4.0 out of 5 stars
Memory can be faulty..., June 6, 2008
I remember reading The Web way back in the early eighties. Well, remember isn't exactly accurate... The only thing I remember from the novel was the whole bit about a town on the edge of destruction, holding every important holiday day after day until they hit Christmas.
So, it was because of that, and remembering that I didn't like that aspect of the novel that I wasn't looking forward to the audio adaptation of this particular title.
Funny thing about memories though, is that this was only a very minor aspect of the entire novel.
It was a small sub-plot played out with John Rourke, while incidents with his wife and Children, with Paul Rubenstein, and even the soviet forces and Natalia were also involved.
I won't deny the fact that I was originally not interested in listening to the novel, but I knew that I had to, because if I didn't I would end up missing out on some important long term plot details.
And yes, there were some very important details in the novel.
Without giving away too much of the plot, which is something most readers of my reviews will know is something I strive to avoid...
The reader finally learns more about the Eden Project and something of equal importance, The Womb.
Throughout the first four Survivalist Novels, Jerry Ahern foreshadowed something major is going to take place in the series... something that will change the direction of the series forever.
Those of us who have read the novels before, know exactly what is going to happen, and it's not far off from this current release. Of course it is very easy to discover for yourself what happens, all you need to do is look it up on the internet or even listen to Pod cast 15 on the Graphic Audio website.
But for those of you who want to wait, you won't be disappointed. It's worth the wait, believe me.
Now, as I have said before, one of the things that really sets the Survivalist apart from so many of the other 80's action series is the whole concept of family and friendship.
Rourke is still hunting for his lost family and despite the way he feels towards Natalia and she to him, it is the most important thing in his life, his whole drive... even more than survival.
Again, as has happened so many times in the previous novels, the Soviet invaders are shown to be human, not a faceless monstrous machine who will step upon and use the survivors as a means to an end.
They're human too - and yet again, that sets them apart from so many of the other villains in other novels from that era.
Who says that a villain has to be a monster? Sure, that's what we're used to seeing, but what makes a villain so much more impressive is one that is human, has human weaknesses and can have concepts of honour and courage as well.
These villains make the best villains.
Of course, we do need bad guys who are pure monsters - when we have those types; it's all that more satisfying to see when they meet a nasty, brutal and often messy end.
But for now, I'll stick with the villains who aren't that bad after all.
As with the rest of the series, Jerry Ahern has dropped more pieces of the puzzle for the readers to begin to grasp what is really happening in the ravaged landscape after the Night of the War.
And the tapestry that is being woven is one that is truly frightening in its meaning.
Finally, I have to mention the quality of the production of the novel. It was, as one has come to expect over the years to be top notch. Keep up the great work people!
4 out of 5.
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