Powerfully opinionated near-future SF mixes action, skullduggery, and conservative values.
In Glenn’s thriller, a Europe-based conspiracy schemes to control the world economy and impose totalitarianism in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
The author inaugurates a series of geopolitical (accent on political) near-future thrillers with this “what-if” tale. Following the 2020s quarantines and lockdowns, unelected European elites form the New Economic Order, also known as the Global Economic Union, ostensibly to safely shepherd society back to normalcy. In reality, it’s an Orwellian socialist cabal, imposing harsh authoritarianism worldwide. Though equally sinister blocs in China and Russia do not cooperate, the United States’ effete liberals and shrill leftist media push the GEU agenda (“The propaganda had been there all that time: equality, income inequality, the Marxist recasting of freedom in a new light of needs only, white guilt, universal basic income and demonization of the rich”). America is soon overrun with police-state surveillance and Big Brother indoctrination at universities—allegedly fighting climate change, mass shootings, homophobia, and other social ills while instituting jackbooted fascism. In Arizona, a secret resistance is run from the arcology, a self-sufficient, experimental city outpost off the electric grid dedicated to “libertarian Municipalism and anarcho-capitalism.” Here, freedom-loving Cory Bryson runs armed security and preps for inevitable attack by GEU stormtroopers. Bryson is joined by Amit Rubin, an Israeli general’s daughter—Israel being the only democracy gutsy enough to defy the GEU. The action is fast and furious when not being interrupted by pro-Second Amendment arguments, citations of authors and thinkers who shaped the author’s outlook, takedowns of Woodrow Wilson and FDR, and general Red State philosophizing (as in: Bible prophecy foretold lots of this). Glenn’s gifts for virile characterization, pacing, and combat scenes fail to establish any meaningful personalities for the villains; the GEU are colorless nasties and mercenaries. His style is well-suited to the quaint Yankee notion (popular in cautionary late-19th/early-20th century dystopian SF novels) of Europe as a breeding ground for tyranny. Future installments in the saga will doubtlessly offer more op-ed grist for the Glenn Beck–listening readership.
Powerfully opinionated near-future SF mixes action, skullduggery, and conservative values.Pub Date: March 6, 2023
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 384
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
As usual, Evanovich handles the funny stuff better (much better) than the mystery stuff.
Stephanie Plum’s 31st adventure shows that Trenton’s preeminent fugitive-apprehension agent still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, and needs every one of them.
The current caseload for Stephanie and Lula—the ex-prostitute file clerk at her cousin Vincent Plum’s bail bonds company, who serves as her unflappable sidekick—begins with two “failures to appear.” Eugene Fleck is suspected of being Robin Hoodie, who robs from the rich and, yes, distributes the proceeds to the poor. Racketeer Bruno Jug, who’s missed his court date on charges of tax evasion, is also suspected of drugging and raping a 14-year-old. But neither of these fugitives can hold a candle to Zoran Djordjevic, aka Fang, a self-proclaimed vampire wanted in connection with the gruesome fate of his late wife and three other missing women. As usual, Stephanie’s personal life is just as helter-skelter as her professional life as a bounty hunter. She’s managed to get herself engaged both to Det. Joe Morelli, of the Trenton PD, and Ranger, a former Special Forces agent who runs a private security firm; she thinks she may be pregnant; and she’s willing to marry the father, whichever of her fiances that turns out to be. On top of it all, her nothingburger schoolmate Herbert Slovinski suddenly pops up at one of the funerals she ferries her Grandma Mazur to, hitting on her relentlessly and gilding his importunities by cleaning and painting her shabby apartment and laying new carpet. Luckily, Lula’s on hand to offer cupcakes that stave off the worst disasters, and whenever this hodgepodge threatens to slow down, another FTA appears, or fails to appear.
As usual, Evanovich handles the funny stuff better (much better) than the mystery stuff.Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781668003138
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
Plenty of excitement for Clancy fans.
Chinese president Li Jian Jun plans a sneak attack on Taiwan, and it’s up to the Jack Ryan administration to stop him without going to war.
President Li announces a naval exercise, but his real plan is Operation Sea Serpent, the lightning reunification of Taiwan. His minister of defense, Admiral Qin Hâiyû, thinks the idea is crazy because a great number of people would die, but he can’t say so. Li is not a man to be challenged, and he’s already had one of his ministers executed. But Qin wants to stop the war before it begins. Perhaps he can get word to the Americans so they can cut off the mad scheme, and he’s troubled by whether his actions will make him a traitor or a patriot. A Western asset nicknamed the Spider helps facilitate his dangerous disappearance as he attempts to leave China, and authorities in Beijing don’t know if he’s been kidnapped or has defected. Meanwhile, the Ryan administration wants to get him safely extracted from mainland China. President Ryan orders that an American naval vessel will transit through the Strait of Taiwan, which the People’s Republic has blockaded. Will there be a bloody showdown that triggers a major war? So much can go wrong, and there are series regulars like John Clark and Ding Chavez at the tip of the spear. And there’s also Katie Ryan, a lieutenant commander with the Office of Naval Intelligence who’s deployed to Taiwan because she’s “one hell of an intelligence analyst” who “thinks outside the box.” She’s a “rising star” who refuses to trade on her relationship with her father, President Ryan. There’s not much violence, although there’s enough to call it a military thriller. One brave American is fading fast from a round to his chest, but he has time to smile about that “hot” Katie Ryan. (Yes, yes, we all like the Ryans.) The novel’s big question is not which nation wins, but whether they fight. Bravery and clear thinking will have to come from both sides. By the way, Jack Junior isn’t in this one—it’s Katie’s time to shine.
Plenty of excitement for Clancy fans.Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9780593717974
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
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