Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Out of the Ashes (Ashes #1)

by William W. Johnstone

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 297 ratings · 25 reviews

Paperback

Published December 1st 1999 by eReads.com (first published January 1st 1983)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 540)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 13, 2012 Bill VanderGiesen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Eric Guerra, Jason Platter

Shelves: post-apocalyptic

This counts more as a re-read than the first time, but essentially I am much older, wiser, more literate and hopefully more discerning than when I first read this, probably in late middle school shortly after it was originally published. I remember reading this and perhaps the first ten books before I moved on to other things in the years following.

I hadn't thought much about it other then an occasional fond memory, nor had I known the series went on to 36 books so far. In addition, my interests...more This counts more as a re-read than the first time, but essentially I am much older, wiser, more literate and hopefully more discerning than when I first read this, probably in late middle school shortly after it was originally published. I remember reading this and perhaps the first ten books before I moved on to other things in the years following.

I hadn't thought much about it other then an occasional fond memory, nor had I known the series went on to 36 books so far. In addition, my interests have shifted back to post-apocalyptic stories to a degree, so I decided to pick it up and refresh my memory.

The first comment I have to make, is my rating is based upon the premise of what the book is, which is a serial, rapidly written, old-style pulp fiction. 2-3 books released a year in some instances, combined with the fact that the author was also writing books in other genres. Anybody that expects this book to be literary genius is out of their own gourd.

That said, it's amusing, its a quick read, and its fun. To some degree it is an analysis of 1970s and 1980s society, certainly from a conservative political perspective, and with a lot of utopian idealism thrown into the mix.

This first book just sets the overall background for what is going to be the larger series, so if you read it alone, you are going to be left with a lot of questions, which should not be surprising since the author and publisher wants you to buy more books.

The end of the modern world due to nuclear and biological warfare, followed by the attempt of groups within the United States to re-build their own society's, some based on cooperation, some on thuggery and brutality and anywhere in between.

I think the book does speak to the fear that many people have about their government, about "the other" even within our own society, greed, lawlessness, and much more. It addresses, in short spurts anyway, the problems of a society that is split fairly evenly across pretty radical lines, and spouts anger at a society or system that allows 51% to dominate 49%, the growth of bureaucracy and massive government, debt, social ills, and much more.

It is food for thought, even if you disagree with the "Solutions" inherent in the idealistic society that is built at the end of the work.

All that said, keep reading, from memory, the other books will outrage most readers as well. In my opinion, a little outrage and confrontation of our own beliefs is a good thing.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Thee_ron_clark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, action, pulp-fiction

Being that I enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction and needed something lighter to read; I picked up this book. I figured that a series that went on this long must have something going for it. Hmmmm. I'm not convinced on that matter.

The plot is a bit confusing. The world is in turmoil with the Chinese and Russians at the brink of war. There are a number of "rebels" in America aligned under two famous special operations soldiers who are presumed dead. Out of nowhere, all of the world powers decide they...more Being that I enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction and needed something lighter to read; I picked up this book. I figured that a series that went on this long must have something going for it. Hmmmm. I'm not convinced on that matter.

The plot is a bit confusing. The world is in turmoil with the Chinese and Russians at the brink of war. There are a number of "rebels" in America aligned under two famous special operations soldiers who are presumed dead. Out of nowhere, all of the world powers decide they have had enough and need a huge war and the rebels appear to play some part in this while not really playing any part in it.

Anyway, a war happens. It's fast and deadly. Nukes. Chemical and biological weapons. Loads of casualties all over the world.

The rebels mostly pull through and are put under the command of a former special forces soldier turned alcoholic author. The author; Ben Raines has no intention of leading the rebels.

The president of the United States becomes a tyrant while Raines reluctantly picks up the pieces to create his own domain with the rebels and others who agree with his uber-conservative politics. The tyrannical president becomes more liberal on crime and such while becoming a terrible dictator.

While this is all going on, race wars break out and Ben tries to resolve the issue of race relations in the new world.

A huge amount of the survivors in America are evil people. They turn to rape immediately after the war and sometimes turn out in droves to rape and murder individuals. Rape is very popular with the bad guys in this story.

Ben Raines is a super stud and practically every woman that meets him wants to have sexual relations with him. Most come on to him immediately after meeting him.

I think that sums it up. Sound confusing? It is.

It appears that Johnstone had some decent ideas going into this. He simply either dragged out or sped through most of it. He also has an issue with flogging a dead horse. That is, he beats the same ideas into the readers head over and over. This is common with other authors as well. Perhaps they simply feel that readers need to be reminded of certain details time and time again. Personally, I prefer skimming back a few pages if I miss something instead of reading an extra repetitive 100 or so pages in a novel.

He also demonstrates some confused ideas of humanity and sexuality. This is pretty typical with Johnstone, who I can only assume is a couple generations ahead of me and shows this in many of his writings. I never know whether to groan or chuckle when the men in his stories tell the women to go make food or clean while they do important things.

Oh well. Typical William Johnstone for the most part, although I did feel that some of his later style improved. I picked up the first three books in this series so I'll get to the rest in due time. When not looking for something that will make you ponder the meaning of your existence, books like this will do in a pinch.(less)

like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Noodle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"It has been written that there is nothing in the world more savage than the American fighting man."

William W. Johnstone's Out of the Ashes was one very brutal and long diatribe. I picked this book up on impulse as I passed it on the shelf at the library. It seemed like a potentially good Dystopian Story - my latest craze.

The world is completely and utterly destroyed by nuclear warfare and one man, Ben Raines, has what it takes to unite the people and fight for freedom in it's aftermath.

Sounds...more

like · see review

Sep 17, 2010 Henry Brown rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: it-kept-my-eyes-busy

I like the post-apocalyptic genre. Like reading, watching, and writing in it. Unfortunately, a lot of it is pap. After hearing much word-of-mouth about Johnstone and his "tri-states philosophy," I hoped this would be one of the better flagships for the genre.

The nuclear war is triggered by a coup-gone-wrong involving rogue military hawks (think Jack T. Ripper with scads of accomplices). Ben Raines survives the dirty bomb holocaust, as do many others...inexplicably. He begins touring the ravaged...more I like the post-apocalyptic genre. Like reading, watching, and writing in it. Unfortunately, a lot of it is pap. After hearing much word-of-mouth about Johnstone and his "tri-states philosophy," I hoped this would be one of the better flagships for the genre.

The nuclear war is triggered by a coup-gone-wrong involving rogue military hawks (think Jack T. Ripper with scads of accomplices). Ben Raines survives the dirty bomb holocaust, as do many others...inexplicably. He begins touring the ravaged southeastern region, intending to document the nuclear devastation for a memoir, but is unwittingly crowned the leader of a new resistance movement. Idaho, Montana and Wyoming become his empire. But he and his followers are headed for a showdown with the other 47 states.

The opening act was rather tedious to wade through. I suppose the convoluted, improbable conspiracy plot was supposed to rivet me to the pages with suspenseful intrigue as it unfolded, but I really wanted to just skim. Once the missiles struck home, and we got into Ben Raines' point-of-view, it was smoother going.

If Johnstone ever explained why some people survived the radiation and some didn't, I missed it. I thought it rather unrealistic that electricity was still on for so long after a nuclear strike, and that Raines never had trouble finding gas for his vehicles. There is some mention of looting, I think, but our hero never had any trouble finding weapons, ammo, gear, food or clean water. Also, just like Captain Kirk, women threw themselves at him pretty much everywhere he went. Nubile, supermodel-looking women, of course who "didn't like sleeping alone." All but twice, though, Raines and his current squeeze intuitively sensed that their affair would only be casual and temporary...and that was just okie-dokie with both parties. Such is to be expected from the genre, I suppose.

I can go on nit-picking for a while, but I'll try to limit my exclamations of disbelief to just two more elements:

1) His dialog is just outright painful in many places. I have come to expect this problem with inexperienced/immature (yet passionate) writers, but am REALLY annoyed when I see a successful, traditionally published author...of a popular series, no less...getting away with it. How did this ever get published as is?

2) Raines is a Vietnam veteran from a super-secret elite unit which, I guess, would supposedly surpass Delta Force. But at the story's inception he is an alcoholic novelist. Almost everyone he encounters has heard of him, and read his books. And everyone is convinced he is destined to be the savior who unites freedom-loving folks and builds a utopia out of the ashes. Evidently his greatness is plain for everyone to see--everyone but his humble self. He ignores the pleas for his elevation to leadership, but is finally drug to his destiny, kicking and screaming (OK, perhaps I exagerate a wee bit). His greatness is so powerful as to inspire slavish, blind devotion in all the good guys he encounters. Apparently his alcohol-heavy diet and lethargic lifestyle have kept him in supreme fighting condition, too. I don't have a PHD in Group Dynamics or anything like that, but I've studied history, observed the surrounding culture, and worked in/with conglomerations of human beings both in military and civilian contexts. Unless God himself elevated someone like Ben Raines to power (as He did with King Saul and David), that person would never reach the peak of any leadership ladder. People who rise to power...even in regulated structures...are shameless self-promoters; supremely confident in their own abilities (no matter how undeserved that confidence is); "type A" personalities; charismatic; ambitious; control freaks; opportunistic; remorseless; proactive and outgoing. They usually aren't the best choice for leadership, and many times are the worst. But they will beat somebody like Ben Raines in an election, mob takeover or popularity contest (which is what such things turn out to be, beneath the surface, anyway) every single time. It doesn't matter how many dead military officers have endorsed you, or even if the majority of the mob thinks you're the smartest guy with the perfect plan. The guy with the magic mouth and the zealous conviction that he is the best possible man for the job will climb higher and faster. I've taken pains so far not to be harsh or personally insulting to Mr. Johnstone, but this reluctant savior routine reeks of a misfit writer's closet egomania.

Up to now, I've also avoided commenting on the author's political ideas, which he unabashedly rams down the reader's throat throughout the novel. I won't discuss them in detail, because they're at least as convoluted as his expository chapters. But even while preaching racial equality, Johnstone strikes me as a bigot. He also takes periodic jabs at his Religious Right Boogeymen, denouncing the cult of personality embraced by their respective sycophants (kinda like what I touched on above). Meanwhile, his own cult of personality is the driving force behind the Tri-States kingdom. Hypocritical IMO. And while pontificating on his love of freedom, Johnstone/Raines build a utopia which is, in most respects, a totalitarian regime. So while I see all the problems in the USA that Johnstone saw, our viewpoint on feasible solutions are often radically different.

Plot, character(s), dialog, realism and (IMO) political savvy in Out of the Ashes is seriously flawed. (less)

like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Francis Gahren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: post-apocalytic, fiction

The worst-case scenario has come to pass: a nuclear strike has crippled America. Gangs, looters, and vandals have seized the streets. The decent few can only pray for a leader to protect them. Luckily, one of the survivors is Ben Raines.

Rebel mercenary, retired soldier, and tireless patriot, Raines is searching for his missing family in the aftermath of this devastating war. His relentless pursuit through the ruined cities of the west unites him with the civilians of the Resistance forces. They...more

like · see review

Oct 08, 2010 Jim rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, science-fiction

This is an apocalyptic novel set in the late 1980's. Instead of the Soviets fading away, the button is pushed & our hero roams post-apocalyptic America doing good. The only reason I give the book 2 stars is because I happen to believe most of the conservative philosophy behind the novel. Unfortunately, the plot & writing are atrocious. I got about halfway through (page 276 of the MMP edition) before I couldn't take it any more.

I hadn't realized this was a series when I started reading it...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Curtis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, incredible series written 75 and on. Describes the US to a tee whats happening now

1 like · like · see review

Nov 23, 2011 VelveetaRanch rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

The first of thirty-six books (wow) in The Ashes series of novels by William Johnstone, the apocalyptic Out of the Ashes is reminiscent of Stephen King's The Stand (but not written nearly as well). It's occasionally far-fetched and there's a lot of repetitiveness early on as Johnstone sets a doomsday tone for first half of the book. Not usually a big fan of survivalist themes, I was surprised when I realized that it held my interest right up to the last page.

like · see review

Aug 11, 2012 David Minger rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read 15 books this summer and by far this is the best book of them all. My hat is off to you Mr. Johnstone, you have written the book that I would most like to write. Pick up this book and share with your friends, for me, the best book of the summer of 2012. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

like · see review

Sep 23, 2012 Scott Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have read this one at least a half a dozen times. I loved the concept and the political spin is something I believe my st believe but never really want to express. The series is pretty decent through the first 10 or so books but then it kind of drags and gets repetitive.

like · see review

Apr 09, 2009 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: survival

A classic post apocalypse America novel from a conservative POV. I enjoyed as a youth and reading it again 20 years later it was interesting. Still pretty much a modern pulp novel, but some of the early 80s fears seem strange. Maybe its just me, but I don't see a race war on the horizon.

Also looking at the Tri-states as presented here I realized just how non-liberatarian it was. Actually a little totalitarian in its own way.

So not as cool as it was an adolescent, but still an interesting book.

1 like · like · see review

Jul 31, 2009 Randy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ben Raines writes men's adventure. After the world virtually ends woth war and collapse, he starts hearing calls for him to lead people back to civilization.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 03, 2009 Barbara marked it as to-read · review of another edition

David from Morris & Whiteside Gallery recommends this entire ASHES series of books. This is the first of around 35 books.

1 like · like · see review

May 03, 2012 Michael added it · review of another edition

I loved it. worth reading. it gets better but repetitive towards the last few books. this guy doesn't get a break.

like · see review

May 19, 2012 Elizabeth May added it · review of another edition

Good apocalyptic book. Some adult scenes. Interesting to think about how we would rebuild.

like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Gary rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

like · see review

May 01, 2012 Jared rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So far so good. Love these kind of stories.

like · see review

Aug 27, 2010 Bryan457 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, favorites, own-it, post-apocalyptic, apocalyptic

In a post apocalyptic world, Ben Raines helps put a "utopian" society together.

I enjoyed this story. It had a lot of interesting ideas. Definitely a "men's adventure" though.

Warning strong language, violence and sex.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 05, 2009 Jpm is currently reading it · review of another edition

On Book 5 in the series.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 29, 2013 Mlangdonii rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great Series

like · see review

Nov 10, 2008 Mia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not a bad apocalyptic/military read. Johnstone is a bit far to the right (so far he's out of the park), and he belabors his social arguments, but the story itself is a fascinating picture of how society could reform after nuclear and germ warfare.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 11, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hard to believe this book was written years ago ... much pertains to today with regards to our guvmnt!

like · see review

Oct 08, 2008 Doug Ratcliffe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Language can get bad, but the story is very good. Pulp through and through, I love it.

1 like · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Matt Lussier rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The political ramblings of an old man.

like · see review

Feb 21, 2009 John Karr is currently reading it · review of another edition

on order from amazon

1 like · like · see review

May 21, 2013 Aaron Sigritz added it · review of another edition

May 18, 2013 Tim Shea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 17, 2013 Harshad marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 17, 2013 Fred Rosenbruch marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 17, 2013 Navjot Singh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 17 18 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Pulp Fiction: William Johnstone - Ashes Series	1	4	Feb 27, 2013 08:35pm

combine
Other Editions (9)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Apocalyptic > Post Apocalyptic

10 users

War

5 users

Action

5 users

Science Fiction

4 users

Science Fiction > Apocalyptic

2 users

Adventure > Survival

2 users

Adventure

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About William W. Johnstone

William Wallace Johnstone was a prolific American author, mostly of western, horror and survivalist novels.

Born and raised in southern Missouri, Johnstone was the youngest of four children. His father was a minister and his mother a school teacher. He quit school when he was fifteen and worked in a carnival and as a deputy sheriff. He later served in the Army and, upon returning to civilian life,...more

More about William W. Johnstone...

Books by William W. Johnstone

The Last Mountain Man (Mountain Man, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Out of the Ashes

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Out of the Ashes
avg rating	preview: Out of the Ashes Goodreads rating: 4.01 (297 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1518114.Out_of_the_Ashes?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347525063l/1518114.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1518114.Out_of_the_Ashes?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Out of the Ashes by William W. Johnstone[/url]

Out of the Ashes (Ashes #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website