FROM WESTERN WORD-SLINGER AND ANTHROPOLOGIST W. MICHAEL GEAR, COMES THE THIRD INSTALLMENT IN THE BESTSELLING CONTEMPORARY APOCALYPTIC WESTERN SERIES, THE WYOMING CHRONICLES!
In the aftermath of Sam Delgado and Breeze Tappan’s ambush of the posse at Slickside, tempers flare in the Bighorn Basin. During an attempt to stop unchecked violence from breaking out, Governor Agar faces death, saved only when Lauren Davis shoots first.
After the Collapse, insulin is in short supply for the 40 thousand diabetics in Wyoming. Word comes down there's a lab north of Boulder, Colorado, that can make insulin in sufficient quantities to keep people alive. Governor Agar handpicks a team–The Fallen Eagle convoy–to retrieve the scientists and their lab in a desperate bid to save the lives of his constituents–at a cost some will consider too high.
As Lauren joins Governor Agar’s security detail, Sam and Breeze are sent south. There, in the midst of violence, road blocks, and gangs, the Fallen Eagle convoy comes face to face with the depths of human barbarity and a cunning adversary that will do anything to stop them.
In the end, however, it comes down to Sam and Breeze. One of them will have to make the supreme sacrifice in a desperate race against the clock and a cunning enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy the Fallen Eagle convoy. Or, in Sam’s words, “Never bring a pickup truck to a snowplow fight.”
Written with the wit, tension, and action readers of the bestselling Dissolution and Fourth Quadrant have come to expect, Michael Gear’s After the Eagle Has Fallen takes the Wyoming Chronicles series to the next level. Once again, New York Times bestselling and Western Writers Hall of Fame author, W. Michael Gear, shows his mastery in this superbly crafted tale!
W. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
W. Michael Gear delivers another thinking person's pulp fiction. Filled with fun characters, great action and just the right amount of tension, Gear brings his Wyoming Chronicles to a satisfying conclusion. At least from a story perspective. Thinking about what happens to the country and ordinary people who are instantly deprived of their wealth, security, and everything they know or have taken for granted, is both grim and horrifying.
In the indisputably red state of Wyoming where guns and living off the land have always reigned supreme, things are not quite as dismal as in neighboring state of Colorado which has grown more culturally liberal leaning and populated. In Gear's doomsday scenario the guns are essential. The toughness and resiliency of ranch life coupled with the understanding of self-reliance makes Wyoming the perfect state to take on the unexpected loss of American civilization as we know it.
In case you haven't read the first two installments, the U.S. has been attacked. The banking system has been destroyed. The east coast, gone. The west coast occupied. The only states relatively free by book three are the mountain states. Food supplies are shut off. For that matter just about everything we use or depend on is either in short supply or unavailable. When stuff is gone, it's really gone.
It's relatively easy to quickly grasp the physical realities of the fallout. We got a tiny glimpse of the supply disruption during the Covid pandemic of 2019. Parts were impossible to get, international trade and the distribution networks were disrupted and almost brought to a standstill. Gear does it one better. What would it begin to look like if it were a permanent disruption? What if we actually had to start over?
Psychologically it was harder and much more disturbing to envision how quickly civilized behavior was replaced with everything society has criminalized: rape, murder, stealing, even cannibalism. Exactly what happens when laws can not be enforced, bellies can not be filled, and survival is reduced to survival of the fittest? Or the one with the biggest or most guns?
The disappearance of rules, laws, or accepted societal injunctions turn the population into the Walking Dead. Full survival mode tramples morality. Trumps decency. Turns law-abiding citizens into resembling something closer to our far distant ancestors who banded together to hunt or make war while trying to survive a hostile world.
As with all Gear books, he drives the point home, hammers the point home, pounds the senses and takes his characters and readers right to the edge. His eye for detail coupled with his academic and professional understanding of archeology and civilization lend credibility and authenticity to his story. He knows human beings. He knows our history as a species. He knows what lurks in the deeper recesses of the human brain. He knows what makes us tick.
He is a remarkable storyteller with a passion for making his readers think. With finding inventive ways to tell a story that is as old as the human race. He has a clear-eyed view of our human foibles and frailties as well as strengths. He loves to feature tough, beautiful women and places them not only on equal footing with their male counterparts, but often above. He recognizes the basic truth about sexual desirability and its role in survival of the species.
After The Eagle Has Fallen: The Wyoming Chronicles: Book Three by W. Michael Gear Mike has a way of grabbing the reader's attention, holding on to it in a way that routinely has readers blazing through the final pages in the wee hours of the night. I had to plow through the last 100 pages of the book last night. I could not put it down, as I had to find resolution for each of my beloved characters. This is what is expected of this phenomenal author, but when you are reading this divided POV writing style. Each point of view is drawn slowly through peaks and valleys of conflict and difficulty. The reader just needs to get through the end of the story to stop and reflect. This book does not disappoint. For those fans following the series this is the progression of the series, holding entirely true to the nature and ideals of the original two books. Yes you can read this story without reading the prior books, it can stand alone. The two female leaders have come to a peaceful understanding of their shared historical pain. The book shows how they through their natures and strength fight to find resolution to conflict in the Basin area. When Mike said that snow plows are needed for the story, as the snow built up on my driveway, I thought of the weather being part of the conflict to come. I was entirely wrong, and he was right, you need snow plows to go into the apocalyptic large population areas. The mass of abandoned and collected vehicles by traps, and blockages is just the start. This story looks into the next level of survival. Looking at both medical and psychological problems. First of all Breeze and Sam are sent into the ravaged western high population area of Denver to gain skilled scientists, and materials to help with the medical biological side. Addressing the need for modern medications to keep the population healthy. Secondly Mike looks into PTSD and theories and practices that may help individuals cope with the devastation and struggles, this is Lauren’s story. How she handles personal struggles, and nightmares of her survival is remarkably vividly honest and I hope that readers learn how to be compassionate to those struggling with this disorder. Mike looks into our current need to find connections to resolve our personal mental struggles and coping skills that allow us to move on. The heart of the matter is that we as a society can not go on as disruptive individuals, but work together for our survival. I hope the hints of future problems will create another book in this series. I foresee a lot of things that could be resolved by these dynamic and enduring characters, there are more battles to come, I want to see them through it. I hope this is not the end.
While trying to heal from physical, emotional, and mental damage, Breeze Tappan, Sam Delgado, and Lauren Davis try to hang on to their sanity while they continue to fight to save civilization after a world-changing cyber attack. Lauren is drafted to serve on the Wyoming governor's security detail. She struggles with PTSD from her experiences on "The Line" and fears that one day she may act out her nightmares and harm someone close to her. Help comes in the form of a fellow guard who becomes a sort of guardian angel for her. Meanwhile, Breeze and Sam lead operation "Fallen Eagle" to rescue scientists who can make insulin to save thousands of diabetics along with their lab from a campus in Colorado besieged by violent raiders. Will they succeed? Will everyone make it back home? The suspense keeps you reading from cover to cover.
I’ve just finished reading the Wyoming Chronicles series. This was my maiden voyage with the authors Gear. I will be reading the other Gear books even if my binge reading makes my burning eyes fall out. Which would not be a surprising event, at this point. The quality of the writing is superbly intelligent and totally fascinating. I love the fields of anthropology, sociology, and psychology. Might as well include the depth of philosophy woven into this story as well. I love the blending of these sciences with this shocking but plausible, apocalyptic tale. Well worth your time and effort to burn your eyes out!
I was planning to pace myself reading a few chapters a night but I could not put the book down. Book 3 is the ultimate in page turners. Most of humanity is devolving into savage struggle for survival and power. I wonder if any type of normalcy can ever be salvaged by the few who strive to maintain order and protect those who can’t defend themselves. These characters we’ve come to know are realizing that drastic measures must be implemented to prevent predatory bullies and vengeful neighbors from taking over. I’m waiting for Book 4 in great anticipation.
Final volume in the trilogy. Wyoming governor is steadily bringing about order and helping set the stage for the people of Wyoming to survive, trade with neighboring states and figure out how to move forward.
Governor learns there is a lab in northern CO that can make insulin, and he sends a team of Wyoming National Guard, Breeze and Sam down to rescue the scientists and relocate the lab to Casper. Hugely dangerous mission, but the WNG behaves heroically.
Volume Three closes the trilogy well......and at the end, the reader is left feeling hopeful.
All three are page turners, and I read them quickly in succession.
I started reading this book and didn't know if I wanted to continue. After a little reading I couldn't put it down. It has a great story line that is full of action and suspense. It really got me to thinking how I would react in a situation like this. I was totally into the story and felt like the characters were my friends, I could feel their pain and pleasure. It sometimes pays to read something different. This was totally action filled and kept my interest. I was sorry to see the end of the book. I would have liked another hundred or so pages.
Wow! There are no words to describe how well written this book is. It leaves you breathless. The characters are magnificent and well developed and the plot grabs your heart and never releases it until the end. When you think of how much we take for granted in our daily lives, and look to a weak government for daily subsistence. This book shakes your core! What is the moral ground in an apocalyptic nightmare? Could you be a leader in this situation? It is a sobering book that will make a reader very uncomfortable. It is well worth the journey!
Another exciting book in this particular series the Wyoming Chronicles. The thing I like about them is it's so in tune with my interest with a lot of gun shooting and people being killed and people shooting at each other for some reason that was very appealing to me. If you like constant action like in John Wick, that's what this is. There was a political theme in the background but I did appreciate that but I did love the action. It was kind of magical how the author could keep that action going as if you were watching it on television or in a movie.
I just finished the Wyoming Chronicles on Kindle then bought the whole set their amazing
I am seventy three and have been reading novels since I was ten and never read anything that kept me up for four nights like this series has . I have read almost every book y'all have written keep up the good work so this old woman can keep on reading. By the way, my name is Norma Nicholson my daughter Shannon got me on Kindle so I could enlarge the letters because l am blind in one eye and losing sight in the other, I hope your boots are on audio.
After the Eagle Has Fallen is a page-turner. I hope there will be a #4 in the Wyoming Chronicles series instead of ending as a trilogy. There are so many events in these stories that seem to be possible for our future, ending in a dystopian world most of us would not survive. Reading a post-apocalyptic novel creates a mind debate: could this really happen vs. this could never happen. Be forewarned if you don't want to consider the possibility.
This has been a five star series from the outset, and this third book of the trilogy was five star until the last twenty or so pages where the ending was a convoluted, mostly incoherent mess. It was almost like someone other than the author was trying to finish the book without having any familiarity with the characters. There were several storylines that needed resolution, but instead we got a bums-rush ending. SO DISAPPOINTED!!!
Characters are normal people doing what they must to survive, even talking about PTSD. Good ending. Enjoyed thoroughly . Ties all three boo!s together in a plausible tale of survival
3 days...3 books. Hopefully, there's a 4th....5th... This new series...well executed, and flows well.... so well that you won't be able to put it down.
A fine continuation of the end of America. One only needs to read the international news to see the reality of some of the battles. Great insights to the psyches of our main characters.
The last installment of The Wyoming chronicles sums up the saga of Sam, Breeze and Lauren. An underlying theme is , we have to work together to solve problems. Another theme is, of course, love. Working together benefits humanity and love is in the mix.
I've read most of. Mr. Gears books and have enjoyed them eminsely! This particular book is extremely believable and could be in the not too distant future. I recommend all of Michael Year's books!
This book gives an insight to what could really happen to our country. It. Is well written and once started you cannot put it down. Hard to find a good book like this.
What a remarkable story! I can only hope that his never happens to the U.S., but if it does, I hope to emulate Breeze and Lauren. What great characters!!!
This is a modern day western thriller. This is the thirf book of the series and everyone of them is a great read. There are great characters and lots of action. Thoroughly entertaining! A good read!