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The Gordian Division #4
The Weltall File
COME FOR THE GAMES. STAY FOR THE MURDER. A mystery in the Gordian Division universe. The Weltall Tournament’s professional VR games were supposed to be a symbol of cooperation between SysGov and its militaristic neighbor, the Admin. But that was before star Admin player Elly Sako received a death threat, written in blood next to a copy of her own severed head. The Admin’s Department of Temporal Investigation swiftly seizes control of the crime scene, and the tournament transforms into a flashpoint of charged politics and conflicting jurisdictions. SysPol Detective Isaac Cho and DTI Special Agent Susan Cantrell—partners in the officer exchange program—are sent in to take charge of the investigation and bring the situation under control. But solving this mystery won’t be easy, and the pair struggles to determine who is telling the truth. A jilted relationship between players soon explodes into signs of a far-reaching conspiracy, and the two detectives find themselves racing against time before the tournament ends. Because the killer will be the only one who wins, should they fail. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
- GenresScience FictionFiction
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2023
28 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
David Weber
328 books4,558 followersDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952.
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
Many of his stories have military, particularly naval, themes, and fit into the military science fiction genre. He frequently places female leading characters in what have been traditionally male roles.
One of his most popular and enduring characters is Honor Harrington whose alliterated name is an homage to C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower and her last name from a fleet doctor in Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander . Her story, together with the "Honorverse" she inhabits, has been developed through 16 novels and six shared-universe anthologies, as of spring 2013 (other works are in production). In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.
Many of his books are available online, either in their entirety as part of the Baen Free Library or, in the case of more recent books, in the form of sample chapters (typically the first 25-33% of the work).
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidw...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 17, 2023
The Weltall File by David Weber and Jacob Holo is the fourth book in "The Gordian Protocol" series. I think that while all the books have been great that this one is the best so far. I enjoyed the mix of far-future science fiction and a detective novel. It has elements of time travel, interdimensional travel, and even gaming. Mix this with a complex detective mystery and an interesting cast of characters and you have an excellent read by two of my favorite authors. I devoured this book in just a couple of days. I highly recommend it to fans of David Weber and Jacob Holo!
April 24, 2023
The Weltall File is the fourth in a series by David Weber and Jacob Holo. I have not read the first two books in this series, but this book builds on the third book, which I have read. The Weltfall File is a police procedural based in a future of multiple universes faced with the impact of time travel on crime and with the potential to destroy universes. Detective Isaac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell who were paired in a controversial exchange program in the Janus File, with Cantrell coming from a universe where law enforcement is considered quite brutal, are once again partners.
From my review of the Janus File: "This is a universe with AIs and humans with augmented or artificial bodies. The book has a fair amount of humor, and in this "odd" pairing, Susan is definitely the go to for any heavy lifting. The mystery and its ultimate resolution is well developed and neatly wrapped up. Similar to Richard Kadrey's Altered Carbon series, people's basic identity is kept in a core base, which can be switched out into various bodies, or revived if a body is destroyed."
The Weltfall File case involves a multiverse gaming tournament, meant to encourage ties between the two universes. Things go off track as some tournament players are threatened and Cho and Cantrell are tasked to solve the crimes and save the tournament, assisted by Cho's sister, a forensic agent, and Cho's virtual AI. An interesting touch to this book is the need to go back in time to help solve the mystery.
Another fun book by David Weber and Jacob Holo and highly recommended. I would like to thank Baen for providing me with an eARC to review. It appears that they are teasing another book in the series with Cho and Cantrell, which I am eagerly awaiting.
From my review of the Janus File: "This is a universe with AIs and humans with augmented or artificial bodies. The book has a fair amount of humor, and in this "odd" pairing, Susan is definitely the go to for any heavy lifting. The mystery and its ultimate resolution is well developed and neatly wrapped up. Similar to Richard Kadrey's Altered Carbon series, people's basic identity is kept in a core base, which can be switched out into various bodies, or revived if a body is destroyed."
The Weltfall File case involves a multiverse gaming tournament, meant to encourage ties between the two universes. Things go off track as some tournament players are threatened and Cho and Cantrell are tasked to solve the crimes and save the tournament, assisted by Cho's sister, a forensic agent, and Cho's virtual AI. An interesting touch to this book is the need to go back in time to help solve the mystery.
Another fun book by David Weber and Jacob Holo and highly recommended. I would like to thank Baen for providing me with an eARC to review. It appears that they are teasing another book in the series with Cho and Cantrell, which I am eagerly awaiting.
October 13, 2024
A top-notch sci-fi crime mystery!
The Weltall tournament on Luna is meant to foster goodwill between SysGov and Admin. It appears to be working until a finalist receives a death threat via her food printer at the hotel. Isaac, Susan, and Nina are already en route to Luna for a much needed vacation when they are assigned the politically-charged case. Their trip to the beach takes a back seat to danger as conspiracies and betrayal threaten to derail the detente.
David Weber and Jacob Holo knocked it out of the park with this one! I am really enjoying this series. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
The Weltall tournament on Luna is meant to foster goodwill between SysGov and Admin. It appears to be working until a finalist receives a death threat via her food printer at the hotel. Isaac, Susan, and Nina are already en route to Luna for a much needed vacation when they are assigned the politically-charged case. Their trip to the beach takes a back seat to danger as conspiracies and betrayal threaten to derail the detente.
David Weber and Jacob Holo knocked it out of the park with this one! I am really enjoying this series. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
June 28, 2023
great duos do great things
Once again Holo and Weber have combined their differences to craft a great read. The Weltall Files left me wanting the next in series yesterday. Love the characters, the cultures the suspense and the drama.
Once again Holo and Weber have combined their differences to craft a great read. The Weltall Files left me wanting the next in series yesterday. Love the characters, the cultures the suspense and the drama.
December 20, 2023
A New type of Detectives
Sci-Fi meets Mystery. The Weltall File reminded me of the Danil stories at the beginnings of Asimov’s Robot books, Caves of Steel and others. The book is a fun read.
Sci-Fi meets Mystery. The Weltall File reminded me of the Danil stories at the beginnings of Asimov’s Robot books, Caves of Steel and others. The book is a fun read.
June 27, 2023
A fun detective story in the multiverse.
July 24, 2023
A decent SF mystery with plenty of action, the gamer aspect rang true to me. A fast read.
January 11, 2024
Very fun, but again too predictable.
March 18, 2024
Using detective stories to expand the universe is an interesting approach. It was an enjoyable read, although I figured out the who dun it pretty early.
Want to read
August 22, 2024SM
January 10, 2026
A fun read!
David's influence is missed
David's influence is missed
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews