Good News: A Novel (Plume)

I have to read Edward Abbey when I'm in the desert. What could be better? Well, maybe any of his other books. I prefer his nonfiction, especially [Desert Solitaire], his best. Good News is another of his anarchist romps through the desert, man against the establishment, kind of fun but not his best. Lots of philosophizing: the main protagonist, a man attempting to reestablish government control in this dystopian story, in defending a sidekick who is a criminal who likes to torture people, "....An historical note: Without criminal and torturers like Sergeant Brock--there could be no gentlemen like us."

Three stars - only for Abbey completists.

I love most of the works of Edward Abbey, but after Good News I'm glad this was his only foray into science fiction. The story is a lot like the movies Mad Max and The Postman combined, in that you have a dystopian future where violent para-military types rule what is left of humankind.

Of course Abbey locates Good News in his beloved Southwest, where an old cowboy rides into chaotic Phoenix looking for his long-lost son who presumably has joined the para-military group. The story is sprinkled with native Americans, liberal college professors, despotic commanders and more.

My advice is that this book is only for loyal Abbey followers wanting to read all of his works.

The action here is fast-paced and like many westerns there is little ambiguity about who the white and black hats are. It explores the mentality responsible for organized assaults on the environment. It sees hope in a combination of rebellion and mysticism.

Ed Abbey never disappoints me. I found this one at The Free Book Thing. It was a particularly unsettling read, given the current state of the world. Without much of a stretch of the imagination, I could see something like this happening in my lifetime.