Last Stand

Publisher's Summary

John Mack, a prepper and former soldier, struggles to save his family and community after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) takes out the country's electrical grid. With most electronics, communications, and transportation destroyed in a matter of seconds, the nation quickly collapses into anarchy. For John and the other residents of Willow Creek Drive, the breakdown of social order throws them back to the 1800s. As the community tries to come together, a powerful outside force appears that threatens their survival. Will John's years of military and prepping experience be enough to keep them safe? Mixing tons of useful prepping tips into an action-packed story, Last Stand: Surviving America's Collapse is a must-listen for any fans of survival fiction.

©2014 William H. Weber (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Outstanding beginning.

Stillwell does an excellent narration of the first novel in this saga. The story is believable and the characters are true to life. The chain of events are also within reason and the antagonist is someone that can be expected to exist in this scenario.
Very good story, you won't be disappointed. I also own, and have read the Kindle ebook prior to purchasing, and I can truly say that it was more enjoyable to listen to the novel during driving to and from work, rather than finding the time to read after my business day.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Predictable, slow and very basic story

What did you like best about Last Stand? What did you like least?

Just didn't do it for me.

What was most disappointing about William H. Weber’s story?

The story was too basic, without an interesting story line flow. Cliche to the highest degree. "The newest recruits (neighborhood teenagers) practiced with sticks as weapons" just about a minute, maybe two, after an EMP?

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Well done.

I enjoyed this story. Lots of ethical factors and dilemmas to deal with. Showed tremendous restraint with his language, somewhat rare in this genre. I would rate it PG13.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Pretty Intense

Not a situation anyone would want to contemplate but it definitely makes you think twice about things & human behavior during desperate times good & bad. Hope for the best but being prepared very prepared! is what you you get after reading this, story.
The main character ex military was ready to protect himself & family when the authorities were awol when any real disaster strikes!
Keeps you going til the end! & it doesn't lead you to a sequel hanging!
Although there could be one :)

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Heavy Handed with Poor Character Development

Any additional comments?

We are always up for a good distopic story, and enjoyed One Second After by William Forstchen, a well written book about an EMP strike. This story, though, was incredibly disappointing.

The beginning chapters of the book, depicting "pre-event" normalcy, are so heavy handed that it was laughable. Three years ago, main character John turned his house into Fort Knox "just in case" including gold bars hidden behind an armored wall with gun slots and an arsenal that would make the Punisher jealous - and this is the least fortified of his locations. This story would have been so much more believable if the author portrayed this as slightly overkill, which then turned out to be needed, rather than just normal preparations.

On Day 2, law and order dissolves - which seems rather quick for a wealthy suburb. After this, the author completely skips the first two weeks after the event, which would probably be the most fascinating time for interactions with neighbors and strangers, and planning by the characters (looking for medicine, food, water). What was discussed about the neighborhood mobilizing was frustrating because the author excluded major details that most people would think of, including sanitation (trash and human waste management), agricultural efforts, hunting/ scavenging for food, and exploring abandoned homes for medical supplies, etc.

We stopped this book 3/4 of the way through when the main character, the neighborhood's messiah, started making ridiculously out of character decisions. The plot was believable but the character development was so weak, we couldn't continue.

Two stars because the story line intrigued us and we did enjoy frequently pausing to debate the characters' approach and how we would do it differently ;)

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

STAYED UP ALL NIGHT TO LISTEN

I couldn't put the headphones down! I literally stayed up all night, on a work night, to hear the whole story! Captivating! LOVE IT!

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Pretty bad

I have read a number of apocalyptic novels, and if this is not the worst one I have ever read, it's close. The story is dumb , Unrealistic, and the characters are awful.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Obviously written by someone with no real tactical experience

Writing was average but the description of tactics showed the authors lack of actual military knowledge. The scenes sounded forced as if they had been created while referencing an actual account of combat.

Couldn't wait until it was over... Finished just because I paid for it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

predictable

way to simple and lacks detail and direction, the plot it seems, it's written by a 12 year old

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Survivalist fantasy cartoon

Any additional comments?

I just finished the remarkable "The Road," and was in the mood for another end-times story, but this was a really poor choice. I can't imagine this appealing to anyone but a hard-core survivalist who lives for the day all those neighbors who laughed at him for hoarding guns and gold and spam and toilet paper will be sorry and crawling to him for help. The characters have no dimension at all. The main character is a cartoonish Rambo who is humorlessly efficient (in everything except words - he makes constant references to his "S&W," when just calling it a Smith & Wesson would be one syllable less, but it appears important for tough guys to use letters rather than words in this "SHTF" scenario). The reader is probably appropriate to the material, but this unfortunately called for a monotone "knock this chip off my shoulder" delivery that I found as irritating as I found the story itself. I made if for the first half hour before writing the book off as a total loss.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful