Expatriates A Novel Of The Coming Global Collapse Epub Converter
Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse - A Review
If you are a fan of survivalist fiction, you might have heard of Expatriates, a novel by James Wesley, Rawles. It is the fourth book in his Coming Collapse series, which depicts a hypothetical scenario of a global economic and social breakdown. In this review, we will take a closer look at what this book is about, who is the author, why it is relevant today, and what are its strengths and weaknesses. We will also compare it with other books in the genre and give our final verdict on whether you should read it or not.
Introduction
What is the book about?
Expatriates is a novel that follows two expat families living in different parts of the world during a major socioeconomic collapse. One family is a group of American missionaries in the Philippines, who have to flee their home and make their way to Australia by boat, facing various dangers along the way. The other family is a Texan petroleum engineer working in Australia, who has to deal with the invasion of Indonesia, which has become a radicalized Islamic state. The book shows how these characters cope with life stripped of modern conveniences and technology, and how they use their survival skills and faith to overcome the challenges they face.
Who is the author?
The author of Expatriates is James Wesley, Rawles, a former US Army intelligence officer and a prominent survivalist blogger. He is the founder of survivalblog.com, one of the most popular websites on preparedness and survival topics. He has written several books on these subjects, including Patriots, Survivors, Founders, Liberators, and Land of Promise. He is also a consultant and speaker on disaster readiness and self-reliance.
Why is it relevant today?
Expatriates is relevant today because it explores a possible scenario of what could happen if the world as we know it ended tomorrow. It raises questions about how we would survive without electricity, internet, transportation, communication, law and order, and other aspects of modern civilization. It also shows how different cultures and religions would react to such a crisis, and how conflicts and alliances would emerge among nations and groups. It also offers practical advice on how to prepare for such an eventuality, such as what skills to learn, what supplies to stockpile, what weapons to use, and what strategies to follow.
Summary of the plot
The global collapse scenario
The book is set in a near future where the United States suffers a major socioeconomic collapse, triggered by a series of events such as a cyberattack, a pandemic, a nuclear war, and a civil war. As a result, the US dollar loses its value, the government collapses, and the country descends into chaos and violence. This creates a power vacuum in the world, which is filled by various actors with different agendas and ideologies. One of them is Indonesia, which has become a radicalized Islamic state under the leadership of a charismatic cleric named Imam Daud. He launches a campaign of conquest and jihad in Southeast Asia and Oceania, invading the Philippines, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and finally Australia.
The main characters and their struggles
The book focuses on two expat families who are caught in the middle of this turmoil. One of them is the Jeffords family, consisting of Peter and Rhiannon, who are American Christian missionaries living in the Philippines, and their three children: Caleb, Naomi, and Hannah. They have been working in a remote village, spreading the gospel and helping the locals with their medical and educational needs. When Indonesia invades the Philippines, they are forced to abandon their home and mission post, and seek refuge in Australia. They are helped by their neighbors, Paul Navarro and his teenage grandson Joseph, who are Filipino-Americans with dual citizenship. Together, they embark on a perilous journey by boat across the ocean, facing storms, pirates, sharks, and enemy patrols.
The other family is the Nolan family, consisting of Chuck and Barbara, who are Texans working in the oil industry in Australia, and their two children: Jake and Amy. Chuck is a petroleum engineer who works for a company that operates offshore rigs in the Timor Sea. Barbara is a homemaker who homeschools their kids. When Indonesia invades Australia, Chuck is stranded on one of the rigs, while Barbara and the kids are at their home in Darwin. They have to deal with the threat of bombings, riots, looting, and martial law. They also have to decide whether to stay put or flee to a safer location.
The outcome and the message
The book follows the parallel stories of these two families as they struggle to survive and reunite in the midst of a global crisis. Along the way, they encounter various allies and enemies, such as Australian soldiers, Indonesian invaders, American expats, Chinese spies, Filipino rebels, Aboriginal tribesmen, and others. They also face moral dilemmas, such as whether to kill or spare their foes, whether to trust or betray their friends, whether to stay loyal or defect to their country or faith. They also experience personal growth, such as overcoming their fears, doubts, prejudices, and weaknesses.
The book ends with a climactic battle between the Australian forces and the Indonesian invaders in Darwin. The Jeffords family manages to reach Darwin by boat after several close calls and hardships. They reunite with the Nolan family at their home after Chuck escapes from the rig with the help of some Chinese agents. They join forces with some Australian soldiers and American expats to defend their neighborhood from the enemy attack. They use their weapons, skills, and faith to fight back against overwhelming odds. They manage to repel the invaders and survive the battle.
The book concludes with an epilogue that shows what happens to the main characters after the war. The Jeffords family decides to stay in Australia and continue their missionary work among the Aboriginal people. The Nolan family decides to return to Texas and rebuild their lives there. They keep in touch with each other through letters and emails. The book also reveals that Indonesia's invasion of Australia was part of a larger plan by Imam Daud to establish a global Islamic caliphate. However, his plan is thwarted by a coalition of countries led by China and Russia, who intervene to stop his expansionism. The book ends with a message of hope that despite the chaos and destruction caused by the collapse of civilization, there is still room for faith, love, and freedom.
Analysis of the book
The strengths of the book
One of the strengths of Expatriates is that it is well-researched and realistic. The author draws on his extensive knowledge of survivalism, military tactics, geopolitics, religion, and history to create a plausible scenario of what could happen if the world faced a major crisis. He provides detailed descriptions of the locations, the weapons, the vehicles, the equipment, and the techniques used by the characters to survive and fight. He also includes maps, diagrams, tables, and appendices to illustrate his points and support his arguments. He makes the reader feel like they are witnessing the events firsthand.
Another strength of Expatriates is that it is informative and educational. The author not only tells an entertaining story, but also teaches the reader valuable lessons on how to prepare for and cope with a disaster situation. He covers topics such as food storage, water purification, gardening, hunting, fishing, first aid, communication, security, self-defense, and more. He also gives tips on how to develop a survival mindset, a strong faith, and a resilient spirit. He shows how these skills and qualities can make a difference between life and death in a crisis.
The weaknesses of the book
One of the weaknesses of Expatriates is that it is too long and repetitive. The book has over 300 pages, but it could have been shorter and more concise. The author tends to repeat himself a lot, especially when describing the technical details of the weapons and equipment used by the characters. He also includes too many unnecessary scenes and dialogues that do not advance the plot or develop the characters. He could have edited out some of these parts and focused more on the main action and conflict.
Another weakness of Expatriates is that it is too biased and preachy. The author clearly favors a conservative, Christian, American point of view, and portrays other perspectives as inferior or evil. He depicts Indonesia as a fanatical and aggressive enemy, China and Russia as opportunistic and treacherous allies, and Australia as a weak and dependent friend. He also portrays Islam as a violent and oppressive religion, while Christianity as a peaceful and liberating one. He does not give much nuance or complexity to these portrayals, and does not explore the motivations or backgrounds of these groups. He also inserts his own opinions and beliefs into the narrative, often in a heavy-handed and moralizing way. He could have been more balanced and respectful in his representation of different cultures and religions.
The comparison with other books in the genre
Expatriates belongs to the genre of survivalist fiction, which is a subgenre of science fiction that deals with scenarios of societal collapse and human survival. Some examples of other books in this genre are The Road by Cormac McCarthy, One Second After by William R. Forstchen, The Stand by Stephen King, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Postman by David Brin, World War Z by Max Brooks, The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Patriots by James Wesley Rawles (the first book in the Coming Collapse series), and many others.
Expatriates differs from some of these books in that it focuses more on the military and political aspects of the collapse scenario than on the psychological and emotional ones. It also differs in that it features multiple protagonists in different locations rather than a single protagonist or a small group in one location. It also differs in that it has a more optimistic and hopeful tone than some of these books, which tend to be more bleak and pessimistic.
Expatriates is similar to some of these books in that it shares some common themes and elements with them, such as the causes and effects of the collapse scenario, the challenges and dangers faced by the survivors, the skills and strategies needed to survive, the moral and ethical dilemmas encountered by the survivors, the role of faith and religion in coping with the crisis, the importance of family and community in surviving together, and the hope for a better future after the crisis.
Conclusion
The main points of the review
In conclusion, Expatriates is a novel that tells the story of two expat families who struggle to survive in a world facing a global economic and social collapse. It is written by James Wesley Rawles, a former US Army intelligence officer and a prominent survivalist blogger. It is relevant today because it explores a possible scenario of what could happen if civilization collapsed tomorrow. It is well-researched and realistic, informative and educational, but also too long and repetitive, too biased and preachy. It belongs to the genre of survivalist fiction, and it differs and is similar to other books in the genre in various ways.
The recommendation for the readers
We recommend Expatriates to readers who are interested in survivalism, military tactics, geopolitics, religion, and history. We also recommend it to readers who enjoy action-packed and suspenseful stories with multiple protagonists and locations. We do not recommend it to readers who are looking for a short and concise read, or who are sensitive to violence, gore, profanity, or religious propaganda. We also do not recommend it to readers who prefer more nuanced and complex portrayals of different cultures and religions.
The final verdict
Our final verdict on Expatriates is that it is a good but not great book. It has its strengths and weaknesses, and it appeals to some readers more than others. It is not a masterpiece of literature, but it is not a waste of time either. It is a book that can entertain and educate, but also annoy and offend. It is a book that can make you think and feel, but also bore and irritate. It is a book that can inspire and challenge, but also frustrate and disappoint. It is a book that deserves a chance, but not a praise.
FAQs
Where can I buy the book?
You can buy the book from various online platforms, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Apple Books, Kobo, and others. You can also find it in some physical bookstores and libraries. You can choose from different formats, such as hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, and wall chart.
Is there a sequel to the book?
Yes, there is a sequel to the book called Liberators, which is the fifth and final book in the Coming Collapse series. It was published in 2014 and it continues the story of some of the characters from Expatriates. It also introduces new characters and locations. It depicts the aftermath of the global collapse and the efforts of the survivors to rebuild civilization.
How realistic is the book?
The book is realistic in some aspects and unrealistic in others. The author based his scenario on his research and analysis of current events and trends. He also used his experience and expertise in survivalism and military intelligence to create a plausible depiction of how people would react and cope with a disaster situation. However, he also used his imagination and speculation to create some events and outcomes that may not be very likely or accurate. He also used his personal opinions and beliefs to influence his portrayal of different groups and ideologies. Therefore, the book should not be taken as a prediction or a guide, but as a possibility or a fiction.
What are some other books by the author?
Some other books by the author are Patriots, Survivors, Founders, Liberators, and Land of Promise, which are all part of the Coming Collapse series. They are set in the same universe as Expatriates, but they focus on different characters and locations. They also cover different aspects of the collapse scenario, such as the causes, the effects, the solutions, and the alternatives. The author has also written other books on survivalism and preparedness topics, such as How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It, Tools for Survival, The Ultimate Prepper's Survival Guide, The Prepared Family Guide to Uncommon Diseases, and others.
How can I learn more about survival skills?
You can learn more about survival skills from various sources, such as books, websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, courses, workshops, clubs, groups, events, and others. You can also learn from your own experience and practice by trying out different skills and techniques in real or simulated situations. You can also learn from other people who have more knowledge and experience in survivalism by asking them questions, seeking their advice, following their examples, or joining their communities.