American Wasteland Books in Order

Life in the United States has felt fragile for a long time, but in the American Wasteland series, that fragility finally shatters. The story takes place in a near-future version of America that feels uncomfortably familiar. The country is already reeling from the lingering effects of a global pandemic and the economy is teetering on the edge of a cliff. People are anxious, political tensions are high, and the government is looking for any excuse to tighten its grip.

Then the lights go out.

A massive, coordinated cyber-attack takes down the national power grid, bringing the convenience of modern society to a screeching halt. But for the architects of this disaster, the chaos isn't an accident. It is an opportunity.

Rather than restoring order, the powers that be use the blackout to initiate a total takeover. The narrative introduces the Federal Emergency Security Agency (FESA), a rogue government entity that steps out of the shadows to enforce martial law. This isn't a rescue mission. FESA moves quickly to consolidate power, implementing a brutal purge of the military to remove anyone loyal to the Constitution rather than the new regime.

The human side of this catastrophe centers on two very different protagonists. First, there is Jennifer Martin, a restaurant owner living in Atlanta. She represents the everyday citizen who has been watching the warning signs—inflation, supply chain breaks, and civil unrest—but still finds herself scrambling when the bottom finally falls out. She isn't a survival expert, at least not at first. She is a mother and a business owner trying to navigate a world that has suddenly become hostile to freedom.

Then there is Lucas McIntosh.

As a former soldier, Lucas brings a tactical perspective to the unfolding nightmare. He understands the capabilities of the state and recognizes the crackdown for what it really is: a coup disguised as emergency management. While Jennifer learns to survive on the fly, Lucas uses his training to evade the dragnet that is sweeping up veterans and patriots across the country.

Fate brings these two together as they flee the suffocating control of the city. The series follows their journey from the initial panic of the collapse to the formation of a dedicated resistance movement. As they travel through a darkened country, they encounter a landscape that is treacherous not just because of the lack of resources, but because of the rise of a surveillance state that demands total submission.

Goodwin weaves his signature themes of biblical prophecy and preparedness throughout the adventure. The antagonists aren't just looking for political control; they are building a technological beast system that tracks, traces, and controls every transaction. For Jennifer and Lucas, the fight is about more than just staying alive. It is a battle for their souls in a world where liberty has become a crime.