To The Last Drop: A Novel of Water, Oppression, and Rebellion

To the Last Drop follows five characters through the course of a war between Texas and New Mexico. The novel begins with the accidental discovery of water in the arid southeast corner of New Mexico. Texas and New Mexico become tangled in a bitter legal dispute over the rights to that water. A series of increasingly aggressive border skirmishes leads to an invasion by the Texas State Guard.

The Texas militia sweeps aside the paltry resistance and occupies New Mexico. The conquered territory is renamed New Texas. The Military Governor exploits New Texas for its water while forcing it to pay for the cost of its own occupation.

Resistance to the Texas occupation begins in isolated pockets strung together by a pirate radio station. Censorship and brutality by Texas leads to violent reprisals by a growing insurgency. The rebellion burns in the city streets, on the internet and throughout the remote desert mountains.

The Texas State Guard overextends itself trying to guard against both the insurgency and the troublesome Mexican border. The Mexican Army invades, toppling the New Texas government. In the aftermath, the many sectarian factions gather to claim their water rights, exposing an uncertain and troubled future.

Main Characters

Eddie Brown, amateur biologist and slacker, transforms into Dr. X, the leader of the New Mexican resistance.

Hormigo, head of the Diablos motorcycle gang, is a vigilante partisan who fights for his own interests.

Billy Ortiz, indigent and disenfranchised, becomes the sort of hero who is never remembered by history.

U.S. Armstrong, Military Governor of New Texas, is a successful businessman whose aspirations condemn his family’s dignity.

Taylor Jon Bridges, a vulgar young speedfreak, is a violent shock trooper for the Texas State Guard.

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Reviews

Wise paints a picture that's easy to believe: Texas invades New Mexico under the direction of a GW Bush-like bully, complete with a staff that's similar to the administration currently occupying the White House. The new war is all about water rights, and there's no help from D.C., as U.S. armed forces are bogged down in the middle east. Believable characters, good dialog, plenty of humor, and an accurate description of the people and places that make up modern day New Mexico make this a great read. Kirk E. Righter

As the story is about war and oppression, I didn't expect to laugh my way through this book. Ponder, reflect, giggle. Ponder, reflect, giggle, snort. My favorite scene takes place in a small town filled with dogs that are lovingly cared for by ordinary folks who understand resistance. Before I got to this scene, I had a dozen other favorite moments. K.L. Kox

Good to read something written recently that is so enjoyable. I liked it so much I read it twice, which when there are infinite books to be conquered in a lifetime, is a true complement. Wice takes you down into the heart of an occupation, through the upturned lives of folks fighting on each side. Lucille S. Grey

Copies are available at your local bookstore, or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the Publisher.