militia-Style Survivalist Manual in a Fiction Format
Patriots is a TEOWAWKI , militia-style survivalist novel packed with information. While Patriots does mention stockpiling food and the use of non-hybrid seeds this is not a book about self-sufficiency. The premise of the novel is that an economic
With the United States in turmoil and collapse, the United Nations and at least some international banks have survived. Together they become the catalyst behind a provisional federal government that seeks to exert near dictatorial control over America. Frankly, I believe there is much more strength in the institutions of the United States than there ever was in the United Nations and so this plot scenario strained believability for me. However, when asked, James Rawles stated, “I made the scenario in the novel a near ‘worst case’ in order to make it more interesting reading, and as an opportunity to show the need for planning and preparedness in a variety of areas…”
Using the Crunch as a literary device Rawles packs the novel with data about guns, medicine, fuels, equipment and tactics. The book has been described in several online reviews as a “survival manual fairly neatly dressed as fiction.” Indeed it is much more entertaining than reading the facts in a reference book or manual. But this is also the greatest weakness. It is hard to pack facts into a novel without the author intruding into the story. Much of this story is told in the form of narration, as opposed to showing within the flow of the events. Characterization is weak. Both author intrusion and narration weaken the literary quality of the story but add to the amount of information Rawles packs into the book
Recommendation: The information is five-star, the literary quality is two star. Buy Patriots for the “survival manual,” not the fiction story.
Patriots is a TEOWAWKI , militia-style survivalist novel packed with information. While Patriots does mention stockpiling food and the use of non-hybrid seeds this is not a book about self-sufficiency. The premise of the novel is that an economic
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depression spirals out of control. The economy completely collapses, money becomes worthless, the mail stops, the power grid and phone system shuts down and the government at all levels disappears. In the story this period is understatedly call the Crunch, but no depression in the history of the United States has been nearly so severe. Even church services appear to stop for several years. With the United States in turmoil and collapse, the United Nations and at least some international banks have survived. Together they become the catalyst behind a provisional federal government that seeks to exert near dictatorial control over America. Frankly, I believe there is much more strength in the institutions of the United States than there ever was in the United Nations and so this plot scenario strained believability for me. However, when asked, James Rawles stated, “I made the scenario in the novel a near ‘worst case’ in order to make it more interesting reading, and as an opportunity to show the need for planning and preparedness in a variety of areas…”
Using the Crunch as a literary device Rawles packs the novel with data about guns, medicine, fuels, equipment and tactics. The book has been described in several online reviews as a “survival manual fairly neatly dressed as fiction.” Indeed it is much more entertaining than reading the facts in a reference book or manual. But this is also the greatest weakness. It is hard to pack facts into a novel without the author intruding into the story. Much of this story is told in the form of narration, as opposed to showing within the flow of the events. Characterization is weak. Both author intrusion and narration weaken the literary quality of the story but add to the amount of information Rawles packs into the book
Recommendation: The information is five-star, the literary quality is two star. Buy Patriots for the “survival manual,” not the fiction story.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
I assume that you've read the publisher's summary, so here's my take. This is 21+ hours about small unit army tactics, stuff you need should the USA ever collapse and a few tips on living without electricity. Great stuff for a long drive across "Texas?" So it's a fun, thought-provoking read, but
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not for everyone. If you are interested in guns, "this Bud's for you." If you voted for Obama and still like him, you'll probably toss this book after the first few pages. It was centered on Boville, Idaho...a site near the U of Idaho in Moscow...that made it interesting for me, but it could have been anywhere in the USA. I guess the author lives near Boville? Most of the Indian heritage that form the derevation of local names were pronounced correctly. One could interpret this book as a diatribe about survivalists and I think that it is. But, it's my first and as such, is interesting...some Christian and no Aryan nation stuff. It's 21+ hours contain research details that could be omitted and still have a cogent novel. As always, the tactical interactions are less of interest than the author's opinion about strategy, politics and outcome. It has an ending and that's not obvious until some new characters are dragged out and used in the last half hour--surprise! I wonder what's in the second book? Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
342 p.; 5.5 x 1 inches
ISBN
156384155X / 9781563841552