Customer Reviews

The Amtrak Wars: Book Two : First Family (Bk. 2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read many SF books, many of these involve a post-apocalyptic earth. None of these books has kept me as enthralled as the Amtrak Wars series has. Patrick Tilley gives such depth and detail to his characters and locations that you find yourself rooting for Steve Brickman and his mute friends as they face the might of the Federation. I would definitely recommend this and the other books but only if you have a lot of free time on your hands because I guarantee that you will not be able to put it down and, when you have finnished it, you will want to start all over again (I did). Five stars.

Steven Roosevelt Brickman returns to the Amtrak Federation after five months of captivity by the Mutes. He thinks he will be a hero - a brave survivor bringing back valuable intelligence that the Mutes are a lot smarter and have a lot more resources than is believed. Instead, he is stripped of everything and consigned to the A-levels to work out his life as the lowest of the low, maintaining the environmental systems the allow the underground Federation to function. And then he is offered a way out, plus a return to the overground. Steve's loyalties are about to be put under even more pressure than before . . .
"First Family" is as good as "Cloud Warrior", though it feels more claustrophobic. That's no surprise, though, as that's exactly how Steve is feeling himself as he re-enters his old life. There's perhaps a little less action, but action is not really the point of this book. Despite the importance of the plot, "First Family" is a scene-setter: from it, we learn a lot more about the Mutes and the Amtrak Federation, and especially the manipulations that have affected Steve's life since birth. The First Family - whom we actually meet - view him as a tiny cog in a very large machine, theirs to use at will. Whether he proves to be valuable or dangerous, they'll use him as much as possible. And Steve is still too naive to realise exactly what his situation is.
"First Family" also sets up the action for the coming books. Roz and Jodi are reintroduced, and we meet two other Trackers who will be very important later, Kelso and Malone. And Steve accepts a dangerous mission from Mr Snow which is played out in the third book, "Iron-Master".
It's sad and frustrating to see how Steve is manipulated by those around him, despite his cleverness. But he is determined to find the truth and run his own life, and that has just as much impact on the plot as those manipulations.
The setting and plot of "First Family" are as intriguing as as those of "Cloud-Warrior". Just try to ignore the nastiness of the relationship between Steve and Roz.

If you are keen on exploring the tyrannical potential of high technology, you can't do worst than to start here. This is '1984' updated into the info-tech age, makes Winston Smith's life in Airstrip One seem like a totally relaxed seaside holiday in Blackpool! The definitive word in hi-tech dystopia novel, it ranks way up there with 'Brave New World', 'THX 1138', 'The Glass Tower', etc. It is also 1 of the all-time best post-Apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers ever written, IMHO. Cross Adolf Hitler with Bill Gates and Dale Carnegie, stir in Ph.D's for social-psychology and electronic engineering , and you get the 'First Family' of the book's title. A must-read!!! Anyone who knows Patrick's email address pls pls pls contact me - I've been wanting to compliment him personally for a long-while now!

The graphic detail of the book and its plot are nothing short of resplendant. This series is story telling at its best. I believe that I will have a hard time finding another book, series or author, that will come come close to this one. The ending did come as a bit of a shock though. Come on Patrick where's book 7.

A series well worth the late nights spent reading. Where is book seven? On the grapevine a dispute between Tilley and the publisher, regarding movie rights? Does anyone know the truth? Still six of best in anyones language.

Having read all 6 books a couple of times it is still hard to put them down. The detailed description of surroundings and events made me feel like being part of this fantastic adventure. What a tremendous gift to be able to write books like that. Great finish, open to continue with more.

I have five books of the series and have read none stop since getting them. It is a wonderful series. Definately recommended reading.

This story had me up till all hours reading as I could not put it down. A lot the things that happen in the book could quite possibly happen one day. I have the first six books but would sell my computer to have the rest of them.

One of the better action sci/fi series out there, and definetely the best created post-apocalyptic world I ever read. Abrupt ending that had potential for a grand finish

Good slice-em up action series. Book six ended rather abruptly and left you wondering?, well whats next... I expected book seven...