Just Finished Lights Out.

[JRod]

How in the hell has this not been posted on ZS?!?!

For those of you not in the know, 'Lights Out' is a 611 page work of fiction by a Frugal Squirrels (survival forum) member known as Half Fast. The story depicts a community's struggle to survive after the United States is hit by an EMP attack. The writing is well done, the characters are not only engaging but they are human as well, and the entire story is packed full of useful information.

On a 1-10 scale I would rate this story a 8+

Right-click, and Save As (.pdf, 2.53mb)

All 'Lights Out' discussions can take place this thread. Please be careful about spoilers and give warning if you are going to reveal a part of the story line.

[unodiablo]

Thanks for the link! It's along the same line as Patriots: STCC, but waaaaaay better - in every way. Better (more realistic) action (hasn't veered into Chuck Norris movie territory yet, and I'm on page 438), characters, writing, and it's FREE! I usually hate reading 'books' on the computer, but this has me hooked...

Do you know if it's ongoing? I haven't finished it yet, and I've never signed up at Frugal Squirrels. I remember reading a link about Argentina that Ronin posted here or H23... But I haven't gone back to the site.

[JRod]

Bah, Im not to the end of what I have which is 75 chapters and 611 pages. The last chapter is an epilogue so I believe its done.

[clybourn]

Great. I read a good portion of it then slowed down when I realized It wasn't complete.

[unodiablo]

clyborn, it's complete. I finished readng it before I got "Cell" from the library. I think the 'latest version' name on the pdf file is for corrections.

Excellent novel. I liked it better than the Stephen King book, and it's a nice big step above Patriots: STCC. If we could talk 'half-fast' to write a zombie novel, I'd send him my lunch money!

[JRod]

He's done some short fiction before as well. Here's a link to a bug out story, good stuff. I'm sure he would write a short zombie fiction if enough people asked.

[BobDa]

Just finished "Lights Out" and I must say, it was a very good read.

[spartan]

I just finished reading this the other day.

Overall is was a good story and a fun read. Certainly ramped my personal paranoia up.

[UndeadAnthology]

Anyone have an email address for the author?

Thanks,
Jacob

[ghostface]

This, so far, has been swamped with exposition masquerading as dialogue and more than a few cliched characters, but it is certainly keeping my interest.

<edit>

SPOILER

And the shoe drops. A religious, conservative band of of wealthy survivalists. Who apparently don't know how to hunt, shoot, or fish. Who run surveillance on potential new inductees.

[randomusername]

I'm on the fence with this one. I'm only on chapter 14, but the characters were seemingly made for the PAW, and while there certainly some people out there, i wouldnt expect anything resembling a whole ***SPOILER*** neighborhood full of retired military personnel, ready to bloackade themselves in.

Some things ring realistically in my ears, and some things are pretty far fetched, i'm starting to think illuminati when it comes to the "Ranch".

[BobDa]

Anyone have an email address for the author?

Thanks,
Jacob

It's not a zombie novel. Its about electricity going out nationwide for a long period of time, and the chaos that ensues.

[randomusername]

I changed my mind, i love this book, cant stop reading.

[mrclarkbkk]

that's how I was. I had read about 200 pages and was about to stop and just got hooked and then found myself reading it every chance I got.

[randomusername]

I'm on 218. Damn this is a good read, not for the action so much as it is just written very well.

[Glockmeister]

Just finished it. It's one hell of a ride!!! Highly recommended!!
It made me think of a few things about survival near an urban area that I hadn't thought of before.

[randomusername]

Wow. how can i contact the author?

Nothing but praise, well written, well researched, heart and mind imbedded throughout.

Gets a 10/10 in my book!!!

[JRod]

Wow. how can i contact the author?

Nothing but praise, well written, well researched, heart and mind imbedded throughout.

Gets a 10/10 in my book!!!

On Frugal Squirrels his email is listed as: dcrawford@email.com

As far as the praise goes, I completely agree. Every survival forum you go to tout's "Lights Out" as the best survival story ever.

[unodiablo]

I wrote him an e-mail after I finished reading it, that's his e-mail. Nice fella too. I told him I'd give him my lunch money if he wrote a PAW book w/ zombies.

Again, excellent link, JRod, and excellent read, esp. for a free 'net novel. Better than several novels I've paid for, or checked out from the library.

[trickyasafox]

i read it when he first linked it over on the High Road. read his short story too. definatly a lot of talent in both works!

[Jeriah]

Thanks for the link. I'm reading it now. It seems like "educational fiction," in other words, the characters were crafted to be instructional to the reader, not plausible. They're obviously idealized for the purpose of showing the reader how to prepare. It's not "literature," but as educational fiction it's both informative and entertaining.

[artyboy]

I finished it a couple of weeks ago. I think that he did a pretty good job of explaining the cliches. Overall it was a very entertaining read and I'll probably read it again down the road. I'd definately recommend it to anyone. I finished it in a few days.

[Tomcat1066]

Lights Out is really one of the best works of survival fiction out there. Jeriah is right, that it's educational fiction. It is part of the reason I don't trust my life to technology if at all possible, and it actually inspired me to write some of my own survival fiction which helped me start finding holes in my own preps.

I recommend it to everyone who is the least bit interested in survivalism. You will NOT be disappointed.

Tom
who just saw this topic.

[raptorman]

Damn it. All these good reviews make me want to read this!! I'm downloading it now.