Rating: 3 1/2 stars
The Hornbrook Prophecy is a gripping tale of what ifs—what ifs that just might not be too far from the truth. Author Robert Wicke’s story weaves in and out of an intriguing scenario of government bankruptcy, organizational failure and civil turmoil. Amid the chaos emerges small pockets of individuals determined to protect their communities and find a solution to the madness.
Their solution is one man, Henley Hornbrook, who has been telling them all along that this was a possibility. One man who saw the signs from 200 years ago. One man who still hopes with all his heart that he is wrong.
The Hornbrook Prophecy is an eye-opening novel of epic proportions. While the beginning isn’t fast-paced, it’s far from dull. Wickes sets the stage and gives his readers background, enabling them to fully understand the action that is about to literally explode onto the scene.
The middle is a furious rollercoaster ride with almost no break. Just when it got to the point where I was thinking, “Please, no more!” Wickes works in a moment for his readers to breathe. The third section slows again and feels more like an Ayn Rand-esque lecture than a work of pure fiction.
Again, far from dull but serves more as a platform for Wickes to express his political and social viewpoints and his advice for governmental reform—a quick and lay education on how to fix things, if you will. I don’t view this as taking away from the novel at all; on the contrary, I found The Hornbrook Prophecy to be the most gripping and potentially realistic novel I have read in a very long time.
While I could easily recommend, The Hornbrook Prophecy to just about anyone, I think suspense/thriller fans, as well as those interested in political fiction, would enjoy it the most. Political activists interested in the reform suggested in the novel will find it a fantastic way to get others energized about their ideals while avoiding the “dry” nature their typical literature can sometimes have on the average citizen.
Further, if you consider Wickes other published works—The Myth America Pageant: How Government and Politics REALLY Affect the Ordinary Joe and Saving Private America—you have to wonder how much of The Hornbrook Prophecy is “made up” and how much of it is something the author really believes will one day happen.
Robert Wickes pens a frighteningly realistic story in The Hornbrook Prophecy. You will never look at government and politics the same way again! An absolute must read!
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Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Crystal Dreams Publishing (August 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1591463429