I was going to purchase a copy of ,Rawles’ new book the other day,( Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse
Notes From The Bunker
I was going to purchase a copy of ,Rawles’ new book the other day,( Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse
I’ve got it but probably won’t get a chance to read it until this weekend.
Have you read the second book, Survivors?
Steelheart
Yup. Wasn’t sure what the point of it was except to maybe set the stage for another book.
Well I finished Founders earlier tonight. The short answer is to wait until you find it cheap if you want to buy it. DON’T pay full price, half price maybe.
There are many sections of excessive bible thumping where my eyes glazed over and I just skimmed until I found where the book picked up again.
The skipping around of the story lines was annoying. I agree with the other people that this should have been combined with Survivors. Many of the story lines were either back story on that plot line or continued it forward.
After this and the last one I’m not willing to pay full price for anything else Rawless writes in this series. I think the bible thumping is getting more prevalent (or I just haven’t read Patriots in a while). I understand that he’s a devout Christian but he’s not gaining any converts by how he writes (this is a topic for some other place and time however).
Steelheart
Buddy of mine bought the kindle version and was utterly disappointed in it by hoping it would be better than book 2. But the constant bible thumping, really wore him down & storyline jumping around just like in Book #2. Don’t worry Cmdr – the Rawles fanboy’s and girls will run to his rescue. Even if #3 is total garbage, in their eyes he can do no wrong what so ever and will defend him.
Book 2 – second verse
You have people who apparently could read through all the blow by blow details of book one talking about skippling over large sections.
One of the positive reviewers liked it because of the suggested amendments to the constitution in chapter 28.
Why would you read an action/adventure novel to get an understanding of the workings and flaws of our constitution?
And all of this from the serious Kool Aid drinkers. I’ll wait till it gets cheap.
I wouldn’t consider myself a Rawles fanboy, but I do appreciate his blog and the sharing of knowledge throughout the prepper community. That being said…
Book one, “Patriots”, loved it for what it was: A how-to manual wrapped up loosely in poorly written fiction.
Book two, “Survivors”, tolerated it because I wanted to hear the rest of the story.
Book three “Founders”, WTF? It’s over-the-top preachy and so distracting that I almost didn’t go past chapter three. I only read the rest because again, I wanted to hear the rest of the story.
To say it was disappointing would but the understatement of the month. I’ll continue to read the blog daily, but in the future I will only get his books from the library for free.
Thanks for your blog, which I also read daily, and appreciate very much.
J Dubs in sunny Florida
I finished reading it today. It is an ok read and was marginally worth buying. However it was not his best and did not give any new tips or ideas for those who regularly read every new post on his Survival Blog. Didn’t have a problem with “Bible thumping” There was too much repeat (e.g. the Layton’s story) from previous books. This book and Survivors could have been edited and combined into one book.
I finished it early wednesday morning. I enjoyed it, though it certainly didnt measure up to patriots. There were some interesting concepts, but mostly it was hammering on old nails. If you was disappointed by Survivors i wouldnt read founders.
I’m a reasonable facsimile of a ,Rawles “fanboy”.
I have all 3 books, purchased this latest one 15 minutes after B&N opened Tuesday, and devoured it in a day.
Having said that, the “preachiness” really annoyed the crap out of me, repeatedly and consistently. (And doctrinally I’m probably within thumb and forefinger distance of ,Rawles’ beliefs).
Rereading the Laytons’ storyline, with nothing substantially added, took my annoyance to the level of being quite pissed.
Finally, after having set up any number of characters and storylines in Book 2, ,Rawles left the whole kit and kaboodle twisting in the wind, with the barest nod at fulfilling any hopes of fresh info. I can hang with hopscotching around among a number of plotlines, but there has to be some payout of character and plot development. “Founders”, unlike either “Patriots” or “Survivors”, was almost wholly bereft of any of that.
In short, I feel as if I got the product of 3×5 card outline notes composed while sitting in the lavatory thinking room, wrapped in leftovers and Bible study notes, rather than a mature novel.
A serious editor familiar with the first two books would have redlined about 95% of this latest offering, and sent J.W. back to the word processor to finish his homework. I can’t recommend “Founders” in any way, shape, or form, and humbly suggest that Mr. Rawles either devote the requisite time needed to writing a better follow-up, or else drop this before he thoroughly embarasses himself. (And if there is one, the next novel should come out at a 25% discount just to apologize for the current stinker.)
Consider this review tough love from someone expecting far, far better than what we got. Twenty yards of bookshelves attest to my love and enjoyment of published works. “Founders” may be that rare work that I dump off at the Used Book Store’s bargain bin, if I could bear the thought of inflicting it on some unsuspecting bystander.
Alas, I’m not that cruel.
Regretfully,
-Aesop
If you want to save yourself a few dollars:
1) Get a book on animal husbandry, tear out all the pages
2) Get a couple US Cavalry catalogs, tear out all the pages
3) Get a handful of Jack Chick tracts, tear out all the pages
4) Randomly mix and bind all those pages together
5) Save yourself $$$
wow, lmfao!
I enjoyed the first and last book, was not outstanding but I did learn a few things.
I will wait for the price to come down or find it used.
Book One was the only good book in the series. Book two was a disappointment to me, and didn’t tell a good story, or impart much knowledge. Unfortunately I bought book two in hardback form and returning it might have been more trouble than it was worth. I bought book three in Kindle, hoping for the best, and when I found the same problems as other readers are noting, I was able to return it for a refund. I wouldn’t bother with buying it.
I had a positive opinion of Rawles after reading the initial book in the 90s, and met him in person once some years back. However, the more recent books leave a lot to be desired, and as someone else mentioned, he seems to have developed a very cult like following in some ways and I’m sure they’ll circle the wagons. I really doubt I’ll go to the trouble to buy any future books from him.
One word horrible. Just that simple. I feel as tho I was robbed. Don’t waste your time or money seriously
Y’all should form a writers group with him. Sounds like he needs a friend to tell him he has a booger on his cheek before he goes out in public with it.
You know the funny part is that plenty of people told him that ‘Survivors’ sucked, and instead of taking it as honest advice he lashed out and called those people Racists, and whined on his blog about being unfairly attacked. I think JR Rawles operates at a different wavelength than the average Joe on the streets (aka – he thinks his shit doesn’t stink).
i have to admit that i did enjoy chuckling at some of the comments. i loved Patriots…forced myself to still be excited after Chapter 1 of Survivors…dropped Survivors somewhere in the middle of Chapter 5 and never forced myself to ever pick it up again and i am a person that enjoys reading VCR manuals and shampoo bottles in Spanish (i don’t speak nor read Spanish)! so there was no way in heck that i was putting money out for Founders. and after reading these comments, i wouldn’t read it if it was given to me for free!
let us know when you finish it! your friend,
kymber
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I was on the fence about getting this book. Loved Patriots, but was confused and disappointed by Survivors. Sounds like this new one is a stale fart. Thanks for sharing your impressions of it and saving me a few dollars that will now be used for ammo.
I read the first two books of the 299 days series by Glen Tate – decent stuff. It’s not total collapse stuff like Patriots, but things get plenty bad enough for a good shtf setting. He’s got 10 or so in the series which will be released every couple of months.