Phoenix Rising by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh my! Another Johnstone book that’s getting low marks from me. It was just a couple months ago I was wondering if I would find one. This makes about four.

Thee problem in this book is the premise that America could crash and burn so quickly. It completely ignores the economic forces that would not let this happen and the political ocean that would also not let this happen.

It’s a reason I’ve told so many friends not to worry so much about the current president and what they feel is some sort of takeover. It’s possible – though i think extremely unlikely – that Obama has tried some sort of takeover as some suspect. But the actual forces that move our country along would snap into place and stop any attempt like that. It’s the only rope I’ll give to the theorists of a takeover: It might have happened, been stopped and we’ll never know there was even an attempt. As I wrote earlier, i don’t believe this has, or will, happen.

This book is clearly riding the wave of those thinking that Obama is a muslim and is out to doom America. The names have been changed, but the intent is almost as much satire as an action/ adventure story. It’s also clear that the TV/radio fellow depicted is based upon Glenn Beck, who, to a lesser extent than portrayed here, has been very vocal about actions taken and the possible results. His views are grounded in facts. This book takes those views and propels them to melodramatic levels – as this book generally is throughout.

As the takeover business settles, about 250 pages in, the book also starts to settle and become more practically readable. Basically what makes the westerns so good comes into play and the rest of the book is good.

This book is another of the survivalist books that is part of the Johnstone cadre. I’m no fan of science fiction or fantasy. This fits well in the genre, but isn’t packaged that way. It should be.

Despite this review kicking the book around, I’m moving on to Part 2. Hoping the latter part of this book will be found in the second of the series.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book.

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