The Borrowed World Series by Franklin Horton

In a night of devastating terror, ISIS operatives have unleashed a coordinated attack on America’s infrastructure. Life as we know it in America grinds to a halt as the electrical grid collapses, communication networks are damaged, critical bridges and dams are destroyed, and major fuel refineries go up in massive fiery clouds... moreIn a night of devastating terror, ISIS operatives have unleashed a coordinated attack on America’s infrastructure. Life as we know it in America grinds to a halt as the electrical grid collapses, communication networks are damaged, critical bridges and dams are destroyed, and major fuel refineries go up in massive fiery clouds. When the government responds by immediately halting fuel sales to the public, Jim Powell finds himself in a terrifying predicament – trapped five hundred miles from home with a group of coworkers. With thousands of trapped travelers and scarce law enforcement, the miles between Jim and his family become a brutal gauntlet where the rules of civilized society no longer apply. As Jim puts his years of preparation and planning to the test, he is forced to ask himself if he has what it takes to make it home. Does he have the strength -- the brutality -- required to meet this new world toe-to-toe? less

Jim and his group are still struggling to reach home. While just a few days have passed since the initial attack, the group finds that their country is quickly descending into a vicious, chaotic landscape where nothing comes easy... moreJim and his group are still struggling to reach home. While just a few days have passed since the initial attack, the group finds that their country is quickly descending into a vicious, chaotic landscape where nothing comes easy. While they fight to close the distance between them and their loved ones, they cannot avoid the steadily growing number of people who have realized that they can get away with whatever they want in a world where there are no longer any legal consequences for their actions. At home, Jim's family is basically forced into lockdown after a local jail discharges its starving inmates, leading to the arrival of new, extremely violent presence in their valley. The stranger sets his sights on driving other families from their homes and taking what they own. As Jim races home, his wife Ellen struggles to keep her family safe, while each night a neighbor’s home is burned to the ground. less

The country is teetering on the brink of anarchy. While one of the stranded travelers, Jim Powell, made it home and is working to establish a safe, sustainable enclave for his family, his co-workers Gary and Alice are not faring as well. After spending hundreds of painful miles dreaming of his reunion with his family, Gary arrives home only to find his family under attack... moreThe country is teetering on the brink of anarchy. While one of the stranded travelers, Jim Powell, made it home and is working to establish a safe, sustainable enclave for his family, his co-workers Gary and Alice are not faring as well. After spending hundreds of painful miles dreaming of his reunion with his family, Gary arrives home only to find his family under attack. Now he must face the painful decision as to whether his family’s plan to bug-in is viable or whether they may need greater numbers and a better location to survive in this collapsing nation. While Gary’s homecoming is bittersweet, he has at least found his way into the arms of his family. His co-worker Alice has awakened on the cold, concrete floor of a basement in Bluefield, Virginia. She is bound and chained to a support column. She doesn’t know if she will ever see her son or husband again. All she knows for certain is that the man in front of her has already brutally killed her friend, Rebecca, and unless she finds a way out, he will kill her, too. less

In The Borrowed World Series, America is brought to its knees by coordinated terror attacks against the infrastructure. After spending weeks walking across a violent and horrific landscape to reach his family, Jim Powell hoped they could weather this storm on their secluded Appalachian farm. They had prepared for this. They had armed for this. They could live without power and fuel... moreIn The Borrowed World Series, America is brought to its knees by coordinated terror attacks against the infrastructure. After spending weeks walking across a violent and horrific landscape to reach his family, Jim Powell hoped they could weather this storm on their secluded Appalachian farm. They had prepared for this. They had armed for this. They could live without power and fuel. What happens, though, when the same qualities that drew Jim to his isolated valley begin to attract another armed group looking for a place to hide from the unrest of a starving nation? Franklin Horton’s Borrowed World Series has been a bestseller in the categories of Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Science Fiction. He has been interviewed extensively for podcasts and for print media on the topic of preparedness. The series is noted for its realistic portrayal of how average Americans might be affected by societal collapse. less

In this fifth installment in The Borrowed World Series, Human Resources Manager Alice Watkins is finally making it home. In her journey across Virginia, she experiences a country disintegrating and collapsing in on itself in the wake of a nationwide terror attack. Her trip home is agonizing; her experiences indescribable. She finds that her peaceful farm community is experiencing the same strife as the rest of the nation... moreIn this fifth installment in The Borrowed World Series, Human Resources Manager Alice Watkins is finally making it home. In her journey across Virginia, she experiences a country disintegrating and collapsing in on itself in the wake of a nationwide terror attack. Her trip home is agonizing; her experiences indescribable. She finds that her peaceful farm community is experiencing the same strife as the rest of the nation. As her world is further shaken by a series of devastating occurrences, she comes to realize that she has been profoundly and irreversibly changed by her agonizing experiences on the road. She is both emotionally blunted and wickedly violent. She cannot feel love, nor does she feel the slightest remorse at taking someone's life. In an attempt to find safety for her family, she must reconnect with the former coworkers that she started this journey with. She discovers the group struggling with their own problems, finding that in this borrowed world there is no promise of safety, no peace, and no promise of tomorrow. less

It's been around 9 long months since the United States spiraled into chaos due to a cascading systems failure. The die-off everyone predicted has begun and after a hard winter nearly every other house sits empty with the owners dead or unaccounted for. Lately the power has flickered on and off a few times, raising hopes that power restoration is coming soon. But how do you put the genie back in the bottle? Violence is everywhere. Disease is rampant. Hundreds of thousands are dead... moreIt's been around 9 long months since the United States spiraled into chaos due to a cascading systems failure. The die-off everyone predicted has begun and after a hard winter nearly every other house sits empty with the owners dead or unaccounted for. Lately the power has flickered on and off a few times, raising hopes that power restoration is coming soon. But how do you put the genie back in the bottle? Violence is everywhere. Disease is rampant. Hundreds of thousands are dead. Insurance can never pay for the damage and loss that has occurred. The economy will take years to restore if it can be restored at all. From the recesses of a fractured government comes a plan to restore order and rescue what remains of the population. The first step comes with restoring power. But what if having access to electricity came at such a price that many -- like Jim Powell, his friends, and his neighbors -- would rather face a future in the dark. less

Boss is back. Having lost both a hand and his entire team when Jim Powell and his friends attacked the power plant, Boss is obsessed with revenge. He had no idea who the men were but he’s determined to launch a search for them until his command makes it clear that his mission of vengeance is not a priority. Undeterred, Boss arrives at a covert method of engaging the entire population of southwest Virginia in his hunt for the insurgents... moreBoss is back. Having lost both a hand and his entire team when Jim Powell and his friends attacked the power plant, Boss is obsessed with revenge. He had no idea who the men were but he’s determined to launch a search for them until his command makes it clear that his mission of vengeance is not a priority. Undeterred, Boss arrives at a covert method of engaging the entire population of southwest Virginia in his hunt for the insurgents. He has fliers scattered in the communities around the power plant offering a reward of food and ammunition for the live capture of the lone man whose image was caught by a security camera. The rampant rumors surrounding the attack at the plant work against Jim. His name is whispered everywhere that people gather. Almost overnight, he and his friends find themselves under attack from desperate neighbors determined to collect the reward. less

Two men. Two life-altering decisions. One epic journey.In this eighth installment in the bestselling Borrowed World series, Jim Powell is convinced that his presence in the valley is putting his friends and family in danger. Hoping to buy them some time, he increases the security at his home, then sets off on a trip to allow the situation in his community to cool off. As much as he hates the idea, he also intends to scout out a location to fall back to if his people get driven from their homes... moreTwo men. Two life-altering decisions. One epic journey.In this eighth installment in the bestselling Borrowed World series, Jim Powell is convinced that his presence in the valley is putting his friends and family in danger. Hoping to buy them some time, he increases the security at his home, then sets off on a trip to allow the situation in his community to cool off. As much as he hates the idea, he also intends to scout out a location to fall back to if his people get driven from their homes.Frustrated by the constant tension and violence, his best friend Lloyd joins him. Though Jim initially welcomes the company, Lloyd spends his day writing folk ballads about his friend’s body count and bad decisions.Both men struggle with how best to confront their changing world. Both are desperate for a solution that will give them peace. Jim ultimately wants control of his surroundings, but doesn’t want the responsibility. Lloyd wants to lay down his gun and return to the life of a performing musician. In his own way, each man will find that some truths are inescapable. While their collapsed world still allows them free will, there will be no peace and there is no escape from the violence. less