Customer Reviews

Smoke Jumpers

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I read this book when it originally came out. Now, with a few of my friends trying to come off the smoking wagon, I am sending copies of this for them to read in hilarity, and to kill time when they would otherwise be puffing. I truly enjoy Paul's books, and anxiously await "Kill Spike".

There are two reasons for reading any book. The first, and most obvious, is because someone else tells us we have to. The second reason, perhaps the best reason, is because it is fun to do so. Smoke Jumpers is one of those rare books that qualifies on both points. You SHOULD read this book because it is a remarkable treatise on freedom. But more importantly, you will WANT to read this book because it is fun to do so!

I first became acquainted with Smoke Jumpers several years ago. At that time, I was very impressed and time has not diminished my opinion. Smoke Jumpers is Satire. As most of you know, Satire is the most difficult type of writing to pursue. The main reason for this is that satire must, by definition, be offensive. If the satire does not offend you, it is not making you think. If you are not thinking, you should not be reading satire. Yet, even though writing satire is difficult, Paul Freeman does it admirably.

Smoke Jumpers details a future society that has outlawed smoking. Smoking has not only become illegal, it has become the most deadly of all crimes. Special units of government police (The Smoke Jumpers) pursue and arrest all guilty parties. If you are caught for smoking you are punished severely. Smokers are routinely taken from society and banished.

In a world where difficult problems are routinely ignored, smoking is conquered. Is it so far from the reality we are now seeing? Isn't Winston DeWeerd - the President in Smoke Jumpers - a good substitute for Bill Clinton? Of course he is!

Five years ago Smoke Jumpers told of a future, with frightening clarity, that is now coming to pass . The only thing left is for the tobacco companies to move off-shore to protect their assets. (And that may happen yet.)

I don't want to give you the impression that reading Smoke Jumpers will be painful. Even after all of these years some of the ideas (and jokes) still find resonance. "Not all people who drive pick-up trucks are idiots, but all idiots eventually drive pick-up trucks." "I am not saying the lady wasn't bright, but periodically she had to sit by the fan to get her brain recharged." I cannot drive by a "Dairy Queen" without thinking of Mr. Freeman's making them change their name because they offended the homosexual community. Or banning the use of "Tight End" in football because it too was offensive.(In his wisdom, Mr. Freeman changes the tight end to a "Close cather."

If you value freedom and if you desire a good time reading AND thinking; by all means pick up a copy of Smoke Jumpers. It will meet and exceed your expectations. <BR

Smoke Jumpers should be REQUIRED reading. It is an educational insight of just what the people of the United States are doing to themselves. Mr. Freeman's knowledge, intertwined with common sense, and insight has in a sense become the New Nostradamus. The Catch-22 is THIS Nostradamus will be proven correct if we keep on the track we are now riding.

Smoke Jumpers is NOT Politically Correct (thank god), but it IS the truth. Elected officials and corporate heads should read it, they might learn something. Smoke Jumpers should be read by everyone who has ever had a question, in other words, all of us. We may learn something also. There is nothing between the lines, it is right there in front of you.

Reality! What a concept.

My compliments to Mr. Freeman on an excellent work of fiction, that may soon pass to Non-fiction.

If you enjoy the pointed sarcasim of Kurt Vonnegut and the the futuristic thinking that made George Orwell's pig-farm a bastion of individual thought and liberty, then you'll want to read this book. You'll find yourself checking the book's cover and asking, "...when did he write this...?" A great job, easily readable in one sitting, but you'll want to take a little longer, just to savor the characters, witt and scarcasm.

This book was great. I read it in less than 24 hours. I gotta say it's what would happen if we kept taking our rights for granted. It really makes me appreciate how smoking is tied to our other right as well. There is a hint of privacy invasion (aka 1984 by ORwell) but not quite to the extreme. I'd highly recommend reading this book.

I ended up with this book because I saw Mr. Freeman at a book signing with no one buying his book. I felt bad for him and the book looked interesting so I bought a signed copy. Boy, am I glad I did! I loved the book! It is a very thought-provoking tale of the loss of freedom and twisted priorities as a result. I feel very fortunate to have a signed copy! I recommend this book every chance I get, especially in light of the current political winds!

An excellent book, the sarcasm level is somewhat high, but I like that. The point being made is very concise. More books like this would be appreciated.