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The Alliance
It's 18 years after the end of civilization as we know it. Slowly, ragtag villages of nuclear holocaust survivors are being relocated to a new society known as the Alliance. At first it seems like a dream come true to Eric Lloyd and his family. There is work and safety and food enough to spare. But the trappings of civilization wear thin when Eric learns that the violent human impulses that lead to crime and rebellion are controlled by pain chips surgically implanted in the brain.
Eric vows to destroy the Alliance. But can he have any hope of withstanding the wrath of the Alliance's Major and his computerized Punishment Mode? And what of Eric's growing attraction to Nicole, a Guardian in the Alliance?
Futuristic in setting but timeless in its message, The Alliance makes a stunning statement about agency in a gripping and entertaining way.
Eric vows to destroy the Alliance. But can he have any hope of withstanding the wrath of the Alliance's Major and his computerized Punishment Mode? And what of Eric's growing attraction to Nicole, a Guardian in the Alliance?
Futuristic in setting but timeless in its message, The Alliance makes a stunning statement about agency in a gripping and entertaining way.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Gerald N. Lund
66 books768 followersGerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction and is best known for his historical novels, including The Work and the Glory series, Fire of the Covenant, The Kingdom and the Crown series, and The Undaunted. He and his late wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 664 reviews
May 28, 2009
This is my favorite of Lund's--it's an older one, and may be out of print, but it's worth the effort to find it. Growing up, when one of us would start re-reading this book, it would end up getting passed around the entire family. The only time I ever remember my mom staying up late to read, it was this book.
Eric Lloyd and his family have survived a nuclear holocaust, along with several other members of their small village. Then the invaders come--uniformed men in trucks who scoop them all up and take them to become members of The Alliance: a group of cities up to the north that pride themselves on being free from violence and crime--even from the emotions that cause negative things to happen. However, the price to pay for such "freedom" is steep: each member of The Alliance, including each child, is implanted with a computer chip at the base of their brains. Any negative emotion, such as anger, is swiftly punished with an electric shock via the chip. Only the Guardians, a small group who police the cities, are free from implantation.
As potentially a future Guardian, Eric has managed to escape implantation for the time being. If only he can figure out how to beat the system, he will free himself, his family, and whoever will join him from the clutches of The Alliance.
Suspenseful and exciting, with a little bit of romance thrown in. You won't be able to put this one down!
Eric Lloyd and his family have survived a nuclear holocaust, along with several other members of their small village. Then the invaders come--uniformed men in trucks who scoop them all up and take them to become members of The Alliance: a group of cities up to the north that pride themselves on being free from violence and crime--even from the emotions that cause negative things to happen. However, the price to pay for such "freedom" is steep: each member of The Alliance, including each child, is implanted with a computer chip at the base of their brains. Any negative emotion, such as anger, is swiftly punished with an electric shock via the chip. Only the Guardians, a small group who police the cities, are free from implantation.
As potentially a future Guardian, Eric has managed to escape implantation for the time being. If only he can figure out how to beat the system, he will free himself, his family, and whoever will join him from the clutches of The Alliance.
Suspenseful and exciting, with a little bit of romance thrown in. You won't be able to put this one down!
February 22, 2012
I really want to love Gerald Lund's writing, but I just don't. This book reads like a clean Vin Diesel movie. The plotline is that predictable and the dialoge falls that flat. I read it because a friend passed it to me and told me I would love it. And then she kept asking me every time I saw her if I had read it or not. There is nothing remotely literary about this book. Nothing magic or compelling other than another dystopian storyline. And it needed a good edit. There are typos (more than I normally find in a book), places where the author mixes up his characters' names, and paragraphs that were clearly pasted in the wrong place. The quality was more like a vanity press than Bookcraft (Desert Book). All that said, there are people who will love this book. I'm just not one of them.
January 15, 2016
Preview: The USA has been devastated by atomic bombs leaving the few survivors in scattered colonies. Eric, a young man from one of these colonies, has been assigned to spy on a set of vehicles that have been spotted approaching the settlement. Vehicles are things that most have only heard about and people from different colonies are things that most fear because it's always uncertain whether they're friendly or hostile. When the newcomers arrive they invite Eric's group to join them in their city of Shalev. When the invitation is refused Eric's entire community is abducted and taken to the glittering city if Shalev where, though an implanted computer chip and a mechanical wristwatch, there is no violence, no anger, no unkindness, and no choice in the matter. Eric, who escapes the brain implantation, battles against the evil system and wicked leaders, determined to return the gift of agency to his family and the people of Shalev.
Reader Response: I appreciated that the main characters are honorable, moral, and worthy of emulation. The villains, though not spine-chilling, are evil and have evil motives. I thought that the book was thought provoking, fast passed, and gripping within the first few chapters. It made me realize that I take my freedom and agency for granted.
Warnings: There is not rude or crass language, there is a romance but no sexual innuendo, and though there is action, it's not gratuitous.
Reader Response: I appreciated that the main characters are honorable, moral, and worthy of emulation. The villains, though not spine-chilling, are evil and have evil motives. I thought that the book was thought provoking, fast passed, and gripping within the first few chapters. It made me realize that I take my freedom and agency for granted.
Warnings: There is not rude or crass language, there is a romance but no sexual innuendo, and though there is action, it's not gratuitous.
July 8, 2012
OK-I am going for 3 1/2. Once I got into this book-I was fascinated by it and was compelled to keep reading to see what new twist Eric, Travis, Nicole and the Major were going to take. This book is based on an interesting idea that after a massive war and chaos, the ruling government resorts to forced compliance, disguised as "freedom". The most interesting thing of all to me ,is that it was written by Gerald Lund in 1983.
I hope we are far away from the 'end' of government as we know it. Still, there is room for thought afforded by this book.
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the ending-frankly, I expected a little bit more.
Perhaps after reading THE WORK AND THE GLORY series and THE FIRE AND THE COVENANT, I was hoping
for a less tidy wrap up!
Anyway, if you like Gerald Lund and his style of writing-you will like this book. He always does a grand job of pulling you into the characters as well as a lot of research to make certain his facts are consistent and accurate-I salute him for that!
I hope we are far away from the 'end' of government as we know it. Still, there is room for thought afforded by this book.
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the ending-frankly, I expected a little bit more.
Perhaps after reading THE WORK AND THE GLORY series and THE FIRE AND THE COVENANT, I was hoping
for a less tidy wrap up!
Anyway, if you like Gerald Lund and his style of writing-you will like this book. He always does a grand job of pulling you into the characters as well as a lot of research to make certain his facts are consistent and accurate-I salute him for that!
September 25, 2010
Second time I've read this book. I needed an uplifting overthrow-the big-bad-control-freak-gov't book after reading Mocking Jay. A work less known by Gerald Lund it is definately a glory!! Set in a futuristic post-nuclear WWIII a technology advanced civilization forces survivors to undergo a surgical implantation of a device that uses pain signals to force a person to submit to being good. Sounds great right, a city where there is no bad behavior, except the people incontrol are not implanted and are free to manipulate the system and basically keep the people in bondage. But one village decides to put up a fight!!! An intense page turner from the start, it kept me in solitude all day!
May 13, 2012
First things first, I am blown away by the number of positive, nay, GLOWING reviews of this book on here. Are Mormon readers (or, readers of Mormon fiction) really that easy to impress?... Anyway...
There was some kind of apocalypse. A small group of God-fearing survivors have banded together to create a small farming community in what used to be Star Valley, Wyoming. When armed strangers in high-tech vehicles and flashy blue and orange uniforms arrive unannounced and uninvited to the valley, the villagers are suspicious. Their suspicions are confirmed when the newcomers, lawkeepers called Guardians from Shalev, of the Alliance of the Four Cities, open fire and abduct all the inhabitants of the valley. They are taken to Shalev, where they are forced to live under the society that the Alliance has put in place, where everyone is good and no one commits crime, thanks to the implantation of a chip attached to the pain sensors in their brain, coupled with a wrist computer that regulates and monitors their behavior. If anyone so much as thinks a rebellious, angry or violent thought, they experience sudden and extreme pain. The man behind it all, referred to as the Major, thinks he has discovered the key to the ideal society. Coming from the valley, Eric Lloyd is a promising young man, with many of the qualities that the powers that be prize in Guardians, and they offer him a prominent position if he cooperates and quietly adapts to their culture. But Eric is suspicious, especially after his father is killed in the raid and a family friend is presumed dead. What follows is Eric's struggle to escape from Shalev, rescuing his family and other freedom-loving people who have been oppressed by the Alliance's tyrannical mental rule for nearly two decades.
This book came highly recommended by a friend, and I do like to take recommendations now and then, so I picked it up at the library. (I also tried to like it because Gerald Lund is in some capacity a family acquaintance, and I had never read any of his books, fiction or otherwise.) Umm... I just didn't really care for this book. (No offense, Jake!) It was predictable and pretty boring. It seemed like the author was following a textbook on how to tell a story and just couldn't make it interesting. The idea had a lot of promise, but the writing was so-so and the pacing was all over the place -- the beginning plodded, the middle dragged, and then the ending was so sudden it was completely anticlimactic. A lot of times these kind of stories have similar elements, which can make them seem really unoriginal if not handled right, and I felt like this was something I had heard a hundred times before, and already knew the ending from reading the first chapter. The characters were stiff and uninteresting caricatures, extremely flat and underdeveloped. The dialogue was at times so wooden, it was like they kept saying things without actually thinking anything. I couldn't believe how quickly characters were introduced, and how equally quickly they left the story. There was an utter betrayal in the first few chapters (and a few more later on), but the traitorous character had been barely mentioned once, maybe twice, so there wasn't much sense of shock or outrage. Eric was like a piece of plywood and Nicole seemed like a walking, talking mannequin, and their relationship had no depth whatsoever (despite their misadventures with the mountain wildlife, I kid you not), and I didn't really buy it when it turned. The villain (and his lackey) were never very threatening personally, and didn't hold much interest as far as baddies go. I'm not REALLY into science-fiction, but this book seemed like Sci-Fi Lite (which may be good for some more casual readers, as it's a little more accessible than heavier, more legitimate science-fiction). The problem with science-fiction is that it can start to seem really dated as the decades roll by, but I have recently read other sci-fi titles written around the same time (Orson Scott Card, that's you!), and they still hold up. This one, not so much. Although I struggled pinpointing the actual setting and references to pop culture, this one seemed like it was set in a future of sixty years ago. Even the cover took me back several decades. I had a really hard time getting my head around and caring about characters from a futuristic dystopian society when they had names like Shirley and Travis and Dick and Judy and Stephanie. I pictured everyone with enormous '80s hair and really tacky jumpsuits (even the colors of the Alliance uniforms seemed incredibly dated) sitting in front of enormous green-screen computers with blinking lights. And what kind of futuristic society doesn't have cameras and video everywhere? PA systems are how you communicate in the beating heart of your technological wonderland of a society?? It seemed like a real lost opportunity for the author to be imaginative and come up with some awesome futuristic stuff. Too much of the technology and story just didn't make sense. There were also a lot of really heavily plodding themes here and there, obviously religious, dealing with agency and the "ideal society," and the basic decency of humanity, often mused over in the mountains around a glowing campfire (?), but all of that seemed out of place, pretty heavy-handed and even a little preachy, though ultimately fairly shallow. I like the idea of interweaving morality through science-fiction, but this seemed to skim the surface and not really get to the point (though it made its point repeatedly). There were some moments when I thought the symbolism was going to save it for me, at least one more star (or a half, maybe...), but then it didn't really deliver. It also needed a really good edit, there were some pretty bad typos and inconsistencies, which just makes it seem all the more unprofessional.
If this qualifies as really excellent literature to some readers, I'm afraid my suggestion is that they expand their literary experience. Throughout this entire book (which was admittedly a pretty quick read, by labored persistence on my part), I kept thinking that it's proof that anyone can write a book. Not that just anyone should, of course...
This book seemed really amateurish to me. The story was predictable and unoriginal, the characters had no depth or interest, the writing was inconsistent, the pacing was way off, and the themes were anything but subtle. It almost seems like it would have been better fleshed out into a full trilogy, but then that would just mean this ho-hum story would be extended into three books. At least it was a quick read, and now I really know I never need to read The Work and the Glory (as if I needed any more convincing of such). Sorry, Elder Lund. (And sorry, Jake!)
There was some kind of apocalypse. A small group of God-fearing survivors have banded together to create a small farming community in what used to be Star Valley, Wyoming. When armed strangers in high-tech vehicles and flashy blue and orange uniforms arrive unannounced and uninvited to the valley, the villagers are suspicious. Their suspicions are confirmed when the newcomers, lawkeepers called Guardians from Shalev, of the Alliance of the Four Cities, open fire and abduct all the inhabitants of the valley. They are taken to Shalev, where they are forced to live under the society that the Alliance has put in place, where everyone is good and no one commits crime, thanks to the implantation of a chip attached to the pain sensors in their brain, coupled with a wrist computer that regulates and monitors their behavior. If anyone so much as thinks a rebellious, angry or violent thought, they experience sudden and extreme pain. The man behind it all, referred to as the Major, thinks he has discovered the key to the ideal society. Coming from the valley, Eric Lloyd is a promising young man, with many of the qualities that the powers that be prize in Guardians, and they offer him a prominent position if he cooperates and quietly adapts to their culture. But Eric is suspicious, especially after his father is killed in the raid and a family friend is presumed dead. What follows is Eric's struggle to escape from Shalev, rescuing his family and other freedom-loving people who have been oppressed by the Alliance's tyrannical mental rule for nearly two decades.
This book came highly recommended by a friend, and I do like to take recommendations now and then, so I picked it up at the library. (I also tried to like it because Gerald Lund is in some capacity a family acquaintance, and I had never read any of his books, fiction or otherwise.) Umm... I just didn't really care for this book. (No offense, Jake!) It was predictable and pretty boring. It seemed like the author was following a textbook on how to tell a story and just couldn't make it interesting. The idea had a lot of promise, but the writing was so-so and the pacing was all over the place -- the beginning plodded, the middle dragged, and then the ending was so sudden it was completely anticlimactic. A lot of times these kind of stories have similar elements, which can make them seem really unoriginal if not handled right, and I felt like this was something I had heard a hundred times before, and already knew the ending from reading the first chapter. The characters were stiff and uninteresting caricatures, extremely flat and underdeveloped. The dialogue was at times so wooden, it was like they kept saying things without actually thinking anything. I couldn't believe how quickly characters were introduced, and how equally quickly they left the story. There was an utter betrayal in the first few chapters (and a few more later on), but the traitorous character had been barely mentioned once, maybe twice, so there wasn't much sense of shock or outrage. Eric was like a piece of plywood and Nicole seemed like a walking, talking mannequin, and their relationship had no depth whatsoever (despite their misadventures with the mountain wildlife, I kid you not), and I didn't really buy it when it turned. The villain (and his lackey) were never very threatening personally, and didn't hold much interest as far as baddies go. I'm not REALLY into science-fiction, but this book seemed like Sci-Fi Lite (which may be good for some more casual readers, as it's a little more accessible than heavier, more legitimate science-fiction). The problem with science-fiction is that it can start to seem really dated as the decades roll by, but I have recently read other sci-fi titles written around the same time (Orson Scott Card, that's you!), and they still hold up. This one, not so much. Although I struggled pinpointing the actual setting and references to pop culture, this one seemed like it was set in a future of sixty years ago. Even the cover took me back several decades. I had a really hard time getting my head around and caring about characters from a futuristic dystopian society when they had names like Shirley and Travis and Dick and Judy and Stephanie. I pictured everyone with enormous '80s hair and really tacky jumpsuits (even the colors of the Alliance uniforms seemed incredibly dated) sitting in front of enormous green-screen computers with blinking lights. And what kind of futuristic society doesn't have cameras and video everywhere? PA systems are how you communicate in the beating heart of your technological wonderland of a society?? It seemed like a real lost opportunity for the author to be imaginative and come up with some awesome futuristic stuff. Too much of the technology and story just didn't make sense. There were also a lot of really heavily plodding themes here and there, obviously religious, dealing with agency and the "ideal society," and the basic decency of humanity, often mused over in the mountains around a glowing campfire (?), but all of that seemed out of place, pretty heavy-handed and even a little preachy, though ultimately fairly shallow. I like the idea of interweaving morality through science-fiction, but this seemed to skim the surface and not really get to the point (though it made its point repeatedly). There were some moments when I thought the symbolism was going to save it for me, at least one more star (or a half, maybe...), but then it didn't really deliver. It also needed a really good edit, there were some pretty bad typos and inconsistencies, which just makes it seem all the more unprofessional.
If this qualifies as really excellent literature to some readers, I'm afraid my suggestion is that they expand their literary experience. Throughout this entire book (which was admittedly a pretty quick read, by labored persistence on my part), I kept thinking that it's proof that anyone can write a book. Not that just anyone should, of course...
This book seemed really amateurish to me. The story was predictable and unoriginal, the characters had no depth or interest, the writing was inconsistent, the pacing was way off, and the themes were anything but subtle. It almost seems like it would have been better fleshed out into a full trilogy, but then that would just mean this ho-hum story would be extended into three books. At least it was a quick read, and now I really know I never need to read The Work and the Glory (as if I needed any more convincing of such). Sorry, Elder Lund. (And sorry, Jake!)
November 15, 2022
This is my second time reading this book and it was just as good as the second time I read it. It's a very thrilling, intense book 👍
June 6, 2019
This book was one of the first book I ever read cover to cover willingly. I was not a reader and this help me become a reader. I found that books can be fun. If you're looking for a book that has action, love, not overly intense graphic images, and no foul language, this is one for you. I would give it a PG-13 ratting due to fighting. This is a great book. I would love to see this become a movie but then hate them for messing it all up.
August 3, 2019
Favorite quote from this book, “Even God with all of his incredibly majestic knowledge and infinite wisdom chooses not to force men to do good. And the reason is clear. If man has no choice but to do good there is no point in calling him moral. He can be made to act in good ways, but he cannot be good. Man must make that choice for himself.”
Great novel that explores what it means to be free and the cost of sacrificing freedom for security.
Great novel that explores what it means to be free and the cost of sacrificing freedom for security.
December 10, 2011
I was excited for this one, but what a clunker. I love sci-fi/end of days books and this one had a great premise. Lund's hokey dialogue and never-ending back and forth between characters finally did me in. I'll read "1984" to get the bad taste of "The Alliance" out of my mouth.
January 16, 2011
Love Lunds older books. This one was so good. This is Religious with a specific church talked about throughout. This is a mystery with some violence.
August 3, 2024
I pre-read this book to see if I want to use it for a class I’m teaching this year. It was recommended to me as a dystopian book. I like that it is gentler than most dystopian fiction that I have read while still helping the reader to explore some of the themes often found in this genre of literature—themes of individual freedom vs. government/central control. Something about the writing was a little bit contrived and/or formulaic and also a little predictable, but it still held my attention. I’ve read better writing, but overall, I enjoyed it.
November 6, 2022
I wanted to like this one far more than I actually did. The ideas were too convoluted to be covered in 330 pages, we didn't really get to know any of the characters enough to care about them. Definitely readable, but not Lund's best.
March 4, 2024
A fun, entertaining, easy read that makes you think about freedom and what it means to you!
October 27, 2025
This is my favorite book of all time.
Is it the best book of all time? Not even kind of. But this is the book that got me into reading when I was in the 7th grade, and that nostalgia holds a death grip on my heart. Plus, this book holds up decades later.
The Alliance has a simple premise: if you could live in utopia by sacrificing your negative thoughts and impulses, would you do it? Would you force others to?
While The Alliance isn't the grandfather of the dystopian genre (I'll give that honor to George Orwell's 1984), it does serve as a refreshing and simplistic work compared to our current era of Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games or Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. Unlike those works which I also love, I wouldn't mind trying to survive the idyllic setting of Gerald Lund's work.
What I love about this book: 1. This book is easy to read. The language flows. The transitions are quick and to the point. It's not superfluous. The first act isn't riveting, but it's interesting. The second act has its highs and lows, but it's critical to setting the stage for the third act. Once the third act begins, having read this three times now, I still can't put it down. It's a "user-friendly" book that will span the generations. 2. The romance gets me every time. He let's the acts of sacrifice and devotion speak for themselves, so that the one line of cheesy dialogue isn't groaned through, but actually works. It always leaves me wondering, "how are the Lloyds doing in their fictional future?" Seriously, I'm a big fan of Ricky and Nicky. 3. Speaking of Nicole, her journey is my favorite. I'd argue she's the main protagonist of this work, not Eric. Nicole goes from dutiful born and raised citizen of Shalev, and has to challenge her own concepts as Eric pokes holes in agency-free suburbia. Her journey feels appropriately earned and the changes plausible (albeit a little fast by act 3). 4. Even though the decision is made for you, Major is a fantastically written antagonist and his journey is satisfying. You get to start with questions and a blank slate, then as Eric determines his course, Major reveals his true nature supporting what Eric and Cliff suspect all along. The villain isn't a shady creature with horns in a dark alley, but an OCD neurosurgeon in a suit and tie. 5. Finally, and there are plenty more, but Lund does a fantastic job narrating a setting and letting you step right into it. I feel like I could direct the movie myself because the visual image he creates is vibrant and palpable.
As for my dislikes: 1. There's a heavy use of stock characters that distract and "peel off the curtain" rather than boost the story. Almost like a magician who's crowd plant is a little too eager to help and has had zero acting classes. The most glaring is Major's wife, who is used to highlight Eric's "no killing" moral, but there's Don Brownley whose sacrifice needed more than a fear of heights to really hit me in the feels, and Joe Jensen, who at least serves as the love interest for the obnoxious Shirley. It's a very minor annoyance, but I wouldn't have minded more pages being given to give me a little more than a "look over here—magic!" 2. As a Latter-day Saint, I appreciate the foundation of agency, God's plan, and the importance for moral men and women leading society without coercion and force. But in some areas it's a little too on the nose in this book (particularly in Eric's philosophical arguments to Nicole in the mountains). I don't know how other religious readers would feel, or if it is even noticed, but "a little preachy" is how I'd describe certain moments. 3. I'm left wanting more, but not in that sweet-spot way where an author nailed the saying, "Always leave them wanting more." I finish the book thinking, "No epilogue? No beautiful wrap-up?" And that will probably jive with many readers. But where I've cited the "on-the-nose" philosophy, good heavens, at least wrap up the story where I know the conclusion to Eric and Nicole's story, Cliff's medical diagnosis, Stephanie's potential with Dr. Abernathy, and does Clayne finally get accepted into the country club or not?! Obviously books don't (and shouldn't) end with a perfect bow, but I did want just a little more to feel like I really concluded this novel.
Ultimately, while I doubt this ever does, I hope some budding film director turns this into a movie. Praise to Gerald N. Lund, because you have firmly cemented yourself as the author who wrote my favorite book, and even as I've tried to have it replaced, 7th grade me holds a death grip on this book. Everyone should read it.
My rating: 5.0/5
Is it the best book of all time? Not even kind of. But this is the book that got me into reading when I was in the 7th grade, and that nostalgia holds a death grip on my heart. Plus, this book holds up decades later.
The Alliance has a simple premise: if you could live in utopia by sacrificing your negative thoughts and impulses, would you do it? Would you force others to?
While The Alliance isn't the grandfather of the dystopian genre (I'll give that honor to George Orwell's 1984), it does serve as a refreshing and simplistic work compared to our current era of Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games or Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. Unlike those works which I also love, I wouldn't mind trying to survive the idyllic setting of Gerald Lund's work.
What I love about this book: 1. This book is easy to read. The language flows. The transitions are quick and to the point. It's not superfluous. The first act isn't riveting, but it's interesting. The second act has its highs and lows, but it's critical to setting the stage for the third act. Once the third act begins, having read this three times now, I still can't put it down. It's a "user-friendly" book that will span the generations. 2. The romance gets me every time. He let's the acts of sacrifice and devotion speak for themselves, so that the one line of cheesy dialogue isn't groaned through, but actually works. It always leaves me wondering, "how are the Lloyds doing in their fictional future?" Seriously, I'm a big fan of Ricky and Nicky. 3. Speaking of Nicole, her journey is my favorite. I'd argue she's the main protagonist of this work, not Eric. Nicole goes from dutiful born and raised citizen of Shalev, and has to challenge her own concepts as Eric pokes holes in agency-free suburbia. Her journey feels appropriately earned and the changes plausible (albeit a little fast by act 3). 4. Even though the decision is made for you, Major is a fantastically written antagonist and his journey is satisfying. You get to start with questions and a blank slate, then as Eric determines his course, Major reveals his true nature supporting what Eric and Cliff suspect all along. The villain isn't a shady creature with horns in a dark alley, but an OCD neurosurgeon in a suit and tie. 5. Finally, and there are plenty more, but Lund does a fantastic job narrating a setting and letting you step right into it. I feel like I could direct the movie myself because the visual image he creates is vibrant and palpable.
As for my dislikes: 1. There's a heavy use of stock characters that distract and "peel off the curtain" rather than boost the story. Almost like a magician who's crowd plant is a little too eager to help and has had zero acting classes. The most glaring is Major's wife, who is used to highlight Eric's "no killing" moral, but there's Don Brownley whose sacrifice needed more than a fear of heights to really hit me in the feels, and Joe Jensen, who at least serves as the love interest for the obnoxious Shirley. It's a very minor annoyance, but I wouldn't have minded more pages being given to give me a little more than a "look over here—magic!" 2. As a Latter-day Saint, I appreciate the foundation of agency, God's plan, and the importance for moral men and women leading society without coercion and force. But in some areas it's a little too on the nose in this book (particularly in Eric's philosophical arguments to Nicole in the mountains). I don't know how other religious readers would feel, or if it is even noticed, but "a little preachy" is how I'd describe certain moments. 3. I'm left wanting more, but not in that sweet-spot way where an author nailed the saying, "Always leave them wanting more." I finish the book thinking, "No epilogue? No beautiful wrap-up?" And that will probably jive with many readers. But where I've cited the "on-the-nose" philosophy, good heavens, at least wrap up the story where I know the conclusion to Eric and Nicole's story, Cliff's medical diagnosis, Stephanie's potential with Dr. Abernathy, and does Clayne finally get accepted into the country club or not?! Obviously books don't (and shouldn't) end with a perfect bow, but I did want just a little more to feel like I really concluded this novel.
Ultimately, while I doubt this ever does, I hope some budding film director turns this into a movie. Praise to Gerald N. Lund, because you have firmly cemented yourself as the author who wrote my favorite book, and even as I've tried to have it replaced, 7th grade me holds a death grip on this book. Everyone should read it.
My rating: 5.0/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2009
Finally, some fantastic fiction! The development is morally responsible (166, 329), and I certainly appreciated that he didn't even reproduce the only profanity referenced in the book (242). Lund makes it apparent, yet universally palatable, that religion is what makes good guys good (33, 127, 298, for example). Family values are strongly implicit, as well as placed in an appropriate perspective: birthrate's connection with true happiness (67, 86, 104); when aggression is permissible (179); and even that stalwart notion that in dangerous times, one's duty to humanity may exceed (though not obviating) immediate concern for family (129-130, 300, 313)--taught carefully enough with the author's obvious compassion. This book is filled with self-sacrificing ideals; Cliff's valiant and unrelenting stand will now stand alongside my mental picture of Polycarp, no small feat for a fictional character.
This contains some powerful storyline about the true battle (80) over agency. One may make the case for symbolic confusion about freedom and agency as one character gradually withdraws from the life she had formerly known (163, 167-168, 194, 197), thinking at first that her liberation was captivity. That's why I found it somewhat ironic when, for a particular need, they turned to hypnosis (124), which is a surrender of the will (condemned subtly by Joseph Smith, and as early as 1903 in the Improvement Era); I had been thinking that prayer would give them the necessary dampening influence while trying to regain mental freedom, seeing as what was "wrong" to the Major was not wrong before God (a concept verified on 128, 145-146, and pretty effectively on 279).
In many ways, he teaches us how "even the most fiendish, diabolical torture cannot change the way a man thinks," but can do no more than "bring him into line temporarily" (78). As Augustine wrote in his essay on freedom of the will, "No one can lose truth and wisdom against his will, because no one can be physically separated from them. When we speak of a loss of truth we are speaking of a deliberate choice by the perverted will of someone who wants to love inferior things. No one ever wills something against his will" (quoted in L. Russ Bush, Classical Readings in Christian Apologetics [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Academie Books, 1983], 211-212).
This contains some powerful storyline about the true battle (80) over agency. One may make the case for symbolic confusion about freedom and agency as one character gradually withdraws from the life she had formerly known (163, 167-168, 194, 197), thinking at first that her liberation was captivity. That's why I found it somewhat ironic when, for a particular need, they turned to hypnosis (124), which is a surrender of the will (condemned subtly by Joseph Smith, and as early as 1903 in the Improvement Era); I had been thinking that prayer would give them the necessary dampening influence while trying to regain mental freedom, seeing as what was "wrong" to the Major was not wrong before God (a concept verified on 128, 145-146, and pretty effectively on 279).
In many ways, he teaches us how "even the most fiendish, diabolical torture cannot change the way a man thinks," but can do no more than "bring him into line temporarily" (78). As Augustine wrote in his essay on freedom of the will, "No one can lose truth and wisdom against his will, because no one can be physically separated from them. When we speak of a loss of truth we are speaking of a deliberate choice by the perverted will of someone who wants to love inferior things. No one ever wills something against his will" (quoted in L. Russ Bush, Classical Readings in Christian Apologetics [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Academie Books, 1983], 211-212).
May 30, 2020
18 years after the nuclear holocaust and the end of civilization as we know it, survivors are being relocated to a new society known as the Alliance. It seems like a dream come true for many of the new citizens. Crime, as well as harmful emotions, such as anger and prejudice have been eliminated because the Alliance has computerized control over its citizens from a chip that has been implanted in every citizen. After discovering the Alliance's corrupt power structure, Eric Lloyd vows to destroy it.
Something I love about this book is how the characters are developed. They all have so much description and detail that they feel like real people. With such realistic characters, I felt like I was Eric, as if I was in the book and everything happening was real. Along with the amazing characters, the storyline was very intriguing, with shocking plot twists, relentless suspension, and an explosive climax along with a resolution that left me thinking.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was the author’s style of writing. There was an amazing amount of description that painted a vivid picture in my mind. The plot was perfect with lots of twists, and there were lots of parts that were funny too. The style of writing that was used kept me hooked and always thinking about the book, and what would happen next. The amazing plotline and incredible detail show that the author knew what he was doing, and made The Alliance a very fun book to read.
One of the themes of this book is the importance and necessity of leadership. In the book, Eric is a perfect example of great leadership. He carefully plans out every detail of every mission to make sure nobody on his team ever gets hurt. He also cares about his team members and helps them to accomplish things they didn’t think they could do. One of the best qualities of a great leader is setting a good example. In the book, every one of Eric’s team members looked up to him and wanted to be like him. He had their complete trust, and they had his.
If you are looking for something with lots of action and adventure, this is your book. Along with all the action, it also has a lot of humor and some romance. This is one of my favorite books, and I would give it a ten out of ten.
Something I love about this book is how the characters are developed. They all have so much description and detail that they feel like real people. With such realistic characters, I felt like I was Eric, as if I was in the book and everything happening was real. Along with the amazing characters, the storyline was very intriguing, with shocking plot twists, relentless suspension, and an explosive climax along with a resolution that left me thinking.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was the author’s style of writing. There was an amazing amount of description that painted a vivid picture in my mind. The plot was perfect with lots of twists, and there were lots of parts that were funny too. The style of writing that was used kept me hooked and always thinking about the book, and what would happen next. The amazing plotline and incredible detail show that the author knew what he was doing, and made The Alliance a very fun book to read.
One of the themes of this book is the importance and necessity of leadership. In the book, Eric is a perfect example of great leadership. He carefully plans out every detail of every mission to make sure nobody on his team ever gets hurt. He also cares about his team members and helps them to accomplish things they didn’t think they could do. One of the best qualities of a great leader is setting a good example. In the book, every one of Eric’s team members looked up to him and wanted to be like him. He had their complete trust, and they had his.
If you are looking for something with lots of action and adventure, this is your book. Along with all the action, it also has a lot of humor and some romance. This is one of my favorite books, and I would give it a ten out of ten.
June 14, 2026
I’m sorry but this book lacked so much character development and depth. So many details were skipped. I want to be in on the action but it almost skipped the important parts in the beginning then gave a recap with a conversation. It was pretty cheesy at moments. I needed more of an explanation. Too many things magically worked out in Eric’s favor: in the beginning he knew where the cameras were and did a magic trick, made a bolt cutter sculpture out of wood, just talked to people for a minute and all the sudden they risked everything to go with the rebel side. It was too easy. And it was only Major and Travis? Normally governments would have a lot more people to fight against. They did have soldiers but I felt like the soldiers weren’t very smart or helpful.
Also I feel like I completely missed how Eric and Nicole fell in love? When did that happen and why? There’s nothing special about Nicole other than the fact she knew deep down what she was doing was wrong. I can’t explain anything about her personality. Same with Eric, he was brave and fought for what’s right but I wanted him to be funny or witty.
Also I feel like I completely missed how Eric and Nicole fell in love? When did that happen and why? There’s nothing special about Nicole other than the fact she knew deep down what she was doing was wrong. I can’t explain anything about her personality. Same with Eric, he was brave and fought for what’s right but I wanted him to be funny or witty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2016
I really liked this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves futuristic utopia type books, and if you are looking for a good clean book this would be a great book to read. I liked this book because the point of view was the one when the author knows everyone's thoughts, actions, and feelings. It was really fun to read because during the book he would switch to different characters. It didn't follow the same character the whole time and I really liked that. One time in the book two of the characters did something to another character while they were unconscious, so then during the book I knew that something happened to this character, but they didn't. This made the story a lot more interesting to read. I also really liked the idea of the story. The main part of the story is about after the end of the world there are few survivors and a guy creates and alliance of cities, and basically invents a utopia. Well they caught a village and brought them to the utopia, but the people of that village don't like the utopia. A man in that village named Eric Lloyd decides he doesn't like the utopia and so he tries to destroy it. This idea is awesome because a lot of people think that a utopia is like a perfect thing, but this book shows the idea that a utopia can be bad. My favorite quote in the whole book is this "A really inventive mind can bring about the most effective tyranny in the history of the world." I think this quote is saying that smart people can give great ideas, but if there motives are wrong it could destroy people. That is why I love this quote. For those of you looking for another great book to read I would choose this one.
June 3, 2015
Our one successful office book club book! (The club unofficially ended when I was the only person to finish the book. You'd think library workers would read a lot more, but alas we're in college...) I know Lund from his work in the Work & the Glory series (I've never read them, but they looked imposing on my aunt's bookshelf.) Unfortunately I'm very late on this review, so I can't remember my exact reasons for the 3 stars. The plot dipped into the predictable at times, but I liked the subtle undertone of agency. Lund is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and so am I. This is not in any way a "Mormon" book. Although the characters generally believe in God, they profess no specific religion. However agency is a critical tenant to LDS doctrine--that we have control over our own actions. In fact Latter-day Saints believe that before we were born Satan tried to take that freedom of choice away from us by forcing everybody to always choose the right. Our Father in Heaven rejected Satan's plan in favor of us making mistakes but learning and progressing. Satan got a little bitter about i and ended up being cast out of heaven and thus embraced his role as the devil. Lund's characters face a similar dilemma. Which do we favor more, safety or freedom? Anyways I wasn't planning on explaining doctrine, but overall I liked how Lund handled the issue of free choice vs. security.
August 28, 2014
this has to be one of my all time favorite novels!!!! I read it for the first time when I was 13 or 14 and have reread it numerous times. Soooooooo good.
Lund does a great job showing agency and the importance of having it in our lives, but on the flip side what agency used(dare I say it?) incorrectly can do to destroy others agency.
The novel is set post world war 3 with one major city remaining known as The Alliance. Everything you could ever want is there, food, homes, work and no crime or danger....so to speak. Each person there has a watchband communicator and a cerebral implant. The two are connected, too much of any emotion; anger, hatred, jealousy, and the wristband senses it from your brainwaves sending an electrical impulse through your body at slightly different levels. So eventually everyone acts perfect without personality because it means no pain.
The Alliance has another problem, they are not having growing families and people eventually die. Hence they go out searching for small groups who were able to hide away and survive during the final parts of the war to help the community survive.
The novel opens with a scene from one of the small groups that survived and follows them, in particular one member as they are taken into the Alliance and forced to comply with their conditioning.
Enjoy!!
Lund does a great job showing agency and the importance of having it in our lives, but on the flip side what agency used(dare I say it?) incorrectly can do to destroy others agency.
The novel is set post world war 3 with one major city remaining known as The Alliance. Everything you could ever want is there, food, homes, work and no crime or danger....so to speak. Each person there has a watchband communicator and a cerebral implant. The two are connected, too much of any emotion; anger, hatred, jealousy, and the wristband senses it from your brainwaves sending an electrical impulse through your body at slightly different levels. So eventually everyone acts perfect without personality because it means no pain.
The Alliance has another problem, they are not having growing families and people eventually die. Hence they go out searching for small groups who were able to hide away and survive during the final parts of the war to help the community survive.
The novel opens with a scene from one of the small groups that survived and follows them, in particular one member as they are taken into the Alliance and forced to comply with their conditioning.
Enjoy!!
August 17, 2010
I was discussing The Hunger Games with my wife and oldest son. They both said that this book, The Alliance, was so much better, and they were right. I started reading it around 10PM, and Shannon said, "If you start that book now, you will stay up all night reading it." She was right twice.
This book deals primarily with a society where everyone is compelled (by a controlling electronic device) to be good. Bad emotions (like anger, revenge, etc) are punished automatically by stimulating your brain into thinking you are in severe pain.
Eric Lloyd, the hero, is like a great Eagle with the potential to fly, but is chained to a branch. He proves that real freedom is better than a placated life of no crime and artificial happiness.
Unlike The Hunger Games, this book delves deeply into various moral lessons, teaching some great truths and yet is still packed with all of the suspense, action, and drama.
Every bit as much of a page-turner, and so much more.
This book deals primarily with a society where everyone is compelled (by a controlling electronic device) to be good. Bad emotions (like anger, revenge, etc) are punished automatically by stimulating your brain into thinking you are in severe pain.
Eric Lloyd, the hero, is like a great Eagle with the potential to fly, but is chained to a branch. He proves that real freedom is better than a placated life of no crime and artificial happiness.
Unlike The Hunger Games, this book delves deeply into various moral lessons, teaching some great truths and yet is still packed with all of the suspense, action, and drama.
Every bit as much of a page-turner, and so much more.
June 29, 2021
It is an interesting concept. There were a couple chapters I enjoyed while a pair in the book rough it in the mountains. Aside from that, I found the story incomplete. It felt as though the personalities and relationships of characters were not fleshed out. I also had trouble feeling sympathy for the loss or betrayal experienced early on with the sudden introduction of characters and quick movement of the plot. I wasn’t given the time to build any attachment that made the reveals meaningful. It also seemed that characters acted contrary to expectation. A wife and her children seem unfazed by the death of their loved husband and father. I also had trouble relating to the protagonist. He seemed unable to make mistakes, always figured a way to get ahead, and we really don’t experience his emotional interior. Scenes I would have liked to read through are skipped and it feels as though we only skim the surface of what the story could have been.
November 19, 2015
I was amazed at how well this book fit into the dystopian category, especially since it was written over 30 years ago. The events and reasons for having a controlled society were ahead of the times.
Eric and his small community are contacted by people from the outside, but their intentions aren't all good. The intent is to control people and their emotions, especially anger, which is good, but taking away freedoms and agency can backfire. If given a choice, people always want to have that freedom to make choices for themselves.
The adventure, friendships, loyalties, and ingenuity are what really drive the story and had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to discover what could possible happen next and how things could possibly resolve.
Content: very mild romance; no language; mild-moderate violence (not graphic, but some attacks, torture, battles, deaths, etc).
Eric and his small community are contacted by people from the outside, but their intentions aren't all good. The intent is to control people and their emotions, especially anger, which is good, but taking away freedoms and agency can backfire. If given a choice, people always want to have that freedom to make choices for themselves.
The adventure, friendships, loyalties, and ingenuity are what really drive the story and had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to discover what could possible happen next and how things could possibly resolve.
Content: very mild romance; no language; mild-moderate violence (not graphic, but some attacks, torture, battles, deaths, etc).
June 24, 2008
The bad guys put implants in everyone's brains that keep people from doing bad things. (Of course... the head bad guys don't have implants. Naw, they need to be able to do what ever it takes to protect societies freedoms.)
This all takes place years after a holocaust has wiped out America, and human behavior pre-war is the justification for the extreme methods used to control human nature in this pocket of survivors.
But they are the bad guys, after all... and must be fought at all costs.
Of course, there is romance. And of course, Lund uses his typical formula: Man + woman = sparks. But woman (in this story) needs to see the error of her ways before sparks can become happily ever after.
Yes, it was entertaining... but lacked any subtly or depth.
This all takes place years after a holocaust has wiped out America, and human behavior pre-war is the justification for the extreme methods used to control human nature in this pocket of survivors.
But they are the bad guys, after all... and must be fought at all costs.
Of course, there is romance. And of course, Lund uses his typical formula: Man + woman = sparks. But woman (in this story) needs to see the error of her ways before sparks can become happily ever after.
Yes, it was entertaining... but lacked any subtly or depth.
January 7, 2017
This book was disappointing. The dialogue was flat and did not vary between characters. The writing was bad, and the author used big words that did not add to the plot. The messages of personal freedom and free agency are not one-sided issues and require serious discussion.
There was no character development, and none of the characters had realistic motives. The plot was very predictable. Most of the characters were stereotypes. The men were all strong and tough, while the female characters were very weak.
If you're looking for a well-written book, do NOT read The Alliance. You will be just as disappointed as I am.
There was no character development, and none of the characters had realistic motives. The plot was very predictable. Most of the characters were stereotypes. The men were all strong and tough, while the female characters were very weak.
If you're looking for a well-written book, do NOT read The Alliance. You will be just as disappointed as I am.
November 10, 2009
I guess back when this book was written, it would have seemed terrible to implant people. However reading it now I find that it is old news and totally possible... it is happening. We haven't yet got to the point where it is controlling the emotions of people (that I know of) yet we are using implant for amputees. It is very helpful and anything that is helpful will be corrupted it is only a matter of time.
Being the BIG science fiction reader that I am, this book is cutting edge for it's time.
Being the BIG science fiction reader that I am, this book is cutting edge for it's time.
February 22, 2008
My Dad read this to us when I was a teenager, I remember being in suspense and wanting him to continue through to the end in one night. I have not been able to find the copy he had on the bookshelf to reread it. But it was enthralling as I recall.
Just as good the second time. This was the first dystopian I was introduced to. I have loved the genre ever since. It was great introduncing it to my own kids. They all enjoyed it and we had some great discussions about it too.
Just as good the second time. This was the first dystopian I was introduced to. I have loved the genre ever since. It was great introduncing it to my own kids. They all enjoyed it and we had some great discussions about it too.
February 27, 2008
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! AND DOUBLE WOW!!! This book is absolutely amazing!!!!!!! Definately one of my all time favorites. It's written by Gerald Lund author of The Work and the Glory. It's great. It's in the future and a community that's chipped in so they can only do perfect things as in no crime, no hatred no ect. or they get shocked. It's overcoming this awful lifestile and gaining free agency. AWESOME BOOK!!!!!!
August 8, 2008
"The Alliance" is an engaging read. It has developed characters, vivid scenes, fast pacing and well-crafted backdrops. The story deals with the moral issue of coercion versus freedom. The dialogue can be cloying at times, but then, sappy-sweet characters are refreshing compared to the cliche of cold, embittered characters that typically populate sci-fi books. It's not hard to read and children as young as 11 or so can enjoy it. Plus, it has a cool cover.
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