The Collapse

I listened to this book extremely fast! I cant tell if its just short or if I spent more time with it than I thought. But the narrative and plot are good; the best element being that its not bombastic or hyperbolic like doomsayers want these situations to be so they can prove themselves. The collapse is slow, awkward, and incredulous. And I like that. It feels real. The protagonist makes mistakes and is very human, despite his gut/God telling him the future.

Two things that I would fix: it seems that there are no rational females. Yes, it is typically an American male trait to be a protector, but that doesnt mean that only males can anticipate social instability and that all females in this book are irrational. I think female readers will see it this way. Also, Tate tries to make a point about racism and inclusion but instead it just reinforces stereotypes about Asians. Poorly executed, which is odd because the rest of the book and its predecessor is deftly executed.

Four or of five because although it grips me I still havent read anything that spoke to my soul. Yet, I anticipate I will.

I love these books, they kept me captivated and interested the whole way through.

First, lets get this out of the way: Glenn is not an author by trade, and it shows. The writing was clunky early on, however, he got MUCH better as the series went on. The books are also too short in my opinion, and I’d rather have them all in one large book if I had the choice. Both of these things do not warrant a lower rating in my opinion though.

Great content though. Really excellent. Gives the reader a lot to think about. How would you handle a situation like this?

Lots of good, detailed, realistic info in these books. It’ll definitely get you thinking about your emergency plans and survival skills.

I hope Glenn writes more books likes this with new stories. This Series would also make an excellent movie!

Book number two of a ten book financial apocalyptic series. I read the book in the POD (print on demand) trade paperback form. I do not know if there will be any more books in the series. I have purchased the third book in the series and am reading the series interspersed with Jack Reacher books which was recently recommended to me.

And the reason for the series roars into being. The Washington State government slams to a halt as the state financial picture continuously worsens and then the federal government EBT cards fail to fund. The welfare protestors start to gather in Olympia and Washington DC, effectively shutting the state and federal governments down.

The writing was better than the first book which was kind of stilted. Maybe the author hired an editor. Or two.

BTW, the 299 days author is quite the entrepreneur. He writes his books in 200+ page increments and sells them POD (print on demand) on Big River for $10 to $15 each. So if I buy the entire series, it will cost me around $140. And 70% of that goes into his pocket. Other authors would have made the series into 3 or 4 $15 books. Some people call that a ripoff, I call it maximizing your income.

The author lives in very blue state, Washington state, and his writing reflects that. Everything that happens there is on the down low. I am also sympathetic to his writing about having to conceal his prepping from his very progressive wife.

The 299 day author feels that the singularity is quite close. I disagree. I think that we have ten to twenty years before we get to reboot the financial system in the USA. But, I am assuming some linearity in the accumulation of federal debt. I may be dead wrong about that, I hope not. And the author has a website and blog.

This is the second book of the series by Glen Tate, and it continues to build the characters introduced in the first book with the kind of detail that you look for in only the best fiction writers. As I read, I began to know more about some of these characters than I do about many of my friends – and even family. The character development is phenomenal.
The plot developed is probably the most likely cause(s) for a collapse of the U.S. – economic collapse combined with government overreach. You don’t have to suspend your ‘belief’ with zombies, nuclear war or nationwide terrorist attacks. As you read, you realize that the author is carefully developing the scenarios that will probably occur, some have occurred already, and he just he takes it from there. The famous T.S. Eliot poem that poses; “Death with a whimper – not with a bang”, is fleshed out. The author weaves in characters whose livelihoods are being destroyed, and where laws have been weaponized – many of the public remain politically sidelined – normal human motivations and needs preside, all occurring at a rate, with the timeline of reality – a collapse scenario that is just plain scary in it’s believe-ability.

Despite all of this – the book is not ‘un-hopeful’ (I had to make up a word!). Through the eyes of many characters you see people who still believe in America – and in our ‘Polite Society’, as well as those who serve themselves, or who believe American values are severely flawed. The author continues to show, through his characters – that America – the great idea – the wonderful nature of the majority of our citizens – is still alive – constantly giving you hope….The shades of gray are captivating…

No worries, this book is not the end of the series, There is a time and season for everything.

I highly suggest this book – and the series – as perhaps a break-away from “Distopian” (spelling again?) fiction – bordering on probable reality – and presented – not through politics – but through the experiences of people.

Regards to all.

The most comprehensive analysis of a theoretical collapse and what a loving father and husband could have to do to look after his loved ones.

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