Blue fire

Blue fire: John Gilstrap 

Close your eyes but first, check your surroundings. Memorize it and picture it vividly and imagine when you reopen your eyes all that’s left is the outer shell of your home or apartment. Imagine not having an easy entrance out and fires raging all around you. Your cell phone has no charge, towers have been obliterated and if you have an electric car once the battery dies it’s gone for good. Maybe you can sleep in it but don’t be so sure. Horses might be your mode of transportation and being fully armed and having plenty of ammunition is your means of survival. Hell Day is what happened and you just entered a world filled with danger, gangs that will take whatever they want, killers, and more. Welcome to the new world minus phones, cars, schools, the internet, and any means of communication. How do you survive? Would you travel and search empty stores, houses, and restaurants and take as much as you can? What about meds needed or will you be willing to enter a small somewhat civilized town named Ortho and be part of a new society that requires you to work for what you want.

Victoria Emerson was a congresswoman who was with the rest of the government that survived being taken by force to live in isolation in a well-armed bunker for 60 days. Indignities, forced to follow the rules of those in charge of Solaris the new President, the Senate, and other officials were forced to live under their rules. But when Victoria was told her two sons had to stay out what she does shocks everyone Ed and her decision would impact the lives of a tiny town hit hard by the fires, explosions, and devastation and becoming the primary voice and leader of Ortho. 

Major Joel McCrea look worried when he heard the emergence response call. Luke Emerson was the first to trigger the alert protocol. Caleb heard it too. Each member of the team responded but then the unthinkable happens. Someone named Captain Magill claimed to be sent by the army to get hold of their resources. But claiming they wanted to help people he and his team, Victoria realizes the lies, shots are fired and the result is a battle that takes lives. 

Victoria summons McCrea, Joey Abbot t, George Simmons, and Paul Copley to reassess what happened. These men are the defense team and McCrea feels they performed adequately. However, she is trying to see if what happened was right.

Hell Day wants a week’s before and most people just need everything but as Simmons says more people are taking what is not there’s. Punishments are harsh and what about the new people that arrive? How do they get acclimated? At this meeting, a plan is devised on how to protect their town, what areas need more people, and the type of new security and guard duties that need to be added. On pages 36-37 they come up with a payment plan that is unique and cost-effective. Chapter 4 takes us back to the United States Government Relocation Center also known as the Annex. We understand more about the bunker whereas we learned the members of the Senate and House would be evacuated as in this nuclear war. Just where is classified and will not be revealed. The history behind this is richly described in detail on pages 43-46. But there is a serious concern about every ground zero and for a nuke detonation that is boiling with radioactivity. Hearing the new President have his thoughts shared with Burton Sinclair we begin to understand his frustration and adding in Arlen Strasky it gets tense. Not knowing what’s out there and how the world makes them want to try and leave but can they open the door? 

Solara is run by Scott Johnson do you think he’s going to care about what they want? 

Adam Emerson and his girlfriend Emma find themselves struggling to keep safe and encounter gangs, towns where people were killed and property burned because they did have anything valuable to give. Frank Rouse and his family are tossed out when a notorious gang leader creates his own sick rules and he winds up in Ortho. President Penn faces off with Johnson and a debate over radiation levels outside and a member of his team volunteers to be the one to find out as they open the doors to the bunker, what will Stasky find and will the amount of radiation be at a safe level? 

Different assaults come from several directions as allowing Strasky to leave created a deadly outcome and someone taking over the bunker and the officials including the President at their mercy. Adam and Emma wind up in Ortho but circumstances warrant a hearing for the death of Lisa a young girl they were trying to save. At the same time another attack was planned and the result will help readers know that consequences are hardcore, battle lines drawn but will Victoria and her team survive? With Adam’s knowledge and the quick assessment of sone on the other side, the ending is controversial, the story is far from over as author John Gilstrap penned a novel focusing on trust, planned strategies, deceptions, betrayals, honesty, and loyalty as the ending is left to the reader to decide fair or unjust verdict? But there’s more to come and the final threats are still out there so stay alert and listen for the code you never know when you’ll hear the words Blue Fire: keep your weapon at the ready!

Fran Lewis just reviews