Stealing Thunder

Descent #2

by Peter Telep

The Universe, as the Post Terran Mining Corporation knows it, is about to end. Reports show massive build-ups of mining drones infected iwth the alien transmode virus near all PTMC holdings outside the Sol system; estimates put total contamination at forty-eight hours.When intelligence reveals that an alien command post or ship is directing the mech invasion, Benjamin St. John is paired with a sexy, tough-as-titanium Collective Earth Defense pilot and ordered by PTMC Director Samuel Dravis to find and destroy the alien stronghold.

But first Ben and his partner must battle thorugh an unprecendented attack by CED and PTMC mercenary forces and uncover the mystery behind it--all while contending with the blackmailing, double-crossing Director Dravis, who schemes to crush the mech invasion and his bitter enemy, the CED, in one fell swoop. But his plan has a flaw, for his instrument is again Ben St. John--ex-Marine Corps pilot and control freak hell bent on saving the universe, collecting his money, then kicking Dravis's butt from Sol to Tycho Brahe.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 6, 1999

About the author

Peter Telep is the author of more than fifty novels. His collaboration with Tom Clancy, Against All Enemies, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Additionally, he has written many bestselling novels based on Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Endwar, and Splinter Cell video game series.

He is a produced film and television writer and has worked alongside professionals throughout the video game industry. The Doc Harrison series marks his return to fantasy and science fiction where he began his career.

Find him on Facebook, Twitter (@petertelep), and email: peter@docharrisonbooks.com. He always loves to hear from his readers!


Bonus info:

Writing as Ben Weaver: Brothers in Arms, Rebels in Arms, Patriots in Arms

Writing as P.W. Storm: The Force 5 Recon Series and The Mercenaries Series

Writing as Pete Callahan: Armored Corps, Attack by Fire, Engage and Destroy

Writing as David Michaels: Endwar, Endwar: The Hunted, Ghost Recon, Ghost Recon: Combat Ops, Splinter Cell: Endgame

Writing as Richard Michaels: The Fall of Eden (Trade Paperback)

Reviews

[Mike Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A step down from the first novel. While it turned out to be an enjoyable read, the story takes a long time to get going. Several things stuck out from the start. First, Ben's random relationship with Meghan came out of nowhere. His ex-wife, Elizabeth was all he could think of in the first book, and suddenly he's shacking up with Meghan. It doesn't fit Ben's character, and the author seems to struggle with it as well in the end, trying to give equal time to Ben's daydreaming thoughts about the two women. Secondly, the battle scene descriptions get long-in-the-tooth in this book. Telep seems to have run out of ideas about how to describe missiles firing and destroying mechs, and it shows (although the final battle was a lot of fun to read, hearkening back to the essence of the video games - blow the reactor and GTFO).

Finally, the editor must have fallen asleep before he finished with this one. The numerous spelling errors and incomplete sentences in the last 5-6 chapters was annoying, at least to me. Telep's style has always been laid-back, but this book's simply unfinished. If it weren't for the GREAT ending (and excellent setup for the final book in the trilogy), this wouldn't even be getting 3 stars.

[Chad Davis]

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