Rating: 
Summary: Screwed by the Ashes
Review: Twenty years of reading this series, 1983-2003, thirty two volumes in all, and to have it end like this. What an insult to your loyal fans. I even went through the trouble and expense of having you autograph my first volume "Out of the Ashes" since I enjoyed this series so much. To say that this book is an "orphan stepchild" is an understatement. The characters and plot are so out of sync with the rest of the novels in this series it downright pathetic. Some examples: 1) SUSA; With no gun control whatsoever, where nearly every citizen is armed and trained, is easily disabled and thrown into turmoil by a few terrorists with guns and a bomb. No one seems to have a gun to fight back especially at the bank. Makes me wonder why I have a CCW permit and carry an H&K .45ACP nearly everywhere I go. 2) After the attacks on the school and bank, when one would think everyone would be on high alert, Buddy Raines, commando extraordinary, is easily sucked in by a staged automobile accident and killed with a knife. I saw it coming a mile away, why didn't he? 3) Alien microbes for cryin' out loud. 4) As for Ben Raines dying as he did, it brought to mind the scene in the movie "Tombstone" as Doc Holliday is dying in a hospital and his final words as he looks down at his bare bootless feet and says "damn". It is pointless to go on. Mr. Johnstone, your readers deserved better than this piece of hack trash to end a magnificent epic series. A better title would have been "Screwed by the Ashes".
Rating:
Summary: Ashes is the Ashes
Review: Unsurprising to learn of William W Johnstone's death in 2/04.
Given the errors in continuity and characters, plot line reminiscent of a high school writing project,and general apathy towards the series' style and ethos, I am uncertain which is more deplorable.
An attempt by the publisher to print "one more" book in a pathetic attempt to profit from a deceased writer, or their total insensitivity to his death, and lack of announcment and appreciation for his talents over the years.
The characters are two dimensional, wooden, and reminiscent more of puppets than the living breathing creations skillfully created and written by Mr. Johnstone.
Good-bye Mr. Johnstone, you were definitely a writer worthy of riding the river with... oh that we are as equally worthy. You provided us with hours of enjoyable entertainment with believable characters. We shall miss your tales.
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