The Executive Order

by David Fisher

In David Fisher's The Executive Order, this one-step-ahead-of-the-headlines thriller, a reporter races to uncover a conspiracy when he learns that the post-Trump president elected to heal the nation has more sinister plans.

In a post-Trump and Biden world, an independent senator, Ian Wrightman, is elected president to heal a nation frayed by extreme partisanship. After years of reporting chaos in the White House, digital journalist Rollie Stone and his colleagues embrace the normalcy. But after the country is rocked by a series of devastating terrorist attacks, the new administration springs into action and begins rolling out executive orders that claim to protect the American people—while slowly chipping away at their constitutional freedoms.

Rollie Stone is a wounded warrior whose hi-tech Mighty Chair serves as his unique assistant in investigations. When he uncovers evidence that the terrorist attacks are being coordinated much closer to home, he knows he needs to get this information into safe hands—but the president has declared war, and through his new executive powers is rounding up journalists, dissenters, and anyone else who gets in his way. Forced on the run with the help of an underground resistance movement, Rollie finds himself in a race for his life to reveal the truth. But who can he trust?

In this all-too-realistic thriller inspired by the Sinclair Lewis classic, It Can't Happen Here, one journalist will do whatever it takes to stop his country turning from democracy to dictatorship.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2021

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name

Reviews

[Jaidee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 "politically astute but in the end hollywood banal " stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy. This was released in May 2021. I am providing my honest review.

Okie dokie ! I wanted to like this and admire this much more than I actually did.

This takes place in 2026 in the near future in a post-Biden America where an Independent President Wrightman and VP Hunter (also former Military leader) begin to use their Executive branch to take away constitutional rights in favor of safety. This is after three concurrent terrorist attacks in Hawaii, Louisiana and NYC. Who is responsible and why ?

Ollie Stone is a journalist (former Army vet utilizing a wheelchair with minor PTSD) who uses his wiles to uncover the truth and joining the growing resistance to Wrightman's increasingly militant hold on America. We are present with a very interesting history as how this was set in motion even before the election of Orange haired and Orange faced Trump.

The writing is pulp fiction solid and until the midway point the plot is logical and very interesting.
The characters are all sort of American stereotypes with limited depth although lots of intelligent understanding on how America functions !!

This book starts to lose me though with so much awful corny humor. This is in sharp contrast with the serious events that are occurring. From a most interesting and arresting beginning we move at the midway point to Hollywood histrionics, name dropping and increasing levels of ridiculousness. I would rate the first half a very good 3.5 stars and the second half a paltry 1.5 stars.

This was great intelligent premise that went awry and got out of hand.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Fisher delivers a strong story in this quasi-dystopian novel. America seeks to reinvent itself politically after two successive administrations that have left the country in tatters. While things are about to change monumentally, journalist Rollie Stone is not quite sure things are as pleasant as many would have hoped. Watching drastic changes to his country, Stone watches as the new administration takes law and order into their own hands. Learning the truth about a secret related to a recent terrorist attack, Stone needs to get it out, while staying alive long enough to find someone who can enact change. A gripping story that had me hooked from start to finish. David Fisher delivers and then some!

After the country has tired of the Trump and Biden Administrstions, America looks for a refreshing change. The presidential election of 2024 sees the overwhelming support for Independent senator, Ian Wrightman, who vows to help fix the country that was destroyed by extreme partisanship. His fresh ideas and new direction are just what the country needs to return from the brink of disaster.

All this is refreshing news to Rollie Stone, a longtime White House digital journalist, who has seen division become the new normal. A wounded soldier who is now confined to a high-tech wheelchair, Stone continues to challenge the political hierarchy. America is put to the test when a series of terrorist attacks across the county seek to ruin the new political honeymoon. The Wrightman Administration responds with a number of executive orders to protect the country from the inherent threats and shore up support to track down the terror cells. These orders might provide protection, but the constitutional freedoms of every citizen are dismantled, something Rollie Stone cannot help but notice as he tries to pen new stories to inform his readers.

After Stone receives concrete evidence that the terrorist attacks have a domestic source, he seeks to spread the news to those who can ensure it is broadcast. While the country is even more divided and freedoms have been curtailed, Stone cannot stand idly by and hope the truth will set America free. All the while, dissenters and journalists are being gathered up in a new war on criticism of the police core, one President Wrightman takes extremely seriously. Rushing to get the intel he has to safe sources, Rollie Stone might be one of the country’s most sought-after political dissenters. Only fast thinking and the help of those who support him will ensure Stone stays alive. A stunning dystopian thriller that shows how on point David Fisher is with the recent political changes and acceptance of blanket mis- and disinformation.

I love a good political thriller, especially when social commentary can be found within its fictional pages. David Fisher does well with this piece, weaving truths and conjecture into a stellar novel that has the opportunity to impact the attentive reader. A strong narrative weaves a well-suppored foundation that keeps the reader guessing how long things might go on and what the characters might accept. Ideas gain momentum as the story gets darker and more troubling, adding a tension that helps prove the themes of this novel. Characters are well-placed and keep the reader wondering, while also choosing their favourites and those they could easily vilify. The plot develops as Fisher pushes things along, providing surprises and gasp-worthy moments to keep the story on edge. I could not ask for more and can only image how close to reality this could be, with the recent election of a politician who has lulled many into a sense of blind acceptance of anything coming from the White House.

Kudos, Mr. Fisher, for this shocking wake-up call and jarring sense of reality.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Marty Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fairly interesting story, enjoyed mostly by those who dislike Trump and the direction he seems to be taking in his quest for world domination. In fact, I thought the author went a bit overboard in talking about Trump, and implying that Trump could never get elected to a 2nd term as President. The book was written during the Biden administration.

Apparently, the main thesis of the book is how America can lose our democracy and our basic freedoms in a way that most people will not only go along with, but ill cheer on the authoritarians that take it. I think he did a good job with that, and I wish some of the Trump lovers could read it so they might understand what we fear about the future under his leadership. It was written in a way that is all too believable, enough so to be scary. I would guess it's along the lines of the book "It Can't Happen Here", although I have not read that book. He does mention it at least once.

[Prasanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i started reading with open mind. terrorist attacks, coverups, conspiracy, president assassination attempt.. BAM!! USA becomes a totalitarian country.. US Constitution goes for a toss and President is given unprecedent Executive powers.. Until a wheelchair journalist uncovers the conspiracy and fights to put an end before USA becomes another North Korea.

Rollie Stone is a very likeable character.. i liked Laura, the resistance girl better than Jenny, the Cheif-of-staff to a Senator. Though both play significant roles in Stone's life, i liked the former .

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit to giving up on this halfway through because it just cuts too close to all the political upheaval of recent years. I also bet that's wby some readers will eat it up. Rollie Stone, a wounded warrior turned journalist with a super chair, is determined to stop bad things but who, if anyone, will listen when everyone is still fighting with one another over issues big and small. He's an interesting character but even he wasn't enough to make this less stressing inducing. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prediction? Warning? Prophecy? What if, following Trump and Biden, a new president swoops in to save the day? And what if the cure is worse than the disease? That’s the premise of this story ripped from today’s media pages. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Katy]

I received my copy free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Executive Order is one of those books where I went from flipping the pages and enjoying myself thoroughly to grimacing and having to pick up something else. For one, I needed to think about what was going one, but also because the author spent time building up the tension only to lose me in a long political digression that could have been done in a different way. Trust me, I love my politics and I have a good knowledge of what is currently happening, but I wish the politics had been incorporated into the dialogue and into the story in a different way as there were times it felt preachy and condescending, as if I couldn't figure out what was happening by myself, or on whose side I should be.

I really enjoyed the main character, Rollie Stone. A digital journalist, a former wounded Special Ops soldier, he thought something was suspicious about the attacks almost from the get-go and was a fierce protector of American fundamental human rights. I enjoyed his interior monologue about what had happened during the Trump years as well as his political insight. He was insightful, loyal, intelligent, and he was a fierce defender of the Constitution and Human Rights. I totally felt his frustration as he was thwarted in his attempts to get information out to the people about what was happening as censorship from the government slowly tightened. He was also frustrated with those around him who couddn't, or wouldn't, see what was happening around them. Rollie was an interesting character and I would have liked to learn more about him.

A couple of other characters I liked were Jenny and Laura. Both of these women seemed like strong women, the first trying to slowly deal with the truth, the second, helping Rollie discover the truth. Unfortunately, I felt the author really did a disservice with these characters as they were relegated to secondary roles that were truly underdeveloped when they could have played a much bigger role or had a much bigger impact.

I am going to say the story does have a big impact and does make you think about the current political situation, not just in the US, but in the world. I am not American, so I think I have a less biased viewpoint, but even I felt the author's disdain towards Trump in this book and thought it was excessive. Got the point the first couple of chapters. That being said, it does make you thankful for our freedom of speech and our other liberties, and I hope that if anyone takes anything out of this, that we remain forever vigilant to keeping them.

The book is well-written, but while it can be gripping at times, it did lose me when it became more preachy sounding rather than a novel about a man trying to deal with his loss of liberties. Because of this style of writing, the action was downplayed quite a bit and for some people, I can see why it would be somewhat boring. For some of the scenes, I should have been full of rage and anger, but while I read in horrified fascination, the way it was written sort of robbed me from the rage. Realistically, I should have been scared for these people, angry, frustrated, ashamed, and just plain furious, wanting people to fight back, do anything. Unfortunately, the rambling took the edge off these emotions, at least for me.

The Executive Order is definitely a book that makes you think about our current political situation and how easily it could end up an authoritarian rule. And for anyone who says it could never happen, I would think the German people felt the same way when Hitler took power in 1933. While the book is definitely well-written, I did feel the tendency to go on about the political situation took away from the suspense, the action, the character development, and the shock value of the book, which is too bad as there was a lot of potential here, and Rollie is a great character. Do I recommend this book? Yes. If anything, it will open your eyes and make you more protective of our human rights.

https://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.c...

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a trumpette or a far right conservative,you'll hate this book and give up when the failures of trump's administration are sorted out in the chapters following the initial terrorist attacks that open the book. You probably should not bother.

If that sort of factual relation doesn't mess with your worldview, this is a middling superguy/journalist story that's a fair read.

The book opens with attacks on the Lincoln Tunnel in NY, a dam in Louisiana, and the explosion of the USS Arizona in Hawaii. Deaths? Too many to count. The response of the 2024 President Ian Wrightman: in a nod to fighting terrorism, a rollback of some civil liberties. The slow erosion of rights continues to creep into the country until finally it's simply a fascist government, with the Constitution basically suspended and neighbors encouraged to spy and report on one another, a la 1984.

Rollie Stone, paraplegic former SpecOps and now journalist, is following all this, wondering what is happening to his country. He writes stories about the attacks and then about the targeting of a house in Detroit that is blasted to pieces and everyone inside killed. As it turns out, the people inside that house were innocent, and the government has just murdered a bunch of people on US soil.

The book proceeds to follow Rollie as he watches the tightening of the country, to the point where the electronic newspaper he works for is shut down, as all media now belongs to the government and reports only good news. Rollie then becomes a rebel, fighting to bring information about a cyber hijacking of an airliner to someone who will listen. The remainder of the book is about that quest and the dangers of a fascist state.

But for complete incompetence and greed, we could have been in the process of becoming that fascist country under the former guy's term. The term creeping fascism exists for a reason, and anyone who has studied WWII, or Germany's descent into fascism will recognize the steps outlined in this book. This may hit close to home for some people, so be advised that there is also a televised hanging of "traitors" described in this book.

As I read, I wondered if the author was putting in easter eggs on purpose, or just coincidentally. The current President is Ian Wrightman - I, Wrightman - I, right man, as in the right man for the job. I also wondered if the author is a Dick Francis fan, since Rollie calls the two Feds sent to round him up as Dick and Francis. There are other things along these same lines.

I wasn't bothered by a lot in this book, but one of the things that did bother me was Rollie not discovering who was actually behind this lockdown of the country earlier. It bugged me that we got a "It was so and so all along!" in the end, when it's clear as day earlier in the book who it is.

If you can handle the mix of fact and fiction, it's a good enough read.

Overall, three out of five stars.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the reading copy.

[Linda Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Post Trump/Biden era, could anything get worse?

It actually appears that the new Independent President, Ian Wrightman, is a breath of fresh air. Reporters are basking in the normalcy until a series rock the nation. From here, an Executive Order, claiming to protect the American People begins chipping away at even more of the Constitutional Rights that Americans once held dear.

Rollie Stine, a digital correspondent and wounded warrior confined to a high tech, computerized wheelchair discovers information that proves the terrorist attacks were devised and carried out at home; in fact, the information leads to the NSA. Now Rollie needs to get this information into safe hands, which will be a bit tricky since the President has declared War on American Journalists, dissenters and any American deemed to be in the way of the administration....

[Nick Sanders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bit too netnerdy for my taste, bit too much of the look-at-me-I'm-an-influencer lingo thrown in. Ultimately, after one or two chapters: bòòòòòòring. Next.

[Chris Schultz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book on 5/23/2021. I reported it not yet received on 8/14/2021. Today is 10/8/2021, still not received.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the near-future political thriller, “The Executive Order,” David Fisher tells of a reporter who races to uncover a conspiracy when he learns that the post-Trump/Biden president elected to heal the nation has more sinister plans.

The failures of the Trump and Biden administration are the catalyst for the 2024 election of an independent senator, Ian Wrightman, as President of the United States. Two years into the presidency, terrorists attacks kill thousands at the Pearl Harbour Memorial, New York’s Lincoln Tunnel and Louisiana’s Atchafalaya River. Just as the world adjusts, President Wrightman claims cyberterrorists have sent a wake-up call by hacking into a airplane system and, although the outcome ensures all land safely, harsher measures must be put in place to ensure the safety of Americans. Reporting on the chaos is digital journalist, Rollie Stone. He uncovers evidence about the origin of the coordinated attacks but is unable to get the information out safely. The president’s response to the terrorism is concerning. He rolls out and pushes through executive orders that minify U.S. citizens’ freedom of expression and civil liberties. Purported to protect his people, these initiatives actually chip away at their constitutional freedoms. Rollie Stone is racing to do whatever it takes to stop his country from trading democracy for dictatorship by blindly allowing those in power to go unchecked.

Offering plenty of food for thought, this thriller will have you considering ulterior motives of those in power. You’ll be thankful for our freedoms we currently have and conclude that a deeper appreciation of them is needed in our post-Covid world. I found myself laughing at the direction Uber takes in the future (you’ll have to read to find out) and then coming to the conclusion that, in five years, anything is possible! Originally titled “How It Happened Here” and published later than expected, this well-written and eye-opening political thriller is worthy of your time.

Thank you to David Fisher, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jeff Brandt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trump-hating drivel

If you hate Trump, you will love this novel. It’s not a terrible story, but it’s very hard to get past the author’s disdain for the former president. The underlying premise is real, but damage to this country has come from the left and the right. Should have left out the Trump-bashing and it would have been a fine book.

[Vicki Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In homage to "It Can't Happen Here," by Sinclair Lewis, published in 2035, Fisher takes us forward to 2026. Wrightman, an independent, is elected President in the wake of a disastrous Trump and a Biden meh administrations. As individual rights slowly and quietly trickle away, few are aware of the erosion. Beltway reporter, Rollie Stone is a disabled Spec Ops dude with a second life as a political investigative reporter and the narrator of the story. He becomes the proverbial dog with a bone on stories that are disdained by the administration. You remember that "enemy of the people" line from 2018? Yeah, that.

Needless to say, horrible things happen on the way to authoritarian rule, but divulging them here would ruin the experience for the reader. It should suffice to say that this is an action/thriller, even with a disabled dude in a wheelchair, which turns out to be a terrific prop cum character in the story.

While reading this, I asked myself, "Too soon?" to write an in-part retrospective on the former guy and only 6 months into the next guy's presidency. But then this is fiction and the author can assume or invent whatever storyline they choose.

Of course, I hope it's fiction.

[Gregory Andis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting political thriller about a former soldier turned journalist in post-Biden Washington D.C. Rollie is very likable character who just wants to report the truth. The trouble is.....DC doesn't deal in truth and hence, the plot begins. Interesting that the author published this "futuristic" novel in May 2021. So even though the book is set 4-5 years later, the Trump/Pence administration gets blamed for everything bad in America of the future, while the author is predicting a single term for the current president, who he rarely even mentions by name and essentially issues a pass on a number of political issues. Apparently, we should all beware an independent candidate coming out of the shadows to unite us in 2024.

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first-person writing style of David Fisher, an author I haven't read before. Probably could describe this as a political thriller. Cleverly he uses the factual basis of the catastrophic US damaging experience of the Trump era followed by the desperate but ineffectual attempts of the Biden administration to repair the damage as a basis to launch the novel aspects of a 'third party' innocuous sheep in wolf's clothing administration stepping in and boiling the American people slowly. Lots of drama and an illustration as to how easily things can become unstuck in what was meant to be a democracy. Entertainment value as well as a food-for-thought novel.

[Max · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not make it past the first ten pages. I read about three horrendous terrorist acts on US soil and then how terrible President Trump was and how hard the new President had it putting things back together. What little personal information I got didn't interest me, e.g. what gym the hero went to and who his gym buddy was

[Marcus Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the USA in the near future, a chilling look at what could be coming down the road. Part thriller, part history, part editorial comment it depicts what might happen here, a modern day version of “It can’t happen here”

[T. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read this year. Perhaps it is because I worry that the storyline is rapidly becoming reality. This reporter (the main character and narrator) serves as a hero of sorts, although he does not solve the problem. READ THIS BOOK: It could be your future.

[Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story considering the times we are living in currently.
A few references I thought were too far afield but many I thought were really good.
Moved along at a good pace, providing details without getting bogged down in minutia.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, I'd give this 3.5 stars. A modern day 1984 that was difficult to read at times because it seems chillingly plausible, given today's political climate.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book. Edge of the seat, hard to put down.

[Maria Costantino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what though this book was supposed to be!!!

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary because it feels like it could happen!! An erosion of freedoms, the press being stifled, hit men after journalists! YIKES! Very good!!

[Christopher Geraghty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the Sinclair Lewis 1935 classic It Can't Happen Here which I remember reading in high school. It is also similar to Taylor Caldwell's 1952 novel The Devil's Advocate. Something happens in The Executive Order (no spoilers) which the President uses to increase his power. It reminded me of a TV movie I saw as a kid called Shadow on the Land. It was considered a SF movie back then but would be considered very prescient if it could be watched today. The Leader (as the President was called in the movie) tried to do something similar to also increase power.
On a side note-I read an article in the news this week which stated that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Miilley was interviewed in a forthcoming book. In the interview he stated that he was worried that then President Donald Trump would use the military to attempt a coup after the 2020 election and vowed to prevent it. The reason I mention this is because his fear reminded me of Fletcher Knebel's classic 1962 novel Seven Days in May.
Oscar Wilde said "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life". Mark Twain said "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't."

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this political thriller. Although not my favourite genre, I did enjoy this rapid paced book.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set after President's Trump and Biden, comes a new president to save the day. But is he worse than those that have come before him. This was a difficult book to read. It was just too much real life thrown in for me to be able to enjoy.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Chris Comden · Rating 1 out of 5]

7-31-21

Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway back in April and still have not received.


11-14-21
Still have not received my copy.