Complacency. It’s so comfortable. And so easy to accept. It’s always there, lurking in the shadows of great successes and long periods of boredom. And complacency is not your friend.
​
Michael had over two decades invested in the processes of preparedness, both for himself and for his clients. Longer, if his military career was factored in. He made a great living, espousing the philosophy that ‘Preparedness is not Paranoia’ and selling that philosophy to others. He believed it and he convinced others to believe it, too. ‘Preparing for <insert name of dreadful thing here> is important!’ he would emphatically say, pounding his fist on whatever podium he commanded. He delivered his spiel with the passion of an expert. A guru, in fact. The Master of Disaster, they called him.
Attendees to his impassioned presentations at many of the world’s most prestigious conferences went hustling home, eager to convince their leaders to increase their budgets—and most times, they did. Then, time went by and… nothing happened. When nothing happened, those who control the budgets saw no value in this idea of preparedness. “Statistically speaking,” they would say, “if it hasn’t happened to us yet, it probably won’t!”
​
But crises don’t follow statistics.
​
If one were to assign any type of personification to a significant crisis, it would be that crisis loves complacency. Michael saw it, over and over. He wrote articles about the ‘John Wayne Syndrome’—the belief that if we admit to the dangers ‘out there,’ said admission may be viewed as an admission of fear.
​
Can’t have that now, can we?
​
No one likes to think about ‘The Big One.’ But, sure as the sky is blue, ‘The Big One’ came along… and it was not just one thing. There were many bad things, all at once, everywhere.
​
People could have seen much of it coming if they’d have opened their eyes. Some of the bad things were predictable, based on the geopolitical goings-on in the country and the world. Others were decidedly unpredictable. Michael’s position had always been that preparedness and predictability were not closely related to one another. No one can make a perfect prediction about the impact or possible occurrence of any potential threat. And no preparedness plan could ever be perfect, either. “Planning is always more important than having a plan!” he would say.
The nemesis of every planner is the ‘C Word’ – Complacency – and America had become the very definition of it.
What my "Pre-readers are saying about Complacency:
​
A wonderful blurb about my upcoming novel, entitled Complacency, after reading the first 30,000 words.
Thanks, John!
*****
Ed, I have never been given to pandering but “Complacency” is a frightening mix of fact (clearly based on real-life experiences) and hyper-realistic predictions of future events that should scare the shit out of anybody with a brain and even an elemental comprehension of the current state of the world in general and our country in particular.
In this book so far you have encapsulated “what is” with what “can be” in a very frighteningly realistic prediction.
​
I know you intend this to be a book of fiction based on past history and current circumstances both in the US and the world. Because there is so much truth in it, it’s not much of a reach to conclude that its prognostications or some variant of them are just one spark away from fruition. I hope you are able to finish the novel before that happens. Your sequel should be a “survival guide for living through chaos”.
​
A very enjoyable read, if scary so far. Keep me up on where this goes and when it’s published. My friend, you are a helluva storyteller. Keep on keepin on.
​
******************************************
​
Title: Complacency: One Man's Story
Author: Edward Minyard
Pre-publication Book Report
In "Complacency," Edward Minyard skillfully weaves a tale that blurs the line between fact and fiction, merging real-life experiences with imaginative scenarios to paint a disturbing portrait of a world where preparedness is undervalued and complacency reigns supreme. The novel follows Michael, an ex-military man turned preparedness expert as he strives to instill in others the value of being prepared for unexpected threats. As The Master of Disaster, Michael has witnessed firsthand how easily people can fall into complacency; failing to recognize potential threats until it's too late.
​
The story serves as a timely reminder that crises don't follow statistics and one cannot always assume "if it hasn't happened to us yet, it probably won't!" Throughout the narrative, the author highlights the dangers of falling victim to "John Wayne Syndrome," in which acknowledging potential threats may be perceived as weakness or fear. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for anything--even if it never comes true.
​
As the story progresses, characters face numerous obstacles both predictable and unexpected. The author skillfully interweaves these events to illustrate how a lack of preparedness can have dire repercussions. This novel offers an uncompromising look at complacency's potential outcomes as well as stressing the importance of vigilance; encouraging readers to become aware of potential dangers around them and take steps to protect themselves and their communities from harm.
​
One of the novel's most striking elements is its realism. Though it is fiction, the story is grounded in the author's intimate knowledge of both world history and geopolitical events.
At times, it feels uncomfortably close to reality - serving as a stark warning about what could happen if we ignore the signs around us.
​
Finally, the author gives real-world examples of how the things in his book might become realities, and how to be prepared should they occur. He cites references and gives guidance that could, possibly, save lives.
​
In conclusion, "Complacency" is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that skillfully weaves elements of fact and fiction together to send a strong message about the necessity of preparedness and the dangers of complacency. The author's storytelling prowess shines through, creating an authentic yet captivating narrative that is both enjoyable and deeply unsettling. As he continue working on this next book, readers can only hope that people around the world will heed their warnings - and prioritize preparedness - before it's too late.