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Rating: 
Summary: "The Stand" On Crack
Review: A certain Aunt visited awhile back and told us about a wonderful book a friend of hers had written. Well, being that this Aunt is just about the friendliest person in the world and rarely has anything bad to say about anyone or anything, the title of the book just slipped from my mind. Well a few weeks later I stopped over at my parents for dinner and my mother threw a book in my face along with the words "Read this, you won't put it down until you're finished!" Well, believe it or, the old gals were right on the money! Jim has created a wonderful tale about the end of the world from the point of view of an average joblo. The best way I can describe it is "The Stand" (one of the highest compliments I can give Jim) on crack and minus the religous overtones. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to just about anyone and will be ordering it myself as soon as I finish this review (gotta get Jim those royalty checks so he can continue the series!).
Rating:
Summary: "The Stand" On Crack
Review: A certain Aunt visited awhile back and told us about a wonderful book a friend of hers had written. Well, being that this Aunt is just about the friendliest person in the world and rarely has anything bad to say about anyone or anything, the title of the book just slipped from my mind. Well a few weeks later I stopped over at my parents for dinner and my mother threw a book in my face along with the words "Read this, you won't put it down until you're finished!" Well, believe it or, the old gals were right on the money! Jim has created a wonderful tale about the end of the world from the point of view of an average joblo. The best way I can describe it is "The Stand" (one of the highest compliments I can give Jim) on crack and minus the religous overtones. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to just about anyone and will be ordering it myself as soon as I finish this review (gotta get Jim those royalty checks so he can continue the series!).
Rating: 
Summary: Postamble...a view of the not so distant future.
Review: Having finished Townshend's Postamble, I found it an engaging read yet still missing some key pieces. Set in the aftermath of a global apocolypse, one man struggles to make sense of his new world, sans human interaction. The first part of the book deals with his search for humanity and the survivalist methods the hero implements. After believing that he is the only survivor of the "event", he begins to meet up with other survivors. Several species of alien beings begin to appear and the suspense of what lies ahead keeps you reading. The books drawback is the presence of the aliens. Had the encounters been set up better and been more descriptive, they might have had the desired impact. Instead, they come off as merely filler and don't have any real relevance to the story other than to provide periodic vignettes that take away from the current man vs. isolation story line. With that, it is still a very good book. I found myself reading it for longer time periods than I usually do...it is engaging and keeps you interested. The local descriptions of West Michigan, give an excellent visual of whats happening as you can relate to the areas described within. If you enjoy the science fiction genre, this book would make a welcome addition to your collection...
Rating:
Summary: Postamble...a view of the not so distant future.
Review: Having finished Townshend's Postamble, I found it an engaging read yet still missing some key pieces. Set in the aftermath of a global apocolypse, one man struggles to make sense of his new world, sans human interaction. The first part of the book deals with his search for humanity and the survivalist methods the hero implements. After believing that he is the only survivor of the "event", he begins to meet up with other survivors. Several species of alien beings begin to appear and the suspense of what lies ahead keeps you reading. The books drawback is the presence of the aliens. Had the encounters been set up better and been more descriptive, they might have had the desired impact. Instead, they come off as merely filler and don't have any real relevance to the story other than to provide periodic vignettes that take away from the current man vs. isolation story line. With that, it is still a very good book. I found myself reading it for longer time periods than I usually do...it is engaging and keeps you interested. The local descriptions of West Michigan, give an excellent visual of whats happening as you can relate to the areas described within. If you enjoy the science fiction genre, this book would make a welcome addition to your collection...
Rating: 
Summary: Postamble - One Mans Struggle
Review: I found Postamble to be an enjoyable read. The journal format (which I haven't seen before in a sci-fi book) really worked well with this story. It gave the book the right feel and drew me into the story. The story was exciting and I found it hard to put down. The main character is at times an anti-hero cold and distant. You wonder if his losses have any affect on him but in the end this adds to the strength of the book. I found myself more than once thinking what would I do? The book has the feel of an ordinary man in an extra ordinary circumstance. In other words, it forces you wonder if you would have what it takes to survive. Just when "you think" you know what will happen next the author surprises you which is another strength of this story. I also enjoyed the explanation of what happened to the world. Not only was it novel, Townshend's explanation makes sense.
I recommend this book. Plenty of action combined with believable characters and a unique setting make this one book that sci-fi fans should read.
Rating:
Summary: Postamble - One Mans Struggle
Review: I found Postamble to be an enjoyable read. The journal format (which I haven't seen before in a sci-fi book) really worked well with this story. It gave the book the right feel and drew me into the story. The story was exciting and I found it hard to put down. The main character is at times an anti-hero cold and distant. You wonder if his losses have any affect on him but in the end this adds to the strength of the book. I found myself more than once thinking what would I do? The book has the feel of an ordinary man in an extra ordinary circumstance. In other words, it forces you wonder if you would have what it takes to survive. Just when "you think" you know what will happen next the author surprises you which is another strength of this story. I also enjoyed the explanation of what happened to the world. Not only was it novel, Townshend's explanation makes sense.
I recommend this book. Plenty of action combined with believable characters and a unique setting make this one book that sci-fi fans should read.
Rating:
Summary: Surviving the End
Review: James E. Townshend has written a truly original story in Postamble. I could put myself in the main character's place and see myself taking those same actions. It is written like a regular guy would write it, too. I found that to be really convention breaking and adding to the tone and perspective of the novel. The settings are also some places I have actually been to, like around Chicago & the Straits of Mackinaw. The adventure of the story with the conflicts of survival against pets turned savage and aliens invading, like in the movie Independence Day, to steal our resources makes for a narrative that isn't easy to predict what will happen next. Mr. Townsend keeps the reader rivited to find out what happens next. I hope there is a sequel or series of these books, Postamble is definitely an ongoing story for the characters he has created, and the reader who is interersted in what happens to mankind in the possible near future.
Rating:
Summary: Surviving the End
Review: James E. Townshend has written a truly original story in Postamble. I could put myself in the main character's place and see myself taking those same actions. It is written like a regular guy would write it, too. I found that to be really convention breaking and adding to the tone and perspective of the novel. The settings are also some places I have actually been to, like around Chicago & the Straits of Mackinaw. The adventure of the story with the conflicts of survival against pets turned savage and aliens invading, like in the movie Independence Day, to steal our resources makes for a narrative that isn't easy to predict what will happen next. Mr. Townsend keeps the reader rivited to find out what happens next. I hope there is a sequel or series of these books, Postamble is definitely an ongoing story for the characters he has created, and the reader who is interersted in what happens to mankind in the possible near future.
Rating:
Summary: A deftly written story of the sudden end to humanity
Review: James E. Townshend's debut novel Postamble, is a deftly written story of the sudden end to humanity and civilization. A survivor, bereft of wife, family, and friends pens the "postamble" to the human race. This moving saga of remembrance becomes into a window of possible hope when the survivor learns he is not alone on the Earth after all. A profound, thoughtful, post-apocalyptic narrative, Postamble clearly establishes James Townshend as a writer of considerable talent and imagination.
Rating:
Summary: A deftly written story of the sudden end to humanity
Review: James E. Townshend's debut novel Postamble, is a deftly written story of the sudden end to humanity and civilization. A survivor, bereft of wife, family, and friends pens the "postamble" to the human race. This moving saga of remembrance becomes into a window of possible hope when the survivor learns he is not alone on the Earth after all. A profound, thoughtful, post-apocalyptic narrative, Postamble clearly establishes James Townshend as a writer of considerable talent and imagination.
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