The Doomsayer

The Survivalist #4

by Jerry Ahern

John Thomas Rourke, ex-CIA Covert Operations Officer, weapons expert, and survival authority, is pursuing the trail of his wife and children from whom he was separated when World War III began. As he sets out from his retreat, he meets a beautiful woman scientist, who has learned that the nuclear bombing on the Night of the War has created an artificial fault line. Within days, perhaps hours, it will cause one of the most massive quakes in history—separating the Florida peninsula from the U.S. mainland. Rourke must postpone the search for his family in order to reach Army intelligence and begin the evacuation of Florida. He must also find young Paul Rubenstein who has gone there to learn if by some miracle his parents had survived The War. Communist Cuban troops, Soviet-Cuban rivalry, a traitor in the inner circle of U.S. II and natural disaster of blood-chilling magnitude block Rourke's way. But he must go on—he is The Survivalist.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Adventure, Action, Fiction, War, Dystopia, Science Fiction

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Jerry Ahern (born Jerome Morrell Ahern) was a science fiction and action novel author best known for his post apocalyptic survivalist series The Survivalist. The books in this series are heavy with descriptions of the weapons the protagonists use to survive and prosecute a seemingly never-ending war amongst the remnants of the superpowers from pre-apocalypse times.

Ahern was also a firearms writer, who published numerous articles in magazines such as Guns & Ammo, Handguns and Gun World.

Jerry Ahern passed away on July 24, 2012 after a long struggle with cancer.

Ahern also released books under pseudonym Axel Kilgore.

Reviews

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS AWESOME

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least The Doomsayer (The Survivalist #5) by Jerry Ahern is better and less irritating than it's immediate predecessor. The ladies get to do a little more here and I'm glad to see it. I still feel awfully manly after finishing this just like all of the other installments. Still just like watching a Chuck Norris movie!

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent series that I first encountered in the 1980's. Unfortunately much more real in 2022. This is the 4th installment of The Survivalist series. A nuclear attack by Russia has decimated the United States leaving only small pockets of American survivors. Fighting both roving renegade American bad guys, the invading Cuban army, and the victorious Russian army, John Rorke is a hero. Searching for his separated wife and two small children forces John to face overwhelming odds at each turn. This episode revolves around a devastating earthquake in Florida occurring as a result of the nuclear holocaust. Action packed and frightful in today's world situation.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guns! Earthquakes! Guns! Beautiful Russians Who Tempt Infidelity!

So far, this is by far the weakest of the series. Ahern tried to add some slight character development to Sarah Rourke, but failed. The Soviet spy lady (Natalia! How original!) is still boring, but in love with Rourke, because who isn't? He (Ahern) should shy away from trying to do the relationship aspects, and he should also either kill off Rourke's family, or reunite them and shove them in Rourke's bunker, because as the hunt for the family is almost as dull as the characters that comprise the family.

These would be much better if they were just Rourke and Paul's adventures across Soviet Occupied America.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Infinite monkies banging on infinite typewriters couldn't come up with a book worse than this. Jerry Ahern should be imprisoned before he writes another.

[Matt Kight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished bingeing the first 4 books in this series and actually enjoyed them even more than I thought I would. I'd heard that the series is ongoing like a soap opera (meaning reading order is crucial to understanding the story line) and I also noticed the first four were published in 1981 while the fifth was published in 1983. Therefore, I assumed there would be some sense of finality at the end of this one, similar to a television season finale. I wasn"t disappointed. Out of these first four I think I liked 2 and 4 the best but they're all worth reading in my opinion.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Część czwarta - niespodziewanie przyjemne odzwierciedlenie kina akcji w klimatach postapo z czasów filmów na kasetach wideo.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old school pulp fiction at it's best. Bad dialog, over the top characters and plot holes you could drive a truck through. Very enjoyable!

[Hugo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in Ahern's obsessive weapons catalogue style, John Rourke, 'CIA-trained weapons and survival expert', continues to zip about the post-nuclear landscape of the former USA, rescuing damsels, killing Russians and brigands, while still thinking about searching for his wife and children, little realising that she too is roaming the post-nuclear landscape of the former USA, happily killing Russians and brigands herself. Maybe she'll end up rescuing him?

[Joseph B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Survivalist series continues; and this time John Rourke has to save everyone in Florida before a mega-earthquake drops it into the ocean. That's the premise presented at the beginning of the novel and aside from Sara, John's wife, having her own subplot the 190ish pages are dedicated to that storyline.

The pacing is somewhat slow and storyline as crazy as it sounds. At this point the Survivalist has embraced its pulp roots and dived into it fully. John is ever the hero. He rescues a scientist on the road who has dire information about an impending cataclysm for Florida. Natalia returns but her character feels reduced in some aspects. We see the darker side of her marriage to Vladimir, which includes some abuse. Sara gets some time in the limelight as she continues her trek across the South Eastern U.S. She gets to be a hero in her own right. It is nice to see the women getting some focus amidst the rush to save Florida.

Ahern's writing remains strong for a pulp series. I continue to appreciate how descriptive he is. This novel is a solid 3 out of 5 stars; 4 out of 5 on the pulp scale.

Note: This review was edited in 2024 after a re-read for expanded perspective and clearer critiques.

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ärrr. Venäläiset on pahoja, mutta ärrr, niin ovat Amerikkalaisetkin.
Päähenkilö Rourke paljastuu ymmärtäjä-kukkahattutädiksi, joka ampuukin kaikki ja on huolissaan luonnosta ja viettelee naiset. Ja ampuu kaikki.
Onhan tämä hölmö ja tyhmä ja typerä ja hölmö. Mutta huvittava.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite adventure series. Dr John Thomas Rourke leads his family and friends through a post apocalyptic world fighting ever step if the way. Fantastic characters and plots. Very detailed weapon descriptions. Excellent series. My highest recommendation

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review under "Total War," Survivalist Book 1.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Post-apocalyptic pulp goodness.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was fun easy reading in my teens. Would actually like to pick one up again and see what I think now. :D

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little disappointed in this one. I think I like the They call me The Mercenary series by Ahern a bit more. I'll read a few more and then decide.

[ALEXANDER SELKIRK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I love this series I have already purchased the next two and I cannot wait to read what happens next .

[Roy Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

great series have the hole series on audio cd, reading now on kindle easer when moving around during the day

[Kurt Vosper · Rating 3 out of 5]

see book 1

[Dan Panke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series is starting to take shape. This book seemed quite short compared to the previous ones.