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Fall of the Citizens

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When you take away people's choices, the only choice left is revolution. Eric Thomas' debut thriller is an exciting, violent and thought provoking story that asks the question, "What happens after you've won the revolution?"
The story centers around Josh, a member of the hacktivist group Anonymous, who is living in safe seclusion until he's recruited by a bloodthirsty group of revolutionaries called "The Citizens." They've launched a war on the wealthy; stealing vaccinations from rich pharmaceutical companies and handing them out for free to the poor. Josh is reluctant to join until he meets Betty, a sarcastic, pink haired revolutionary motivated by her recent misfortune.
Josh and Betty ride the wave of the uprising that will put them on the front line in the battle between the "haves" and the "have-nots," a classic class warfare struggle where the rights of the many finally outweigh the rights of the few.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

27 people are currently reading
287 people want to read

About the author

Eric Thomas

3 books16 followers
I am a talk radio host in Detroit, Mi at night and I write a lot during the day. Kind of like Batman.

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5 stars
29 (21%)
4 stars
56 (41%)
3 stars
30 (22%)
2 stars
11 (8%)
1 star
8 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Darcia Helle.
Author 30 books738 followers
October 30, 2012
I was fascinated by this story. Eric Thomas tackles current issues and spins them in a way that I could too easily see playing out for real. While the basics are routed in a political environment, I found the story more about the sociological and psychological aspects of group behavior. Through the characters and the plot, we explore how fringe groups turn into cult movements, and how, under the right conditions, people will blindly follow a leader. We see the best in people, when they work together toward a common goal, and the worst in people, when they use their power for personal gain.

The plot moves quickly and, in parts, contains gruesome detail. I'm not squeamish, but some of the scenes made me cringe. Still, they worked within the frame of the story and weren't added simply for the fear factor.

There is no standout main character, which is normally a problem for me. However, the approach works here, as the story belongs to an entire community.

I badly wanted to give this book 5 stars. It is truly memorable and moving. But I had some problems along the way that detracted from the experience. First, this one needs some good editing. The punctuation was often missing or placed wrong, sentence structure was sometimes off, and other minor details that, combined, interrupted the flow of the story for me. The other thing is I wanted more from Max. I needed to see how he got to where he was and what drove his behavior.

Despite these minor issues, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unforgettable story.
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,120 reviews
September 30, 2012
Fall of the Citizens ( Eric Thomas)

There is an outbreak of a deadly virus can lead to an epidemic, people are worried. A drug company comes up with a cure for the infected and a vaccine to prevent this deadly disease. But it comes with a high price tag, one that only the rich can afford.

Soon a group of citizens decide to steal the drug in order to help the poor people. Will they be able to pull this off, and how far will they go to gain control of this drug.

At times a bit graphic, but this scenario in my opinion could become reality. With rising cost of health care and medications Fall of The Citizens left me chilled to the bone. A fantastic psychological thriller.
Profile Image for Cat.
1,532 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2012
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book for reviewing.

The opening is dramatic, though a chapter or so in everything changes (except the tone). So, although the setting, the characters, the time period, etc are all different, you're still left in the dark about a lot of things - mainly what's going on. From chapter to chapter the content changes (this goes for the entire book) - following certain characters, or a news bit, etc. Because of this, you are introduced to a lot of different characters and a part of their story, and it therefore takes (or took me, anyway) awhile to figure out how things fir together. Names are quite normal, albiet plain, and there is an interesting bit of alliteration going on with some names: Frank Fisher, Tom Tucker...

The author has an interesting writing style, meaning I'm not used to it. That's not a negative by any means, and I like that his writing requires more thinking. From diction to references, Mr. Thomas keeps you on your toes! I also like that characters are realistic - they have their own motivations, and even though they say one thing, you never know (well okay, as the reader you do know) what they're thinking. Beyond their personalities, their actions and reactions were very human, which led to frustration and some WTF moments.

Overall the realism of this book is quite astounding. I felt the plot and characters moved at a good pace, and that they all stayed true to themselves. There is quite a bit of graphic violence towards the end of the book, that follows the escalating tension, so it didn't bother me too much. I actually feel like this could be one of those television movie type deals, that plays out over 3-4 long episodes.

My only advice to a reader would probably be to read the book in longer sittings, as I did not and ended up a bit lost. However, I do think this book is worth a second read!

My concerns about this book mainly revolve around small things that added up, like weird spacing and punctuation, or things that sounded off to me. Below is a list of some of the things I noticed.
Chapter 5, line 1 - "Josh hoves the twelve pack" - should be shoved?
ahhh, I see (re: author's comment, below). But if 'hove' is the past tense of 'heaved' then where does 'hoves' leave us? Also, for all of my internet research, I'm coming up with 'hove' as a Middle English term, where the usual (and correct) past tense of 'heave' is now 'heaved'
Bot ox = Botox?
41% (last page of a chapter?) - Hopefully the power was salvageable, he prayed. This sentence is awkward; maybe it is the redundancy? Iono.
Chapter 23 - punctuation "....to the general public.'," - should be .'"?
50% - "In other cities in Michigan..." - mmm don't like the way this sounds. Just being picky. One possibility: "The population fled from other cities in Michigan."
Chapter 25 - last sentence in paragraph - semicolon instead of comma? or insert extra words?
51% - last sentence on the page - "That this interview that would going to finally make her..."
56% - extra capitalization - "...when I'm becoming a refugee, Lisa," He always..."
same thing at 57% - "...strongly advise you to reconsider," Said..."
also at 57% - different spelling of faggot (earlier it was with only one f; in fact, faggot was only spelled with one f once whereas it was spelled with two fs everywhere else )
Profile Image for Nicolas Wilson.
Author 38 books94 followers
March 27, 2013
I came into this book really wanting to like it. I LOVE the overall premise, and am a speculative sci-fi/dystopian nut. I love horror, and pulpy, visceral gore. I love seeing writers explore political or social ideas through their choice of setting.

I enjoy Thomas' written tone, and it was well polished, overall. I didn't like the shift in tenses when switching to press coverage, but that was the main thing that threw me in the actual writing.

My primary complaints are with the characters, and their relation to the overall plot. There's parts where it felt like he didn't know what kind of story he wanted to write, where he got carried away with survival-horror chases and gruesomeness that ultimately bore no relation to to the setting, felt unrealistic, and added nothing to the characters involved. We never really figure out why the villain mid-story starts behaving the way he does (Or why even through the middle, people support him), and the visceral violence derails from a fundamentally interesting premise.

Especially since the beginning setting focuses on the aftermath of the book's events, it makes it hard to feel that it ties in together, since it did not carry through the atmosphere of that opening (the movement is defeated because of ideological weaknesses and the world is glad). It felt like the actual shape of events was disconnected from the beginning, and disconnected from the premise, and the shape of events was less about the ideological premise, and more about survival-horror.

Added to that, the characterizations in crucial parts were stilted, nonsensical, or unfinished, and it was hard to care about the leading romantic couple, no matter how engaging they were in the quiet moments. The Fall would have been much stronger had the romance not been shoved in so prominently, or had Thomas built the romance more organically and naturally. I could not invest myself with any of the characters after the first third or so, because the their thought processes and actions were so abruptly presented.

I enjoyed reading Fall of the Citizens, but I doubt I'll reread it. I don't feel the urge to spend more time with the characters, and the interesting questions in the premise are back-burnered very thoroughly, so it was not a satisfying experience. My favorite speculative fiction novels are the ones that pop into my head later during political discussions, and this one delved into the nuance of its premise so shallowly, that I know it won't have that sort of sticking power.

I rated it a 3 because I do love the premise and the opening. That's a generous rating, though, for how annoyed I was, and how little I connected with the characters, and story.

Profile Image for Linda.
1,089 reviews45 followers
August 23, 2012
Pertaining to your Aknowledgements, Mr. Thomas, I believe you will get a new computer!

In this book the author writes about the frailties of the USA's domestic condition. Mr. Thomas eerily recounts where our country was in the past, where it is today and the direction it may take in the future. The plot revolves around a purported ebola outbreak so virulent that much of the USA's population is in jeopardy. However, a drug company has a vaccination that will both cure the infected and inoculate the healthy. But this wonder drug is so expensive that only the wealthy can afford it. Fear causes otherwise sane people to join a group that will steal the drug and give free injections of it to one and all. The group leader is a madman portraying himself to the masses as a beneficent hero. Gradually he is found out, and the Army gets involved. But honest media and a few brave souls save the ideals, principles, values and laws upon which this country rests. The story is riveting. The story could likely be fact rather than fiction. The reader will think about the histories of other countries, past and present. The reader will be afraid of what was, is and may be.

Despite some editing problems, this book was an easy and compelling read. Normally, I find lewd language unnecessary and detracting. Not so here. There is 'language' and a little promiscuity, but both are fitting. I was reminded of PATTON wherein General Patton cursed with every breath. Can you imagine his strongest language being 'gee' or 'gosh darn?' I like the author's use of imagery. I was especially reminded of Heminway's A FAREWELL TO ARMS. FALL OF THE CITIZENS begins in the summer and ends in the fall.

Well done, Mr. Thomas!
Profile Image for Steven Konkoly.
Author 71 books1,245 followers
November 16, 2012
Eric Thomas’s first novel, Fall of the Citizens, kept me turning the pages well into the night. A cross between an apocalyptic technothriller and political suspense novel, Citizens pulls off the difficult task of presenting two cautionary tales, one buried inside the other. These cautionary tales lie at the heart of the his story, and the shift from one to the other is where Citizens finds its unique niche in modern storytelling. Corporate excess, political maneuvering, and a growing American insurgency combine, in a near futuristic setting, to set the stage for an entertaining, yet hard hitting read.

The buildup to the insurgency in the first third of the novel is well drawn, as Max, the enigmatic leader of the Citizens gathers the disgruntled cast of characters necessary to launch his violent uprising. After reading Thomas’s novel, you’ll forever look over your shoulder at the sound of a chainsaw in the distance. Some of his scenes are particularly memorable.

The development of the second cautionary tale within the story is by far my favorite aspect of Thomas’s novel. I won’t spoil the fun, more like terror, but I will disclose that I was surprised. Thomas leads the reader down a sympathetic path, filled with a few road bumps…then unleashes a nice left turn.

My only complaint revolves around the sometimes-lengthy interaction between two of the main characters. These interludes held a steam punk quality, which proved entertaining, but ultimately left me yearning for the next plot advancement.

Overall, this is a uniquely entertaining, well-constructed read for technothriller, horror, or apocalyptic fans. There’s a well tamed political aspect critical to the story’s main twist, which will interest political thriller readers.
Profile Image for Marie Drake.
Author 8 books101 followers
August 24, 2012
The story revolves around an outbreak of the ebola virus that is exploited by a drug company, and much of the US population believes there is or will be an apidemic. This drug company has a vaccine that will cure the infected and inoculate the healthy, but it is so expensive that only the wealthy can afford it, at $60,000 per dose. Max, and the Citizens use the people's fear that they will be unable to afford the vaccine, and so will die just for the unfortunate reason of being poor, to recruit people from all walks of life to join their group and steal the drug and give it away for free. I don't want to give away too much of the story. But, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is squeamish. It gets pretty gruesome as the book advances.
I enjoyed the book. It kept me turning pages from the beginning and it was very difficult to put down. The story was interesting, and it felt like something that could actually happen. It had plot twists that made me say outloud "Oh My God", and my physical reactions while reading the book intrigued my husband enough to ask about what was going on. As I described it to him he also thought he would enjoy the book. I think he would enjoy it even more than I did, because the gruesome parts wouldn't bother him. I did have to skip over a little bit of the detailed violence. Just to tell me it happened would have been enough knowledge for me, the descriptive bloody detail was too much. But that will suit others very well, I am sure.
In my opinion, this could be a 5 star book with a more thorough editing.
I was given this book for free in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Carina.
1,913 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2012
Disclaimer: I got this book free and was asked to review it in return.

Fall of the Citizens is an interesting book. The writing began by not being 100% to my taste but this improved and by the end of the book I did not notice it at all. There are some issues with layout (at least on Kindle for PC) but a *lot* less that in some books I get free for the Kindle.

The later parts of the book are gruesome so I wouldn't recomend it to squeamish people. The author becomes very good at setting the scene, especially once "The Citizens" become embedded during the books second half. The author also chooses not to show just the viewpoint of the citizens but also the reactions of the world 'outside' of them - this allows the beginning of the book to tie in as otherwise I think this could be easily forgotten.

The one complaint I would have with this book is that I didn't particularly care that much for any of the characters and you don't really get a feel for where the books villain is coming from. That said, the back stories that you do get do flesh the people out enough that you, for the most part, understand their motivation in joining the citizens. There are also a couple of characters whose motivations seem to alter incredibly quickly (but considering the subject matter you could argue that a rapidly changing personality/opinion is not that surprising)

All in all this was a very enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Julie Powell.
Author 72 books325 followers
October 7, 2012
I was asked to read this by the author and was very glad I did - it was fantastic, if horrific.

For me, it highlighted the problems of poverty and how the downtrodden will rise up eventually, and that it only takes 'someone with charisma' to lead the way to a better life and so bring downfall to those who have always taken advantage and thought themselves more worthy. Of course, we have all heard the phrase, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely', and history shows us this has happened time and time again, although in this book, I'm certain that the weaknesses of the 'leader' weren't just a result of the newly-found power.

I am not sure if this story was in response to the idea that poverty in certain countries is viewed a sin, and a person's own fault, rather than the biased systems in place. Whatever the reason for the tale, I could certainly relate to the fact that only 1% are lucky enough to live the way they wish, and that medicine (one example) is only available for those who can pay. And whether or not whoever takes over may be just as bad?

I thought the characters an excellent mix, which were developed brilliantly to suit the tale.

A revolutionary, controversial, worthwhile and thought provoking read.
Profile Image for Nicola Parkinson.
202 reviews11 followers
March 26, 2013
A disease has broken out and the only way to save your family is an inoculation but the government want $60,000 a shot! How far would you go to save them? Beg........ Borrow........ Steal....... How about murder?
What if there was a way to get the shot for free? Would you take it or ask "What's in it for you?" The only string attached - don't ask questions..........
Join Josh, Betty and The Citizens in this fast paced action packed story that has more plot twists than you know what to do with!

Now this is my kind of book, nitty gritty! If you are Squeamish then this isn't for you.
I loved all the characters, especially Max, You always have to watch the quiet ones. The story was well thought out and flowed very well. Each character had its own part to play in the book which I liked. I didn't want to get too attached with any of them, you will realise why when you read it, but I did love Betty and her kick ass attitude. The ending was a total shock for me (wasn't the one I had in mind) but glad it went the way it did.

Fab book by an awesome Author, I WILL be reading more of his books...... That's a fact!
Profile Image for Gregory Lamb.
Author 5 books42 followers
October 30, 2012
A Provocative and Fun Read

If you take the occupy movement, throw in some conspiracy and corporate greed, then mix in some action and violence, you'll have the ingredients for the kind of revolution Eric Thomas writes about in his page turning thriller, "Fall of the Citizens."

The setting is dystopian Detroit where out of work or under employed law enforcement and veteran soldiers are drawn by a twisted egocentric leader named Max, who spurs a revolution against a pharmaceutical corporation and the U.S. Government.

Josh, the computer and network hacker is teamed up with Betty, former cop with a violent streak, to count themselves among the first members of the Citizens. The Citizens organized under Max begin a revolution against the establishment. Elaborating further would spoil the fun of reading this story.

Could the events in this novel actually happen? Hopefully not, but you won't be looking for things to say, "no way that could never happen," because Thomas's characters are so entertaining and you'll want to see what happens at the end. Read it and find out. Readers who are at all queazy reading graphic violence might steer clear.
Profile Image for OrchardBookClub.
355 reviews22 followers
March 26, 2013
A disease has broken out and the only way to save your family is an inoculation but the government want $60,000 a shot! How far would you go to save them? Beg........ Borrow........ Steal....... How about murder?
What if there was a way to get the shot for free? Would you take it or ask "What's in it for you?" The only string attached - don't ask questions..........
Join Josh, Betty and The Citizens in this fast paced action packed story that has more plot twists than you know what to do with!

Now this is my kind of book, nitty gritty! If you are Squeamish then this isn't for you.
I loved all the characters, especially Max, You always have to watch the quiet ones. The story was well thought out and flowed very well. Each character had its own part to play in the book which I liked. I didn't want to get too attached with any of them, you will realise why when you read it, but I did love Betty and her kick ass attitude. The ending was a total shock for me (wasn't the one I had in mind) but glad it went the way it did.

Fab book by an awesome Author, I WILL be reading more of his books...... That's a fact!
Profile Image for Wanda Hartzenberg.
Author 5 books73 followers
June 29, 2013
So the flow of the book .... Started of smooth and seamless. I loved it.
The youbreach a stage where you get the impression of a stop-go effect. This got on my nerves a bit until it hit me....
The author used this to indicate a slight change of perspective.
So it is a modern day Robin Hood story.
America faces an Ebola breakout and the government and big business is selling the cure and prevention at 60k a pop!

Stop-go. Enter our hero's. Stealing from the govt and distributing the vacine to the poor. Whoot.

Stop-go.

But all is not as it seams.

I loved the fact that in an action packed book the rea
Action was found within the authors writing ability and also in the dialogue!
WaAr
Profile Image for Carole Tremblay.
Author 6 books
October 28, 2012
Hold on to your hats when you read this political thriller! The theme is classic: a demagogue rises to power. But the treatment is modern: Michigan is the site of a popular uprising. Think “occupy” in spades. The plot is fast-paced and the characters interesting, even though it’s hard to think of befriending any of them! Weak stomachs beware, there’s lots of blood and gore. Read this book and remember it when you listen to exalted would-be leaders.
C.J. Tremblay, author of The Patriot Conspiracy
Profile Image for Debra.
238 reviews4 followers
September 9, 2012
Great story! I enjoyed the variety of characters and their colorful personalities. This story is packed with action and unexpected twists that will satisfy thriller fans.

There is an eerie realism to this story as we relate to the citizens who feel their government has abandoned them. When there is a loss of hope and a desire to survive all it takes is a charismatic leader with the gift of persuasion to ignite a revolution.
43 reviews4 followers
September 9, 2012
I'll start out by saying this is not my normal type of book. I prefer to leave reality behind when I read. This book is scary, but in the sense that this could really happen. It's a story of how the media, government, and big corporations control the lower and middle class and the revolt of those lower classes. I hate giving spoilers in reviews, so this is it.
I liked this book, but for me it wasn't a quick read.
Profile Image for Scott.
13 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2016
This book had a very interesting premise. Extreme corporate greed, and a rebellion that felt like the occupy movement, Robin Hood, and a little David Koresh all in one. It was an interesting read and made me think about what the world would be like in a similar situation. In enjoyed the view of a cult like movement and mob mentality. The use of chainsaws was a little horrific and some parts were not all that believable but I did enjoy the book.
12 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2012
I was definetly hooked within a few pages. I liked the imagery and comparisons.
I thought the book had a believable feel to it, except Tom. He decided to help Betty and I don't know why he would do that. Otherwise, there is a real sense that this could happen under the right circumstances.
A majority of the book is political, if the occupy movement was taken over by a psychopath.
Profile Image for Jody.
7 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2012
I stayed up late to finish this book, although it had a few errors in it I still could not put it down! It was gory, gruesome and extremely disturbing! I know those sound like bad things but for this genre those are high praise! This is a great effort for Mr. Thomas. Keep it up Eric you are on the right track!
Profile Image for Amanda Frank.
2 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2012
This book was really good. It was almost post-apocalyptic in nature when dealing with the tyrant who takes over. It relates to readers on a lot of levels, and the main character is smart and thorough. It really puts you into the center of a rebellion in which it is one man's opinion against the entire government system.
Definitely a good read!
Profile Image for Helena Sheibler.
284 reviews8 followers
November 7, 2012
Very engaging but the message is a little muddled. Every revolution devolves into "reign of terror" at the end but in a world that so closely resembles the one in the book I can't quite tell if this is a cautionary tale to the rich, the poor, both or neither. (I'm still in favor of eating the rich, personally. Despite all the botox and implants and such.)
Profile Image for Kateri Limmer.
36 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2013
I started this book thinking, holy cow, I love the message of The Citizens. By the end of the book, I was horrified by The Citizens. It's a sign of a good book if it can make you do a total 180. Though I wish I could've been happier about the ending.
Profile Image for Rebecca Bennett.
2 reviews1 follower
September 13, 2012
not my usual book was really gripping and well written. there are some great characters in this novel my favourite being Betty who you grow to love throughout the story.
Profile Image for Karina.
13 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2012
This book was given to me for free by the author and the fact of that has not affected my opinion on it.

I'll edit this review later with my review as soon as I collect my thoughts coherently.
Profile Image for Rocky.
2 reviews
September 5, 2012


Very good book . I didn't know most of the time if I was losing my patriotism . In the end all good things turn bad , and all bad things turn good if u give them enough time.
Profile Image for Veronique.
5 reviews
January 6, 2013
I've been trying to finish this book for nearly two months. I just can't get into it. I quit... and I don't apologize.
Profile Image for Bill Davis.
Author 3 books4 followers
August 2, 2013
A chilling forecast of what could happen in America if the growing income inequality gap is not bridged.
Profile Image for Morag.
298 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2015
Whew! Quite a read. Thought provoking, strange but well written and not a book I will quickly forget.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,577 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2017
Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
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