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Loading... The Army of the Republic: A Novel (2008)by Stuart Archer Cohen
None.  TheTwoDs | Aug 24, 2010 |   This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.I look forward to reading his next book. (  ) emcelroy | Apr 28, 2010 | This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.The author deserves some credit for reaching for something new, for trying to deliver a fictional vision of present political realities (and recent past) extrapolated into a not-too-distant future in a style that is vaguely reminiscent of William Gibson's work. But the writing isn't good enough to carry the story, the story isn't good enough to stand on its own, and the political ideas (obviously the main motivation for the book)--already shallow and half-baked enough at the time of publication--now seem dated and even more naive in a post-Bush, Obama as President world. As another LT reviewer wrote (I paraphrase here): the hippies are going to save us? Really? (  )2  manque | Feb 27, 2010 | This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. ) memasmb | Jan 28, 2010 | This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.This was a pretty good read, a political thriller for the left, a cautionary tale, a bit didactic. I liked it. It scared and entertained me. While I enjoyed the read I can't help but feel that Stuart Archer Cohen missed an opportunity to write a really great story here, instead of a good one. still, I couldn't put it down and know that the characters will be with me for a long time. And I think the world the author imagined is on the near horizon. I don't know if it was just the review copy but it needed a better proof-reader. ( ) amberalicia | Oct 27, 2009 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0312383770, Hardcover)In an America stretched by crisis to the breaking point, billionaire entrepreneur and government insider James Sands is riding high. Over the protests of civic groups and the increasing alienation of his wife, Anne, Sands is poised on the brink of an immensely risky and controversial deal that will give him control of all public water in the Pacific Northwest. But when his business partner is murdered by a radical group called The Army of the Republic, Sands finds himself losing control of his business and his life. Desperate, he turns to Whitehall Security, a private intelligence firm with far-reaching political connections. For a steep monthly fee, Whitehall will hunt down and eliminate any threats to Sands's enterprise. Meanwhile, in Seattle, a young guerrilla named Lando leads The Army of the Republic into a dangerous war of ideals. Charismatic and cunning, Lando is obsessed with the goal of saving the country from its corrupt ruling alliance by any means necessary. His reluctant ally is political organizer Emily Cortright, coordinator of a network of civil, religious, and labor groups. Bound together in a web of common aims and conflicting loyalties, the two plan a massive peaceful protest against a conference of national business leaders, which they hope will stagger the Regime. Beyond his control, through, Lando's Army of the Republic has already unleashed a chain of events that will electrify and frighten an uneasy nation. Hemmed in by their lethal compromises, Emily, Lando, James, and Anne struggle to redeem or destroy those whom they love most. Thrilling and unforgettable, The Army of the Republic is a brilliant, provocative novel about what it means to live in a democracy. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:57:29 -0500) "In an America stretched by crisis to the breaking point, billionaire entrepreneur and government insider James Sands is riding high. Over the protests of civic groups and the increasing alienation of his wife, Anne, Sands is poised on the brink of an immensely risky and controversial deal that will give him control of all public water in the Pacific Northwest. But when his business partner is murdered by a radical group called The Army of the Republic, Sands finds himself losing control of his business and his life. Desperate, he turns to Whitehall Security, a private intelligence firm with far-reaching political connections. For a steep monthly fee, Whitehall will hunt down and eliminate any threats to Sands's enterprise." "Meanwhile, in Seattle, a young guerrilla named Lando leads The Army of the Republic into a dangerous war of ideals. Charismatic and cunning, Lando is obsessed with the goal of saving the country from its corrupt ruling alliance by any means necessary. His reluctant ally is political organizer Emily Cortright, coordinator of a network of civil, religious, and labor groups. Bound together in a web of common aims and conflicting loyalties, the two plan a massive peaceful protest against a conference of national business leaders, which they hope will stagger the Regime." "Beyond his control, though, Lando's Army of the Republic has already unleashed a chain of events that will electrify and frighten an uneasy nation. Hemmed in by their lethal compromises, Emily, Lando, James, and Anne struggle to redeem or destroy those whom they love most." "Thrilling and unforgettable, The Army of the Republic is a brilliant, provocative novel about what it means to live in a democracy."--BOOK JACKET.… (more) |
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The characters don't get developed fully, instead presenting themselves as stock oligarchs, stereotypical anarchists and conflicted family members. The writing style is more of a thriller, though one with left-leaning political viewpoints scattered throughout. The book will definitely get your blood boiling, no matter which side of the political spectrum you reside on. I found myself growing angry at the situations as I read.
Cohen makes an interesting decision to tell the story in multiple first person point of view, alternating between a militant leader in the title revolutionary group, his love interest who is in the inner circle of a peaceful protest group and the CEO of a water privatization company who, in a bid to save his multi-billion dollar corporation from the onslaught of the militants, becomes ensnared with a government-backed group of mercenary death squads. The next civil war is on. (