Tomorrow War

The Chronicles of Max [Redacted], Book 1

By: J. L. Bourne

Narrated by: Jay Snyder, Kevin T. Collins

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this riveting, ultrarealistic novel from J. L. Bourne, a man struggles to survive after the US infrastructure collapses and martial law engulfs the streets of America.

In the not-too-distant future, during an unacknowledged mission inside the Syrian border, a government operative unwittingly triggers an incredible event that alters the course of society. A terrible weapon has been unleashed - a weapon that, left to run its course, will destroy the moral fabric of humanity.

In the midst of crisis, the population struggles to survive in a world short on vital resources. Inflation cripples the US economy, and post-war armored military vehicles patrol the streets.

One man stands up to push back the overwhelming wave of tyranny triggered by the onset of nationwide martial law. How can he possibly succeed against a high-tech and tyrannical enemy that is hell-bent on ripping liberty from the pages of future history?

From the author and military expert who brought listeners the riveting horror series Day by Day Armageddon, Tomorrow War is a compelling account of an alternate dystopian America located just down the tracks of oblivion.

©2015 J.L. Bourne (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

An apocalyptic tale with an agenda

Tomorrow War is another short book from J. L. Bourne, a military veteran with 22 years of service, but unlike Day by Day Armageddon there are no zombies this time around. In this story the zombies are replaced with something far scarier - other humans and a dysfunctional government. Keeping a similar journal format to the Day by Day series, the main character, Max [Redacted], writes down his experiences as a form of self therapy to help him cope with the things he decides that he must do to survive. Being a trained killer working for the US government before society goes to hell, Max conducts a covert mission that becomes the root cause of the financial collapse that ruins society. This guilt weighs heavily upon him after the fall as he struggles with both the threats of the new world and his own mental health.

I like apocalyptic stories that attempt to keep it real and there is a hefty dose of harsh reality situations in this book. From the first few frantic days after electronic payments are no longer a thing, to the moral dilemma of self preservation becoming priority number one, this book starts off pretty strong. Max had some warning that this was coming and manages to do some quick prepping before society falls so he starts off better than most. His initial encounters with those struggling to survive feel real and intense, but eventually the story seems to lose its way. Things go from bad to worse much too quickly as the US Constitution is tossed aside in mere days anf this transforms Max into the conduit for the author's personal agendas to be expressed over and over. I certainly don't mind some of that commentary being included along the way, but in this book it becomes a major distraction that is used to justify actions from Max that just go too far. I tried to push it aside and concentrate on the story, but it ultimately ruined the book for me so I can safely say that I prefer the Day by Day Armageddon series to this one. Of course YMMV, so if you are looking for a near future apocalyptic tale and you don't want more zombies then pick this up and form your own opinion.

Jay Snyder does the majority of the narration and his style is a good fit for this tale.

Very entertaining

Very enjoyable for the train commute, drop in and out as you please. I would have liked the author to explore the collapse a little more. I enjoyed the narration.

Ready for Book 2! Excellent story as always!

Any additional comments?

Great story, really gets you thinking about whats going on now. Couldnt put it down. If you like JL's other books, Day by Day Armageddon then you will love this one as well. Great technical detail, great story and character development. Ready for the next book in either of his series!

Not what I was hoping for

Having just listened to William Forstchen’s excellent “One Second After”, a book with a nearly identical premise, Tomorrow War just seemed a little flat and shallow by comparison. The reading was somewhat stilted and robotic. The story was dispassionate, more like reading a news story rather than immersing yourself in an auditory experience and feeling as if you were part of the action. I wanted to feel shock and horror and disbelief as Max calmly slaughters both criminals and law enforcement officers in horrible ways, but it just fell flat for me. I found myself rolling my eyes and shaking my head more often than not as the story unfolded, and the ending left me similarly apathetic. The ending of this book reminded me of the one in “the handmaid’s tale“, where the characters all just disappear into history and you never find out what happened to anyone. Sorry, but I just did not enjoy this journey

Basic.

This is my second J.L. Bourne book. and like the first, its completely enjoyable, but totally basic. Nothing special or deep going on with the story or characters. If you like this type of book I recommend MOUNTAIN MAN


Good read by Jay snyder.

Scary what if.

I really liked this new story. A few things i would've done differently myself, but what a ride. Max "redacted" was a cool new character and I know there's going to be more. At least I hope so.

Right wing prepper bullshit

The quality of the writing was ok, but this book is way too... how to say it? it's porn for right wing doomsday preppers. mild spoilers: The Us gov't deliberately engineers a computer virus to destroy the world's economy, and within two days, people are robbing and shooting each other over cans of tuna and a few gallons of gasoline. So our intrepid hero gets to start killing people. (but it's ok, becuase SURPRISE- the people he kills in his first real gun battle turn out to be murder rapists. because morality is always perfectly clean and the apocalypse is entirely guilt free!)

That was the point I quit and decided to ask audible for a refund. There are legimate world ending scenarios, and sure, shit could get bad. But it will take longer than two days for the world to become a parody of mad max. No matter how much people who hoard ARs want to believe it.

Pro-Gun Survivalist Paranoia

I like a good dystopian novel, but this one doesn't even qualify as a novel. More like a manifesto on why we need to arm ourselves to the hilt and never trust the government than a novel.

Sure D.C. Is a dysfunctional mess, but embracement or level of paranoia expressed in this book by a segment of the population that willfully chooses to ignore global economic and natural resource realities is one of the reasons that a psychotic is the Presidential nominee of the republican party.

Oh wait, I forgot ... those sticky global economy and natural resource concerns are nothing more than fabrications forced on us by that corrupt government .... how convenient paranoia truly is.

Could have been truly great.

Any additional comments?

This is in fact a very good book. But as some of the other reviewers also note, the author does seem to go a bit overboard with his anti-government sentiments.

The author is a somewhat heavy-handed and frequently invokes the various amendments of the Bill of Rights to justify the actions of the main person.

Even the total collapse of worldwide civilisation is caused by the US Government : "evil or incompetence? Does it matter?"

The examples for showing how evil the government really is aren't really subtle such quoting Mao and making the case for gun rights by denying food to a young woman with a young child, going for the sympathy vote.

Yet not to offend the good men and women serving the US government the author elects the plot device in which the US government is so evil that they use a gang of biker criminals as the law enforcement. Again, the author goes a bit overboard in the evilness, by describing how these people drive around with the head of a decapitated woman for their sexual (oral) pleasures.

As said, it is a very good book, and I enjoyed listening to it. But it is unnecessary marred.

Societal collapse followed by lots of shooting

JL Bourne's Tomorrow War chronicles societal collapse as a result of an uber-Stuxnet virus intended to implode Syria, but subsequently modified for global impact. The main character Max, is former military special ops who actually delivered the original payload and was given advance warning of potential consequences. As a result, Max is ready when the collapse occurs. Naturally, the general lawlessness and overbearing government attempts to maintain order eventually force Max to band with like-minded individuals to restore their constitutional rights. What transpires is basically a preper's and survivalist's playground of guns and frontier Rube Goldberg.

Sci-fi elements are minimal with mostly post-apocalyptic roughing it. There is a half-hearted attempt to provide some far future perspective on the whole affair which leads to the [Redacted] aspect of the title, but that insight is not essential for plot advancement. The suggestion of a larger story arc raises the potential for a wider insurgency and eventually arrive at these top secret reports.

The narration is well done with good pacing, even flow,and a well done range of voices.

Another fantastic story from JL Bourne

I really enjoyed his Day by Day Armageddon series and have found this to be even better. Cannot wait for future instalments.

Loved it......

What does Kevin T. Collins and Jay Snyder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Really love J l Bourne's books, they have all been great and I was so pleased that Jay Snyder was used again. He really is the voice of Bourne. Mr Collins was extremely good as well. Thanks for your hard work gents.

Any additional comments?

In general an amazing story well read. Looking forward to part 2.

Just as good as his first book

What did you like most about Tomorrow War?

I really enjoyed how this was like d.b.d.a and really liked all the tech used in this book

What did you like best about this story?

The tech and how this had the same feel as d.b.d.a

What does Kevin T. Collins and Jay Snyder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

They bring the story to life

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

No idea

Brilliant!

I really enjoyed this book, I wish it had been longer but was well worth the price and very enjoyable. I would really recommend people try this book. Thank you JL Bourne!

Fun post apocalyptic adventure

Time to fill your pack with tinned food grab your carbine and head for the bunker!

J L Delivers another prepared masterpiece.

From spec op to OH! sugar happens fast. J L, just nailed this and so did jay/Dan.

Very good

Well worth listening to. Get past the first ten minutes and it great to listen to

His best book to date!!!!!

Great story, hope we get a follow up book very soon. This could really happen.

Another excellent book by J l Bourne

Brilliant, great story, another apocalyptic book by JL Bourne loved it. Need more now, start writing a sequel Mr Bourne.

Enjoyed!

I really enjoyed this book. This book is telling a story that could happen. And what might happen if it does. I enjoyed the narrators who I have not listened to before; but would again. My only very small dislike was the extremely long parts to the audio chapters. A lot of the books I listen to have shorter parts, 15-20 mins this book had 1 hour or so chapters. As I said extremely minor. nothing to do with the story or quality of the book.