Rating: 
Summary: TEOTWAWKI
Review: This is the best survivalist novel written, hands down. Some people are put off by the characters being Christians and that's probably why you will need the information in this book. It is a virtual encyclopedia of survival techniques, from tactical SOP to emergency medicine. It puts a lot of dry, technical information into a very readable, entertaining format. Highly reccommended for your survival library.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting read.
Review: Something of a novel and survivalist guide wrapped up in one package. The amount of detail James goes into is enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Frighteningly plausible...
Review: ...yet inspiring. This well written novel offers an insightful look forward into a not so distant and not so bright future. A truly compelling story that grants us a hopeful finish. All Americans should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting view of the future
Review: Rawle's novel is also a learning experience for hard times. Even if things never get that extreme the lessons he paints can stand us in good stead for the uncertain times ahead, particularly with terrorist threats on our horizon. It is clear that he believes we are ultimately responsible for our own safety, then only can we help others.
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Summary: The Best Survivalist Novel I've Read - Period!
Review: This is a whompin' good novel. I can't recommend it more highy. I liked it so much that bought several more copies to give out as gifts. The best thing about the novel is that not only does it get you thinking about what might happen, but it SHOWS YOU exactly how to prepare, what to store, and how to train to get prepared. If you haven't already read "Patriots", do yourself a big favor and buy a copy. In fact you should buy two copies. (Speaking from experience: if you lend it out, it will be a difficult book to get back!)
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Summary: Excellent book
Review: I read this book cover to cover a few times.The beginning of the book outlining in detail the collapse is really something else. I suggest this book to anyone that is seriously interested in surviving the coming collapse
Rating: 
Summary: Survivalist manual: 3 stars. Novel: 1 star
Review: Your liking or disliking of this book will depend on whether or not you share Mr. Rawles hard-core survivalist mindset. While the book is ostensibly a novel, it reads more like an outline of a novel, heavy on technical details of survivalism, particularly guns, and on Mr. Rawles' daydreams about how he personally plans to save the world and give all the globalist conspiracies their comeuppance, come Judgment Day.
As a novel, the book is almost unreadable. Most sentences are written in the passive voice and use various forms of "to be" as the sole verbs. Characters have no personality, dialogue is stilted, and plot flows along at the speed of cold molasses. But if you're deeply into survivalism, you may find that Mr. Rawles' fantasies resonate with your own, and you may not care that he writes at a grade-school level of proficiency.
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Summary: don't let this book be your only warning
Review: In this gripping novel, only a few in America are prepared when the schumer hits the fan: the Fed monetizes debt and fires up the printing presses; stock market collapses; no cash to be found. No we're not there (yet?). But are we headed in the right direction or the wrong direction? This book is disturbing, not because of the similarities with current events, but because I laid awake at night wondering, "What if?" "What would I do?" evolves into "What can I do now before it's too late?" The novel's characters learn the hard way that "hindsight is 20/20." The author cleverly uses that mantra to show us their mistakes ahead of time. Now that I have been warned, who's fault is my own unpreparedness? I suppose some readers will throw down the book, because their own ineptness and unpreparedness is reflected back at them and they cannot accept the consequences. What's wrong with cancelling your satellite television and learning to garden instead? Why not go to the grocery and buy a case of peaches at a time. You'd buy them anyway, right? Do you have the resolve to buy ammo cheap and stack it deep? What's wrong with taking a first aid course? TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it) is an exciting genre and this book is a great introduction to it.
Rating:
Summary: Very Real and Informative
Review: More than a novel, this is a classic survival manual placed solidly within a plausible context of economic collapse and social unrest in our beloved United States of America. Granted, from a purely literary point of view, it is rough around the edges - but that can be forgiven since this is a first novel. In truth, as a practical manual and reference book relating to the Jeffersonian concept of eternal vigilance, it's hard to come by a better, more well-balanced book. When the credentials of its author - a former Army intelligence officer - are taken into account, its wisdom is further enhanced. Above all, this is a book that should appeal to a wide readership. It successfully distances itself from the ranks of the raving ultra-rightists and wide-eyed doomsday prophets with its excellent balance of practical skills and religious and political moderation. Whereas Rawles has been stamped as a "survivalist", don't take him to be another of the myriad Chicken Littles of modern times, running around and bemoaning the falling sky. More than mere survival, Rawles addresses the essence of our cultural and sociopolitical heritage, and shows us that surviving at the cost of those values is foolish - and for that insight, his book is to be praised even if it did not contain anything else of value. That it does contain much more of value makes it required reading for any serious citizen who understands the necessity of our collective patriotic duties. - Benjamin Gene Gardner
Rating:
Summary: "Patriots" is a good read and full of useful information.
Review: I laughed, I cried, I bought deisel fuel.
This novel is based on the very possible premise of a societal
collapse brought about by economic disaster. Our
economy is more fragile than we think and the latest
downturn helped along by 9-11-01 are evidence of it. The main characters are people who share an interest
in the possibility of collapse and in preparing for
and surviving it together. Each has their own
talents and skills to bring to the table. The characters
are beleivable and the dialogue is well done. I read the book practically in one sitting. This is a novel, but it is full of good information about a variety of subjects in the area of self-sufficient living.
As the author points out, many people live self-sufficient lives
already in some parts of the country (in Northern Idaho for
example). Good book. Read it and think about what it teaches.
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