Page 133 - JSOM Fall 2019
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The First Marauder
Book I of III
Ryan L. The First Marauder: Book I of III. Independently published (August 3, 2018). Available at Amazon.com. Paperback:
319 pages. Product Dimensions: 5.2 × 0.8 × 8 inches. ISBN-10: 1717858341. ISBN-13: 978-1717858344.
ated No. 2437 in Dystopian Fiction and No. 5037 in As post-apocalyptic fiction, Ryan provides an astute predic-
Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction (Books) on Amazon, tion of a potential future. Ryan’s descriptions echo the realities
RThe First Marauder follows Tyler Ballard, a young sur- of combat and the emotional toll of living in a survival setting.
vivor of “the Red,” a deadly virus. Instead of As another reader said, “Ryan provides a great
the world recovering, it is delving further into insight into combat that reflects his experience
darkness. Tyler lies about his age to join the East and treats both sides with a compassion and un-
Tampa Militia in their fight against a neighbor- derstanding that reflects his heart.”
ing town over resources. He hopes that joining
the war will bring him vengeance for his mur- At its core, the book is about the discovery of
dered brother, but he finds that war takes you war and politics through the eyes of a boy as
anywhere but where you want to go. he becomes a young man. Ryan siphons his
personal experiences into this fictional world—
In this account of what happens to society from the school shooting he experienced as a
and individuals after a pandemic, Ryan draws kid in Pakistan, to his extensive combat experi-
on his experiences as an Army Ranger. As one ence in the military, the world he creates is vis-
reader said, “Nothing is certain in the world of ceral and real, though not without hope.
the First Marauder, and Ryan expertly conveys
the ways people evolve to suit the challenges In this book that he designed, Ryan balances
they’re faced with ... even when those challenges may seem adventure with romance and creates characters that you care
insurmountable.” about; parts II and III are eagerly awaited by the readers of
part I.
“The Gun & the Scythe” and “The First Marauder” | 131
