Saturday, January 30, 2016

PI Day Doomsday


A dying Nobel Prize-winning nuclear scientist threatens Los Angeles with an unfathomable doom, submerged deeply offshore. Will L.A.'s finest with aid from the U.S. Navy, USCG, FBI, and DHS unravel his ciphered clues and find it in time? Is Southern California's annihilation imminent as the calendar flips to pi day?
A gripping tale of greed, revenge, and intrigue, PI DAY DOOMSDAY leads you into the deranged world of madness and retribution surrounding a malevolent genius, banished from science, living on the edge of insanity, intent on destroying humanity. A thriller like no others, this one holds you in suspense until the last millisecond.


PI DAY DOOMSDAY (Thriller)
By John Paul Cater
ASIN #BO13Y50TOG
Price $3.14
257 Pages
Rating 5-Stars

“Fast-Paced Thrills.”

Simon Fogner, PhD, Nobel Laureate, and nuclear physicist, has a score to settle with the world. A mathematical genius, he uses pi to plan the destruction of Los Angeles, and all of southern California. He builds two thermonuclear bombs he names Adam & Eve, and maps out the best location to cause the maximum destruction. He has planned for his two bombs to form the symbol of pi when the nuclear clouds form and touch.

Exposed to the deadly material he is already dying of radiation sickness. His skin is pealing off, and he’s bleeding out, yet he manages to stay alive long enough to place his terrible weapons then leaves a coded poem for authorities; he uses a form of anagram to write his message in the poem, and plans to leave it with the news media. However, when that fails, he drops the envelope through the open window of a California Highway Patrol vehicle parked at a Starbucks. The letters WMD written on the envelope warns CHP Officer Mica Brisco that this could be important. His captain is away for the week, so he drops it off with the Sheriff’s Office. Within 12 hours, his phone rings and he’s ordered to appear at SID for questioning. Arriving, Brisco finds a task force in place, including FBI, Homeland Security, the Sheriff’s Office, Cryptanalysis, Forensic Computer Analysis, Forensic Psychiatrist, and a doctor of nuclear physics. The taskforce – or A-Team - will grow before the case is over, to include the Navy and other civilian specialists. The taskforce is working on the belief there is one bomb, Adam, not realizing there is a second, Eve, until the last hours of pi – 3.14159.

Wow, this is what makes a good movie. With zero hour ticking away, the taskforce must discover the location of the bombs, and either disable them, or make them harmless some other way. Each bomb is at least 20 times the power of the bombs dropped on Japan, and will literally vaporize L.A. in an instant. I was especially taken with the villain – a super villain in every sense of the word. His flesh literally falling off, he should have been dead before he could put his bombs together; yet he not only builds them, places them in the ocean, and runs around L.A. most of the book dressed like the Grim Reaper. The writing is topnotch, the characters are three-dimensional, and the plot is fresh and imaginative. Thriller lovers will not want to miss this one, and I can highly recommend it to readers who just like a good yarn.

Tom Johnson
Author of PANGAEA: EDEN’S PLANET

Thursday, January 28, 2016

The King of Fear

The blistering sequel to The Ascendant: An action-packed thriller starring a bond trader turned antihero. Unlikely patriot Garrett Reilly can identify threats against America from both inside and outside the nation’s borders. But now the whole world’s economy is at risk…
Garrett Reilly sees what others do not: numbers, patterns, a nation on the brink of collapse. His unique talents saved countries from falling into a world war in The Ascendant. But it also made him a marked man―marked by terrorist groups; marked by the US Government.
In The King of Fear, Garrett recognizes a string of events that could lead to economic Armageddon in the US: banks closing, grocery shelves lying empty, the nation’s currency rendered worthless. Total chaos could engulf society within a matter of days. Garrett and the Ascendant team reunite to face enemies on all sides: a wounded Russia bent on keeping its crumbling empire in place, a cyber genius fixated on Garrett, a femme fatale willing to do anything to establish a new world order. In the midst of this, Garrett must also confront his own demons: his class rage, growing paranoia, and a dependency that he cannot seem to shake. After all, it only takes one card to make the whole house fall…


The King of Fear (Thriller)
“The Complete Saga”
Simon & Shuster
ISBN #978-1476725918
Price $8.82 (Pre-Order)
364 Pages
Rating 4-Stars

“An Unlikely Hero”

This book actually contains Books #1, 2 & 3, which follow the premiere novel, THE ASCENDANT. Garrett Reilly is a financial genius. He sees numbers, and recognizes global bonds and money traffic. He was part of a team in The Ascendant stopping an attack that could have resulted in war, and now it appears terrorists are after him, and planning another attack on the West. In Part 1, the President of the Federal Reserve is assassinated, and his killer names Garrett as the man behind the assassination. In Book #2, the team is up against a mysterious terrorist, while Garrett struggles with his own drug addiction. Book #3 brings THE KING OF FEAR to a conclusion, but only after discovering the terrorist attack may have a personal connection.

I came into the series cold; not having read THE ASCENDANT first, and then was given this edition containing the three novels. Although the writing was good, and the characters interesting, it was a real task finding the book itself interesting. I felt that the main character, Garrett Reilly was hard to believe as the hero. An injury in a bar fight had cracked his skull, leaving him with headaches, and on a lot of pain killers; plus, at times he was filled with paranoia and didn’t know who he could trust. The drugs certainly helped in his confusion. Cyber attacks and hidden power money is a good plot, but I felt we needed a better hero than Garrett to save the world. He could have been the go-to man behind the scenes, but not the front line G-I Joe. Still, readers who like a good thriller will find this series a good read. It just wasn’t of interest for me.

Tom Johnson

Author of CARNIVAL OF DEATH

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Jasper And The Shelter of Angels

Take a step into the light of God’s glory. When a construction worker, Jasper, is involved in a workplace accident that renders him blind, he begins a journey, seeing more than he could ever dream possible. After a near death experience, Jasper is granted a second chance at life. Awakening in a hospital, he crosses paths with a company of Seven divine Angels. Diagnosed to have brain damage, Jasper becomes ensnared in the spiritual warfare between Angels and Demons.
A specific band of Demons, The Insufferable Six, try to thwart the good efforts of the Seven Angels at every turn, but will Jasper be the element to tip the balance for good or evil? Find out how Seven Celestial friends help to lead a blind man to the ultimate confrontation with the Devil and help to strengthen the earth.


Jasper And The Shelter of Angels (Christian Fiction)
By Robert A. Hunt
Wordpainter Publishing
ASIN #BOOA2QCBH2
Price $2.99 Kindle
223 Pages
Rating 5-Stars

“War Between Good And Evil.”

Jasper works for Princeton Construction Corp. in Princeton, near the Cascade Mountains. One day he is helping his buddy pull the bell on top of the new church when the bell slips off, and thinking of his buddy’s safety first, Jasper attaches his safety line to him, and is himself pulled off the roof with the bell. He falls hard, hitting his head against the concrete, and is taken to the hospital. He’s considered blind, and may have brain damage also. But strangely he can see – especially the demons and angels. God sends seven of His angels to help Jasper: West, Starr, Wilson, Joel, Elana, Taila, and Roger. The Devil sends The Insufferable Six: Morbidant, Dialucious, Krustatious, Wengroangrinch, Vyxcious, and Gewgaw to interfere with them. It’s a constant battle between good and evil, and Jasper appears to be the prize.

This made a good Sunday School lesson, and we are treated to Bible study, as well as seeing the every day struggle people face with good and evil decisions we make. The story is told with some humor, as the doctors and nurses think Jasper is crazy. After all, not only does he see angels, he sees them at war with demons in the hospital. But then we also see Jesus bring about Satan’s end, and the Kingdom of Heaven in all its Glory. What a wonderful story. Highly recommended especially for Christians, and suggested reading for everyone.

Tom Johnson
Author of THE SOUL STEALERS

Monday, January 18, 2016

The Devil With Wings

Fighter pilot Gary Forsythe is a man on fire.  He’s tough, steely-eyed, hunted by many and feared by all.  He’s British Secret Service—a striking predecessor to James Bond—with a chip on his shoulder and a .50 caliber machinegun in his flying killing machine.  He is The Devil—With Wings.
The Japanese have invaded Manchuria, and Forsythe has made it his mission to stop them.  Japanese Military Intelligence has made it their mission to knock the Devil out of the skies.  But a dogfight with the Imperial Japanese Air Force is child’s play compared to the challenge that awaits him….
Her name is Patricia Weston.  Japanese spies have falsely accused the British pilot of murdering her brother—and now she wants vengeance.  And for once in his life, Forsythe is disarmed—by his love for a woman who has vowed to kill him.


The Devil With Wings (Aviation Adventure)
By L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press www.goldenagestories.con
ISBN #978-1592123094
Price $9.95
138 Pages
Rating 5-Stars

“Fantastic Air Adventure.”

Gary Forsythe is Akuma-no-Hane, the Devil With Wings, and deadly flyer the invading Japanese hate and fear. They have a large price on his head. He appears to be aiding Russia and the Chinese in their fight with the Japanese, but no one knows why, except maybe Ching Tze-Chang, Forsythe’s Yale educated aide. When they learn that Forsythe has been blamed for the murder of an American engineer named Robert Weston, and that his sister, Patricia Weston is in China gunning for Akuma-no-Hane, it’s time for Forsythe to get to the bottom of things – before the girl shoots him by mistake.

This was a fun adventure. Forsythe dresses all in black, except for a silver belt buckle, and wears helmeted-goggles effectively disguising his identity from the Japanese. There is a running confrontation between Forsythe and Captain Ito Shirohari of Japanese Intelligence throughout the story. Of course, Ito wants to kill Forsythe, but never gets the upper hand. Meantime, Forsythe suspects the captain of crimes against the Japanese government, which could cause the little Japanese a lot of trouble with his own people. For adventure and aviation lovers, this is a fine example of the genre, and highly recommended for lovers of a good yarn.

Tom Johnson

Author of EXCITING PULP TALES

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Veil of Reality

The greatest deceptions are never suspected. After twenty years with the Tararian Selective Service, Cris Sietinen is in the unprecedented position of being both Lead Agent and heir to a High Dynasty. Family, career, information—it would seem he has it all. But when his fourteen-year-old son, Wil, is captured by the mysterious Bakzen, Cris is forced to question all that he once took for granted in his life. Only one thing remains clear: it's imperative he rescue Wil. What Cris and Wil learn in the process will change their perception forever. Veil of Reality is the second installment in the Cadicle series, a new space opera epic with elements of "Dune" and "Ender's Game." This fast-paced adventure novel with intrigue, danger and self-discovery begins to untie the knot of secrets binding the TSS, High Dynasties and the Priesthood.


Veil of Reality (SF
“Cadicle Book Series #2”
By Amy DuBoff
BDL Press
ISBN #978-0692589137
Price $9.99
234 Pages
Rating 5-Stars

“Science Fiction At Its Best.”

In this sequel to ARCHITECTS OF DESTINY, it has been two decades since we left Cris and Kate Sietinen. Their son, Wil, is 14 and shares their heightened ability of telekinetic powers, and shows signs of hidden strength that might prove beneficial to either side in the ongoing war between the TSS and the Bakzen Empire. A traitor within the TSS opens a doorway for a Bakzen team to enter the headquarters and kidnap Wil. Cris is given the ship, Vanquish, and penetrates the Bakzen defensive net to rescue Wil. In the process, Cris and Wil learn more about the ongoing war with the Bakzen Empire, and the people behind the conflict.

There are still secrets being kept from them, but the readers learn more about the reason for the war, and now the status of good and evil is not so easily defined. The more I get into this series, the more I’m reminded of the Null-A series by A.E. van Vogt, and the game players that sparked that series. Like the great science fiction of the early years, the Cadicle series has a feel of inspired prediction for our future. Whether a fan of early SF, or modern, readers will find “Veil of Reality” a great read. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of WORLDS OF TOMORROW