Valor in the Ashes

Ashes #9

by William W. Johnstone

A decade has passed since the nuclear nightmare of the Great War that brought America to the brink of destruction. Determined to build a new society, Ben Raines and his rebel army begin an expedition to New York City--the armed citadel of the cannibalistic mutants known as the Night People. For Raines and his rebels, it is a perilous search-and-destroy mission that will decide the fate of freedom's cause.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Science Fiction, Action

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

Reviews

[Cameron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got sent for temporary duty at a slow station the other day and found this book while I was there.

I suffer from a compulsion to finish reading just about any book I start, regardless of how bad it is. Once I've gotten 1/4 or 1/3 of the way in and discover that it's just not going to get any better, I can't simply put it down and leave it unfinished. It's a terrible handicap - I could be reading a different, more enjoyable book, or watching TV, or pouring hot sand into my eyes, but instead I force myself to push through to the end. And this book was really, really bad, and I love post-apocalypse stories. Let me give you an excerpt from the description:

Ben Raines and his rebel army begin an overland expedition to New York City - the armed citadel of the cannibalistic mutants known as the Night People. These half-human, half-hellborn offspring of nuclear fallout have sworn to kill Ben Raines and take over what is left of America.

The author makes quite a few freshman mistakes: he virtually never fleshes things out with details; he just says that someone is ugly, or something smells bad, or someone is scared rather than describing the sights and sounds to the reader. He uses cliches regularly: "blows that theory out of the water" or "blasts him to hell and back." I can't believe that crap made it past an editor. Johnstone apparently wrote the story with a map of New York City in front of him because he describes troop movements as "advancing the tanks up 81" or "setting up a command post in the Holland Tunnel" but he doesn't describe where those places are, or who is to the west of them or moving north of them, etc. So unless you also have a map of New York City in front of you, it's not really possible to know where characters are in relation to each other. Kind of important in a novel all about military actions in a city.

Anyways, I'm just scratching the surface of all the things that are terribly wrong with this book. I think the cover of the copy I found, printed in 1988 by Zebra Books, is quite adequate to make my point.



'Nuff said.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formula writing but entertaining brainless read.

[Jon S Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast Paced Action Filled Story

This book, Valor, probably has the most ongoing action of all the novels to-date. We are moved from one fight to another, all getting us ready and set up for the 'big one' coming that is meant to either save society or push us down forever. I was able to read this over three days as it was so intense it was difficult to put it down. This is a must read lynch pin for the further unfolding of the story of Ben Raines and his Rebels.

[Martin Colvill · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in the series

Very enjoyable escapism even if it's a bit dated. The premise is not though. We still may endure such an apocalyptic time. Those who have lived or visited New York city and surrounding areas will enjoy viewing the fighting through those eyes.
You'll be on the edge of your seat with every bullet.

[Lonnie J. Box, I · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review

I didn't like this book was as well as the others in this series. It didn't keep my attention. Even though I didn't like it I will continue to read this series.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good adventure series. Basically the forming of a new United States after WW3 and the story of the man who leads and forms it. If you like men's adventure stories you will enjoy it. Recommended