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Ashes #3
Anarchy in the Ashes
In the aftermath of germ and nuclear warfare, of plague and pillage and bloody anarchy, the fate of a divided world hangs by a slender thread. Ben Raines and his SUSA Rebels are on one side. . .the enemies of freedom are on the other. There's only a slim chance America will make it, but it's a chance that wasn't there before. And Ben Raines has sworn to make the dream of government by the people a reality.
Until ruthless mercenary Sam Hartline puts together a mammoth army of invading Russians that could not only decimate Raines' Rebel forces but crush the dream that was--and is--America.
Once and for all. . .
Until ruthless mercenary Sam Hartline puts together a mammoth army of invading Russians that could not only decimate Raines' Rebel forces but crush the dream that was--and is--America.
Once and for all. . .
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
106 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,046 books1,395 followersWilliam 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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 14, 2025
The struggles of Ben Raines and his rebels continue, this time in the form of a Russian invasion fueled by a mixed belief in Nazi and Communist ideals. As the war heats up the legend of Ben Raines grows as well as many around tattered country begin to believe that Raines is much more than merely a man.
June 29, 2018
I'm not sure why I continue to put myself through the experience of reading these books. They don't get any better. And their utter badness is essentially the same from book to book, so it's not like I get any new experiences out of them. Not really. I guess there's a reason that Johnstone was able to publish more than 200 books in his lifetime. And that reason appears to be that he doesn't bother with either second drafts or editors.
Here's an example of a sequence that happened in this book:
At a mid point in the story, our villain, the evil Striganov, leader of of the Russian forces looking to make their home in wartorn America, and who want to wipe out all inferior races (a la Hitler), decides he should kidnap the jewish wife of Ben Raines. Raines, of course, is the infallible hero of the story.
Some chapters later, Raines has a sudden flash of intuition that Striganov might try to kidnap his wife. He tells her to watch herself, and she agrees, thus deflating much of the suspense that could have possibly come from this subplot.
A few chapters later, Striganov suddenly decides, well, I guess I won't kidnap her after all, presumably because the author realized he was too close to the end of the book and didn't have enough time to complete that subplot. Oh well, no sense in rewriting anything...
This book, I think moreso than the the rest of the series thus far, borders on pornography. There's war porn, with lusty, detailed descriptions of army weapons and vehicles that flew well over my head. There's rape and torture porn, where characters are frequently raped by villainous characters with massive dongs, as other villainous characters watch and giggle and jerk themselves off. Because nothing says evil like sex crimes. And of course, there's Mary Sue porn, where our hero, the very obvious author stand-in, is so ridiculously good at everything he does that -- LITERALLY -- people start to think maybe he's an actual and for real god.
There's 35 books in this series, and if I continue on at the pace I'm going, I'll probably be 70-something by the time I finish. I'm not sure it's worth it, and yet I already feel the odd pull toward the fourth in the series. Goddamn you, Ben Raines. Goddamn you.
Here's an example of a sequence that happened in this book:
At a mid point in the story, our villain, the evil Striganov, leader of of the Russian forces looking to make their home in wartorn America, and who want to wipe out all inferior races (a la Hitler), decides he should kidnap the jewish wife of Ben Raines. Raines, of course, is the infallible hero of the story.
Some chapters later, Raines has a sudden flash of intuition that Striganov might try to kidnap his wife. He tells her to watch herself, and she agrees, thus deflating much of the suspense that could have possibly come from this subplot.
A few chapters later, Striganov suddenly decides, well, I guess I won't kidnap her after all, presumably because the author realized he was too close to the end of the book and didn't have enough time to complete that subplot. Oh well, no sense in rewriting anything...
This book, I think moreso than the the rest of the series thus far, borders on pornography. There's war porn, with lusty, detailed descriptions of army weapons and vehicles that flew well over my head. There's rape and torture porn, where characters are frequently raped by villainous characters with massive dongs, as other villainous characters watch and giggle and jerk themselves off. Because nothing says evil like sex crimes. And of course, there's Mary Sue porn, where our hero, the very obvious author stand-in, is so ridiculously good at everything he does that -- LITERALLY -- people start to think maybe he's an actual and for real god.
There's 35 books in this series, and if I continue on at the pace I'm going, I'll probably be 70-something by the time I finish. I'm not sure it's worth it, and yet I already feel the odd pull toward the fourth in the series. Goddamn you, Ben Raines. Goddamn you.
April 21, 2013
Ugh, what have I set myself up for. I read right around 13 of these books when I was a kid and thought they were great books. I've always wanted to read all 35 of them in order, something for the bucket list, I suppose. But now that I've got the books and started reading them, I'm not entirely certain I will have the patience to endure all the cheesy dialogue, 25 or so flashbacks to previous books every book since the first one, and the twisted sexual and torture scenes in the book.
The absolute worst part of this series is how reality is presented by the author, who is a good ol' boy. In the mythology of the world, liberals forced the underground paramilitary operatives hand, causing them to fire nukes on China and Russia to set off a global world war. This was needed because of "liberal scum" and sick groups like the ACLU had ruined America, after the war a real society could emerge from "The Ashes"
I'm going to keep reading the series until some other book grabs my attention, or until the conservative alternate universe makes my head explode.
The absolute worst part of this series is how reality is presented by the author, who is a good ol' boy. In the mythology of the world, liberals forced the underground paramilitary operatives hand, causing them to fire nukes on China and Russia to set off a global world war. This was needed because of "liberal scum" and sick groups like the ACLU had ruined America, after the war a real society could emerge from "The Ashes"
I'm going to keep reading the series until some other book grabs my attention, or until the conservative alternate universe makes my head explode.
August 6, 2011
The first book was entertaining if you didn't take it too seriously, but as the series progresses Ben Raines becomes less and less believable. He seems borderline immortal and infallible, even incapable of aging. It becomes increasingly clear that Raines is a self insert character of the author who the author can't let go. Self aggrandizing day dreams are nice for him, but with time annoying to read.
I don't mind the gore, sex, and so on, but the political commentary is about as subtle and insightful as a fist to the face.
I don't mind the gore, sex, and so on, but the political commentary is about as subtle and insightful as a fist to the face.
February 4, 2019
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
December 10, 2022
The Raines Story Keeps Getting Better
In this, the third book, the story unfolds even quicker than the last books. It is fast moving and exciting, keeping the reader's interest piqued throughout. It is also scarier, as this view of what our World could become is amazingly possible and seems as though it could happen tomorrow!
In this, the third book, the story unfolds even quicker than the last books. It is fast moving and exciting, keeping the reader's interest piqued throughout. It is also scarier, as this view of what our World could become is amazingly possible and seems as though it could happen tomorrow!
August 22, 2023
My third foray into the Ashes series with about twenty more to go! I have enjoyed all of the first three. Pure post-apochalyptic (might even got that almost right) entertainment that will actually keep you turning the pages just to see what's coming next! I plan on reading all that I have here on hand but it might take a couple years!
December 29, 2017
Wonderful
As always Johnstone dose again,can not put the book down.I am former military an love the action an fast pace.
As always Johnstone dose again,can not put the book down.I am former military an love the action an fast pace.
January 21, 2021
Great reading
The books are great, read the series about a dozen times but too much of this book is spent reminiscing about stuff we already read. Wastes a lot of space.
The books are great, read the series about a dozen times but too much of this book is spent reminiscing about stuff we already read. Wastes a lot of space.
January 31, 2021
A fun reading series!
I am glad that I will re-read this entire series for 2021 as I took a break from it. A fan!
I am glad that I will re-read this entire series for 2021 as I took a break from it. A fan!
November 7, 2014
In the 80's and 90's, this was considered pulp fiction. Fun to read, and semi-serious, remember that was back when the Cold War was still going on. The problem is that things are worse today, and if you read carefully, this book series seems prophetic.
Anyway, in this book Ben has to deal with a Russian led Nazi style group that has peacefully taken root in America. They have begun to practice eugenics on anyone not of pure white descent. It gets pretty rough, pretty fast. If you don't have a strong stomach, you might want to leave this one alone. Also don't leave it out around the kids. There are scenes of torture, rape, and sodomy by some very twisted peopl.
Anyway, in this book Ben has to deal with a Russian led Nazi style group that has peacefully taken root in America. They have begun to practice eugenics on anyone not of pure white descent. It gets pretty rough, pretty fast. If you don't have a strong stomach, you might want to leave this one alone. Also don't leave it out around the kids. There are scenes of torture, rape, and sodomy by some very twisted peopl.
March 6, 2009
I have the bad luck to pick books that are in the middle of series. This is another, the 3rd of the Ashes series. Constant references to the first 2 books. Very confusing for the first chunk of the book.
Not especially well written. Character development is thin. Maybe because he churns out books so fast? And he writes some NASTY torture bits.
Not especially well written. Character development is thin. Maybe because he churns out books so fast? And he writes some NASTY torture bits.
August 28, 2010
Ben Raines is thwarted in his attempts to put civilization back together by mercenary Sam Hartline and an army of Russians.
From here on the series seems to have settled into a formula; plans to put civilization back together get put on hold because they have to go out and fight the bad guys.
Warning, strong language, violence, torture and sex.
From here on the series seems to have settled into a formula; plans to put civilization back together get put on hold because they have to go out and fight the bad guys.
Warning, strong language, violence, torture and sex.
July 31, 2009
Raines and the rebels battle forces that want to overwhelm the new US.
July 6, 2015
Formula writing but entertaining brainless read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews