The Last Sword Maker
by Brian Nelson
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Pub Date Oct 15 2019 | Archive Date Jul 21 2020
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Description
In the high mountains of Tibet, rumors are spreading. People whisper of an outbreak, of thousands of dead, of bodies pushed into mass graves. It is some strange new disease a disease, they say, that can kill in minutes.
The Chinese government says the rumors aren't true, but no one is allowed in or out of Tibet.
At the Pentagon, Admiral James Curtiss is called to an emergency meeting. Satellite images prove that a massive genocide is underway, and an American spy has made a startling discovery. This is no disease. It's a weapons test. Chinese scientists have developed a way to kill based on a person's genetic traits. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The success of their new weapon proves that the Chinese are nearing ""Replication""--a revolutionary breakthrough that will tip the global balance of power and change the way wars are waged.
Now the US must scramble to catch up before it is too late. Admiral Curtiss gathers the nation's top scientists, including a promising young graduate student named Eric Hill who just might hold the missing piece to the replication puzzle. Soon Hill and his colleague Jane Hunter are caught up in a deadly game of sabotage as the two nations strive to be the first to reach the coveted goal. But in their headlong race, they create something unexpected something the world has never seen and something more powerful than they had ever imagined.
The Last Sword Maker is an exciting globe-trotting thriller with unforgettable characters that depicts a haunting vision of the future of warfare.
Advance Praise
''The danger is unique, and the treachery vast, in this rapid-paced adventure that delivers in equal doses of amazing, yet possible. An intriguing tale that will leave you thinking.'' --Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Malta Exchange
''An amazing read. The Last Sword Maker has everything: a riveting story, fascinating characters, cutting-edge technology, and, of course, romance. Great!'' --Moises Naim, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Power
''Brian Nelson has written a compelling thriller. Set in the near future, the story finds China and the US immersed in a race to weaponize nanotechnology that recalls the intensity of the Manhattan Project and, later, the near panic in the West when Sputnik revealed the Soviets were ahead of the US in the space race. Nelson's riveting narrative captures the drama of great power competition and the price the military men and scientists are forced to pay to contend with a determined and unscrupulous enemy. This is a terrific debut.'' --Patrick Duddy, Duke University, former US Ambassador to Venezuela
''A terrifying vision of future warfare in the vein of Tom Clancy's and Michael Crichton's novels...The Last Sword Maker is a powerhouse near-future thriller with explosive action and exciting science.'' --Foreword Reviews
''The Last Sword Maker is a techno-thriller that will make you nostalgic for the days when we only had to worry about nuclear annihilation; an all-too-plausible examination of how emerging technologies could be weaponized to horrible ends. I don't recommend reading this one right before bedtime-unless you are prepared to stay up very, very late to finish it.'' --Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Tiger and Go-Between
''The next big thing in warfare is small-so small you can't see it at all. The Last Sword Maker imagines a superpower competition at the collision point of nanocomputing, programmable viruses and weaponized biohacking. At stake, control over the life and death of virtually every person on the planet, at a level granular enough to make a nuclear weapon look laughably crude in comparison. Set in the not-too-distant future, the result is a head-spinning sci-fi-infused military thriller, with China and the United States putting everything they have into developing the perfect weapon, no matter the cost.'' --Francisco Toro, columnist, Washington Post
''Nelson makes his fiction debut with a gripping, frighteningly plausible techno-thriller, the first in his Course of Empire series...Nelson's intriguing scientific predictions and distinctive near-future setting make this sure to please speculative fiction readers as well as thriller fans.'' --Publishers Weekly
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781982546526 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Maureen C, Reviewer
Normally, this is not the sort of book I would choose to read. Something set in the future is not my style. There are three or four different scenes, which usually annoys me. I would be reading a chapter and was quite enjoying it then the author would finish that chapter and switch scenes. However, after half a page I was engrossed in the new scene and all of a sudden that chapter ended and a new scene starts. Again, within half a page I was enthralled in the new scene. So the change of story lines flowed very smoothly and each “story” is smoothly intertwined and makes perfect sense where it fits in the book. It kept me wondering how each scene would tie up towards the finish and I was not disappointed. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It was well written and the story lines flowed seamlessly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book
Anthony P, Reviewer
Nelson's masterpiece seems eerily around the corner for mankind. This is the kind of science fiction I enjoy, realistic and believable - the only thing you are left wondering is when doe this happen? The plot was fast paced and reminded me of a Tom Clancy novel. Looking forward to next novel from Nelson.
Susan H, Reviewer
What a tremendous thriller this is. The story takes place in the not too distant future, 2025, with science and warfare playing central roles hand in hand to find the ultimate weapon to wipe out anything from one person to a whole nation. China and the USA are the two nations that are racing to find the answer and have that control.
What makes this seem more real is that this is all behind the scenes stuff that goes in secrecy. The advances in science that place’s warfare in the hands of deadly viruses more rather than soldiers on the front line. It all feels so scarily not that far away, especially with the times we live in now. The thing is this story goes one step further and it scared the hell out of me. Why? because one day someone will do this.
From opening the first page of this book it just takes over your life. When I had to go without reading it for a couple of hours my mind was still with the characters. The top character has to be Eric Hill who at university simply blows the minds of his tutors. When he gets a call asking him to join some of the best scientific minds in the world to work on a special project he jumps at the chance.
Eric is the loveable nerd that made every page seem so real. There is, of course, a lot of science in the story but it is truly fascinating. Oh boy does this take off in the second half with kidnappings, car chases and deadly outcomes? It is tremendous! The supporting characters in the story are top of their league. Just stunning. There are horrific torture scenes in the story, shocks and punch in the air moments.
One of the best books of its kind around. I cannot recommend this book enough. The best bit is, this is book 1 in the series, so excited with this author’s work.
I wish to thank, FSB Associates, NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Rekha R, Reviewer
What an amazing, mind-blowing spy thriller! The advance in nanotechnology combined with a spy thriller that takes you on a chase of a lifetime, this book is simply fantastic!
We are introduced to three characters as the story begins - Admiral Curtiss, Sonam and Eric. As the story proceeds, we see the spotlight is on Eric. Eric and his buddies are caught between the race for who invents it first and sabotage. Throw in some double agents to the mix for the thrill of it!
The Last Sword Maker is a well-researched book. Brian Nelson has done an excellent job in portraying communist propaganda, hunger for power and domination, and the struggle for freedom in this book.
I highly recommend this book.
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