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Toast: The Ride to Hell
After the Nuclear Holocaust, Dick, Patch and their close friends are fighting for their lives against unbelievable odds. The only inhabitable places left are Taswegia and New Haka.
Two ex-Navy Clearance Divers, an ex-Army Sapper and their partners fight to reach a place where they can make contact with others who are hopefully still alive, and who can help them rid their land of the Alliance!
Richard (Dick) and Beth (Patch) Mann, were in their workshop finishing the last of the repairs for some locals. Because there was no power, they were using the old Pearson sewing machine (hand operated) to mend some canvas kangaroo bags. It was no good flashing up their little generator set to run the heavy industrial sewing machines ...
"Hey Chook, it's nearly 10am. Can you turn the UHF set on please? We might get an update."
Beep... Beep... Beep...
"Here is the news for Friday 2nd January 2015, Alex Brand reporting.
As I speak, we have reports that forces, calling themselves "The New Alliance" have landed at all major ports in Taswegia.
In Kings Town, commander of the invasion force, General Jun Lee Sung, has summoned all the members of the Taswegian parliament on to the lawns in front of Parliament to discuss our surrender details!
This is crazy! Who do these people think they are! Surrender? Why? And to who?
Wait! I have more reports coming in! They're systematically executing everyone! Oh no! They have beheaded the Premier.....
Two ex-Navy Clearance Divers, an ex-Army Sapper and their partners fight to reach a place where they can make contact with others who are hopefully still alive, and who can help them rid their land of the Alliance!
Richard (Dick) and Beth (Patch) Mann, were in their workshop finishing the last of the repairs for some locals. Because there was no power, they were using the old Pearson sewing machine (hand operated) to mend some canvas kangaroo bags. It was no good flashing up their little generator set to run the heavy industrial sewing machines ...
"Hey Chook, it's nearly 10am. Can you turn the UHF set on please? We might get an update."
Beep... Beep... Beep...
"Here is the news for Friday 2nd January 2015, Alex Brand reporting.
As I speak, we have reports that forces, calling themselves "The New Alliance" have landed at all major ports in Taswegia.
In Kings Town, commander of the invasion force, General Jun Lee Sung, has summoned all the members of the Taswegian parliament on to the lawns in front of Parliament to discuss our surrender details!
This is crazy! Who do these people think they are! Surrender? Why? And to who?
Wait! I have more reports coming in! They're systematically executing everyone! Oh no! They have beheaded the Premier.....
382 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
About the author
Rick Allen
27 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Rick^^Allen.
Rick^^Allen.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2025
From the very first page I was hooked. The chaos, the action, the fear—it felt like I was right there in Taswegia as everything fell apart. Dick and Patch are such strong characters, and I loved how real their fight for survival felt. Rick Allen has done an amazing job with his first novel. Couldn’t put it down!
February 25, 2026
Rick Allen’s Toast: The Ride to Hell is not just another post-apocalyptic thriller it’s a gritty, boots on the ground survival saga that feels intensely personal and frighteningly plausible.
From the opening pages, Allen wastes no time dropping the reader into a world shattered by nuclear devastation. What struck me most was not simply the scale of destruction, but the intimacy of it. The story doesn’t begin with grand speeches or distant politics; it begins in a workshop, with hand operated sewing machines and ordinary people trying to live ordinary lives. That grounded introduction makes the chaos that follows all the more harrowing.
Allen’s background detail shines through in the portrayal of the ex Navy Clearance Divers and the ex-Army Sapper. Their skills, instincts, and tactical decisions feel authentic rather than theatrical. There’s a lived-in realism to the way they move, plan, and react under pressure. These are not comic-book heroes they are capable, flawed, determined individuals doing what they must to survive and protect what little remains of their homeland.
The radio broadcast scene is particularly chilling. The calm cadence of a news report collapsing into horror is handled with sharp restraint, making the brutality of events feel immediate without unnecessary embellishment. It’s a moment that lingers.
What elevates Toast above standard genre fare is its emotional core. Beneath the firefights and strategic maneuvering lies a story about loyalty, resilience, and the stubborn refusal to surrender both literally and morally. The relationships between Dick, Patch, and their companions add weight to every risk taken and every loss endured.
This is a novel that understands survival is not just about weapons and tactics it’s about heart, memory, and the fierce desire to rebuild something worth living for.
For readers who appreciate post-nuclear fiction with realism, tension, and emotional grit, Toast: The Ride to Hell delivers a hard, unflinching ride that stays with you long after the final page.
From the opening pages, Allen wastes no time dropping the reader into a world shattered by nuclear devastation. What struck me most was not simply the scale of destruction, but the intimacy of it. The story doesn’t begin with grand speeches or distant politics; it begins in a workshop, with hand operated sewing machines and ordinary people trying to live ordinary lives. That grounded introduction makes the chaos that follows all the more harrowing.
Allen’s background detail shines through in the portrayal of the ex Navy Clearance Divers and the ex-Army Sapper. Their skills, instincts, and tactical decisions feel authentic rather than theatrical. There’s a lived-in realism to the way they move, plan, and react under pressure. These are not comic-book heroes they are capable, flawed, determined individuals doing what they must to survive and protect what little remains of their homeland.
The radio broadcast scene is particularly chilling. The calm cadence of a news report collapsing into horror is handled with sharp restraint, making the brutality of events feel immediate without unnecessary embellishment. It’s a moment that lingers.
What elevates Toast above standard genre fare is its emotional core. Beneath the firefights and strategic maneuvering lies a story about loyalty, resilience, and the stubborn refusal to surrender both literally and morally. The relationships between Dick, Patch, and their companions add weight to every risk taken and every loss endured.
This is a novel that understands survival is not just about weapons and tactics it’s about heart, memory, and the fierce desire to rebuild something worth living for.
For readers who appreciate post-nuclear fiction with realism, tension, and emotional grit, Toast: The Ride to Hell delivers a hard, unflinching ride that stays with you long after the final page.
September 3, 2025
The Ride to Hell pulled me in right from the opening broadcast it felt tense and real. Dick and Patch’s fight for survival against the ruthless Alliance kept me turning the pages. The story is dark, fast-paced, and gripping, though I wished for a little more character depth at times. Overall, it’s an exciting start to a post-apocalyptic series that leaves you wanting more
September 3, 2025
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic thrillers with high stakes and nonstop action, this is a must-read. The Alliance are terrifying villains, and the way the author builds the tension kept me turning pages late into the night. I’m already looking forward to Book 2
September 3, 2025
What an incredible ride! I picked this up out of curiosity and ended up devouring it in a weekend. The mix of action, suspense, and emotional stakes makes it one of the best dystopian stories I’ve read in a long time
September 3, 2025
A brilliant debut novel in the dystopian genre. The story pulled me in right away with Alex Brand’s desperate broadcast, and it never let go. Strong world-building, terrifying enemies, and characters worth rooting for. Five stars easily.
September 3, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this book blew me away. Rick Allen writes with such urgency that I felt the tension in every scene. The stakes are high, the characters compelling, and the pacing perfect. Definitely recommend for fans of dystopian thrillers.
September 5, 2025
A gripping post-apocalyptic tale that throws readers into a brutal fight for survival after nuclear devastation. Packed with military grit, raw emotion, and relentless action, it delivers a tense, fast-paced ride that will keep dystopian and survival fiction fans hooked from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews