id like to add my input just for the hell of it. the first book was fantastic, and the way it read really gave you a feel that you picked up someones journal and started reading. the second book felt more like a regular novel, with chapters broken up into days/journal entries, rather then the typical chapter 1, 2, etc. the sheer length and depth of detail described in every ‘day’ was simply too much to conceivably be written down in a journal while escaping zombies.
this isnt a bad thing, and i loved reading every second of it. i was just wondering if Bourne wanted to go in a different direction with the second book, ie: novel instead of journal.
all the others mentioned. any survival manual will also give you good info. ive just started ‘one’. i dont think its a zombie book, as ive just gotten maybe 100 pages in so far. the basic premise is some massive cataclysmic event happened, and someone happened to be diving deep underwater, came up, and saw the entire earth scorched and dead. kind of a ‘last man on earth’ deal. it does give a good read, and some ideas as to what would you do if you found yourself the last man alive.
exheroes is a short, but very good zombie book. its about superhereos banding together after the ZPAW. gives an interesting, and very different view.
world war Z, zombie combat manual, zombie survival manual are all ZSHTF staples.
I deff. teared up. My Mother cried. Grandma cried. My GF flipped out and balled hysterically, not going to say what she said because it may give away parts of the book but it was hilarious to me, while she had tears all down her face. My cousin [female] cried on the plane from CA to NJ when she read it. Said people thought she was nuts.
Okay, I liked Patriots. There were parts that were too much detail but I understand why. The style was so so but still a good read… One Second After was very good although a touch depressing but then, it would be if it happened. Lucifer’s Hammer was interesting, it felt more sci fi and was dated but still a decent read. Lights Out was entertaining, I have it stored on my laptop for re-reading on the road. Day by Day Armegedon was witty and different. I’m not much of a Zombie man but enjoyed it, especially the flying part (have the private pilot license and know the area in Texas). Try Alas Babylon for some old school sci fi, sits in the same genre.
For what its worth, the sequel to Patriots will be coming out soon and he’s working on the third book right now…
Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life. by Neil Strauss.
I thought it was an interesting look into the journey of a Hollywood dickbeat author actually doing things to make him more self sufficient. I guess I saw it as a realistic approach to take baby steps in making yourself useful in a serious situation.
Warning: The first half is kind of a waste I though. He is basically worried about leaving the country more than survival. The second half is where you see him take a different approach to survival and self-sufficiency. I thought it was good and it seemed to really change the authors life.
Pull out the old foxfire books and the boy scout handbook.
Avoid Myke Hawke, Bear Grylls, and other poseurs! There are enough real deal teachers out there that teach and write. You don’t need to get into the “Tracker/Scout” ethos of Tom Brown either.
it doesn’t matter if the terrain is Urban or outback, the basics are the same!
neil needs to stick to picking up drunk girls in clubs and stay the hell away from disaster planning. he is the last person id ever take survival advice from.
Another vote for ‘One Second After’ and ‘Lucifer’s Hammer’ (which I am re-reading now)
Let me know when you cry. There is a section of the book that has made every guy I know who read it get misty eyed at the bare minimum.
Darn you guys! Now I’m going to have to hunt this down to see what all the fuss is about. :laugh:
I have been a voracious reader my whole life, so it’s nice to see a thread for books. Nice to know some people still read just for the hell of it.
On another note- I read Patriots too.
I have to say I’m about 60/40 against. I thought some of it was interesting to think about, and I liked how he went with a more possible financial meltdown, as opposed to the usual other stuff.
After that, I thought it was pure fantasy, and really unbelievable at points.
Oh please tell me he has a good editor. Please. Think of the children.
I think that is a fairly good read on it. He did put some things in there that seemed pure dime store novel material. Having said that I do think it is a good book to read when you look at the data in it and the way it makes you think.
I apologize if I sound like a snob when it comes to this book but I know too many authors and agents and am such a voracious reader that stuff like this just sticks out like counting the rounds being shot out of the good guys 1911 in a movie and then calling BS.
I don’t hate it. Like I said its got oodles of information and I have to give Rawls credit for putting what is basically a how too book into an entertaining and to one degree or another engaging form to read. On that alone it is worth reading and I would suggest it to anyone
However his literary skill and story telling ability sucks big time. I can excuse a lot of the over the top stuff that happened. It is after all a work of fiction. Having said that he really needed a hard core editor / ghost writer to help him out. The premise of the book was good. However the characters were 2, if not 1 dimensional and to one degree or another were stereotypical. I felt also that he wrote the universe that the characters live in as he would like to see life, not as it is in reality. He did thankfully not include a “Mary Sue” in the story as far as I can tell. So he gets credit for that.
Again I suggest the book, just be forewarned of some of the pitfalls in it.
I just wanted to thank everyone… when this thread started, I really didn’t give it long before it fell to the general rule:
So, here is the rub… this is not a forum to discuss how political, social, economical or extra-terrestrial influences may lead to things going awry. Please feel free to discuss steps to take in preparation for Natural Disaster, Civil Unrest, Terrorist Attack or the Collapse of Key Infrastructure; but please, no speculation, prediction, news or warnings of how/why/when any of these may happen.
But this has remained largely a review of the factual content and quality of writing - gotta love the crowd here. Thanks again.
I read “Patriots”, “How to Survive the End of the World as we Know it” and “One Second After”. I dont think any have tons of great info specifically on survival or anything but they motivated me to take more action on the subject.
I just finished (a few hours ago), a book called “Earth Abides”. It might be my favorite “SHTF” book Ive ever read. Really there is no useful information in it, but its just a great interesting read. It’s a great read and really makes you think, I’d highly suggest it!
I’ve read “Patriots”. I agree ith most. I like his premise of an economic melt down versus some of the other scenarioes, definately more realistic. The 1st half or so was OK. I also liked that he carried this out, i.e. it didn’t just get resolved overnight. It certainly makes you realize that if the SHTF, then you need to be ready for the long term, not a quick weekend getaway. I really thought the 2nd half wasn’t as good. I just didn’t buy his premise of UN troops and all that. And yes the characters were all pretty much sterotypes.
I’m in the process of reading all of the Change Series books by S.M. Stirling, the 1st one being “Dies the Fire” Realistic, maybe not, but great reading.
I read “Alas Babylon” way back in High School. Great story, but remember, it takes place 50 years ago! In the middle of the Cold War.
On a slightly different note, John Ringo’s “The Last Centurian” is in the same subject matter, but the MeltDown is Global Warming/Cooling and a flu pandemic. If you’re familiar with John Ringo’s writting, then you know what to expect. His political (and other) views definately come through his main character. Not a lot of real survival info, but a good read anyway?
Now I need to go buy “One Second After” and “Lucifer’s Hammer” to see what everyone is talking about. Thanks More books to Read!
