The Wanderer and the New West

by Adam Bender

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2018
A rogue vigilante seeks redemption in a lawless, near-future America that fully protects the rights of armed citizens to stand their ground against mass shooters and motorcycle gangs. When a marksman known as the Wanderer opens war against injustice in the state of Arizona, his violent actions attract the attention of journalist Rosa Veras, writer of a subversive blog about America's return to the Wild West.

Winner of a gold medal for Dystopia in the 2018 Readers' Favorite Awards and Best Western Fiction in the 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards.

"A dystopian novel about an America ruled by gangs and gun manufacturers and about the brave few who are willing to fight them both … A tight, thoughtful work that has much to offer readers on both sides of the gun control debate." — Kirkus Reviews (Starred, listed in Indie Best Books of the Month, April 2018)

"THE WANDERER AND THE NEW WEST sports smart prose, entertaining dialogue and distinctive characters, and it reads at a breakneck pace. ... Adam Bender’s novel is tight, literate pulp." -- IndieReader (Discovery Awards 2019)

"Bender's prose and ability to weave poignancy and humor throughout the story elevates his novel above others in the genre. … Bender's futuristic world is frighteningly imaginable." -- The BookLife Prize (Publishers Weekly)

“A dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down ... I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily." — Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars)

"The setting is absorbing, pulling in the reader like a captivating movie, and I couldn’t help getting the same feeling I get when I watch the series 'Arrow.' It won’t be surprising if this story ends up on screen." -- Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

"The action is continuous and horrific ... revealing vistas of the future and especially the dangerous paths poor and greed based politics are forcing mankind to follow." -- Deepak Menon for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

"Brutally honest and scarily real, The Wanderer and the New West is a brilliant novel. Raw and gritty, this novel lays down the bare truth without sugar coating anything." -- Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

"Bender creates vivid characters in the plot that will resonate with any reader ... The author helped me visualize the impact of lawlessness on the media, technology and any nation as a whole." -- Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

The Wanderer and the New West is a brand-new, stand-alone novel by Adam Bender, an award-winning tech journalist and critically acclaimed author of the We, The Watched dystopian sci-fi series about government surveillance.

From the back cover:

"We live in a time of great individual freedoms. No government can tell us how to live our lives because we are free. In America, we are above the law.

We live in a time of great violence. Rob a bank, steal from a neighbor, murder a man who looks at you funny . . . but do it at your own peril. The people are watching, and we know the difference between right and wrong. Stand your ground, but beware: in America, we make our own justice.

This is THE NEW WEST.

These pages chronicle a people unbound by law — their actions and the consequences. We print only the wildest truth."

Genres: Science Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Ebooks

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2018

About the author

Adam Bender is an award-winning journalist and author of speculative fiction that explores modern-day societal fears with a mix of action, romance and humor.

Bender's latest novel is Utopia PR, a speculative satire about a public-relations specialist who struggles to find work-life balance while managing crisis after crisis for a dystopian American president. It won the 2021 IndieReader Discovery Award for Humor.

Previously, Bender wrote The Wanderer and the New West, a near-future western about a rogue vigilante who seeks redemption in a lawless America that fully protects the rights of armed citizens to stand their ground. Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2018, the novel also won gold for Dystopia in the 2018 Readers' Favorite Awards and best Western Fiction in the 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards.

Bender authored We, The Watched and Divided We Fall in a dystopian series about an amnesiac who struggles to conform in a surveillance society where the government keeps a Watched list of its own citizens. Also, Bender has published several short stories.

In his day job as a journalist, Bender covers telecom and internet regulation for Communications Daily. He has won awards for his reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Specialized Information Publishers Association, and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.

Bender lives in Philadelphia with his wife Mallika and son Rishi. He's usually a rather modest and amiable fellow.

Learn more about the author at WatchAdam.blog. Follow him on Facebook (wethewatched) and @WatchAdam on Twitter and Instagram.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Anti-Second Amendment novel. It uses the usual premise all the gun grabbers use about how this "isn't the wild west anymore." So we get a bit of a sci fi western.

On the one hand, much of it is well written. On the other hand, if you care about the constitution, this book may not be for you.

[Kevin Maring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this very much! Oh, I guess I'm supposed to tell you that I got this free. Anyway, some have expressed concern that this sci-fi, dystopic novel is an attack on the 2nd amendment; despite the fact that the hero shoots people...you know, bad guys. In all fairness I can understand how that might be an interpretation: As for me, *MY* takeaway was that the main villain was the influence of money in politics and thereby on personal freedoms.
I enjoyed it (oops, already said that) and will look at other books by Mr. Bender!

[Heather Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a story about a dystopian American where gun owners and gun manufacturers rule the country and laws are a thing of the past. This is a sci-fi western with vivid characters and vivid prose. Fascinating story....with a message....what you think that message is, well that is up to you. There is drama, suspense, action, humor, and adventure and the story moves at a quick pace. I think this a very relevant book regardless of your stance on guns. I feel the author is making a statement on our country’s obsession with guns but also on corporate greed & corruption & power. But this book is never preachy and it is always entertaining. Just a great book! I did receive this ARC from Goodreads in a giveaway and I want to say thanks because I loved this book!!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s a well-crafted speculative story that explores the moral, personal, professional, and political implications of a society with an ever-growing allegiance to guns. The author cleverly uses drama, adventure, humor and suspense in a way that keeps the story moving and gets the point across without preaching. I especially enjoyed the motley crew of heroes – Rosa, the fearless reporter with an unwavering dedication to true journalism untainted by popular opinion or corporate interests; Kid Hunter, the assassin who decides to take up a cause that’s bigger than killing for a paycheck; and the Wanderer, the protagonist who has gone rogue for the people. The writing, characters, plot, and modern western backdrop makes the book very entertaining!

[Christopher Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really got into this story - it is a fun juxtaposition of the old west as we imagine it, the tradition of flawed good guy vs really bad guy, and the modern technology we use today. I don't read many western-themed books, but this definitely makes me want to seek more out. I found it was a little over the top in its critique of gun culture in the U.S., though others may find that a reason to more enjoy the book.

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book (kindle version) on Goodreads and Amazon for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast-paced and wonderfully written. The characters and scenery are richly described and you find yourself fully engulfed in the story. This is a different kind of Western that has a very modern feel to it. Really this is an amazing read and I highly recommend it to anyone.

[Omar ElNaggar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent addictive fiction!

Incredibly relevant dystopian fiction with an action packed, thrilling story! This book is addictive fiction at its finest, I highly recommend it as a great read.

[GERALD GENTRY · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE WANDERER AND THE NEW WEST by Adam Bender is a non-stop, fast-paced journey through the NEW WEST.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this story.

[Grant Leishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is a dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down. Federal rule has virtually ceased and all power lies with the States - no longer is it the United States of America. Even the individual states have virtually given up trying to rule and law is implemented at the behest of corporations, one of the greatest of these being the Breck Ammunition Company. Into this lawless environment strides the impressive Wanderer. Nobody knows who he is or where he came from, but his mission, it seems is to protect the innocent and to fight injustice. With his trusty sidekick, Kid Hunter, the Wanderer joins forces with wannabe journalist Rosa Veras as they attempt to "clean up" the New West.

I came to this book expecting to be reading a Western, but was more than pleasantly surprised to discover this is so much more. Set some time in the future, in a world not too dissimilar to where we currently find ourselves, the values and importance of the free press and of morality shone through this story. The characters themselves, especially Kid Hunter and The Wanderer are necessarily caricatures of the old west's most famous gunslingers and fighters of injustice. I found myself incredibly caught up in Rosa and her group's fight to expose the evil and corruption inherent within the corporation and to bring some justice to the State of Arizona. The story was reminiscent of the old westerns I'd read as a child, without becoming overly soppy. The humour was genuine and some of the banter between the Kid and the Wanderer, truly inspired. I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily. An excellent story - The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender; I recommend it highly.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling Wild West Dystopian Tale

Adam Bender takes you into a unique story line where societal justice and law are non existent it’s pretty much an eye for an eye. Where the world is monopolized by the Breck corporation a gun company and its deranged owner. The vigilante Wanderer hero with his Stetson hat performing good deeds and the journalist whom he catches the eye of Rosa who can’t help but find him interesting and wants to write his story. This story is written in great style the characters are captivating. This was a unique and fascinating read.

[Alan Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopia

Entertaining dystopian, science fiction, modern western fiction with stand your ground elements.
I received a complementary copy via #GoodreadsGiveaway some time ago and finally got around to reading. Should have read it sooner as it was enjoyable.

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a download of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway to facilitate this review. No other compensation was requested or offered.

Fifty years ago, the Born-Again Patriots party was a rising independent political party with a platform of libertarianism and isolationism. About the same time, Breck Ammunition was the fastest-growing firearms company in America. Al Breck didn’t like having to compete with foreign gun manufacturers, nor the cumbersome regulations his company had to deal with. So he became the BAP’s biggest supporter.

Now the Born-Again Patriots have succeeded in abolishing all political offices above mayor (though mayors still work together in unofficial groups) and privatizing the functions that used to be handled by big government. Also, they’ve made huge concessions to Breck Ammunition, which now has a practical monopoly on the manufacture of firearms in what used to be the United States. No longer do you have to have pesky licenses, or waiting periods, or limits on the amount of submachine guns you can purchase.

One of the side effects in Liberty, Arizona (which used to have a different name before the BAPs took over) is a sharp rise in shooting-related deaths and injuries. Nobody could have seen that coming. In the most recent incident, a young woman was gut-shot by a man she’d rejected for a date. Which is sad, but because her family isn’t rich enough to pay for private security protection, nothing can be done.

Until, that is, the mysterious drifter known as the Wanderer calls the boy out during a church service, and the two go outside to shoot it out. This is the last straw for Sheriff (technically) Ben Martin, who is understandably frustrated by his inability to enforce the law, but feels that vigilantes are not the answer. He develops a personal grudge against the Wanderer.

This incident also arouses the interest of Rosa Veres, a blogger who wants to use her site, The New West, to bring attention to the news that the official media, owned by Breck Ammunition, suppresses. In her day job as a reporter for Our Times newspaper, Rosa is invited to a demonstration of Breck Ammo’s latest product. Her reportage of the incident is a mite too honest, and now she’s a target.

It will take both the Wanderer and his new partner, Kid Hunter (a hitman with a heart) to keep Rosa alive and bring down Breck CEO Gerard Breck. But the Wanderer has his own dark secrets that may destroy him.

This dystopian Western touches on some current political issues while still managing to do a decent job of being a Western. If the setup seems implausible, that’s perfectly normal for the dystopian genre. (The inconsistent technology seems to be a byproduct of isolationism screwing with innovation, but a lot of the effects you would logically have by cutting America off from the rest of the world aren’t addressed.)

I found the characters mostly interesting, though Gerard Breck veers into the cartoonishly evil at times. (And another villain’s motivation is kind of ludicrous.) The least developed characters were the Red Stripes gang, a white supremacist motorcycle gang that’s taken over several towns in the Southwest since the state police no longer exist.

Like many B Westerns, this book doesn’t seem to know how sheriffs work, and the fact that it took as long as it did for the residents of Liberty to think of creating a militia seems dubious. There’s also some blurring of the point as gun violence is both the cause of most of the problems and the solution to them.

That said, there are a number of good action scenes, and the setting is interesting enough that a sequel with mostly new characters would be welcome.

Mildly recommended for those who are fans of both Westerns and dystopias.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway a few months ago and just got around to finishing it. I kept seeing it advertised at the bottom of my Book Bub emails and thought the premise sounded interesting. It took me awhile to get into it, but once I did it was an easy read.

This novel explores a lot of interesting topics. The strongest parts of it related to the near-future dystopian landscape and technology. What exactly happened is kind of explained, but the explanations are not entirely satisfactory. This novel wants to do so much: adventure, corruption, dystopia, politics, and even some romance. In doing so, and not focusing on the strongest aspects of the story, the novel gets a little muddled. There are some side stories that either needed to be expanded or removed. A round of deliberate editing to remove some of the noise would make the narrative tighter. Overall, it was an entertaining story in the same way old Western movies are entertaining: action and an easy plot. I do agree with other reviewers that readers with strong views about guns (rights/control/etc.) might not be able to read the book without getting agitated.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. That was a book.

As always I thank Goodreads for winning this book. Other than that... I'm not entirely settled.

Certainly, if you have any feeling you are unable to set aside concerning the gun debate in America, no matter the side, you probably shouldn't read this. You will exclaim and growl and cuss your way through the novel.

On the other hand, if you can shut your own self up for the experience of reading, you might enjoy this.

It's not the greatest reading experience of my life, but I did tear through it pretty speedily once I got started.

The worst writing moment came when a character pointed out another character's use of a certain word. From that point on, it dug at me.

Main point: while it's far from the greatest story ever told it is a quick and enjoyable read if you can separate yourself from the political aspects involved.

[J. Noalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisting, Turning Wild Ride in the New West

In his novel, Adam Bender takes the reader on a twisting, turning wild ride in a futuristic America where lawlessness and rampant corruption have spiraled out of control, making the right to bear arms a matter of survival. The Wanderer, a mysterious gunslinger, battles injustice, and his deeds draw notice in a reporter's underground blog. The novel presents a fast-paced adventure with an outlaw gang, colorful characters, and witty dialogue. "The Wanderer and the New West," however, is not a typical Western, because, through his characters, the author also delivers a social critique of unchecked gun proliferation and the human toll and devastation it leaves behind. An exciting, new twist to the traditional Western. A highly entertaining read.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this through a Goodreads giveaway. I loved this book. The characters were well-developed for the most part, the dialogue was believable, and the plot was timely. I have always loved stories of the Old West; this book was the perfect blend of cowboys and technology. Plus the themes couldn't be more appropriate for America right now. I couldn't give it five stars, because the ending really disappointed me. I felt it was resolved to quickly and didn't do justice to the storytelling of the rest of the book.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sci-Fi Western Meets Poli-Sci

Received a kindle copy through Goodreads thinking this might be a western meeting my historical fiction needs; instead a pretty interesting future sci-fi with gun yielding, corporate America gone wrong and every current societal ill on steroids almost turned me off....so glad I hung in there! Being a Philly girl, I'd love to share a beer with the author sometime.

[Steve Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway. It was a fast moving distopian novel about an America in the near future where guns are everywhere and government has faded away as taxes were lowered so that services couldn't be maintained. It was a good story that reminded me of SF grom the 50's and 60's. Highly recommended.

[Baglady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sci-fi western - great mash of the two genres. All the stereotypes updated to a dystopian world where influential money, organized crime, second amendment polarization and the sci-fi of high tech killing methods create a fun story, if you can get past the lectures about the evil scourge of automatic weapons in the hands of citizens. But, no organized government, so no citizens, really.!

[Sybil Luft · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely write reviews but this deserves an explanation of the 1-star rating. I have a rule that I always finish books, so I kept listening and hoping it would get better. It just didn’t. Sadly predictable and, frankly, an embarrassment on my reading list.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my interest throughout

[Pam Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! Original and follows through so well - I believe it would play out just this way.

[Falisha Zwolinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway.
I love it! What an incredibly appropriate time to read this, when our gun ownership and gun devotion in America is under the public eye. Good dystopian read.

[Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard for me to like since I am 100% for the 2'nd amendment. I did read it though and the author had some really good ideas. This is just not a book for me.

[Zzz Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this ebook in a giveaway.

The book was adequate. The characters were bare-bones and kind of dull stereotypes, but it was made up for in the fast-paced, easy-to-read plot. The world-building was pretty non-existent, and the premise relies on the assumption that Republicans love guns so much that they'll eventually... hate.... police? A very weird take on gun culture mixed with a disdain for libertarians and a hand wave toward "special interest groups" come together very flimsily to force you to suspend your very serious disbelief. The biggest disappointment was Rosa, who is supposed to be an extremely effective reporter. However, with several of her pieces printed directly into the book, everything you are told to think about her crashes into the in-world reality that she's not a very good writer and she's not writing in a particularly controversial way. This is doubly disappointing knowing that the author himself is a journalist; her pieces in The New West read like particularly dry AP wires, not incendiary pieces of investigative journalism written by a blogger who's just in it for the truth.

Another major disappointment is the hand-wavy tech in this book. The Wanderer sports a wearable tech eye-lense thing for no reason, no one else has it (but no one is particularly surprised by it), and it possibly helps with his aim? Charlie is a man-boy, swinging wildly from cold-blooded killer to teenage hacker/nerd, but literally everything he does is a deus ex machina with no attempt to explain it at all. You're supposed to accept that he grew up in abject poverty, stole a laptop, and learned "hacking" on the "dark-web", which apparently grants you God-like control over helicopters. And of course, he kills a bunch of people with hacking as a bounty hunter. Again, doubly disappointing given that the author is a tech journalist.

All in all, adequate. Quick read, a lot of action, don't think about it too much. Good for a beach read?

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid story teller

The old west meets the future with the modern-day gun debate. Great character development, without the typical "good guy saves the day, everyone lives happily ever after ". Giveaway win

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mixture of eras

Through out the story you find yourself reading along in what seems to be a western and soon realize that you are reading a story about a future America where one gun manufacturing company is running the country and the man at the helm is crazy.
But wait, there's more but you need to read this book to learn how the old west values save the day.

[Torrey Grennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a free giveaway through Goodreads.

I enjoyed the story. It managed to show the absurdity of no gun regulation/laws while also highlighting the "Good Guy with a Gun" hero.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent

It took me awhile to get through the book again as I thought that I would try this again. But either way, it was decent.