Defiance: An American Novel

One should remember that the publication date (1971) marked the beginning of the lowest point for America in the Cold War. Not only was communism advancing in Asia, Africa and the Western Hemisphere but large segments of academia and the intellectual world semed intent on wounding the national psyche. Vandenberg, the hero of the novel, notes that the West was already defeated psychologicaly before it was defeated militarily. The journal containing his mustings is a key element in the story. The book is far more than resistance to a Soviet takeover. In fact, resistance itself plays a small part of the book. It is an exploration of those who choose not to give in. There is a wonderful relationship between Vandenberg and his son, Kevin, who is retarded. The internal battles that each person must make concerning their own course of action are constant. This is not a view with rose-colored glasses. There is no mass resistance because people have chosen to accomodate. The ending is in doubt, lingering, somewhat depressing...a terrific tale of hope, loyalty and love.

This story is on a similar vein as The Movie Red Dawn but was written earlier. It's well crafted and interesting. I liked it because it wasn't predictable. Well crafted story.

This literary plaint reminds me of Camus, with evocations of "Brave New World" and "1984". Like Kafka's works, it hypothesizes an antihero compelled into 'monkey wrench gang' style action in a dystopia. This book deserves to be reprinted, so new readers will contemplate their motivations.

Fast action, gripping plot, well-written

Excellent glimpse of Soviet-occupied America (1970's) and apathy of the tv / tavern masses