5.0 out of 5 stars
Family, first and foremost, June 6, 2008
This review is from: The Survivalist # 3 - The Quest (Audio CD)
Just how important is family?
To me, it's the entire meaning to my existence. My son and my wife are all that matters to me. They're first and foremost in my life. Shelter, food, work, everything else is secondary.
As long as my family is safe.
There are others out there who feel the same way I do, but then there are those who don't care about their family, or what happens to them. This is just the way of the world, and it's a sad fact.
Because family is so important to many people though, how does it control their lives? I work hard to keep a roof over my family's head, to keep food on the table, and to make sure we have everything we need.
That includes keeping my family happy. Staying loyal to my wife, and never hiding anything. Never giving her a reason to suspect any sort of infidelity.
Also, there is the simple matter of trust. You have to trust your family. If you don't it will destroy everything.
So, this brings up the question, just how far would you be willing to go to protect your family, if they're as important to you as mine is to me?
Would you be willing to kill to protect them? How about working with the enemy in order to keep them safe? Just how far would you go?
I'd say that I'd kill for my family, but I thank god that I'll more than likely never, ever have to face that sort of choice.
Survivalist: The Quest. The first two books showed that John T. Rourke cared deeply for his family and after the Night of the war, it became his driving force. He survived, and he had the will to survive, but he desperately needed to know that Sarah, Annie, and Michael were ok as well.
During his trek to find them, he was forced, more than once to embark on a side quest. Not just for himself, but for the good of others.
So, family is his top priority, but his honour will not allow him to idly stand by when things are wrong.
It has been several weeks since the night of the war and after Rourke's escape from the Russians, he and Paul finally make it to his retreat.
Things don't go well between Natalial Tiemerovna and her husband Vladimir Karamatsov. In fact things go so badly because Vladimir doesn't believe or trust Natalial, that her uncle, Ishmael Varakov sets up an elaborate trap in order to capture John Rourke.
See, here we go, the whole bit about family. Here a family is shattered because of mistrust. Not believing in your spouse.
The survivalist deals with BOTH aspects of the family unit. The caring and the hurt.
Now, the series has continuity as well. Things are looking grim for the future. The weather continues to change, and even Rourke has a chill run up his spine as he looks towards the heavens and sees the haze that is obscuring the moon to a slight degree.
They even get a lead on someone who survived the night of the war, someone who has an idea what the `Eden Project' is all about.
All the while, the invading Soviet forces are trying to set up outposts and are working hard to put down the resistance that they are facing from the surviving Americans. But, they're avoiding using the typical brutal tactics that were so common in the other series that came out in the 80's.
Yes, they're the bad guys, but at the same time, they're trying to win over the hearts and minds of the people. They're even going as far as attacking the bands of outlaws and brigands that have popped up since the war ended.
I can't go into much more detail without giving away major spoilers, but I will say this... Rourke is forced to break a promise to Natalial. You'll find out when you listen to the novel.
As for the fate of Annie, Sarah and Michael, Rourke discovers what has happened to them. That's enough of a spoiler for now.
Now, when it comes to the Eden Project, both John and Paul discuss it, and of course they have to wonder if it might not be some sort of last minute revenge project planned by the American Government, but despite this, Rourke thinks it could be the exact opposite.
Do they find out what it is? You'll have to listen to the novel to find out.
Also, I have to say that General Ishmael Varakov is a very likeable character. He loves his niece and he is set against the brutal tactics that some of his officers under his command wish to use.
If things had been different, if the war had never occurred, its likely that he and Rourke could have been great friends, despite the political and ideological differences that separated both men.
Now, lastly, I have nothing but praise for the work that the fine folks at Graphic Audio did for the production of this novel.
Keep up the excellent work! And, thanks to Jerry Ahern for bringing back such fond memories. Memories of a series that I almost totally forgot about over the past fifteen or so years since the last novel was published.
5 out of 5
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