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The Afterblight Chronicles #6
Operation Motherland
Lee Kegan travels to Iraq on the trail of his missing father, only to find himself caught between desperate rebels and a general who wants to strap him into an electric chair. In England, Jane Crowther, one time matron matron of St. Mark's School for Boys, attracts the wrong kind of attention and has to fight to protect her new school from unlikely enemies. And in a bunker underneath Washington, a madman issues orders that will tip two devastated countries into total war. This is the first year of St. Mark's School for Boys and Girls - will there be a second?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 17, 2009
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Scott K. Andrews
21 books56 followersScott K. Andrews has written episode guides, magazine articles, film and book reviews, comics, computer games, audio plays for Big Finish, far too many blogs, some poems you will never read, and a whole bunch of novels. He's online at www.scottkandrews.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 18, 2018
Wasn't quite as good as the first. Still good, though.
October 5, 2014
Before we get into the review of this book, let's do a bit of background into the Afterblight Chronicles which are a series of books, mostly written by different authors set in different places, with different characters, all of which takes place in a world where everyone who isn't blood group 'o' has died.
Reading them in order, is both interesting for the different styles of the writers, but also somewhat pointless as for the most part they don't interact with each other, yet there are several themes that occur in most, that of secret government, religious fanatics, and violent gangs, all battling for control. There is also an issue of believability in several of the books.
Now of all the previous books my favorite by a long way was School's Out for it kept it's feet firmly on the ground focusing on a small group largely in one location. So when I found out there was a follow up - this book - I couldn't wait to get to it. Then I read the synopsis which reads not unlike a junior version of a Chris Ryan novel. With our teenage hero leaving his school and heading out to Iraq to save his father.
Sure enough that is how the book starts, out but rather than spend too long that plot line, it is quickly wrapped up, albeit via some nice twists, including the one that the way to solve the Middle East crisis is to wipe out most of the population. Then we are back at the school, where the previous supporting characters are allowed to the forefront, at least until Lee can return with the cavalry.
It is during this period that the book is at it's best. The subtle sarcasm, clever word play, along with hints of the damage the life they are living is doing making for very interesting people, especially with Jane - who's back story we finally learn - and the very damaged, yet cheeky in a psychotic way, Rowles, who was only going to end one way, but it was great fun getting there.
Once all the characters come back together, things get somewhat messy, as the new school gets taken over, several times, and we're back into the too and fro fighting that although getting a touch far fetched, still makes for great reading. Some new characters turn up, quickly becoming favorites, although there are better ways to meet Royalty!!
The biggest change in this book, is the introduction of the secret government groups, that are so favored in the other, unrelated novels. Both are shown to be at best misguided, if not downright sinister, but for those uncomfortable with the Americans being the villains, should not that the British hardly come of well either, and there are always those who will go against orders to protect people.
To sum up, this is a good book, with a nice self-depreciating humor such as giving the hero the nick-name of "Nine Lives" given he gets more instant recoveries from near death experiences than "Jack Bauer", even if credibility does get stretched a few times, it never actually breaks. It will be interesting to see where the stories goes in the final installment of this trilogy Children's Crusade once I've read through the two others in between it and this one. (Yes I'm still reading the series in order!)
PS: the synopsis for this one of the editions of this book here on goodreads, is actually for the previous title in the Chronicle series Arrowhead
Reading them in order, is both interesting for the different styles of the writers, but also somewhat pointless as for the most part they don't interact with each other, yet there are several themes that occur in most, that of secret government, religious fanatics, and violent gangs, all battling for control. There is also an issue of believability in several of the books.
Now of all the previous books my favorite by a long way was School's Out for it kept it's feet firmly on the ground focusing on a small group largely in one location. So when I found out there was a follow up - this book - I couldn't wait to get to it. Then I read the synopsis which reads not unlike a junior version of a Chris Ryan novel. With our teenage hero leaving his school and heading out to Iraq to save his father.
Sure enough that is how the book starts, out but rather than spend too long that plot line, it is quickly wrapped up, albeit via some nice twists, including the one that the way to solve the Middle East crisis is to wipe out most of the population. Then we are back at the school, where the previous supporting characters are allowed to the forefront, at least until Lee can return with the cavalry.
It is during this period that the book is at it's best. The subtle sarcasm, clever word play, along with hints of the damage the life they are living is doing making for very interesting people, especially with Jane - who's back story we finally learn - and the very damaged, yet cheeky in a psychotic way, Rowles, who was only going to end one way, but it was great fun getting there.
Once all the characters come back together, things get somewhat messy, as the new school gets taken over, several times, and we're back into the too and fro fighting that although getting a touch far fetched, still makes for great reading. Some new characters turn up, quickly becoming favorites, although there are better ways to meet Royalty!!
The biggest change in this book, is the introduction of the secret government groups, that are so favored in the other, unrelated novels. Both are shown to be at best misguided, if not downright sinister, but for those uncomfortable with the Americans being the villains, should not that the British hardly come of well either, and there are always those who will go against orders to protect people.
To sum up, this is a good book, with a nice self-depreciating humor such as giving the hero the nick-name of "Nine Lives" given he gets more instant recoveries from near death experiences than "Jack Bauer", even if credibility does get stretched a few times, it never actually breaks. It will be interesting to see where the stories goes in the final installment of this trilogy Children's Crusade once I've read through the two others in between it and this one. (Yes I'm still reading the series in order!)
PS: the synopsis for this one of the editions of this book here on goodreads, is actually for the previous title in the Chronicle series Arrowhead
May 5, 2014
Scott Andrews has written another superb novel in the Afterblight Series. It has been a long time since I've been excited about an author's work. Mr. Andrews is a true wordsmith!
July 14, 2017
In the Trilogy of School's Out Forever, Operation Motherland is part II (although, in the entire series, it is #6). Operation Motherland begins with Lee Keegan arriving in Basra Iraq in a small Piper airplane that he stole back in England and has managed to fly to Iraq - stopping for fuel along the way. Unfortunately, he is shot out of the sky by a ground force. He is captured and threatened with beheading. Fortunately, he says his name and tells his captors that he only wants to find his father, John Keegan. Surprisingly, the captors are friends of John Keegan and are looking for him too! Thus begins many battles in and around Basra as Lee, Tariq and John Keegan fight their way back to England against creepy US General Blythe. Why is the General so focused on what is occurring in England?
Part two of this novel is the story of Jane/Kate, Matron/soldier/protector of the school and its children. Back in England, she is doing her best to protect the children from a group of people kidnapping and selling children. Originally, the army believes she is a kidnapper and tries to kill her, but she eventually convinces them that she is a protector. What follows is basically a continual battle as she becomes involved in protecting the boy-king of England from the US army after the US attacks England's Operation Motherland. I can honestly say - this book is explosive.
I like that the author allows main characters to get hurt/shot/killed/brutalized without pulling any punches. Even though the majority are children, it is better to have the book be realistic that not. Very suspenseful - but also incredibly violent.
Part two of this novel is the story of Jane/Kate, Matron/soldier/protector of the school and its children. Back in England, she is doing her best to protect the children from a group of people kidnapping and selling children. Originally, the army believes she is a kidnapper and tries to kill her, but she eventually convinces them that she is a protector. What follows is basically a continual battle as she becomes involved in protecting the boy-king of England from the US army after the US attacks England's Operation Motherland. I can honestly say - this book is explosive.
I like that the author allows main characters to get hurt/shot/killed/brutalized without pulling any punches. Even though the majority are children, it is better to have the book be realistic that not. Very suspenseful - but also incredibly violent.
November 13, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Think red Dawn with a little black hawk down. Scary villians, scary kids, ordinary heroes and enough action set pieces for a Michael Bay movie. Looking forward to reading the final part of this trilogy.
April 27, 2013
Grim and unleavened by the humor that lightened up the first book, Operation Motherland still reflects Scott K. Andrews' skill in weaving tense and never-boring post-apolyptic thrillers. Here the novelist offers a new conceit: alternating viewpoints. Jane, the matron Lee crushed on in Book One, provides counterpoint to the mayhem surrounding the series' main protagonist.
The story begins with Lee's ill-fated efforts to pilot a plane. After a crash landing in Basra, Iraq, Lee attempts to rescue his father from an evil American general.
Although the story is well-told, with realistic detail, the setting is jarring enough to pull me from the story. Since the novel is set in the near-future, the depiction of U.S. and British soldiers in Iraq no longer rings true. Although it offers the author the chance to engage in the light politicing of some post-Vietnam SF, the setting's anachronism offers a cautionary tale for all aspiring futurists.
The story begins with Lee's ill-fated efforts to pilot a plane. After a crash landing in Basra, Iraq, Lee attempts to rescue his father from an evil American general.
Although the story is well-told, with realistic detail, the setting is jarring enough to pull me from the story. Since the novel is set in the near-future, the depiction of U.S. and British soldiers in Iraq no longer rings true. Although it offers the author the chance to engage in the light politicing of some post-Vietnam SF, the setting's anachronism offers a cautionary tale for all aspiring futurists.
December 4, 2015
With so many different writers contributing to The Afterblight Chronicles you don't get a lot of recurring characters (if any) so it's nice to see Scott K. Andrews doing a straight sequel to the very enjoyable School's Out. The series doesn't aim for anything fancy, it's pulpy action movie thrills this is a pretty good instalment. Didn't blow my mind or linger after I put it down but given I read it in only a couple of sittings it must have been doing something right.
June 21, 2015
I am surprising myself with the speed at which I am reading this series and just how much I am enjoying them. I had assumed they would be on the borderline of my tolerance to pulp, but they are just smart enough to keep me here and, perhaps even more importantly, highly character driven. So amidst all the shooting and head injuries and murder, I've found a reason to give a shit.
January 8, 2013
As an American I have problems seeing us as the bad guys. Realizing this is a British author I understand the pov though. Action packed from beginning to end. Good read.
March 29, 2013
This book suffers from disappointing "middle of the series" syndrome. That said it is still very much a worthwhile read.
June 11, 2013
One of those books I can't put down
September 17, 2015
Cartoonish.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews