Good News

Good News takes place in a post-collapse Phoenix, Arizona where society has crumbled after economic and governmental failure. The remnants of civilization struggle to survive in this harsh new reality, with some seeking to maintain their freedom while others attempt to seize control. Jack Burns, a character from Abbey's earlier work The Brave Cowboy, appears among the scattered groups trying to navigate this transformed landscape. A military leader emerges with aims to establish an authoritarian regime, using Phoenix as the foundation for his new order. This 1980 novel stands as Abbey's sole venture into science fiction, presenting a stark vision of societal breakdown in the American Southwest. The narrative examines tensions between individual liberty and authoritarian control in a world where traditional structures have disintegrated.

Readers note this is one of Abbey's weaker novels, with less impact than his non-fiction works. The book has limited reviews online compared to his other titles. Readers appreciated: - The return of characters from The Monkey Wrench Gang - Environmental themes consistent with Abbey's other works - Moments of dark humor and satire - Descriptions of Southwest landscapes Common criticisms: - Plot meanders with less focus than his previous novels - Characters feel less developed - Writing style is more scattered and uneven - The eco-terrorism subplot lacks tension Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (323 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (13 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Falls flat compared to Monkey Wrench Gang" - Goodreads reviewer "The environmental message gets lost in a messy narrative" - Amazon reviewer "Worth reading for Abbey completists but not a good entry point to his work" - LibraryThing reviewer

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⚡ Abbey wrote "Good News" while living in a fire lookout tower in Arizona, drawing direct inspiration from the desert landscape he could see for miles around 🌵 The Phoenix setting was chosen deliberately to highlight Abbey's concerns about urban sprawl in the American Southwest, a theme he explored in many of his works 📚 Despite being his only post-apocalyptic novel, "Good News" shares many themes with Abbey's non-fiction masterpiece "Desert Solitaire," particularly regarding human relationships with harsh environments 🗽 The novel was written during the Cold War era, reflecting widespread anxieties about societal collapse that were prevalent in American culture during the late 1970s 🎯 The military strongman character in the novel was partially inspired by Abbey's experiences with authority during his time as a park ranger in various national parks