The Survivalist
Encyclopedia
The Survivalist is the generic title of Jerry Ahern
's long-lived series of pulp novels. While he was pre-dated by six years by the novel The Survivalist by Giles Tippette (1975) Ahern was the first novelist to create a series of novels with an iconic central character with distinctive survivalist attributes. These attributes have become so often imitated by writers such as D.B. Drumm ("The Traveler" series) David L. Robbins
(the "Endworld" series), Victor Milan aka Richard Austin ("The Guardians" series), Ryder Stacy—a pseudonym shared by Jan Stacy & Ryder Syvertsen (the "Doomsday Warrior" series) that they have become cliched.
The story centers around John Rourke, ex-CIA officer turned weapons and survival expert, in the aftermath of a nuclear war
. The first few books cover Rourke's attempts to find his family, on the way fighting invading Soviet troops as well as typical post-apocalyptic villains such as biker gangs, mutant
s and cannibals in extended scenes of graphic violence. Later books head more into science fiction with cryonics
, doomsday weapons
and underwater cities.
Aside from leading the 1980s fad for survivalist fiction, the series is probably most notable for Ahern's attention to detail on weapons and survival techniques, and the inclusion of sympathetic Soviet characters instead of what could have been typical Cold War
propaganda depictions of 'Godless Communists' -- nevertheless, most are still just cannon fodder and some are shown as sexually sadistic against women. Ahern also includes strong, positive Jewish and Black supporting characters, going against the anti-semitism and racism found in some small fringes of survivalism.
The series leaves out all devastating electromagnetic pulse
effects which would in reality have been caused by a massive nuclear war such as the one described -- there is no mention whatsoever of war damage to worldwide electrical equipment. The name of the Mount Weather
continuity of government
facility has been changed, the National Emergency Airborne Command Post has mysteriously become a V-22 Osprey
. and neutron bomb
effects are described with significant dramatic license. There are also inaccuracies in submarine
-related nomenclature and protocol, but some of these are understandable. The Soviet Union
consistently refused to disclose the particulars of its internal system for referring to the types of submarines it produced. At the end of the Cold War
it became publicly available knowledge that the Soviets used a system based on project numbers, instead of named ship classes such as Western navies use. The Soviet scheme has been inherited by the Russian Federation, and in fact the People's Republic of China
uses a similar system.
Starting in 2007, audio versions started to be released by Graphic Audio covering the entire series of novels. The last book released in 2011.
The series has been long out of print.
Some (or all?) of the books were translated into Polish. Also a French publisher (see below) extended the series.
operations officer
. He has keen sight, but is consequently sensitive to bright light and is usually wearing sunglasses, even at night. He is always armed with a pair of Detonics
Combat Master .45 pistols in Alessi shoulder holsters, Colt Python
and Colt Lawman revolvers, an A.G. Russell Sting 1A knife, and a shoulder sling with either a CAR-15
assault rifle or a Steyr-Mannlicher SSG sniper rifle
.
. After her surrogate parents died in a road accident, Natalia trained as a KGB agent, reaching the rank of Major by the beginning of the war. Married to the unpredictable and often exceedingly ruthless Vladimir Karamatzov -- the head of the KGB in America -- whom she eventually left after being beaten and otherwise mistreated -- she developed a close relationship with Rourke. Tiemerovna's favorite weapons include a silenced Walther pistol, an M-16 and a Balisong
knife.
due to his pedophilia
) that if the spy makes the slightest error for any reason, Varakov will reveal him to the Americans. On the other hand, if the spy ever harms another child and Varakov learns of it, Varakov warns that he will kill the spy by hand. Eventually, Rourke holds the injured spy at gunpoint and promises him morphine
in exchange for the means to radio Varakov, but rather than doing as he said, Rourke shoots the spy dead for his misdeeds.
troops cross the Khyber Pass
from Afghanistan
into Pakistan
. John Rourke is conducting classes in Pakistan
and witnesses the invasion. Rourke then attempts to return home to the United States.
The Soviet leaders launch a nuclear strike against America, and the American President retaliates: nearly two hundred million Americans and over a hundred million Soviet citizens are killed, and tsunamis hit California
and New York
. Rourke is on a 747 bound for Georgia
when the missiles hit, and the pilots are blinded by the explosions. Rourke manages to crash-land the plane near Albuquerque, and teams up with Paul Rubenstein, another survivor of the crash.
With Soviet airborne forces
landing on American soil, and almost every other major American politician dead, the President commits suicide to prevent a forced surrender. Rourke's family become refugees after a gang of looters attack their farm.
Searching for a NASA astronaut who knows about a mysterious 'Eden Project', Rourke enters Soviet-occupied Athens, Georgia
, and is captured. Varakov has a job for him: Rourke is to kill Karamatzov, who has beaten Natalia on suspicion of adultery with Rourke.
A National Guard officer joins forces with a cult of wild-men to infiltrate a remaining nuclear launch site and use the missiles to destroy Chicago. While Rourke's family fight with the resistance and the Soviets experiment with cryonic suspension, Rourke and Natalia fight the wild-men to save the city.
Rourke finally finds his family in Tennessee
, and takes them to his survival retreat. To save themselves from war-induced climate change, the KGB loot 'Eden Project' cryonics research from the Johnson Space Center, while Rourke and Natalia fight through Soviet troops, feral dogs and cannibals to discuss the coming 'end of the world' with Varakov in Chicago.
Rourke and Natalia break into 'The Womb', a Soviet survival habitat in what used to be NORAD, to prevent the KGB from destroying the 'Eden Project' shuttles on their return to Earth. The two steal cryonics equipment allowing the Rourkes, Paul and Natalia to survive the impending climatic catastrophe. Most life on the surface is wiped out, Varakov dying in Chicago and Rozhdestvenskiy, searching for Rourke in Georgia, dying in a climatic shootout with Rourke as the world's atmosphere ignites around them.
Having planned a five hundred year cryogenic sleep to await the returning 'Eden Project' shuttles, Rourke wakes Annie and Michael early, raising them to teenagers and then returning himself to cryogenic suspension so they'll be adults by the time the others wake. Michael explores the post-apocalypse world, finding tribes of cannibals surrounding a pre-war bomb shelter where the occupants rigorously maintain a limited population, sending excess workers outside to die.
A very brief synopsis of the remaining books in the series:
The Eden Project (an international project) returns and lands in Georgia at a makeshift runway created by the Rourkes, forming a colony. The Soviet Union has survived in massive underground shelters and continues their conflict with the Rourke family across the globe. Nazi Germany survived in an underground shelter in South America but the Nazi regime is overthrown through the efforts of Rourke and his family. The now democratic German colony become staunch allies of Rourke. Iceland survived in hollow volcanoes and join the Rourke family in their battles. A particularly dramatic book, Mid-Wake, details how the United States survived in an underwater colony in the Pacific. A Soviet colony nearby also survived and both colonies have continued the war over the last five centuries. The Chinese survived in three underground cities and become involved in battles as well. The books end with an alliance of the freedom-loving states defeating the evil regime states and peace returning to the Earth.
Such detail regarding the brands and specific products endorsed by Rourke extends to all sorts of items that appear in the series. This list is representative, but by no means complete. John Thomas Rourke favors:
Published by Vaugirard.
Text for 31 and 51 (and the rest?) by Frederic Charpier (possibly a pseudonym used by multiple authors). 31 and 51 published in 1990 and 1993 respectively. Www.Chapitre.Com has listed copies for sale in the past.
01 Guerre totale Total war
02 Le Cauchemar commence The nightmare begins
03 L'escadrom de fer Iron
squadron
04 Le cri de l'epervier Cry of the
sparrow-hawk
05 Le piege The trap
06 Les hommes-jaguars The
jaguar men
07 Le prophete The prophet
(Judging by
the titles, 1-7 may be translations of the
originals)
08 Kamikazes Kamikazes
09 Enfer cannibale
Cannibal hell
10 Pulsions de mort Pulses(?) of
death
11 Terreur sous Manhattan Terror under
Manhattan
12 Les damnees The damned
13 Sierra commando
Sierra commando
14 Assaut Assault
15 La nuit des
saboteurs Night of the saboteurs
16 Haute trahison High
treason
17 La traque sauvage The savage hunt
18 Les
maitres de guerre The masters of war
19 La balade des tortionnaires Torturers'(?) run
20 Massacre en eaux
troubles Massacre in troubled waters
21 Carnage sous
les tropiques Carnage under the tropics
22
Nuit barbare Barbarous night
23 Apocalypse Bay
Apocalypse Bay
24 Le tueur du desert Desert killer
25
Les chiens du diable Dogs of the devil
26 Les
rebelles The rebels
27 Les hommes du Klan Men of the
Klan
28 Reglement de compte a Fayetteville Settlement
of account at Fayetteville
29 Freres de sang
Blood brothers
30 Noces macabres en Georgie Macabre weddings in Georgia
31 Raid sur Royal Oak Raid
on Royal Oak
32 La brigade infernale The infernal
brigade
33 La chasse au sorcier Hunt for the sorceror
34
Passeport pour Hooligan City Passport for Hooligan
City
35 La vallee des morts The valley of deaths
36
Les bateliers de la riviere rouge Boatmen of red
river
37 La vengance Vengance
38 Mission speciale
Special mission
39 Le squelette de verre Skeleton of
glass
40 Les nouveaux seigneurs du Mississippi New
lords of the Mississippi
41 Saint Louis gang St.
Louis gang
42 Le rescape du 3rd Reich Survivor
of the 3rd Reich
43 La croisade des
christeros Crusade of the christians(?)
44 La crypte des
supplices The crypt of agonies
45 La griffe du vampire
The claw of the vampire
46 Mortel guet-apens
Deadly ambush
47 Missouri, etat d'alerte Missouri, state of alert
48 Les coupeurs de tetes
Head-hunters
49 Les possedes de Brettwood The maniacs of Brettwood
50 Le contrat du diable Devil's contract
51 Terre, pointe zero Ground zero
Jerry Ahern
Jerry Ahern is a science fiction and action novel author best known for his post apocalyptic survivalist series The Survivalist. The books in this series are heavy with descriptions of the weapons the protagonists use to survive and prosecute a seemingly never-ending war amongst the remnants of...
's long-lived series of pulp novels. While he was pre-dated by six years by the novel The Survivalist by Giles Tippette (1975) Ahern was the first novelist to create a series of novels with an iconic central character with distinctive survivalist attributes. These attributes have become so often imitated by writers such as D.B. Drumm ("The Traveler" series) David L. Robbins
David L. Robbins
David Lawrence Robbins is an American author of English and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. He writes both fiction and non-fiction. He has written hundreds of books under his own name and many pen names, among them: David Thompson, Jake McMasters, Jon Sharpe, Don Pendleton, Franklin W. Dixon, Ralph...
(the "Endworld" series), Victor Milan aka Richard Austin ("The Guardians" series), Ryder Stacy—a pseudonym shared by Jan Stacy & Ryder Syvertsen (the "Doomsday Warrior" series) that they have become cliched.
Background
Ahern produced twenty-seven novels in numbered sequence, plus two un-numbered novels which fit between 15/16 and 21/22, selling 3.5 million copies in total: despite this, and probably important for the pulp marketplace, there is usually enough recapping at the start of each novel to read them out of sequence.The story centers around John Rourke, ex-CIA officer turned weapons and survival expert, in the aftermath of a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
. The first few books cover Rourke's attempts to find his family, on the way fighting invading Soviet troops as well as typical post-apocalyptic villains such as biker gangs, mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
s and cannibals in extended scenes of graphic violence. Later books head more into science fiction with cryonics
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
, doomsday weapons
Doomsday device
A doomsday device is a hypothetical construction — usually a weapon, or collection of weapons — which could destroy all life on a planet, particularly the Earth, or destroy the planet itself, bringing "doomsday", a term used for the end of planet Earth...
and underwater cities.
Aside from leading the 1980s fad for survivalist fiction, the series is probably most notable for Ahern's attention to detail on weapons and survival techniques, and the inclusion of sympathetic Soviet characters instead of what could have been typical Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
propaganda depictions of 'Godless Communists' -- nevertheless, most are still just cannon fodder and some are shown as sexually sadistic against women. Ahern also includes strong, positive Jewish and Black supporting characters, going against the anti-semitism and racism found in some small fringes of survivalism.
The series leaves out all devastating electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
effects which would in reality have been caused by a massive nuclear war such as the one described -- there is no mention whatsoever of war damage to worldwide electrical equipment. The name of the Mount Weather
Mount Weather
The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is a civilian command facility in Virginia, U.S. used as the center of operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency...
continuity of government
Continuity of government
Continuity of government is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of nuclear war or other catastrophic event....
facility has been changed, the National Emergency Airborne Command Post has mysteriously become a V-22 Osprey
V-22 Osprey
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...
. and neutron bomb
Neutron bomb
A neutron bomb or enhanced radiation weapon or weapon of reinforced radiation is a type of thermonuclear weapon designed specifically to release a large portion of its energy as energetic neutron radiation rather than explosive energy...
effects are described with significant dramatic license. There are also inaccuracies in submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
-related nomenclature and protocol, but some of these are understandable. The Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
consistently refused to disclose the particulars of its internal system for referring to the types of submarines it produced. At the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
it became publicly available knowledge that the Soviets used a system based on project numbers, instead of named ship classes such as Western navies use. The Soviet scheme has been inherited by the Russian Federation, and in fact the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
uses a similar system.
Starting in 2007, audio versions started to be released by Graphic Audio covering the entire series of novels. The last book released in 2011.
The series has been long out of print.
Some (or all?) of the books were translated into Polish. Also a French publisher (see below) extended the series.
John Thomas Rourke
Doctor, survival and weapons expert, and ex-CIA paramilitaryParamilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
operations officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
. He has keen sight, but is consequently sensitive to bright light and is usually wearing sunglasses, even at night. He is always armed with a pair of Detonics
Detonics
Detonics is a firearm manufacturing company based in Millstadt, Illinois, USA. Detonics is most notably known for its innovative design of compact 1911-style pistols, such as the Combat Master.-Company history:...
Combat Master .45 pistols in Alessi shoulder holsters, Colt Python
Colt Python
The Colt Python is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver formerly manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It is sometimes referred to as a "Combat Magnum". It was first introduced in 1955, the same year as Smith & Wesson's M29 .44 Magnum. The now discontinued Colt Python...
and Colt Lawman revolvers, an A.G. Russell Sting 1A knife, and a shoulder sling with either a CAR-15
CAR-15
The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 Military Weapons System or CAR-15 was a family of AR-15 and M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Due to their compact size, the short-barreled Colt Commando and XM177 versions of this family continued to be issued to the U.S...
assault rifle or a Steyr-Mannlicher SSG sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
.
Paul Rubenstein
John Rourke's side-kick, fellow survivor of the Albuquerque airliner crash on the night of the war. Fond of his looted MP-40 submachinegun.Major Natalia Tiemerovna
Adopted surreptitiously as a niece by General Varakov, after her real parents were killed by the KGBKGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
. After her surrogate parents died in a road accident, Natalia trained as a KGB agent, reaching the rank of Major by the beginning of the war. Married to the unpredictable and often exceedingly ruthless Vladimir Karamatzov -- the head of the KGB in America -- whom she eventually left after being beaten and otherwise mistreated -- she developed a close relationship with Rourke. Tiemerovna's favorite weapons include a silenced Walther pistol, an M-16 and a Balisong
Balisong (knife)
A Butterfly knife, also known as a fan knife or Balisong, is a folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotating around the tang such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles. It is sometimes called a Batangas knife, after the Tagalog province of Batangas in the...
knife.
General Ishmael Varakov
Natalia's uncle, and leader of the Soviet Occupation Forces in America, Varakov many times shows himself to be a patriotic, honorable and reasonable Soviet soldier, who at times helps Rourke to stop some of the more extreme plans of the KGB. Varakov is at his best when he spews withering insults upon one of his country's intelligence assets who has survived to become a person of importance in the remnants of the US federal government. Varakov tells this spy (controlled by blackmailBlackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
due to his pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
) that if the spy makes the slightest error for any reason, Varakov will reveal him to the Americans. On the other hand, if the spy ever harms another child and Varakov learns of it, Varakov warns that he will kill the spy by hand. Eventually, Rourke holds the injured spy at gunpoint and promises him morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
in exchange for the means to radio Varakov, but rather than doing as he said, Rourke shoots the spy dead for his misdeeds.
Vladimir Karamatsov
Husband of Natalia Tiemerovna, head of the North American branch of the KGB. Rourke shot Karamatsov at Gen. Varakov's request, since it was politically impossible for Varakov himself to take revenge for the mistreatment of Natalia. Karmatsov somehow survived Rourke's attack, but was later killed by Natalia herself.Colonel Nehemiah Rozhdestvenskiy
Head of the KGB after Karamatzov's death. So power-crazed he even shoots down an airliner carrying the surviving members of the Soviet Politburo to America.Plot overview
Red ArmyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
troops cross the Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass, is a mountain pass linking Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Pass was an integral part of the ancient Silk Road. It is mentioned in the Bible as the "Pesh Habor," and it is one of the oldest known passes in the world....
from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
into Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. John Rourke is conducting classes in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and witnesses the invasion. Rourke then attempts to return home to the United States.
The Soviet leaders launch a nuclear strike against America, and the American President retaliates: nearly two hundred million Americans and over a hundred million Soviet citizens are killed, and tsunamis hit California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Rourke is on a 747 bound for Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
when the missiles hit, and the pilots are blinded by the explosions. Rourke manages to crash-land the plane near Albuquerque, and teams up with Paul Rubenstein, another survivor of the crash.
With Soviet airborne forces
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
landing on American soil, and almost every other major American politician dead, the President commits suicide to prevent a forced surrender. Rourke's family become refugees after a gang of looters attack their farm.
Searching for a NASA astronaut who knows about a mysterious 'Eden Project', Rourke enters Soviet-occupied Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, and is captured. Varakov has a job for him: Rourke is to kill Karamatzov, who has beaten Natalia on suspicion of adultery with Rourke.
A National Guard officer joins forces with a cult of wild-men to infiltrate a remaining nuclear launch site and use the missiles to destroy Chicago. While Rourke's family fight with the resistance and the Soviets experiment with cryonic suspension, Rourke and Natalia fight the wild-men to save the city.
Rourke finally finds his family in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and takes them to his survival retreat. To save themselves from war-induced climate change, the KGB loot 'Eden Project' cryonics research from the Johnson Space Center, while Rourke and Natalia fight through Soviet troops, feral dogs and cannibals to discuss the coming 'end of the world' with Varakov in Chicago.
Rourke and Natalia break into 'The Womb', a Soviet survival habitat in what used to be NORAD, to prevent the KGB from destroying the 'Eden Project' shuttles on their return to Earth. The two steal cryonics equipment allowing the Rourkes, Paul and Natalia to survive the impending climatic catastrophe. Most life on the surface is wiped out, Varakov dying in Chicago and Rozhdestvenskiy, searching for Rourke in Georgia, dying in a climatic shootout with Rourke as the world's atmosphere ignites around them.
Having planned a five hundred year cryogenic sleep to await the returning 'Eden Project' shuttles, Rourke wakes Annie and Michael early, raising them to teenagers and then returning himself to cryogenic suspension so they'll be adults by the time the others wake. Michael explores the post-apocalypse world, finding tribes of cannibals surrounding a pre-war bomb shelter where the occupants rigorously maintain a limited population, sending excess workers outside to die.
A very brief synopsis of the remaining books in the series:
The Eden Project (an international project) returns and lands in Georgia at a makeshift runway created by the Rourkes, forming a colony. The Soviet Union has survived in massive underground shelters and continues their conflict with the Rourke family across the globe. Nazi Germany survived in an underground shelter in South America but the Nazi regime is overthrown through the efforts of Rourke and his family. The now democratic German colony become staunch allies of Rourke. Iceland survived in hollow volcanoes and join the Rourke family in their battles. A particularly dramatic book, Mid-Wake, details how the United States survived in an underwater colony in the Pacific. A Soviet colony nearby also survived and both colonies have continued the war over the last five centuries. The Chinese survived in three underground cities and become involved in battles as well. The books end with an alliance of the freedom-loving states defeating the evil regime states and peace returning to the Earth.
Weapons and equipment details
Ahern is very meticulous in his description of the weapons and equipment used by characters in the story, particularly with regard to his hero's preferences. So, for instance, John Thomas Rourke does not carry a .357 Magnum as his backup gun, he carries a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver customized by Mag-na-port and Metalife, firing Federal Premium jacketed hollowpoint ammunition.Such detail regarding the brands and specific products endorsed by Rourke extends to all sorts of items that appear in the series. This list is representative, but by no means complete. John Thomas Rourke favors:
- Handguns by DetonicsDetonicsDetonics is a firearm manufacturing company based in Millstadt, Illinois, USA. Detonics is most notably known for its innovative design of compact 1911-style pistols, such as the Combat Master.-Company history:...
- The Colt Python revolver
- The Steyr-Mannlicher SSG sharpshooting rifle
- The Colt CAR-15CAR-15The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 Military Weapons System or CAR-15 was a family of AR-15 and M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Due to their compact size, the short-barreled Colt Commando and XM177 versions of this family continued to be issued to the U.S...
assault rifle - Federal ammunition
- Custom recoil suppression by Mag-na-port
- Firearms refinishing by Metalife Industries
- Alessi leather holsters
- SafarilandSafarilandSafariland, LLC is a division of BAE Systems, Inc. a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC. It is a major designer and manufacturer of equipment for sporting, military, law enforcement, investigation and public safety personnel.-History:The company was...
speedloaders - Pachmayr handgun grips
- The "Six Pack" ammunition pack by Milt Sparks
- The Loco Pack backpack by Lowe Alpine Systems
- Harley-DavidsonHarley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
motorcycles - ZippoZippoA Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
cigarette lighters - The Sting IA fighting knife by AG Russell
- The Life Support System survival knife by Jack Crain
- Mountain House freeze-dried meals
Books
- No.1 Total War (1981) ISBN 0-450-05573-6
- No.2 The Nightmare Begins (1981)
- No.3 The Quest (1981) ISBN 0-450-05638-4
- No.4 The Doomsayer (1981)
- No.5 The Web (1983)
- No.6 The Savage Horde (1983)
- No.7 The Prophet (1984) ISBN 0-450-05811-5
- No.8 The End is Coming (1984) ISBN 0-450-05830-1
- No.9 Earth Fire (1984) ISBN 0-450-05867-0
- No.10 The Awakening (1984) ISBN 0-450-05887-5
- No.11 The Reprisal (1985) ISBN 0-450-38997-9
- No.12 The Rebellion (1985) ISBN 0-450-39988-5
- No.13 Pursuit (1986) ISBN 0-450-40577-X
- No.14 The Terror (1987) ISBN 0-450-41123-0
- No.15 Overlord (1987) ISBN 0-450-41348-9
- Mid-Wake (1988) ISBN 0-450-49736-4
- No.16 The Arsenal (1988) ISBN 0-450-42141-4
- No.17 The Ordeal (1988)
- No.18 The Struggle (1989) ISBN 0-450-53088-4
- No.19 Final Rain (1989)
- No.20 Firestorm (1989)
- No.21 ...To End all War (1990)
- The Legend (1991)
- No.22 Brutal Conquest (1991)
- No.23 Call to Battle (1992)
- No.24 Blood Assassins (1992)
- No.25 War Mountain (1993)
- No.26 Countdown (1993)
- No.27 Death Watch (1993)
French Novels
A French publisher produced at least 51 books based on the Survivalist. The first 7 match the English titles fairly well so could be translations, the rest are different.Published by Vaugirard.
Text for 31 and 51 (and the rest?) by Frederic Charpier (possibly a pseudonym used by multiple authors). 31 and 51 published in 1990 and 1993 respectively. Www.Chapitre.Com has listed copies for sale in the past.
01 Guerre totale Total war
02 Le Cauchemar commence The nightmare begins
03 L'escadrom de fer Iron
squadron
04 Le cri de l'epervier Cry of the
sparrow-hawk
05 Le piege The trap
06 Les hommes-jaguars The
jaguar men
07 Le prophete The prophet
(Judging by
the titles, 1-7 may be translations of the
originals)
08 Kamikazes Kamikazes
09 Enfer cannibale
Cannibal hell
10 Pulsions de mort Pulses(?) of
death
11 Terreur sous Manhattan Terror under
Manhattan
12 Les damnees The damned
13 Sierra commando
Sierra commando
14 Assaut Assault
15 La nuit des
saboteurs Night of the saboteurs
16 Haute trahison High
treason
17 La traque sauvage The savage hunt
18 Les
maitres de guerre The masters of war
19 La balade des tortionnaires Torturers'(?) run
20 Massacre en eaux
troubles Massacre in troubled waters
21 Carnage sous
les tropiques Carnage under the tropics
22
Nuit barbare Barbarous night
23 Apocalypse Bay
Apocalypse Bay
24 Le tueur du desert Desert killer
25
Les chiens du diable Dogs of the devil
26 Les
rebelles The rebels
27 Les hommes du Klan Men of the
Klan
28 Reglement de compte a Fayetteville Settlement
of account at Fayetteville
29 Freres de sang
Blood brothers
30 Noces macabres en Georgie Macabre weddings in Georgia
31 Raid sur Royal Oak Raid
on Royal Oak
32 La brigade infernale The infernal
brigade
33 La chasse au sorcier Hunt for the sorceror
34
Passeport pour Hooligan City Passport for Hooligan
City
35 La vallee des morts The valley of deaths
36
Les bateliers de la riviere rouge Boatmen of red
river
37 La vengance Vengance
38 Mission speciale
Special mission
39 Le squelette de verre Skeleton of
glass
40 Les nouveaux seigneurs du Mississippi New
lords of the Mississippi
41 Saint Louis gang St.
Louis gang
42 Le rescape du 3rd Reich Survivor
of the 3rd Reich
43 La croisade des
christeros Crusade of the christians(?)
44 La crypte des
supplices The crypt of agonies
45 La griffe du vampire
The claw of the vampire
46 Mortel guet-apens
Deadly ambush
47 Missouri, etat d'alerte Missouri, state of alert
48 Les coupeurs de tetes
Head-hunters
49 Les possedes de Brettwood The maniacs of Brettwood
50 Le contrat du diable Devil's contract
51 Terre, pointe zero Ground zero
Sources
Other than the books themselves:External links
- NUKE POP - Popular culture of the nuclear age.
- Radioactive Rambos - Examples of survivalist fiction in general.
- Mackbolan.com - Features synopsis of all of the Survivalist books as well as the ability to review and read reviews of each book in the series.
- Graphic Audio - Starting in 2007, Graphic Audio slowly converted The Survivalist into audio book format, complete with sound effects, different voices. The final book was released in February 2011.