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Commune #6
Commune 6: The Slavers of Grand Saline
Eleven years after the fall...
In the process of searching for Pinch, a long-lost mythic figure who has attained a talismanic status, Gibs has resorted to making a living doing contract work with his friend Alan, the young man who followed him out of the Wyoming commune.
Hired by a family as escorts on a cross-country trip to Texas, they are ambushed by a group of raiders. The family is captured, children and all, and Gibs and Alan are left behind with only some pistols and a handful of bullets between them, and no food or water to speak of.
They pursue the attackers, following the tracks left by the raiders until the trail goes cold a few days later. But evidence of further murders abounds in the region.
The owner of a waystation informs them of a mining settlement out east in the fallen town of Grand Saline which operates on slave labor. Reasoning that their attackers were likely slavers, Gibs resolves to go to Grand Saline in search of the family.
Settling in nearby Iron Bridge, as there is no evidence of slavery within its borders, they begin to plan. But nothing in Iron Bridge makes sense. A bizarre dual-class system is at play, its people are standoffish, and the town seems at odds with itself at every turn.
Gibs and Alan are left to sound out the mysteries of this strange new place, determine what if any weaknesses Grand Saline has to exploit, and save the children from the slavers' salt mines.
The hit Commune Series returns with Book 6! Rejoin Gibs in the apocalypse as he explores the horrors of what humanity is capable of.
In the process of searching for Pinch, a long-lost mythic figure who has attained a talismanic status, Gibs has resorted to making a living doing contract work with his friend Alan, the young man who followed him out of the Wyoming commune.
Hired by a family as escorts on a cross-country trip to Texas, they are ambushed by a group of raiders. The family is captured, children and all, and Gibs and Alan are left behind with only some pistols and a handful of bullets between them, and no food or water to speak of.
They pursue the attackers, following the tracks left by the raiders until the trail goes cold a few days later. But evidence of further murders abounds in the region.
The owner of a waystation informs them of a mining settlement out east in the fallen town of Grand Saline which operates on slave labor. Reasoning that their attackers were likely slavers, Gibs resolves to go to Grand Saline in search of the family.
Settling in nearby Iron Bridge, as there is no evidence of slavery within its borders, they begin to plan. But nothing in Iron Bridge makes sense. A bizarre dual-class system is at play, its people are standoffish, and the town seems at odds with itself at every turn.
Gibs and Alan are left to sound out the mysteries of this strange new place, determine what if any weaknesses Grand Saline has to exploit, and save the children from the slavers' salt mines.
The hit Commune Series returns with Book 6! Rejoin Gibs in the apocalypse as he explores the horrors of what humanity is capable of.
484 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2023
26 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 2, 2023
One hell of a ride. I had forgotten what a great character Gibs is! Definitely the man you want on your side. Great book Joshua!
September 29, 2023
Gibs’ story.
I was excited to say the least. Finally my favorite character from the Commune series getting his own story. What a treat we were all in for. The serpent tongued drill instructor was back and I could’ve have been more happier. Boy, was I in for a huge disappointment.
First of all let me say that I not only read these novels but I listen to them on Audible because RC Bray is just that good. He really brings life to all his characters and he didn’t disappoint. Not entirely anyway. Let me explain.
Gibs was not Gibs. In many ways and not just voice. Gibs didn’t sound like Gibs. RC Bray apparently had forgotten what Gibs had sounded like in the second, third and fourth books. His tone was different. His inflections weren’t the same. I could let that slide. Partially anyway. I couldn’t quite forget that he just didn’t sound like Gibs. Now maybe it had something to do with the fact that 10 years had passed since we seen Gibs in book 4. Maybe… or so I told myself. Then there was the quips and retorts that we all got use to being a daily part of being in the life of Gibs. There were some. But on average I may have lost my drink only a few times compared to the originals which wasn’t even focused on Gibs. I found myself audibly laughing out loud quite often in those books. Not this one.
The story wasn’t good either sadly. It was like a weird version of an old Clint Eastwood movie just worse. Gayou tried too hard to make Gibs a gunslinger of old and it just didn’t work for me. He’s a Jar Head. Marine to the core and somehow he just felt nothing of the sort. I really just feel like the story fell flat for me. Hence why it took so long for me to get through it. I felt out of sorts. It feel like a Commune story let alone a story about Gibs.
I can only hope that the ending will give me hope for
book 7 which likely will be about Allen. Which for me is odd because Allen somehow was my favorite character of Book 6. A book about Gibs. Go figure!!
I was excited to say the least. Finally my favorite character from the Commune series getting his own story. What a treat we were all in for. The serpent tongued drill instructor was back and I could’ve have been more happier. Boy, was I in for a huge disappointment.
First of all let me say that I not only read these novels but I listen to them on Audible because RC Bray is just that good. He really brings life to all his characters and he didn’t disappoint. Not entirely anyway. Let me explain.
Gibs was not Gibs. In many ways and not just voice. Gibs didn’t sound like Gibs. RC Bray apparently had forgotten what Gibs had sounded like in the second, third and fourth books. His tone was different. His inflections weren’t the same. I could let that slide. Partially anyway. I couldn’t quite forget that he just didn’t sound like Gibs. Now maybe it had something to do with the fact that 10 years had passed since we seen Gibs in book 4. Maybe… or so I told myself. Then there was the quips and retorts that we all got use to being a daily part of being in the life of Gibs. There were some. But on average I may have lost my drink only a few times compared to the originals which wasn’t even focused on Gibs. I found myself audibly laughing out loud quite often in those books. Not this one.
The story wasn’t good either sadly. It was like a weird version of an old Clint Eastwood movie just worse. Gayou tried too hard to make Gibs a gunslinger of old and it just didn’t work for me. He’s a Jar Head. Marine to the core and somehow he just felt nothing of the sort. I really just feel like the story fell flat for me. Hence why it took so long for me to get through it. I felt out of sorts. It feel like a Commune story let alone a story about Gibs.
I can only hope that the ending will give me hope for
book 7 which likely will be about Allen. Which for me is odd because Allen somehow was my favorite character of Book 6. A book about Gibs. Go figure!!
June 29, 2023
A phenomenal update to the series (unlike Commune 5 which was a monumental let-down). While I would've liked to have seen what Jake was up to, Gibbs is the more entertaining character and it was good to see him a decade down the road, up to the same old antics. If you like Gibbs from books 2-4, then you'll love this installment.
I wanted add one final point: kudos to Gayou for excelling in book 6 (technically book 5 since I've written off the mislabeled book 5). After listening to the book labeled Commune Book 5, I wondered if we woud ever get a story of Gibbs in search of the orphan out in Nebraska. I recall thinking that the story might not work without Jake tethering Gibbs to the story, i.e., I was not sure that a story solely of Gibbs could work. Boy, did Gayou prove me wrong. He not only proved that Gibbs could carry a whole story, but he actually far exceeded my expectations and knocked it out of the park.
I wanted add one final point: kudos to Gayou for excelling in book 6 (technically book 5 since I've written off the mislabeled book 5). After listening to the book labeled Commune Book 5, I wondered if we woud ever get a story of Gibbs in search of the orphan out in Nebraska. I recall thinking that the story might not work without Jake tethering Gibbs to the story, i.e., I was not sure that a story solely of Gibbs could work. Boy, did Gayou prove me wrong. He not only proved that Gibbs could carry a whole story, but he actually far exceeded my expectations and knocked it out of the park.
August 28, 2024
10 years after the events of the initial series, Gibbs and Alan are out looking for the mysterious "Pinch" whom I can't remember anything about or why they are looking. These two make a living as escorts through the wild wastes of the west, where things have sort of reverted back to the ways of the wild west. When their coach is ambushed and the passengers killed or stolen, Gibbs is Hell bent on finding them. As it happens, the town of Grand Saline is a salt mining town that runs off slave labor. Gibbs has to figure out a way to get in, get the kids, and get out. There was plenty of adventure and action, and Gibbs does not disappoint with his colorful language. However, I don't think this was value added to the series. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be. I would like to have had a bit of a refresher in the preface about what is going on and what has happened in the past 10 years. Fun book though.
July 4, 2023
I’ve listened to this full series as audiobooks and I admit RC Brays narration is absolutely a part of my love for the series. That gets enhanced when the narration is about Gibbs. Sometimes a voice perfectly matches an attitude and this is it.
There could not be a better combination of character, voice and writing than the line “stepped on a Lego”. Brilliant.
I liked this particular volume in the series better than the last. Truly an enjoyable listen.
I thank the author for a slightly shorter book not because I didn’t want more but because what he provided was the perfect amount.
Just a truly entertaining book.
There could not be a better combination of character, voice and writing than the line “stepped on a Lego”. Brilliant.
I liked this particular volume in the series better than the last. Truly an enjoyable listen.
I thank the author for a slightly shorter book not because I didn’t want more but because what he provided was the perfect amount.
Just a truly entertaining book.
November 11, 2023
One of the best in the series
Book5 didn't hit the same as the rest of the series. Book 6, however, is great. ...maybe my favorite. This author is great at making compelling characters... He also doesn't make the his stories predictable...he gives you clues, and you think you have an idea what's coming, but some clues pan out. Some clues dont...and the resolution is always better than you'd expect. I like his writing. Hard to find authors like him where I'd be willing to always give his books a shot...if you're here, you probably read the prior books in the series. 6 is really good
Book5 didn't hit the same as the rest of the series. Book 6, however, is great. ...maybe my favorite. This author is great at making compelling characters... He also doesn't make the his stories predictable...he gives you clues, and you think you have an idea what's coming, but some clues pan out. Some clues dont...and the resolution is always better than you'd expect. I like his writing. Hard to find authors like him where I'd be willing to always give his books a shot...if you're here, you probably read the prior books in the series. 6 is really good
July 8, 2023
I was hesitant to get this after being disappointed in commune3 & 4 (haven't listened to 5 yet). But I did enjoy it. Looking forward to the next.
July 18, 2023
The story of Gibs continues! Great series! Looking forward to more of this series. Great narration by R.C. Bray.
July 25, 2023
One of the better post-apocalyptic series.
November 28, 2023
It was alright. Post apocalyptic wild west vibes. Wish there was more about original commune.
April 5, 2024
Commune Book Six
Gibs and Alan’s charges, a couple & their niece & nephew are taken by slavers. The guys persevere in an attempt to rescue them. Will they succeed?
Gibs and Alan’s charges, a couple & their niece & nephew are taken by slavers. The guys persevere in an attempt to rescue them. Will they succeed?
April 21, 2024
Gibs and Alan’s charges, a couple & their niece & nephew are taken by slavers. The guys persevere in an attempt to rescue them. Will they succeed?
May 15, 2024
wanted to hate this book... then:
"I stepped on a Lego"
had me laughing and crying at the same time like nothing else.
"I stepped on a Lego"
had me laughing and crying at the same time like nothing else.
June 21, 2024
Blake Gibs is a one of a kind hero and really performs in this latest Commune. So much incredible action and humor with RC Bray’s outstanding touch to make this shine! Gold baby!
August 20, 2024
GIBS is back! Loved Alan! These two are on a mission to find 2 kids that were kidnapped a decade earlier. Gore.
Look forward to book 7!
Look forward to book 7!
October 17, 2025
A cowboy comes to town with his flawed sidekick……
Take as old as time.
Take as old as time.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews