Cheap Out of the Ashes (Book) (William W. Johnstone) Price

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Customer Reviews of Out of the Ashes

Fast Paced Epic Adventure... Pure Entertainment
America after a nuclear apocalypse? What a great idea! Not many writers are brave enough to tackle a subject matter like that, much less do it well. Sounds like an idea too big for one book? Have no fear, this is just book one in an ongoing series with continuing characters (currently 25 books and going strong!) If you don't agree with the author's political stance (an eye for an eye, let me live in complete freedom - the less government, the better), you might get annoyed with it. I rather enjoyed imagining a world where you truly get what you deserve. The book is chock-full of spys, action, twists, sex, humor, and moves very quickly. The simplicity of the writing didn't bother me, allowing me to finish it in 3 days. It also helps move it along.

As for the reviewer from Chicago, I'm surprised (and confused) that even though you didn't like the book, you read "seven other books" in the series. I would think that (giving it a rating of 1) would have you staying far away from them... but 7 others !? I guess you are hooked - whether you like it or not - like the thousands of other "Ashes" fans around the world! As for your comments on people not joining the militia if they had problems with the government... it's already (and has been for a while) happening in the south, with certain groups having hundreds of members. Knowing about some of the battles in history, it is not unrealistic for a few thousand people to die on one side and only lose a few hundred on the other... great leaders win great battles.

If you are tired of government and big business controlling 90% of everything in society, and would like to see what could happen without them, give this series a try. It's only in theory, of course, but it's a damn good one.

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William W. Johnstone hits big with series beginning.
As the author of "Strike Hard", I continually read books that piqued my interest. "Out of the Ashes", the first of the Ashes Series, was one of the most enjoyable that I have ever read. Ben Raines seems to be a reflection of William Johnstone, thus adding a lot of depth to the character. Johnstone manages to put the reader right in the middle of the war, and its aftermath, plunging the reader into a world where chaos exists. However, there is a desire to see things set right, and Ben Raines is the man for the job. From punks to outlaws, Ben manages to strive victoriously to clear the way for the rebirth of the country, in the way it was meant to be. First of a series, "Out of the Ashes" is a terrific stand-alone novel, as well as an enticing beginning to a wonderful series. It is a book that I never tire of reading.

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Atrociously Bad
Regardless of your political leanings, this book is an ill-conceived mess. The writing is barely above the fourth grade level, the characters are cardboard cutouts and the kindest thing that can be said about the plot is that it's absurdly choppy and uneven. The political views espoused by the author are so bizarre as to define explanation. The protaganist is presented as a far-right conservative who proceeds to excorciate the rich for failing to support the poor and seems to champion near-communistic wealth redistribution. Huh? Despite a right-wing, 'superpatriot'-initiated, worldwide military coup that has brought on armaggedon, every character is happy to blame the evil liberals for everything that has ever gone wrong in the history of the world. But it's not just the politics that make no sense: picture the scene where the protagonist calmly loads up on .45 ammo at a sporting goods store after complaining loudly several pages earlier that those damn liberals outlawed all personal firearms over three years ago. Johnstone creates such a lame apocalypse that the electicity is still on and his characters can cheerfully get gas at every gas station a full ten days after the nukes landed. If you absolutely must read right-wing, post-apocalyptic survivalist paperbacks, do yourself the favour of checking out James Axler's Deathlands books instead of this irredeemable drivel. Still, I have to give credit when it's due: most of this book is unintentionally hilarious.