Lights Out: Book Review

“Lights Out” is a prepper fiction novel I read long before I started this site, most of you may already know it, for those who havent, here is my take.

Lights out starts out with the main character Mark at work, when suddenly the lights go out, some sort of EMP has taken out the power grid, things are unknown at first and the normalcy of life is suddenly yanked out from underneath everyone and no one knows what to do.  Without giving too much of the story away Mark and his family have a decision to make, stay put and make do or leave to meet up with his prepper brother.  The family and community that comes to be almost a family, has to deal with opportunistic thieves and pillaging gangs, as well as deal with the day to day things that keep life going, short and long term.

THREE THINGS I LIKED

• Excellent storytelling, very good character development. Some books you read, especially in the Prepper Fiction, the story may be good, but the character development and the “suck you in” factor may be lacking.  I have read this book 2 times, and i still really get sucked in.

• Fairly realistic as far as the challenges you would face when building a community out of a loose conglomeration of families who happen to live in a neighborhood.  You have issues with people’s ego’s you have issues with the elderly, you have issues with food, water, defense.  All of these things will be very important and difficult to deal with, and this book covers that, while other prepper fiction novels will focus on the mountaintop retreat, or that someone in the community already has 5 years of food for 20 people.

• The fact that Law enforcement is still around.  Too many books out there paint a scenario of “things have broken down, now there are no stores, no cops, nothing”.  This COULD be a possibility, however some facets of government will still be in place, and will continue to be, especially in a partial collapse.  This also illustrates well, how even though the SHTF, you could still be arrested for doing something stupid or shooting an armed gang member, so act intelligently.

THREE THINGS I DIDNT LIKE

• There was a bit of the storyline filler of things falling into place, to make transitions in the book easier.  The town had a agriculture expert, were able to get a tractor, were able to get a combat vet who was able to train a large guard force in the town.  Its not unbelievable, but it did make it seem less….real.

• Without giving away the story, the chance the main characters families had to move to the compound, should have done that. Smarter move, however the story makes it seem like a smart move i still feel as though that area could have been defended well regardless of the some opinions in the book.  You can love your wife and respect her, but when it comes to my families lives, safety trumps feelings.  This isnt a hit on the book, just more the main characters thinking.

• The main protagonist was a bit on the unbelievable side in what he was able to accomplish, however it does work to illustrate how community building as well as individual relationships need to be approached in even a more careful way to avoid tragic clashes as often there can be “too many chiefs”.

Overall I loved the book, like I said I have read it twice, and its reception and popularity amongst the community also shows that I am not alone.  This book is not like Rawles novels in that it doesnt interject alot of information into the story, so this is more of a “entertainment” read more than a instruction manual with a storyline. If you asked me to recommend 3 prepper fiction novels to you, this would be one of them.

Head over to Amazon to pick up this book today

It is also available on the kindle

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