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Refuge
A Novel of Lost Democracy
A national election broken by once unthinkable laws and political violence. Tens of millions of fearful Americans demanded safety and security. The new far right president obliged, using the crisis as a pretext to declare a national emergency and pass sweeping laws that targeted political opponents and dissenters as domestic terrorists. The United States of America falls into one-party autocracy.
Democracy was not lost to invasion or natural catastrophe. There was no economic collapse or military coup. Instead, out of fear or vengeance, or ignorance, or apathy, voters abandoned their always imperfect democracy for promises of a return to the mythical glories of the past.
In St. Andrews, New Brunswick, American dissidents hoped to start a new life. Mike and Debbie Whynot, both retired U.S. Air Force officers and leaders of the expatriates, now face threats from the new U.S. government. They will pay dearly for their continued fight for democracy.
Across the Saint Croix River in Maine, others remain in service to the United States government. A few will find the moral burden unendurable.
This is a story of a few who must find an answer to what a President long ago asked of all Americans for all time,
“…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
This is a story of our near future that is no longer fanciful. It is possible. Even probable.
A national election broken by once unthinkable laws and political violence. Tens of millions of fearful Americans demanded safety and security. The new far right president obliged, using the crisis as a pretext to declare a national emergency and pass sweeping laws that targeted political opponents and dissenters as domestic terrorists. The United States of America falls into one-party autocracy.
Democracy was not lost to invasion or natural catastrophe. There was no economic collapse or military coup. Instead, out of fear or vengeance, or ignorance, or apathy, voters abandoned their always imperfect democracy for promises of a return to the mythical glories of the past.
In St. Andrews, New Brunswick, American dissidents hoped to start a new life. Mike and Debbie Whynot, both retired U.S. Air Force officers and leaders of the expatriates, now face threats from the new U.S. government. They will pay dearly for their continued fight for democracy.
Across the Saint Croix River in Maine, others remain in service to the United States government. A few will find the moral burden unendurable.
This is a story of a few who must find an answer to what a President long ago asked of all Americans for all time,
“…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
This is a story of our near future that is no longer fanciful. It is possible. Even probable.
527 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2022
About the author
David Schoorens
2 books8 followersI'm a veteran junior officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, once serving as the Operations Officer of Baltimore Group. In that job I learned much about the operations of the Coast Guard small boat stations found along our shores. One such station found in Eastport, Maine, plays a prominent role in my political and moral thriller Refuge: A Novel of Lost Democracy.
I've been around. I lived in Maryland before moving to Germany for four years. While there, I earned my second graduate degree from Boston University in Brussels, Belgium. Cheyenne, Wyoming, came next before going back to Germany once more. In 2001, we settled back in the United States.
Living in other parts of the United States and in Germany, as well as studies alongside people from all over the world and travels through much of Europe, yielded many experiences, friendships and memories. These have served my writing well, allowing me to enrich my novels with authenticity and detail.
Just before the pandemic, I retired after fifteen years as a high school science teacher, finally putting my degree in biology to use. I did other jobs before that, but none was as worthy. With retirement, however, it dawned on me that I needed to do something with all this time.
Take it from a science teacher. The second law of thermodynamics requires an increase in entropy over time; that is, an increase in disorder and randomness of the matter and energy of the universe. Meaning with every action I take, at any time, within my body and within my surrounding environment, I break down complex things into simpler things. Things must fall apart. In other words, I get older. Same goes for you. No exceptions.
So, I could wait for entropy to do its thing, leading to the inevitable knee or hip replacements and countless other medical procedures and maladies. Or I could do something I always wanted to do. I decided to write.
Refuge: A Novel of Lost Democracy is my debut novel. Refuge’s genre is military and political thriller with a large measure of the dystopian fiction genre. But it goes beyond the usual tactical thriller. Set in the near future, the story imagines the rapid descent of American democracy into autocracy. The fall comes not in aftermath of economic collapse or war. All it took was an election. Enough of us chose to end democracy in favor of a strongman. The story builds to an emerging conflict between the United States and Canada. Published in 2022, many readers see Refuge as a prescient cautionary tale. I see it as political horror.
Captive is my second novel. A psychological thriller about a man who wrote a novel. More to the point, he wrote a novel intended as a defense of democracy. Instead, the story infuriated a great many people. Who call him un-American and a traitor. Who threaten to harm him. To kill him.
This wounded and decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, now an old man and alone, faces new enemies hiding amongst his fellow countrymen. Doxed, harassed, threatened, stalked, vandalized and assaulted, he faces mortal danger from an enemy who does not stop. His fight to save himself will drive him to the edge of sanity.
In a sense, Captive continues to defend democracy which began with Refuge, by exploring a terror which any author may have imagined from time to time.
More novels will follow.
Regarding Refuge, here are a few interviews that will help explain.
My latest interview with Lisa Towles, award winning crime thriller author, of Story Impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTV9I...
Upton (MA) Community Television. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfqnJ...
Rhody Radio Podcast, September 12, 2023
https://link.chtbl.com/ePDeMYWG
Find more on my Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
I live in Rhode Island with my wife of forty-two years. Thanks to her, I lived in many places and seen a good deal of the
I've been around. I lived in Maryland before moving to Germany for four years. While there, I earned my second graduate degree from Boston University in Brussels, Belgium. Cheyenne, Wyoming, came next before going back to Germany once more. In 2001, we settled back in the United States.
Living in other parts of the United States and in Germany, as well as studies alongside people from all over the world and travels through much of Europe, yielded many experiences, friendships and memories. These have served my writing well, allowing me to enrich my novels with authenticity and detail.
Just before the pandemic, I retired after fifteen years as a high school science teacher, finally putting my degree in biology to use. I did other jobs before that, but none was as worthy. With retirement, however, it dawned on me that I needed to do something with all this time.
Take it from a science teacher. The second law of thermodynamics requires an increase in entropy over time; that is, an increase in disorder and randomness of the matter and energy of the universe. Meaning with every action I take, at any time, within my body and within my surrounding environment, I break down complex things into simpler things. Things must fall apart. In other words, I get older. Same goes for you. No exceptions.
So, I could wait for entropy to do its thing, leading to the inevitable knee or hip replacements and countless other medical procedures and maladies. Or I could do something I always wanted to do. I decided to write.
Refuge: A Novel of Lost Democracy is my debut novel. Refuge’s genre is military and political thriller with a large measure of the dystopian fiction genre. But it goes beyond the usual tactical thriller. Set in the near future, the story imagines the rapid descent of American democracy into autocracy. The fall comes not in aftermath of economic collapse or war. All it took was an election. Enough of us chose to end democracy in favor of a strongman. The story builds to an emerging conflict between the United States and Canada. Published in 2022, many readers see Refuge as a prescient cautionary tale. I see it as political horror.
Captive is my second novel. A psychological thriller about a man who wrote a novel. More to the point, he wrote a novel intended as a defense of democracy. Instead, the story infuriated a great many people. Who call him un-American and a traitor. Who threaten to harm him. To kill him.
This wounded and decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, now an old man and alone, faces new enemies hiding amongst his fellow countrymen. Doxed, harassed, threatened, stalked, vandalized and assaulted, he faces mortal danger from an enemy who does not stop. His fight to save himself will drive him to the edge of sanity.
In a sense, Captive continues to defend democracy which began with Refuge, by exploring a terror which any author may have imagined from time to time.
More novels will follow.
Regarding Refuge, here are a few interviews that will help explain.
My latest interview with Lisa Towles, award winning crime thriller author, of Story Impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTV9I...
Upton (MA) Community Television. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfqnJ...
Rhody Radio Podcast, September 12, 2023
https://link.chtbl.com/ePDeMYWG
Find more on my Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
I live in Rhode Island with my wife of forty-two years. Thanks to her, I lived in many places and seen a good deal of the
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 1, 2025
Wow what a story! I cannot believe that Schoorens wrote this book in 2021 or thereabouts and how close it is to world events today 2025. Secondly, I cannot believe that an American wrote this story in which Canadians ended up winning a fictional conflict with the Americans. I can tell from this story that Mr. Schoorens in most likely not a Republican. Furthermore, being a Canadian and being familiar with down east Washington county Maine and western Charlotte county New Brunswick where this story is set one can tell that the author is very familiar with the geography of the area. For these reasons I have given the story 5 stars and would give it more if possible. Mr. Schoorens you are one brave individual!!!
March 16, 2024
Refuge by David R. Schoorens is a tour de force, a powerhouse work of fiction from a writer with a distinctive and compelling voice.
Think author prescience, in literature. Two examples quickly come to mind: Huxley’s
Brave New World and Orwell’s 1984. Although it was set in the past, I suspect that Ian
McEwan's Machines Like Me will also make the list before too long. And there are
others. Without wanting to deny the author the exploding book-sales and bump in
royalties should the central premise of Refuge also come true in the future, those of us
living in North America should all hope that it never comes to pass.
Refuge is a dense read, and I mean that in a good way. David R. Schoorens knows
absolutely whereof (and what) he writes. The level of accurate detail in the book
regarding military and coast guard operations, doctrine and administration is
extraordinary. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction. And, when I
finished it, I was reminded of how my head felt (throbbed) when, years ago, I read
Seven Pillars of Wisdom. There are layers upon layers in Refuge to unwrap and absorb
what lies underneath but they overlap in all the right places to give the story authenticity.
Fiction, yes. But grounded in the real thing, and threaded through with humanity.
Every democratic government has a department of dirty tricks that operates with its
distasteful underbelly covered, and much fiction has been written about these
organizations in the past. But readers of those books could sit in their comfortable
chairs, or lay back on their pillows under a reading light, and feel easy in the cozy belief
that although ex officio abductions, torture and killings might actually happen behind the
scenes in real life, this unpleasantness could never really affect upstanding citizens like
themselves. It was just tin soldiers strutting about, and if discovered, officially denied,
rogue elements, don’t you know. So, even if they as upstanding citizens were to criticize
their elected government, it would still protect them from the nasty, dark-side stuff,
wouldn’t it?
Refuge upsets that neatly-stacked applecart, with a vengeance.
But there are some light-hearted elements in the book as well. There is a scene
reminiscent of the hilarious riff on the ubiquity of red tape by the comedian Eddy Izzard
where Darth Vader runs afoul of the food-service bureaucracy when he tries to order a
dish of pasta in the Death Star canteen. And an aptly-placed Shakespearean quote
reminds us that, for good and bad, humans haven’t changed much in four centuries.
The back cover of the book classifies Refuge as ‘Speculative Fiction’, however the
author calls it ‘political horror.’ I’d say it’s both. Highly recommended.
Think author prescience, in literature. Two examples quickly come to mind: Huxley’s
Brave New World and Orwell’s 1984. Although it was set in the past, I suspect that Ian
McEwan's Machines Like Me will also make the list before too long. And there are
others. Without wanting to deny the author the exploding book-sales and bump in
royalties should the central premise of Refuge also come true in the future, those of us
living in North America should all hope that it never comes to pass.
Refuge is a dense read, and I mean that in a good way. David R. Schoorens knows
absolutely whereof (and what) he writes. The level of accurate detail in the book
regarding military and coast guard operations, doctrine and administration is
extraordinary. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction. And, when I
finished it, I was reminded of how my head felt (throbbed) when, years ago, I read
Seven Pillars of Wisdom. There are layers upon layers in Refuge to unwrap and absorb
what lies underneath but they overlap in all the right places to give the story authenticity.
Fiction, yes. But grounded in the real thing, and threaded through with humanity.
Every democratic government has a department of dirty tricks that operates with its
distasteful underbelly covered, and much fiction has been written about these
organizations in the past. But readers of those books could sit in their comfortable
chairs, or lay back on their pillows under a reading light, and feel easy in the cozy belief
that although ex officio abductions, torture and killings might actually happen behind the
scenes in real life, this unpleasantness could never really affect upstanding citizens like
themselves. It was just tin soldiers strutting about, and if discovered, officially denied,
rogue elements, don’t you know. So, even if they as upstanding citizens were to criticize
their elected government, it would still protect them from the nasty, dark-side stuff,
wouldn’t it?
Refuge upsets that neatly-stacked applecart, with a vengeance.
But there are some light-hearted elements in the book as well. There is a scene
reminiscent of the hilarious riff on the ubiquity of red tape by the comedian Eddy Izzard
where Darth Vader runs afoul of the food-service bureaucracy when he tries to order a
dish of pasta in the Death Star canteen. And an aptly-placed Shakespearean quote
reminds us that, for good and bad, humans haven’t changed much in four centuries.
The back cover of the book classifies Refuge as ‘Speculative Fiction’, however the
author calls it ‘political horror.’ I’d say it’s both. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2026
I honestly didn't expect Refuge to stay on my mind the way it did. The premise sounded interesting enough when I picked it up, but once I got into the story, I found myself thinking about the ideas behind it just as much as the actual thriller.
What really got me was how the collapse of democracy isn't caused by some huge disaster or unbelievable event. It starts with an election and then one thing leads to another voter suppression, gerrymandering, misinformation, fear, political violence, and people slowly accepting things they probably wouldn't have accepted before. That felt much more frightening to me than a typical dystopian scenario.
I also liked that the book doesn't make everything about politics. There are real people caught in the middle of all this, and Mike and Debbie's situation gave the story an emotional side that I wasn't expecting. They're trying to build a life in Canada while still dealing with what is happening back home, and you can really feel the weight of those choices.
There were quite a few moments where I had to stop and think, “Could this actually happen?” That's probably the biggest compliment I can give the book. Some dystopian stories feel very far removed from reality. This one doesn't.
I also appreciated the moral questions running underneath the action. What do you do when the system you served starts becoming something you no longer believe in? When do you speak up? And what are you willing to risk when staying silent would be easier?
The military and political elements kept the story moving, but for me, the ideas about freedom, responsibility, and how easily people can become accustomed to losing their rights were what made the biggest impression.
It's not exactly a light read, and I don't think it is supposed to be. But it's gripping, unsettling, and definitely the kind of story that gives you something to think about after you've finished it.
What really got me was how the collapse of democracy isn't caused by some huge disaster or unbelievable event. It starts with an election and then one thing leads to another voter suppression, gerrymandering, misinformation, fear, political violence, and people slowly accepting things they probably wouldn't have accepted before. That felt much more frightening to me than a typical dystopian scenario.
I also liked that the book doesn't make everything about politics. There are real people caught in the middle of all this, and Mike and Debbie's situation gave the story an emotional side that I wasn't expecting. They're trying to build a life in Canada while still dealing with what is happening back home, and you can really feel the weight of those choices.
There were quite a few moments where I had to stop and think, “Could this actually happen?” That's probably the biggest compliment I can give the book. Some dystopian stories feel very far removed from reality. This one doesn't.
I also appreciated the moral questions running underneath the action. What do you do when the system you served starts becoming something you no longer believe in? When do you speak up? And what are you willing to risk when staying silent would be easier?
The military and political elements kept the story moving, but for me, the ideas about freedom, responsibility, and how easily people can become accustomed to losing their rights were what made the biggest impression.
It's not exactly a light read, and I don't think it is supposed to be. But it's gripping, unsettling, and definitely the kind of story that gives you something to think about after you've finished it.
April 21, 2024
Refuge is a fictional telling straight out of the mind of non fictional news reporting. While elections loom in the air in 2024 and may never see this sort of apocalyptic world, it seems as though democracy fails again and again in this story. When the weight of men is lifted by shifty idealism to take the easy road of blame and adjust the narrative to their own agenda.
While this story was very much focused on the military view of the failing democracy of America, it also showed a small flame of hope in those who still believe in what it once stood for. Having to choose the right path for themselves in order to continue the fight for others. This read to me much like the Handmaid's tale. The loss of identity. Waking up in a country you no longer recognize. While the leader of the story is not named, its obvious to whom they represent, and sometimes the proof is in the pudding. The idea that this may never happen does not excuse the idea that without compassion and trust in one another, it very well could.
While this story was very much focused on the military view of the failing democracy of America, it also showed a small flame of hope in those who still believe in what it once stood for. Having to choose the right path for themselves in order to continue the fight for others. This read to me much like the Handmaid's tale. The loss of identity. Waking up in a country you no longer recognize. While the leader of the story is not named, its obvious to whom they represent, and sometimes the proof is in the pudding. The idea that this may never happen does not excuse the idea that without compassion and trust in one another, it very well could.
October 10, 2025
Refuge is a timely and chilling exploration of how fragile democracy can be—and how quickly it can unravel when fear, disinformation, and apathy take root. David Schoorens delivers a gripping and thought-provoking novel that blends political realism with deeply human storytelling. The tension between those who flee for freedom and those who remain complicit in an authoritarian system makes for a powerful, unsettling narrative. Both urgent and heartfelt, Refuge is a wake-up call disguised as a compelling work of fiction, reminding us that the preservation of democracy is a choice we must actively make.
August 23, 2025
This novel is a tour de force, a powerhouse work of fiction from a writer with a distinctive and compelling voice.
Think author prescience, in literature. Two examples quickly come to mind: Huxley’s Brave New World and Orwell’s 1984. Although it was set in the past, I suspect that Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me will also make the list before too long. And there are others. Without wanting to deny the author the exploding book-sales and bump in royalties should the central premise of Refuge also come true in the future, those of us living in North America should all hope that it never comes to pass.
Refuge is a dense read, and I mean that in a good way. Schoorens knows absolutely whereof (and what) he writes. The level of accurate detail in the book regarding military and coast guard operations, doctrine and administration is extraordinary. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction. And, when I finished it, I was reminded of how my head felt (throbbed) when, years ago, I read Seven Pillars of Wisdom. There are layers upon layers in Refuge to unwrap and absorb what lies underneath but they overlap in all the right places to give the story authenticity.
Fiction, yes. But grounded in the real thing, and threaded through with humanity. Every democratic government has a department of dirty tricks that operates with its distasteful underbelly covered, and much fiction has been written about these organizations in the past. But readers of those books could sit in their comfortable chairs, or lay back on their pillows under a reading light, and feel easy in the cozy belief that although ex officio abductions, torture and killings might actually happen behind the scenes in real life, this unpleasantness could never really affect upstanding citizens like themselves. It was just tin soldiers strutting about, and if discovered, officially denied, rogue elements, don’t you know. So, even if they as upstanding citizens were to criticize their elected government, it would still protect them from the nasty, dark-side stuff, wouldn’t it?
Refuge upsets that neatly-stacked applecart, with a vengeance.
But there are some light-hearted elements in the book as well. There is a scene reminiscent of the hilarious riff on the ubiquity of red tape by the comedian Eddy Izzard where Darth Vader runs afoul of the food-service bureaucracy when he tries to order a dish of pasta in the Death Star canteen. And an aptly-placed Shakespearean quote reminds us that, for good and bad, humans haven’t changed much in four centuries.
The back cover of the book classifies Refuge as ‘Speculative Fiction’, however the author calls it ‘political horror.’ I’d say it’s both. Highly recommended. -REG
Think author prescience, in literature. Two examples quickly come to mind: Huxley’s Brave New World and Orwell’s 1984. Although it was set in the past, I suspect that Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me will also make the list before too long. And there are others. Without wanting to deny the author the exploding book-sales and bump in royalties should the central premise of Refuge also come true in the future, those of us living in North America should all hope that it never comes to pass.
Refuge is a dense read, and I mean that in a good way. Schoorens knows absolutely whereof (and what) he writes. The level of accurate detail in the book regarding military and coast guard operations, doctrine and administration is extraordinary. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction. And, when I finished it, I was reminded of how my head felt (throbbed) when, years ago, I read Seven Pillars of Wisdom. There are layers upon layers in Refuge to unwrap and absorb what lies underneath but they overlap in all the right places to give the story authenticity.
Fiction, yes. But grounded in the real thing, and threaded through with humanity. Every democratic government has a department of dirty tricks that operates with its distasteful underbelly covered, and much fiction has been written about these organizations in the past. But readers of those books could sit in their comfortable chairs, or lay back on their pillows under a reading light, and feel easy in the cozy belief that although ex officio abductions, torture and killings might actually happen behind the scenes in real life, this unpleasantness could never really affect upstanding citizens like themselves. It was just tin soldiers strutting about, and if discovered, officially denied, rogue elements, don’t you know. So, even if they as upstanding citizens were to criticize their elected government, it would still protect them from the nasty, dark-side stuff, wouldn’t it?
Refuge upsets that neatly-stacked applecart, with a vengeance.
But there are some light-hearted elements in the book as well. There is a scene reminiscent of the hilarious riff on the ubiquity of red tape by the comedian Eddy Izzard where Darth Vader runs afoul of the food-service bureaucracy when he tries to order a dish of pasta in the Death Star canteen. And an aptly-placed Shakespearean quote reminds us that, for good and bad, humans haven’t changed much in four centuries.
The back cover of the book classifies Refuge as ‘Speculative Fiction’, however the author calls it ‘political horror.’ I’d say it’s both. Highly recommended. -REG
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews