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Ashes #2
Fire in the Ashes
While the United States recovers from the war of 1988, Ben Raines, a former mercenary, leads a rebel group in guerrilla warfare against a fascist American government. Reissue.
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
208 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,041 books1,392 followersWilliam W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 29, 2025
The typical Rebels vs the government and political banter found in the first volume. Where it really picks up is close to the end when the mutants arrive on scene…
June 11, 2014
And so the train-wreck continues.
I'll probably be one of the few negative reviews for this book because, as the second book in a series, it's unlikely that anyone who didn't enjoy the first in the series would have bothered with the second. So just about anyone who read this is likely a fan of the first book, and of the teachings espoused by the hero and author stand-in Ben Raines.
However I was not a fan of the first book, and I am not a fan of this book. Not really. Not in the traditional sense. And yet, I've read through two books in this series, and plan to, at some future point, dive into the third book. Because this, to me, is the literary version of watching a movie so bad that it's good -- no, not good, but AWESOME.
Johnstone appears to frequently forget that the book is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland because, for the most part, the US functions exactly as it did before the war. Telephones work, there are post-war telephone books, the major cable news stations all still function (with, I should add, a liberal slant). And yet, it takes Ben Raines to get the country running properly again. HE gets the factories working, HE creates jobs. What he does that's different from the previous administration isn't worth mentioning. All you have to know is that he does SOMETHING. And it's BETTER. Because he's BEN RAINES.
Also, I don't want to accuse Johnstone of padding out this novel, but holy shit are there are a lot of flashbacks to the first book.
I'm actually kind of excited to see what goes down in book three. After a fairly dull ride through the first 80% of 'Fire in the Ashes' the book closes with the reveal of some mutant monsters wandering the countryside -- mutant rats, carrying mutant fleas infected with a mutant black plague that wipes out a good chunk of the US population (and, somehow, the world's population, though there's little discussion to how it spread). Also, mutant people who are big, ugly, monster things.
Oh, and some religious prophet shows up to kind of accuse Ben Raines of being a false god. So that was kind of interesting.
Anyway, the trainwreck continues. I can only hope that book three is at least as crazy as this one was.
I'll probably be one of the few negative reviews for this book because, as the second book in a series, it's unlikely that anyone who didn't enjoy the first in the series would have bothered with the second. So just about anyone who read this is likely a fan of the first book, and of the teachings espoused by the hero and author stand-in Ben Raines.
However I was not a fan of the first book, and I am not a fan of this book. Not really. Not in the traditional sense. And yet, I've read through two books in this series, and plan to, at some future point, dive into the third book. Because this, to me, is the literary version of watching a movie so bad that it's good -- no, not good, but AWESOME.
Johnstone appears to frequently forget that the book is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland because, for the most part, the US functions exactly as it did before the war. Telephones work, there are post-war telephone books, the major cable news stations all still function (with, I should add, a liberal slant). And yet, it takes Ben Raines to get the country running properly again. HE gets the factories working, HE creates jobs. What he does that's different from the previous administration isn't worth mentioning. All you have to know is that he does SOMETHING. And it's BETTER. Because he's BEN RAINES.
Also, I don't want to accuse Johnstone of padding out this novel, but holy shit are there are a lot of flashbacks to the first book.
I'm actually kind of excited to see what goes down in book three. After a fairly dull ride through the first 80% of 'Fire in the Ashes' the book closes with the reveal of some mutant monsters wandering the countryside -- mutant rats, carrying mutant fleas infected with a mutant black plague that wipes out a good chunk of the US population (and, somehow, the world's population, though there's little discussion to how it spread). Also, mutant people who are big, ugly, monster things.
Oh, and some religious prophet shows up to kind of accuse Ben Raines of being a false god. So that was kind of interesting.
Anyway, the trainwreck continues. I can only hope that book three is at least as crazy as this one was.
March 6, 2018
Second of about 35 novels in the series. While it is an entertaining read I had a hard time picking it up again after putting it down. I did finish it though and can see why many people find it a great series. I read the first book and then moved right on to this one, the second. I don’t think I will be reading any more of the series. Too many other books to read.
November 21, 2019
A previous reviewer noted that the second volume of the “Ashes” series reprints a lot of dialogue and other material from volume one. Strip out this padding and one is left with a low-quality novella and the first few chapters of a new story modeled after the schlock scifi movies of the 1950s. (The author has one of his characters say as much.) In the novella, Ben Raines and his band of freedom fighters resume their struggle against the evil U.S. government, waging war across an America inspired by the old road atlas Johnstone found in his basement. The feds fight back with a terror campaign against the good-guy rebels. Many rapes are committed and lovingly described. Eventually Raines wins and is elected President Freedom. Then the author remembers he is supposed to be writing a post-apocalyptic novel, and begins a completely different tale, full of giant plague rats, terrorist nukes, prophets of doom, and some evil mutants.* Throw in some giant bunnies with machine guns and you’ve got the makings of a halfway-decent session of GAMMA WORLD. Perhaps that’s what Johnstone has in store for volume three.
* The mutants are probably also punks and therefore our heroes can kill them with impunity.
* The mutants are probably also punks and therefore our heroes can kill them with impunity.
November 2, 2018
Good read
The survivors/rebels have endured another round of assaults on freedom. Most of them survived to see the effects of germ warfare and radiation. Looking forward to the ext hurdle and how they survive it.
The survivors/rebels have endured another round of assaults on freedom. Most of them survived to see the effects of germ warfare and radiation. Looking forward to the ext hurdle and how they survive it.
February 19, 2013
If only we could get the gun hating left to open their minds and read this book....Oh hell as The General would say, " wouldn't do no good no how".
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
September 11, 2016
Read this series many, many years ago and re-introduced myself to it again recently. Fun reading.
December 31, 2025
I don’t know why I started this book so close to the end of the new year. With a terribly busy year, I knew I wouldn’t meet my goal for books read in a year, but I figured I wouldn’t try and get as close as possible in the closing month.
I picked up Fire in the Ashes, and…. It took forever to finish. In fact, it took me till the last day of the month to wrap up.
I have the entire Ashes series in my collection, thanks to a library sale (actually I’m missing three books) that sold me all of them for $5. I read book 1 years ago, and remembered it being a little slow, but ok, and figured I would give book 2 a shot.
I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic genre, and LOVED The Traveler series, among other books in the genre, so with all these books I figured the series had to be good. Unfortunately, Fire has A LOT going against it.
The first half of this book is a weird, preachy, blueprint, for some bizarre Socialist/Communist government but ran by conservatives. I’m a conservative, and this weird fantasy government Johnston has dreamt up, it utterly ridiculous, and beyond stupid. And it would be ok, if the first chapter explained his “ideas” but it goes ON AND ON. I’m talking over 250 pages of this.
This leads to the next issue with the book. Johnston wants so badly for this weird government idea he’s dreamt up, that he then pushes our man character to be president so he can really push home how great it is!
What drive me even crazy, Ben Raines can never do any wrong. Everything he does, works out and everyone is so happy with the outcome. There is no push back, and he always comes out on top.
There are a TON of flashbacks, and at first, I thought this is a cool way to weave them in, but after the 12th flashback I was finished with them.
Fire felt like I read three different books in one. Part one was the EXTREMELY boring and nauseating Socialism/conservative playbook, on how great this system is and how it works.
Second Ben’s short term as president, that feels rushed and to be honest not that interesting and just a bridge to get us to the third act.
The third act was the best part of the book and should’ve been the whole book. We finally get into the post apocalyptic genre with mutants and spiritual encounters. Talking with another fan of the genre, he was telling me, his fears about jumping into this series because of the heavy religious tones, and the whole book I was wondering what he was referring to.
You find out in the third act, but I think his fears are misguided. I understand what Johnston was going for once you reach the third act, in terms of Ben Raines never failing, as people start to look at him as a God. How stories are twisted and legends are made, and now people start to view him differently.
However; it was so annoying, his perfection, that by the time you hit the third act, you brush off the “god angle” quickly because you see he’s not a god but rather the author obsessing over his ideas.
Ashes has A LOT of down time in it. You will find yourself bored to tears when it gets into a lull or political talk or flashback, but on the flip side, when there is action it’s great.
Be forewarned, Johnston has a weird style in all the books I have read by him, where he dives into rape/sex/pornography writing, that isn’t necessary at all. I know he is trying to really make the reader hate the bad guys, but it comes off like I’m reading some weird snuff literature, that if anyone looking over my shoulder read, would think I’m a lunatic.
Ashes would’ve been a 2 star read for me, but the final act really saves this book and gives you what you thought the whole book was going to be like.
I have read ahead reviews the following books, and it seems like nothing changes and to be honest, I don’t know if I could deal with another. These books (the two I have read) are 200 pages too long, and will drag and be preachy. Overall a bummer of a book to end 2025 on.
I picked up Fire in the Ashes, and…. It took forever to finish. In fact, it took me till the last day of the month to wrap up.
I have the entire Ashes series in my collection, thanks to a library sale (actually I’m missing three books) that sold me all of them for $5. I read book 1 years ago, and remembered it being a little slow, but ok, and figured I would give book 2 a shot.
I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic genre, and LOVED The Traveler series, among other books in the genre, so with all these books I figured the series had to be good. Unfortunately, Fire has A LOT going against it.
The first half of this book is a weird, preachy, blueprint, for some bizarre Socialist/Communist government but ran by conservatives. I’m a conservative, and this weird fantasy government Johnston has dreamt up, it utterly ridiculous, and beyond stupid. And it would be ok, if the first chapter explained his “ideas” but it goes ON AND ON. I’m talking over 250 pages of this.
This leads to the next issue with the book. Johnston wants so badly for this weird government idea he’s dreamt up, that he then pushes our man character to be president so he can really push home how great it is!
What drive me even crazy, Ben Raines can never do any wrong. Everything he does, works out and everyone is so happy with the outcome. There is no push back, and he always comes out on top.
There are a TON of flashbacks, and at first, I thought this is a cool way to weave them in, but after the 12th flashback I was finished with them.
Fire felt like I read three different books in one. Part one was the EXTREMELY boring and nauseating Socialism/conservative playbook, on how great this system is and how it works.
Second Ben’s short term as president, that feels rushed and to be honest not that interesting and just a bridge to get us to the third act.
The third act was the best part of the book and should’ve been the whole book. We finally get into the post apocalyptic genre with mutants and spiritual encounters. Talking with another fan of the genre, he was telling me, his fears about jumping into this series because of the heavy religious tones, and the whole book I was wondering what he was referring to.
You find out in the third act, but I think his fears are misguided. I understand what Johnston was going for once you reach the third act, in terms of Ben Raines never failing, as people start to look at him as a God. How stories are twisted and legends are made, and now people start to view him differently.
However; it was so annoying, his perfection, that by the time you hit the third act, you brush off the “god angle” quickly because you see he’s not a god but rather the author obsessing over his ideas.
Ashes has A LOT of down time in it. You will find yourself bored to tears when it gets into a lull or political talk or flashback, but on the flip side, when there is action it’s great.
Be forewarned, Johnston has a weird style in all the books I have read by him, where he dives into rape/sex/pornography writing, that isn’t necessary at all. I know he is trying to really make the reader hate the bad guys, but it comes off like I’m reading some weird snuff literature, that if anyone looking over my shoulder read, would think I’m a lunatic.
Ashes would’ve been a 2 star read for me, but the final act really saves this book and gives you what you thought the whole book was going to be like.
I have read ahead reviews the following books, and it seems like nothing changes and to be honest, I don’t know if I could deal with another. These books (the two I have read) are 200 pages too long, and will drag and be preachy. Overall a bummer of a book to end 2025 on.
August 31, 2025
Johnstone’s “Ashes” series eventually settles into a decent men’s adventure series, but first you have to wade through these early books.
Johnstone’s weird conservative socialist utopia is bound to annoy you no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, and he really believed in this stuff.
So it’s not a great novel. It’s a political diatribe wearing a novel’s stolen clothes… almost literally, considering how many passages are lifted from the first book to serve as flashbacks.
And just when you think it’s almost over, he just sends it flying sideways and adds new elements out of nowhere, like he suddenly realized he needed to set up an ongoing series. Sloppy.
Johnstone’s weird conservative socialist utopia is bound to annoy you no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, and he really believed in this stuff.
So it’s not a great novel. It’s a political diatribe wearing a novel’s stolen clothes… almost literally, considering how many passages are lifted from the first book to serve as flashbacks.
And just when you think it’s almost over, he just sends it flying sideways and adds new elements out of nowhere, like he suddenly realized he needed to set up an ongoing series. Sloppy.
November 28, 2022
A Great Follow up to Book One
As this is the second book of the series, you'd think the pace would slow a little or the action would be more of a build up. You would be wrong. The action & pace of Fire in the Ashes is even faster than it was in Blood! I just finished book 2 after just starting it, or at least it feels like it. The story is moving forward, more possible outcomes in our futures are opening up, some very scary, some just sad, but all fascinating. I am jumping right into the next book, #3, Anarchy.
As this is the second book of the series, you'd think the pace would slow a little or the action would be more of a build up. You would be wrong. The action & pace of Fire in the Ashes is even faster than it was in Blood! I just finished book 2 after just starting it, or at least it feels like it. The story is moving forward, more possible outcomes in our futures are opening up, some very scary, some just sad, but all fascinating. I am jumping right into the next book, #3, Anarchy.
January 31, 2023
Fire in the ashes
Lot going on here, people were living there own lives than more fighting happened. Then some atomic bombs where dropped and then the united states changed. Rats got bigger and then got covered with fleas and disease wiped out the united states. If Ben and the survivors didn't have bad luck they wouldn't have any luck at all. Will Ben have the will to start over and make the country great again. If readers like action and some science fiction this could be a interesting series.
Lot going on here, people were living there own lives than more fighting happened. Then some atomic bombs where dropped and then the united states changed. Rats got bigger and then got covered with fleas and disease wiped out the united states. If Ben and the survivors didn't have bad luck they wouldn't have any luck at all. Will Ben have the will to start over and make the country great again. If readers like action and some science fiction this could be a interesting series.
May 31, 2024
interesting take of life after germ/ nuclear war
The novels in this series give a very good representation of life after nuclear/germ warfare across the world. specifically the USA. I was disappointed in the very explicit sexuality throughout the books I have read. It was unnecessary to be so explicit. Actually, none of Mr. Johnston's other books contained this type of content. You could have indicated what happened without it. I will continue reading your Western unless they also contain the sex content.
The novels in this series give a very good representation of life after nuclear/germ warfare across the world. specifically the USA. I was disappointed in the very explicit sexuality throughout the books I have read. It was unnecessary to be so explicit. Actually, none of Mr. Johnston's other books contained this type of content. You could have indicated what happened without it. I will continue reading your Western unless they also contain the sex content.
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February 7, 2025This makes only the third book I have not finished. It was WAY too violent for me.
I made it 40 pages in and at that point had read about a group killing men but leaving the pilot alive then putting them back on a plane to be flown back to who sent them, a brother watching a sister rapped by five men and when I quit they were getting ready to do the same to a father and daughter.
That is just a few of the scenes I read about. There were more that weren't as horrible but in 40 pages it was all just too much.
I made it 40 pages in and at that point had read about a group killing men but leaving the pilot alive then putting them back on a plane to be flown back to who sent them, a brother watching a sister rapped by five men and when I quit they were getting ready to do the same to a father and daughter.
That is just a few of the scenes I read about. There were more that weren't as horrible but in 40 pages it was all just too much.
May 3, 2022
1980 first read
This series may have been one of the ground breakers for apocalypse survival. I read this series many years ago. Complicated characters and lots of action. Definitely nor intended for young minds. Addresses racism, law and order, and human rights in very
adult situations.
All that said , this is the series that started my following of apocalypse survival books.
This series may have been one of the ground breakers for apocalypse survival. I read this series many years ago. Complicated characters and lots of action. Definitely nor intended for young minds. Addresses racism, law and order, and human rights in very
adult situations.
All that said , this is the series that started my following of apocalypse survival books.
October 8, 2022
Fire in the Ashes
William Johnstone continues this captivating saga. The action is non-stop. You become involved with the characters.
I am looking forward to picking up the next edition of the tale.
William Johnstone continues this captivating saga. The action is non-stop. You become involved with the characters.
I am looking forward to picking up the next edition of the tale.
February 4, 2023
Baby boomers will get this book,.
The romance scenes are short and sweet,just like I like it. The philosophy expressed in the book are fair. Though it did seem to go slowly in places it was a good read. I will read this series again. Read it 20 years ago and it still stood the test of time.H
The romance scenes are short and sweet,just like I like it. The philosophy expressed in the book are fair. Though it did seem to go slowly in places it was a good read. I will read this series again. Read it 20 years ago and it still stood the test of time.H
May 8, 2017
Has its moments, but otherwise mostly dismal. How many times can the Tri-States collapse and rebuild?
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December 3, 2019President Ben
It looks like Ben is the president the people want and no other. The people love him and won't
Let him be anything else
It looks like Ben is the president the people want and no other. The people love him and won't
Let him be anything else
April 11, 2020
Rereading the series for the third time...
January 20, 2021
Not as good as the first book, but keeps on the right path
January 29, 2021
I enjoyed rereading it again!
I was a fan of this series when it started. William W. Johnson is still a favorite author. A fan!
I was a fan of this series when it started. William W. Johnson is still a favorite author. A fan!
June 29, 2021
Fun
Easy read and great fun to read. Series lets you escape for a time to a different reality. Could be a version of the walking dead
Easy read and great fun to read. Series lets you escape for a time to a different reality. Could be a version of the walking dead
September 26, 2021
Terminology
I don't like the foul language. It is not in your Westerns. I enjoy reading your book because of continuity of story and I agree with the politics.
Mike Mass
I don't like the foul language. It is not in your Westerns. I enjoy reading your book because of continuity of story and I agree with the politics.
Mike Mass
March 14, 2022
I abandoned this book. It is filled with filthy torture pornography. Too graphic for my taste
March 21, 2022
Oldy but goody
Good read with plenty of action. Will follow the series to the end. Is this what the world will like?
Good read with plenty of action. Will follow the series to the end. Is this what the world will like?
June 9, 2022
Ben
Another great book. I love reading Johnstone books. He has written a lot. Whether it is Western, science fiction or another genre of stories, he always entertains you!
Another great book. I love reading Johnstone books. He has written a lot. Whether it is Western, science fiction or another genre of stories, he always entertains you!
June 13, 2023
geeze!
These are some of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I can’t put them down when it’s time to do anything else. Just wish they were on audible.
These are some of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I can’t put them down when it’s time to do anything else. Just wish they were on audible.
January 21, 2015
Wow, what went wrong half way thru the book? Really went off the rails. Starts out fine, then goes to hell. "Hero" decides to become a philosopher king, and enforce his version of freedom on everyone. Yikes. He started out as a good anarchist, and evolved into a good Nazi. Then, he throws in giant mutant rats, just for giggles. Then he kills off the entire world. Oh, well.
January 5, 2013
Excellent sequel to Out of the Ashes. It's been a few years since I went through these books, and I really enjoyed it. The deviant sex scenes were a little much, so if you are prudish or have a weak stomach walk away.
June 22, 2017
lots of action, some sick people in the book that I would like to shoot myself, but it keep me reading and reading, loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews