What do you think?
Rate this book
Patrick McLanahan #17
A Time for Patriots
Welcome to Battlefield America
When murderous bands of militiamen begin roaming the western United States and attacking government agencies, it will take a dedicated group of the nation's finest and toughest civilian airmen to put an end to the homegrown insurgency. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan vows to take to the skies to join the fight, but when his son, Bradley, also signs up, they find themselves caught in a deadly game against a shadowy opponent.
When the stock markets crash and the U.S. economy falls into a crippling recession, everything changes for newly elected president Kenneth Phoenix. Politically exhausted from a bruising and divisive election, Phoenix must order a series of massive tax cuts and wipe out entire cabinet-level departments to reduce government spending. With reductions in education and transportation, an incapacitated National Guard, and the loss of public safety budgets, entire communities of armed citizens band together for survival and mutual protection. Against this dismal backdrop, a SWAT team is ambushed and radioactive materials are stolen by a group calling themselves the Knights of the True Republic. Is the battle against the government about to be taken to a new and deadlier level?
In this time of crisis, a citizen organization rises to the task of protecting their fellow countrymen: the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Nevada Wing—led by retired Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan, his son, Bradley, and other volunteers—uses their military skills in the sky and on the ground to hunt down violent terrorists. But how will Patrick respond when extremists launch a catastrophic dirty bomb attack in Reno, spreading radiological fallout for miles? And when Bradley is caught in a deadly double-cross that jeopardizes the CAP, Patrick will have to fight to find out where his friends' loyalties lie: Are they with him and the CAP or with the terrorists?
With A Time for Patriots, the New York Times bestselling master of the modern thriller Dale Brown brings the battle home to explore a terrifying possibility—the collapse of the American Republic.
When murderous bands of militiamen begin roaming the western United States and attacking government agencies, it will take a dedicated group of the nation's finest and toughest civilian airmen to put an end to the homegrown insurgency. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan vows to take to the skies to join the fight, but when his son, Bradley, also signs up, they find themselves caught in a deadly game against a shadowy opponent.
When the stock markets crash and the U.S. economy falls into a crippling recession, everything changes for newly elected president Kenneth Phoenix. Politically exhausted from a bruising and divisive election, Phoenix must order a series of massive tax cuts and wipe out entire cabinet-level departments to reduce government spending. With reductions in education and transportation, an incapacitated National Guard, and the loss of public safety budgets, entire communities of armed citizens band together for survival and mutual protection. Against this dismal backdrop, a SWAT team is ambushed and radioactive materials are stolen by a group calling themselves the Knights of the True Republic. Is the battle against the government about to be taken to a new and deadlier level?
In this time of crisis, a citizen organization rises to the task of protecting their fellow countrymen: the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Nevada Wing—led by retired Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan, his son, Bradley, and other volunteers—uses their military skills in the sky and on the ground to hunt down violent terrorists. But how will Patrick respond when extremists launch a catastrophic dirty bomb attack in Reno, spreading radiological fallout for miles? And when Bradley is caught in a deadly double-cross that jeopardizes the CAP, Patrick will have to fight to find out where his friends' loyalties lie: Are they with him and the CAP or with the terrorists?
With A Time for Patriots, the New York Times bestselling master of the modern thriller Dale Brown brings the battle home to explore a terrifying possibility—the collapse of the American Republic.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2011
168 people are currently reading
817 people want to read
About the author
Dale Brown
151 books1,132 followersFormer U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 25 consecutive New York Times best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996) and FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN (1999), and WARRIOR CLASS (2001). His Fourteenth Novel AIRBATTLE FORCE will be published in late Spring 2003... Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 10 million copies.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
June 21, 2025
A different story from Dale Brown, dealing more with domestic terrorism and a couple of nutcases intent on making their own life in Battle Mountain Nevada by driving out the military.
Patrick McLanahan, the main character, and his son, Brad are part of the Civil Air Patrol. They have friends and former colleagues who work for defense contractor Sky Masters Inc.
When this trouble brews, Patrick and the team must figure out who is doing these acts of terrorism. At the same time, Russian assassins have been targeting Patrick for his role, from the book prior to this Executive Intent.
If you like a lot of aviation details, and some mystery with thriller mixed in, this would be a book for you. Not his best effort, but it was good. The ending seemed rushed and some things were left open related to rogue FBI agents.
Patrick McLanahan, the main character, and his son, Brad are part of the Civil Air Patrol. They have friends and former colleagues who work for defense contractor Sky Masters Inc.
When this trouble brews, Patrick and the team must figure out who is doing these acts of terrorism. At the same time, Russian assassins have been targeting Patrick for his role, from the book prior to this Executive Intent.
If you like a lot of aviation details, and some mystery with thriller mixed in, this would be a book for you. Not his best effort, but it was good. The ending seemed rushed and some things were left open related to rogue FBI agents.
January 5, 2020
This is apparently the seventeenth part of a series. Perhaps I'd have been more impressed had I read the prior volumes. As it is, this book, read without knowledge of the priors, suffers from obscure allusions to previous global events, including some sort of nuclear exchange between the U.S.A. and Russia, an exchange which somehow seems to have had no real effects except perhaps in promoting further developments in military technology. Although most of the action occurs in Nevada, Washington D.C. still exists.
Brown's writing is from a third person perspective with no representation of anyone's inner life. Everything is on the surface. Everybody is simply characterized, with some clearly good guys, and some clearly bad guys (and one woman). The portraits are cartoonish. Even the natural environment is only very, very roughly sketched. The only elements described in any detail are those pertaining to flight--and here with a level of detail far beyond the interest of the average reader without pilot certification.
In reading this (and finishing it only because it was a gift from someone who might want to discuss it) I was reminded of the kind of stuff, mostly science fiction, that I read in elementary school. Indeed, were it not for the attention paid to female breasts and nipples I'd characterize this as a mediocre adventure novel for young adults.
Brown's writing is from a third person perspective with no representation of anyone's inner life. Everything is on the surface. Everybody is simply characterized, with some clearly good guys, and some clearly bad guys (and one woman). The portraits are cartoonish. Even the natural environment is only very, very roughly sketched. The only elements described in any detail are those pertaining to flight--and here with a level of detail far beyond the interest of the average reader without pilot certification.
In reading this (and finishing it only because it was a gift from someone who might want to discuss it) I was reminded of the kind of stuff, mostly science fiction, that I read in elementary school. Indeed, were it not for the attention paid to female breasts and nipples I'd characterize this as a mediocre adventure novel for young adults.
February 2, 2013
I've picked this to read from a vast heap of library books I recently borrowed. I'm not sure I shall stick with it. I immediately suspect any book which has to start with 4 pages of the meanings of acronyms that will appear. including such as 'GPS' and 'sitrep'. Oh come on, Mr Brown. Credit your readers with a little intelligence.
I did make it through. However, I found this book extremely strange.It is shown as a thriller. but is more an alternative history, as dates the action is dated in 2012. I am not sure if it is part of a series (and if it is, I shan't be bothering with any others). The back story presupposes the 'American Holocaust', presumably sometime in the early years of the 21st century as it is implied that is post dates 9/11. That Holocaust appears to have been an unprovoked attack on the USA by Russia, I assume with nuclear weapons. All very strange, as I thought Russian missiles were more likely to blow up in their silos rather than on American cities. No mention is made of devastation caused, the main problem being a very deep financial depression (clearly the author does know what is happening in the real world), but far more extensive than actually being experienced. A new President has been elected but neither her, nor his predecessor bear any resemblance to the act5ual holders of the office. There is even a 'Space Force' with 'space planes'. If the author wanted this scenario, why didn't he set the action say 10 or so years hence?
It is what I call a 'boy's toys' book. Very little attempt at any in depth characterization. but a great deal of detail about various aircraft, how they are flown, search patterns etc.
This author is said to be a best seller with glowing reviews. I just don't get it. I can't give it more than 1 star.
I did make it through. However, I found this book extremely strange.It is shown as a thriller. but is more an alternative history, as dates the action is dated in 2012. I am not sure if it is part of a series (and if it is, I shan't be bothering with any others). The back story presupposes the 'American Holocaust', presumably sometime in the early years of the 21st century as it is implied that is post dates 9/11. That Holocaust appears to have been an unprovoked attack on the USA by Russia, I assume with nuclear weapons. All very strange, as I thought Russian missiles were more likely to blow up in their silos rather than on American cities. No mention is made of devastation caused, the main problem being a very deep financial depression (clearly the author does know what is happening in the real world), but far more extensive than actually being experienced. A new President has been elected but neither her, nor his predecessor bear any resemblance to the act5ual holders of the office. There is even a 'Space Force' with 'space planes'. If the author wanted this scenario, why didn't he set the action say 10 or so years hence?
It is what I call a 'boy's toys' book. Very little attempt at any in depth characterization. but a great deal of detail about various aircraft, how they are flown, search patterns etc.
This author is said to be a best seller with glowing reviews. I just don't get it. I can't give it more than 1 star.
June 24, 2025
Up and Down
A Review of the Audiobook
Read by William Dufris
13 hours.
Dale Brown knows how to write action very well. He certainly knows all about airplanes (sometimes he talks about them so much that it's quite easy to drift off for a while and then come back), he has created enough new technological gizmos to outfit an entire fleet and he does a solid job of creating dialogue that sounds good to the ear - from old men to teenage boys. But, the promised confrontation with militias in A Time for Patriots just sort of fizzles rather than pops.
Lt. General Patrick McLanahan is retired and living in Battle Mountain, Nevada on a remote air base safeguarding the last of America's spaceplanes in the hopes that the program will be re-developed in earnest when the economy picks up and the budget can allow for it. In the meantime, he and his son are flying missions for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Brown, who is also a member of CAP, spends a great deal of time describing its mission and even runs the reader (or in my case, listener) through an actual search and rescue operation which was interesting but not really germane to the story line as described on the back of the book.
Meanwhile, a militia group uses a dirty bomb on an airplane to attack the federal building in Reno. Brown uses all sorts of red herring leads to confuse multiple story lines and try to make it a surprise as to where the attacks were coming from. Although my original suspicions turned out to correct, I was fooled for a while...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
A Review of the Audiobook
Read by William Dufris
13 hours.
Dale Brown knows how to write action very well. He certainly knows all about airplanes (sometimes he talks about them so much that it's quite easy to drift off for a while and then come back), he has created enough new technological gizmos to outfit an entire fleet and he does a solid job of creating dialogue that sounds good to the ear - from old men to teenage boys. But, the promised confrontation with militias in A Time for Patriots just sort of fizzles rather than pops.
Lt. General Patrick McLanahan is retired and living in Battle Mountain, Nevada on a remote air base safeguarding the last of America's spaceplanes in the hopes that the program will be re-developed in earnest when the economy picks up and the budget can allow for it. In the meantime, he and his son are flying missions for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Brown, who is also a member of CAP, spends a great deal of time describing its mission and even runs the reader (or in my case, listener) through an actual search and rescue operation which was interesting but not really germane to the story line as described on the back of the book.
Meanwhile, a militia group uses a dirty bomb on an airplane to attack the federal building in Reno. Brown uses all sorts of red herring leads to confuse multiple story lines and try to make it a surprise as to where the attacks were coming from. Although my original suspicions turned out to correct, I was fooled for a while...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
June 10, 2011
Definitely a case of "don't judge a book by its cover." I picked this off the library new-book shelf not realizing I'd already read - and not enjoyed - a previous offering by the same author. And this one was even worse. Totally ridiculous plot, horrendously-written dialog, cliched caricatures of characters - this one had it all, not to mention waaaaaay too much technical detail that did nothing whatsoever to advance the story or give insight into the characters. Ugh!
June 4, 2011
I got this as a free reviewer book. I've loved the other McClanahan books from Dale Brown, even when they strain the imagination. This one though, just didn't do it for me. I kept waiting for the action and it never came. The government characters underreacted at a dirty bomb and overreacted at little things. McClanahan was all over the place. I just can't recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2021
I would say some of events are very plausible. A major economic downturn in America, followed by massive budget cuts across all levels of government, including the armed forces and law enforcement could result in a lot more work done by volunteers and private corporations or individuals that managed to stay afloat.
The other characters were a little bit of a caricature: the extremist or separatist groups suddenly get bolder and louder. However, Dale Brown set up the pseudo-villains really well - then pulled the plug on them so fast towards the end where the reader might get let down. Then the real villain, the one I certainly didn't see coming, hit but only in the last fifteen pages. Maybe that's good, but that's also a cheap shot.
As for the police trying to get Brad to inform on his father by 'fake' arresting him and setting up for drug charges, a good attorney, like the former AG who is the family lawyer will pretty eat them alive for breakfast and spit out the bones. While the police ARE allowed to lie to the suspects to get them to confess, there are limits like entrapment. That scene had me rolling my eyes because it was a strong case of entrapment - "come see me after dark in an off limits area." Then Brad is a minor and without parents AND a lawyer present, those FBI and Homeland agents are pretty much in violation of at least 2 Constitutional rights and a handful of violations.
Remember, you have the right to have an attorney present and stop talking, don't let the police provoke a response, and keep asking for an attorney until the police go away.
The other characters were a little bit of a caricature: the extremist or separatist groups suddenly get bolder and louder. However, Dale Brown set up the pseudo-villains really well - then pulled the plug on them so fast towards the end where the reader might get let down. Then the real villain, the one I certainly didn't see coming, hit but only in the last fifteen pages. Maybe that's good, but that's also a cheap shot.
As for the police trying to get Brad to inform on his father by 'fake' arresting him and setting up for drug charges, a good attorney, like the former AG who is the family lawyer will pretty eat them alive for breakfast and spit out the bones. While the police ARE allowed to lie to the suspects to get them to confess, there are limits like entrapment. That scene had me rolling my eyes because it was a strong case of entrapment - "come see me after dark in an off limits area." Then Brad is a minor and without parents AND a lawyer present, those FBI and Homeland agents are pretty much in violation of at least 2 Constitutional rights and a handful of violations.
Remember, you have the right to have an attorney present and stop talking, don't let the police provoke a response, and keep asking for an attorney until the police go away.
November 8, 2021
This whole story just pissed me off. It might be that some of the attitudes are all too relevant to what is going on across the world today. All of the characters were moody and angry throughout the whole story. No one talked to anyone else to try to figure out what was really going on and there were three or four sides all going at each other at once. I figured out who the bad guy was before his introduction in the story. I do like that they introduced the Bradley McLanahan more fully, but he came across extremely naïve in most of the book (I haven't yet started any of the books in the Bradley series). .
May 7, 2018
Not sure why I put this book on my list to read. For a just slightly futuristic rendering of a USA falling apart at the seams, it was very disappointing. Too many people making too many mistakes. Perhaps the only saving grace were the short quotes heading up each chapter of the novel. My favorite - "I hear many condemn these men because they were so few. When were the good and brave ever in the majority?" - Henry David Thoreau.
December 7, 2018
Great tribute to CAP
This is a must read for all Dale Brown fans,as a former of civil air patrol this was well done ,great action,not as much flying scenes like I like,but it shows a lot of how a search and rescue missions went,I only practice doing them,but I did learn to fly while in CAP, on to the next book
This is a must read for all Dale Brown fans,as a former of civil air patrol this was well done ,great action,not as much flying scenes like I like,but it shows a lot of how a search and rescue missions went,I only practice doing them,but I did learn to fly while in CAP, on to the next book
December 31, 2019
I've read others in this series that caught my attention much more than this book. I usually really enjoy Dale Brown novels, but this one didn't keep me on the edge of my seat like most others. I felt the middle portion of the book could have moved faster than it did, and could have put this 11 hour book into 8.
January 3, 2021
A Time For Patriots
The worse story that I've read so far in the Patrick Mclanahan series. I'm very disappointed that Dale Brown couldn't find better subject material to write about. Also, they keep letting former president Gardner get away with deal with all the data they have on him. Sounds like deep state work
The worse story that I've read so far in the Patrick Mclanahan series. I'm very disappointed that Dale Brown couldn't find better subject material to write about. Also, they keep letting former president Gardner get away with deal with all the data they have on him. Sounds like deep state work
October 23, 2021
You are going to make everyone a Republican!
Good for you to show how democrats in government are true idiots! Ok, some republicans are too! Term limits people! Thank you for another great read...even though I will no longer vote for anyone currently in office - starting in our home town, county, city, USA...
Good for you to show how democrats in government are true idiots! Ok, some republicans are too! Term limits people! Thank you for another great read...even though I will no longer vote for anyone currently in office - starting in our home town, county, city, USA...
July 8, 2018
This was an okay book. The action was a bit hit or miss for me. The main character is not my favorite, but I like his son and a few of his colleagues -- and they seem to be enough to keep me interested.
February 24, 2020
A great read!
Another triumph for Dale Brown. I really enjoy reading about Patrick McLennan and his son Brad. I can imagine them being real people. I know it's a fairly old read but it is still excellent.
Another triumph for Dale Brown. I really enjoy reading about Patrick McLennan and his son Brad. I can imagine them being real people. I know it's a fairly old read but it is still excellent.
October 13, 2020
I mostly liked this book but as I was approaching the last 50 pages I kept wondering is this book continued? Nope all of the evil doers were identified and most were shot during those last couple of chapters. A really nice build up but a really rapid ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
Too formulaic. Did not know it was part of a series that goes on forever. Do not plan on reading anymore of his books. Gave it a second star because it did serve to kill some time while reading it.
September 3, 2023
This was an OK book.
It had segments about how to fly a small plane which I did not enjoy.
I expected an adventure. This was an adventure which included parts that I do not think added to the story and did not seem feasible to me..
It had segments about how to fly a small plane which I did not enjoy.
I expected an adventure. This was an adventure which included parts that I do not think added to the story and did not seem feasible to me..
June 11, 2025
Really good read
Just proves you can't keep a good man down. Brown still has it. Tried to put it down, just could not wait to see what happens next. If your a fan or not, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Just proves you can't keep a good man down. Brown still has it. Tried to put it down, just could not wait to see what happens next. If your a fan or not, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
June 26, 2018
Great Book
Great Read! Non Stop action. I really enjoyed the great story line. A must read thriller. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a Dale Brown thriller.
Great Read! Non Stop action. I really enjoyed the great story line. A must read thriller. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a Dale Brown thriller.
May 14, 2020
Didn't like.
December 11, 2021
An enjoyable book, but leans heavily into what I would term “science fiction”, a genre I’m not crazy about.
November 22, 2022
Good read, good plot. What a downer for Patrick.. I mean he still came out on top, but had a really hard time getting there.
December 9, 2022
Dreadful- full of stereotypical sexism, too slow pacing, unnecessary exposition and a dreadful droning narrator. Predictable american self-congratulatory heroics.
February 17, 2023
Loaded with several shots of fun I havebecome accustomed to with the "team" Amazed at where they have come....
January 23, 2017
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either
August 17, 2013
A Time for Patriots by Dale Brown.
Interesting, I probably would have given this book 2.5 stars if I could have. I've not read a Dale Brown book before, I may go back and pull some earlier books in the MegaFortress series to see what they are like.
If you have ever watched anime cartoons like Speed Racer or even read comic books, you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. The characters were more like caricatures than people. I swear I could see the faces scrunching up when they were angry or the word "POW!" when something was hit. Very over the top. It was kind of funny and I don't know if that was intended by the author.
The federal agents - FBI and Homeland Security - were stereotypical numbskull heavies, short-sighted, focusing on the wrong people and abusing their power for personal vendettas. The sovereign freedom groups talked in big booming voices, wouldn't listen to the other side at all or compromise, and kept repeating the same mantra over and over --- government is bad, military is evil, we are the only ones that live according to God, etc. Like I said, all the characters were pretty one dimensional.
Brown walked a fine line in this book between 'the federal government should save America by any means and at all costs' and 'militia preppers are the only way to save the true America'. Since I haven't read any of Brown's other books I don't know or couldn't tell if he personally supports one side or the other.
Supposedly there was an "American Holocaust" where Russia and China started bombing the US then we fought back but many people were killed; the economy crashed and everyone was out of work. On a personal note I kind of objected to the use of the word - holocaust. But it really didn't play much of a part in the story, it was mentioned a couple of times as a background sort of thing but pretty much ignored.
There were some cool techy gadgets mentioned in the story, the "Tin Man" and the CID - some sort of manned robot used in battle. From reading other reviews, one of the characters killed in the story has been a main character for a while.
William Dufris was an excellent reader, giving each character's voice the perfect qualities that fit in with my cartoon analogy. And I mean that in a good way, the preacher/leader of one band of militia had a BIG BOOMING VOICE and Mr. Dufris captured that nuance as described by the author perfectly.
So an unknown group starts attacking federal buildings with dirty bombs, the federal government sends in FBI and Homeland Security agents to figure out who's behind the attacks and they come to Patrick McLanahan's base. They of course focus on the hero instead of really looking for the culprits.
There are a lot of descriptions of airplanes and flying details which went over my head and after a while bored me. I thought the ending left some questions unanswered. All in all, this was entertaining to listen to during the commute.
Interesting, I probably would have given this book 2.5 stars if I could have. I've not read a Dale Brown book before, I may go back and pull some earlier books in the MegaFortress series to see what they are like.
If you have ever watched anime cartoons like Speed Racer or even read comic books, you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. The characters were more like caricatures than people. I swear I could see the faces scrunching up when they were angry or the word "POW!" when something was hit. Very over the top. It was kind of funny and I don't know if that was intended by the author.
The federal agents - FBI and Homeland Security - were stereotypical numbskull heavies, short-sighted, focusing on the wrong people and abusing their power for personal vendettas. The sovereign freedom groups talked in big booming voices, wouldn't listen to the other side at all or compromise, and kept repeating the same mantra over and over --- government is bad, military is evil, we are the only ones that live according to God, etc. Like I said, all the characters were pretty one dimensional.
Brown walked a fine line in this book between 'the federal government should save America by any means and at all costs' and 'militia preppers are the only way to save the true America'. Since I haven't read any of Brown's other books I don't know or couldn't tell if he personally supports one side or the other.
Supposedly there was an "American Holocaust" where Russia and China started bombing the US then we fought back but many people were killed; the economy crashed and everyone was out of work. On a personal note I kind of objected to the use of the word - holocaust. But it really didn't play much of a part in the story, it was mentioned a couple of times as a background sort of thing but pretty much ignored.
There were some cool techy gadgets mentioned in the story, the "Tin Man" and the CID - some sort of manned robot used in battle. From reading other reviews, one of the characters killed in the story has been a main character for a while.
William Dufris was an excellent reader, giving each character's voice the perfect qualities that fit in with my cartoon analogy. And I mean that in a good way, the preacher/leader of one band of militia had a BIG BOOMING VOICE and Mr. Dufris captured that nuance as described by the author perfectly.
So an unknown group starts attacking federal buildings with dirty bombs, the federal government sends in FBI and Homeland Security agents to figure out who's behind the attacks and they come to Patrick McLanahan's base. They of course focus on the hero instead of really looking for the culprits.
There are a lot of descriptions of airplanes and flying details which went over my head and after a while bored me. I thought the ending left some questions unanswered. All in all, this was entertaining to listen to during the commute.
May 31, 2015
A Time for Patriots is a novel by Dan Brown. It is a contemporary novel taking place in Nevada and is at the present. He shows us what might happen if we fall into another recession and our next President has to be faced with many difficult decisions on cutting programs. Which ones are not needed? I love the way he connects us with his characters and the way he uses words.
Patrick McLanahan is retired and lives at Battle Mountain, Nevada where he volunteers for the Civil Air Patrol and keeps the base running smoothly. He is in “protective custody” because the Russian have sent men to kill him. He is raising his eighteen year old son, Brad. He is also teaching Brad to fly. He is often sought out by the President to work on specialized projects. After going out on an emergency rescue, he rides back with Mr. Anderson, a wealthy rancher who lives next door to Battle Mountain. Anderson disregards the newly set aviation rule of no flying and is questioned by the FBI. They think he is running a terrorist camp. They believe Patrick is somehow involved and set out to prove their statements.
The people are getting restless because of the lack of police after a bomb goes off in Reno. They are forming their own groups to defend themselves. These groups are being looked at as “terrorists” until it is proven that they are not. Patrick tries to defuse the situation with one group and his offer of using the barracks at Battle Mountain for housing and getting food, etc. from their stores. The group believes it is simply a way of getting the group into the hands of the Government.
In an attempt to get confirmation of what Patrick is up to, they draw Brad into a trap and threaten him into spying for them. Will Brad tell his father or someone about the threat against his father or will he keep his mouth shut to save himself?
Can they figure out who is behind the bombs with “dirty radioactive materials” before they set off another one? Who in his organization can Patrick trust? This fast paced novel will take you into the center of defense for the country.
Patrick McLanahan is retired and lives at Battle Mountain, Nevada where he volunteers for the Civil Air Patrol and keeps the base running smoothly. He is in “protective custody” because the Russian have sent men to kill him. He is raising his eighteen year old son, Brad. He is also teaching Brad to fly. He is often sought out by the President to work on specialized projects. After going out on an emergency rescue, he rides back with Mr. Anderson, a wealthy rancher who lives next door to Battle Mountain. Anderson disregards the newly set aviation rule of no flying and is questioned by the FBI. They think he is running a terrorist camp. They believe Patrick is somehow involved and set out to prove their statements.
The people are getting restless because of the lack of police after a bomb goes off in Reno. They are forming their own groups to defend themselves. These groups are being looked at as “terrorists” until it is proven that they are not. Patrick tries to defuse the situation with one group and his offer of using the barracks at Battle Mountain for housing and getting food, etc. from their stores. The group believes it is simply a way of getting the group into the hands of the Government.
In an attempt to get confirmation of what Patrick is up to, they draw Brad into a trap and threaten him into spying for them. Will Brad tell his father or someone about the threat against his father or will he keep his mouth shut to save himself?
Can they figure out who is behind the bombs with “dirty radioactive materials” before they set off another one? Who in his organization can Patrick trust? This fast paced novel will take you into the center of defense for the country.
July 4, 2011
Dale Brown weaves a tale that is entertaining, and pulls the reader along all the way to the end. It's a techno-action adventure featuring a retired, convicted and pardoned 3-star US Air Force general and his 18-yr old son as the main characters.
The main setting for the story is Battle Mountain, NV. I've been there and through there several times, and I have to admit that I couldn't think of a less likely place to set an action adventure. Anyway, it works for the most part.
Brown's tale is set in the future in a time when extreme austerity measures had to be made to keep the US Government afloat, even after significant numbers of government agencies were disbanded, and many, many more government jobs were eliminated. This happens sometime after "The American Holocaust", to which only vague references are made. I found that to be unsatisfying. Since I am not a regular Dale Brown reader, that may have been a central story line in an earlier novel. Sorry if I missed that.
So if you like references to high tech military gadgetry without being bogged down in the details, and a story that involves ultra right-wing constitutionalist terrorist and survivalist groups, fiercely independent western characters, unscroupulous FBI agents, and heroic volunteer members of Civil Air Patrol all crossing paths...along with stolen nuclear material, then this book is for you.
As for me, there were too many references to things that were not clearly enough resolved (at least in this book as a stand-alone read) to warrant 5-stars. I actually debated about whether to award 3 or 4 stars, but since the book is readable and the story flows well, I opted for 4 stars.
I hope you found this review helpful.
The main setting for the story is Battle Mountain, NV. I've been there and through there several times, and I have to admit that I couldn't think of a less likely place to set an action adventure. Anyway, it works for the most part.
Brown's tale is set in the future in a time when extreme austerity measures had to be made to keep the US Government afloat, even after significant numbers of government agencies were disbanded, and many, many more government jobs were eliminated. This happens sometime after "The American Holocaust", to which only vague references are made. I found that to be unsatisfying. Since I am not a regular Dale Brown reader, that may have been a central story line in an earlier novel. Sorry if I missed that.
So if you like references to high tech military gadgetry without being bogged down in the details, and a story that involves ultra right-wing constitutionalist terrorist and survivalist groups, fiercely independent western characters, unscroupulous FBI agents, and heroic volunteer members of Civil Air Patrol all crossing paths...along with stolen nuclear material, then this book is for you.
As for me, there were too many references to things that were not clearly enough resolved (at least in this book as a stand-alone read) to warrant 5-stars. I actually debated about whether to award 3 or 4 stars, but since the book is readable and the story flows well, I opted for 4 stars.
I hope you found this review helpful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews