James Wesley Rawles. The name is synonymous with “survival” and in his book Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse
he continues providing the same reliable information we’ve come to expect from his previous books.
Expatriates takes place in different settings across the world in the aftermath of a global economic collapse. One thing that is very timely, considering the recent activities of ISIS, is an Indonesian Muslim attack on Australia and the Philipines, where we find several displaced American characters. Meanwhile, in the USA, a family in Florida struggles to survive and to help protect their small town against those desperate souls who would pillage it.
Their America is gone forever
After the United States suffers a major socio-economic meltdown, a power vacuum sweeps the globe. A newly-radicalized Islamic government has risen in Indonesia and—after invading the Philippines, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea—sets its sights on Australia. No longer protected by American military interests, Australia must repel an invasion alone.
In the thick of it all, Peter and Rhiannon Jeffords, American Christian missionaries in the Philippines, and Chuck Nolan, a Texan petroleum engineer in Australia, find themselves adrift in a world in flux. Chronicling the Jeffords’ and Nolan’s fight against Indonesia’s merciless advances, Expatriates is a riveting thriller and a powerful depiction of the authentic skills and techniques needed to survive the collapse of modern civilization.
As with his previous books, Patriots and Survivors
, Rawles’ strong faith takes a starring role in the book, coming to life in his characters.
You can definitely see evidence of the author’s military background throughout the book. The tactics used in particular by the characters in Australia provide some thought-provoking ideas for defense here at home. I can’t say much without spoiling the plot, but think “perimeter defense instruction manual” and you’ve got the right idea.
One thing that is consistent throughout Rawles’ novels is that he provides a great deal of sound survival information, worked into the story. Because the settings are tropical, there’s some information in there about storing food and goods in hot, humid climates that I had not considered previously. There is also a great deal of information about using a boat as a bug-out vehicle, which wouldn’t work for those of us who are landlocked, but might do very well for people near the shore.
The characters’ shopping lists could well be adapted to many different situations, and they are complete with brand names. I noticed that some folks who reviewed the book criticized this as “product placement” but I don’t believe that is the case. I believe that he was being as specific as possible and including these very valuable details so that readers who were interested to could acquire such supplies for themselves.
If you’re looking for a survival novel with a lot of technical and tactical information, as well as some moral lessons, check out Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse. It’s a work of fiction, but it’s loaded with solid information that many will be able to apply to their own preparedness endeavours. It’s sure to become another prepper classic.
If you enjoy the lists and survival information, be sure to check out Rawles’ non-fiction options. My all-time favorite book by Rawles has to be the oldie but goodie, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times
, and another good one is Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own
.
James Wesley Rawles’ website is Survival Blog, and it is probably the biggest compendium of survival information on the net. It’s updated every day with excellent new content.
Did you read this?
Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Which of Rawles’ books is your favorite?
Let’s discuss it in the comments section.
All of Rawles’ books are available through Amazon:
Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse
Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse
Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse
Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse
Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own
About Daisy
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites. 1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2) The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews.
Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter.
Rawles’ “Patriots” was the first book of this genre handed to me and it struck a nerve. Since then, I’ve read or listened (I’m a big Audible fan) to more than 100 SHTF/dystopian novels plus nearly as many non-fiction guides. While some of his in-depth technical sections make my eyes glaze over, the strategic and plot guidance is invaluable. Thanks for going back to review an “oldie but goodie”!
I tried to read one of his books. Dont recall which one.
I got tired of the lists, the detailed descriptions of what was clearly the weapon he owned.
The heros taking mind bending, on the run, from behind their backs and scoring head shots was too much a stretch even for my imagination. And the word “ventilate” got old real quick.
Seemed everyone could treat a gun shot wound using a tampon.
I know, I should give it a read and not be so quick to dismiss.
1st Marine, well said! JWR has a lot of academic knowledge (IMHO), but he made a horrendous blunder in his overall strategic analysis: The LOCATION of the American Redoubt. It seems as though he “created” it around his neck of the woods, much like he makes lists of weapons and things he owns – in his books. If JWR had done any sort of Due Diligence on his physical location research, he wouldn’t be living in & around one of the biggest Death Traps in North America. I went through his (location) material early on, and quickly abandoned it when it didn’t pass the smell test. Like anything else, I guess the best course of action is to take what resonates with you and leave the rest.
Thank you RBI. I agree he has a lot of knowledge and experience. I just have a difference of opinion.
May I ask what you mean by the Redoubt being a “Death Traps?”
His fictional books are interesting reads and the good guys always win. However, the content always leaves me feeling underprepared, overwhelmed, and anxious.
It’s funny that you would do a review on Expat’s right now as I’ve just started re-reading it.
Personally, I enjoy Jim’s books. I’ve actually written a few articles for his Blog over the years, and I have indeed teased him about the “good guys” always winning, and the fact that the heroes do have more luck than most of us in real life. But that’s why it’s fiction. We don’t read a book, following the hero through 300 pages of struggles and triumphs to have them die in a ditch, cold and alone because they tripped and broke their leg.
The redout – depends on what SHTF you’re looking at, economic, nuclear, super volcano, or asteroid strike. Equipment: probably bases his characters equipment on what he owns – but at least he knows the equipment. Nothing ruins a novel for me like an M-249 Minimi “ratcheting 45 caliber slugs down range at 200 rounds a minute” I don’t see that in Jim’s novels.
He is big on lists though. He even has a “List of lists” But every prepper I know has his own lists. Even Daisy has lists….It’s what we do.
Now, all this makes me sound like a JWR fan-boy, and maybe I am to a degree, but that’s also based on my interaction with the man over the years. I don’t agree with everything Jim has to say, but he’s also the first one to advise people to take what info he provides and adapt it to your own situation. AND, I think that he has done a lot for the prepping community as a whole. His interviews are intelligent and thought provoking. He’s generally quiet spoken and knowledgeable about his topics. He bases his prepping on biblical beliefs and morality. He’s not the wild ranting and raving lunatic that the MSM usually portrays preppers as.
I love a good educational fiction, so I just bought all his books under “used” on Amazon. I do tend to glaze over at lists, but some of that can be skipped to read the story. Finger’s crossed that it is actually enjoyable. If not, I actually am paying more for shipping than for the books themselves. Funny, right after I purchased, they start talking about “prime day” coming up. I should have waited then got my trial membership…
I’ve either read (book form and/or Kindle App), or listened to all of JWR’s** audio books (audio CDs, DVRs or Audible Audio). The first two (Patriots and Survivors), were the best audio books in my opinion as they were narrated by my favorite narrator of all time, Dick Hill.
The one thing you must understand is that these books are informational stories centered around a prepping and survivalist mindset not merely a story. Think of them as an instruction manual *with* a story.
PS: If you loved Expatriates you’ll very much love the follow-on book (the last in the Patriots series), Liberators. Some of the same characters from Expatriates are also in Liberators. If you listen to those via audio book they also have the same narrator (Eric G. Dove).
PPS: If you want the best epilogue of any JWR audio book it would definitely be, Founders (Book #3 in the series). Epic!
**JWR: James Wesley, Rawles (yes, I spelled and punctuated his name correctly)