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Rock Killer
Space Resources, Inc. (SRI) mines asteroids for the riches a populated Earth needs without degrading the planet. Yet there are those opposed to progress in whatever its form such as the Gaia Alliance, a front group for eco-terrorists. During a violent attack on the Moon, the terrorists steal an exploration ship, arm it, and rename it the Rock Killer. Charlene "Charlie" Jones of SRI security is trying to infiltrate the Gaia Alliance's cabal to find evidence linking them to the murder of her fiancé. But a run-in with the law threatens to reveal her identity to the dangerous men of the Alliance. Simultaneously, SRI Director Alexander Chun is traveling to the asteroid belt to bring a kilometer-long nickel-iron rock back to Earth orbit to mine for its valuable metals. Following him and his multi-national team is the Rock Killer. Without armaments, millions of miles from help, Chun must stop those who threaten him and the lives of his crew.
304 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2011
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
S. Evan Townsend
25 books19 followersS. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and has three grown sons at various stages of getting out of the nest. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 22, 2012
Rock Killer - Sci-Fi Thriller!
Terrorism, space battles, corruption... Sci-Fi isn’t my usual read, but I really enjoyed this book. Townsend does a great job of portraying a future that is both believable and frightening. His characters are strong and relatable. Rock Killer takes you on a routine mission for SRI that turns out to be anything but routine. This is a battle between earth’s energy needs and the eco-terrorists’ desire to destroy everyone and everything that disagrees with their beliefs. The crew of the Asteroid SRI-1961 along with security officials from both space and earth are in a race against time to find the source of the terrorists and put a stop to them before more innocent people die. A fast paced, action packed thriller that you don’t want to miss!
Terrorism, space battles, corruption... Sci-Fi isn’t my usual read, but I really enjoyed this book. Townsend does a great job of portraying a future that is both believable and frightening. His characters are strong and relatable. Rock Killer takes you on a routine mission for SRI that turns out to be anything but routine. This is a battle between earth’s energy needs and the eco-terrorists’ desire to destroy everyone and everything that disagrees with their beliefs. The crew of the Asteroid SRI-1961 along with security officials from both space and earth are in a race against time to find the source of the terrorists and put a stop to them before more innocent people die. A fast paced, action packed thriller that you don’t want to miss!
March 11, 2012
Rock Killer
Author: Sheldon Townsend
Progress and advances in science there are some that embrace it and others who want things to remain the same. Advances in science can help prevent illnesses, create a greener planet or just make the world environmentally safer. So, why would some people work really hard to prevent that and keep things on what they feel should be unchanged?
The Space Resources Incorporated Facility was attacked and several crucial members of the team. Charlene or Charlie Jones does her best to engage the intruders in battle but to no avail as her fiancé is murdered and so is a man named Prince. For Charlie things might have gone sour when her pressure suit depressurizes but she guided through much of the disaster by assistant chief security officer Rodriguez. What she sees at the end of it all will stay with her forever.
Alexander Chun is on his way home to his wife Kristen when he learns of the attack and the deaths of his friends. But, this might be the 21st century but space travel is different and many live on Earth and others on the moon. When a reporter on the moon relates the events of the explosion Alexander Chun is stunned but information is sketchy but someone does claim responsibility. Gaia Alliance does not want Space Resources to continue its changes and research and threatens more harm and attacks. Alex is the director of SRI and speaking to Mitchel he learns the nature of the attack on the lunar facility. Killing everyone they encountered including the chief of security they vandalized and stole one ship, the Rock Skipper.
Imagine an organization that mines asteroids in order to enrich our planet and not degrade it. Space Resources, Inc’s function is just that. But when the Gaia Alliance decides to kill and invade their ship and steal one, this group of eco-terrorists gives a new meaning to the word terrorism and much more. Stealing the Rock Skipper they decide to rename is Rock Killer quite appropriate considering we are dealing with asteroids? So how are they going to stop them and who will take over for those killed?
Alex Chun devoted his entire life to SRI and would not leave no matter what. Dinner guests speaking about the GA made them seem as if his organization was creating things to pollute the environment and you could tell they believed in their cause. Whereas Alex described the GA as “Punk Terrorists.” The GA just total control and feels everyone needs to follow their beliefs and doctrines. The business associate of his wife is pro GA and Alex listening to him go on about it storms out of the house in anger leaving Kirsten to deal with McConnell.
Linda Trent is a U. S. Congresswoman and is behind the attacks on the moon. Linda Trent needs to be stopped. Working with a Syrian government official named Faruq the GA supply it with weapons. Linda Trent is part of the GA. Along with Allan Griffin and Knecht, and two other survivors of the attack on the moon they hope to destroy SRI and will use their own ship now called the Rock Killer to do that. But, can they be stopped. Charlie Jones is still grieving Frank’s death when Security Head Mitchel calls her to Tokyo. Who better than to learn what the GA has next on its agenda than Charlie. Coming to Earth is not her favorite thing and his plan is for her to infiltrate the GA in order to get the valuable information for the FBI to prosecute. Her job is the Link the GA to these attacks.
But, Alex has a major decision to make as his wife is becoming upset with his absence from her life. Spending only six weeks a year with his wife is not enough and his decision to stay with the SRI might rock more than just the moon as he feels more of an alliance to them than to her. Alex’s job is to travel to the asteroid belt to meet up with the asteroid and bring it back to Earth.
At the core of much of this plot is an organization called the Baathists Party who control the world’s accessibility to oil. They also want to create more friction between Israel and Palestine hoping to leave Palestine without a home or land. United Baathists States needed space capabilities and the rule in Damascus funded it.
William Thorne would replace Frank as the new chief of security on the next mission under Chun. But, although the mission will soon begin the real plot centers around Charlie and her infiltration into the GA. Learning more about the members and hearing their reasons for joining allows the reader to learn another point of view and why they are so against SRI.
The plot thickens as we learn more about Linda Trent and Charlie is forced to remain in her home but for some reason the other roommate is against this. Added to that the Russians found ten missiles that match those on the Rock Skipper and hopefully they will be returned.
Caught in a diabolical web Charlie is thrust into the heart of the Gaia Alliance. Meeting all of the players involved was definitely unsettling. Learning the truths behind why some joined even more. While Charlie is being trained at the Gaia Headquarters Alex and his team is getting read to go to the asteroid belt but so are those on the Rock Killer. As Charlie does some menial tasks and is told the joy of living in unity with Gaia the environment is cult like. Even their references to Gaia or Mother involving the Earth are scary. Killing off large amounts of people to save Mother Earth seems acceptable to them but chopping down a tree called murder. Charlie learned that the Gaia Alliance’s value system or the superstitions of ancient peoples were what they followed and believed in rather than modern science and all of its technology. She learned much more about conspiracy, racist and the GA’s platform. They were even trying to make receiving microwave energy from space not legal. What she learns is mindboggling and very frightening to say the least. Charlie even learned how to use weapons and shoot. Some she was familiar with and others new to her. But, when she wanders into the wrong area where these weapons are she is strong armed and told to be careful where she goes.
All sides are aiming for the asteroid belt and the attacks on imminent as Charlie’s true mission and identity are revealed unknown to her. With one of the officers in the GA making advances she had no choice but to give in thinking she would not blow her cover. Stealing information she hoped would help her side but would she be found out and just how much danger would she be in if caught?
Space to space missiles attack at any minute and the stakes are really high. Author Sheldon Townsend takes readers up to the moon and back to the Earth on an exploration any astronaut today would love to be on a quest that would definitely change outer space. Who will win out in the end and what will happen when all sides collide?
The battle lines drawn and many lives are lost on all sides. The end result you will have to learn when you read the book for yourself. Caught and injured Charlie needs the help of the SRI to survive? Will it come in time? Alex learns many lessons in life as the missiles attack all sides and things draw to a close? As Charlie manages to bring down the GA will all of its members be caught? What about Faruq will the President realize his true colors? Deceit, lies and betrayal and the fate of the Earth and Space at stake as Faruq goes for the top position and Israel’s fate is at stake.
Twists, curves and downward spiral and an ending that will send everyone spiraling into orbit, back and where they land you just won’t believe. Lives lost and many saved. What an explosive ending to an action packed book filled with missile attacks, fights, and hopefully saving the Earth. Sheldon Townsend: you knocked another FIVE MISSLE BOOK OUT!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
Author: Sheldon Townsend
Progress and advances in science there are some that embrace it and others who want things to remain the same. Advances in science can help prevent illnesses, create a greener planet or just make the world environmentally safer. So, why would some people work really hard to prevent that and keep things on what they feel should be unchanged?
The Space Resources Incorporated Facility was attacked and several crucial members of the team. Charlene or Charlie Jones does her best to engage the intruders in battle but to no avail as her fiancé is murdered and so is a man named Prince. For Charlie things might have gone sour when her pressure suit depressurizes but she guided through much of the disaster by assistant chief security officer Rodriguez. What she sees at the end of it all will stay with her forever.
Alexander Chun is on his way home to his wife Kristen when he learns of the attack and the deaths of his friends. But, this might be the 21st century but space travel is different and many live on Earth and others on the moon. When a reporter on the moon relates the events of the explosion Alexander Chun is stunned but information is sketchy but someone does claim responsibility. Gaia Alliance does not want Space Resources to continue its changes and research and threatens more harm and attacks. Alex is the director of SRI and speaking to Mitchel he learns the nature of the attack on the lunar facility. Killing everyone they encountered including the chief of security they vandalized and stole one ship, the Rock Skipper.
Imagine an organization that mines asteroids in order to enrich our planet and not degrade it. Space Resources, Inc’s function is just that. But when the Gaia Alliance decides to kill and invade their ship and steal one, this group of eco-terrorists gives a new meaning to the word terrorism and much more. Stealing the Rock Skipper they decide to rename is Rock Killer quite appropriate considering we are dealing with asteroids? So how are they going to stop them and who will take over for those killed?
Alex Chun devoted his entire life to SRI and would not leave no matter what. Dinner guests speaking about the GA made them seem as if his organization was creating things to pollute the environment and you could tell they believed in their cause. Whereas Alex described the GA as “Punk Terrorists.” The GA just total control and feels everyone needs to follow their beliefs and doctrines. The business associate of his wife is pro GA and Alex listening to him go on about it storms out of the house in anger leaving Kirsten to deal with McConnell.
Linda Trent is a U. S. Congresswoman and is behind the attacks on the moon. Linda Trent needs to be stopped. Working with a Syrian government official named Faruq the GA supply it with weapons. Linda Trent is part of the GA. Along with Allan Griffin and Knecht, and two other survivors of the attack on the moon they hope to destroy SRI and will use their own ship now called the Rock Killer to do that. But, can they be stopped. Charlie Jones is still grieving Frank’s death when Security Head Mitchel calls her to Tokyo. Who better than to learn what the GA has next on its agenda than Charlie. Coming to Earth is not her favorite thing and his plan is for her to infiltrate the GA in order to get the valuable information for the FBI to prosecute. Her job is the Link the GA to these attacks.
But, Alex has a major decision to make as his wife is becoming upset with his absence from her life. Spending only six weeks a year with his wife is not enough and his decision to stay with the SRI might rock more than just the moon as he feels more of an alliance to them than to her. Alex’s job is to travel to the asteroid belt to meet up with the asteroid and bring it back to Earth.
At the core of much of this plot is an organization called the Baathists Party who control the world’s accessibility to oil. They also want to create more friction between Israel and Palestine hoping to leave Palestine without a home or land. United Baathists States needed space capabilities and the rule in Damascus funded it.
William Thorne would replace Frank as the new chief of security on the next mission under Chun. But, although the mission will soon begin the real plot centers around Charlie and her infiltration into the GA. Learning more about the members and hearing their reasons for joining allows the reader to learn another point of view and why they are so against SRI.
The plot thickens as we learn more about Linda Trent and Charlie is forced to remain in her home but for some reason the other roommate is against this. Added to that the Russians found ten missiles that match those on the Rock Skipper and hopefully they will be returned.
Caught in a diabolical web Charlie is thrust into the heart of the Gaia Alliance. Meeting all of the players involved was definitely unsettling. Learning the truths behind why some joined even more. While Charlie is being trained at the Gaia Headquarters Alex and his team is getting read to go to the asteroid belt but so are those on the Rock Killer. As Charlie does some menial tasks and is told the joy of living in unity with Gaia the environment is cult like. Even their references to Gaia or Mother involving the Earth are scary. Killing off large amounts of people to save Mother Earth seems acceptable to them but chopping down a tree called murder. Charlie learned that the Gaia Alliance’s value system or the superstitions of ancient peoples were what they followed and believed in rather than modern science and all of its technology. She learned much more about conspiracy, racist and the GA’s platform. They were even trying to make receiving microwave energy from space not legal. What she learns is mindboggling and very frightening to say the least. Charlie even learned how to use weapons and shoot. Some she was familiar with and others new to her. But, when she wanders into the wrong area where these weapons are she is strong armed and told to be careful where she goes.
All sides are aiming for the asteroid belt and the attacks on imminent as Charlie’s true mission and identity are revealed unknown to her. With one of the officers in the GA making advances she had no choice but to give in thinking she would not blow her cover. Stealing information she hoped would help her side but would she be found out and just how much danger would she be in if caught?
Space to space missiles attack at any minute and the stakes are really high. Author Sheldon Townsend takes readers up to the moon and back to the Earth on an exploration any astronaut today would love to be on a quest that would definitely change outer space. Who will win out in the end and what will happen when all sides collide?
The battle lines drawn and many lives are lost on all sides. The end result you will have to learn when you read the book for yourself. Caught and injured Charlie needs the help of the SRI to survive? Will it come in time? Alex learns many lessons in life as the missiles attack all sides and things draw to a close? As Charlie manages to bring down the GA will all of its members be caught? What about Faruq will the President realize his true colors? Deceit, lies and betrayal and the fate of the Earth and Space at stake as Faruq goes for the top position and Israel’s fate is at stake.
Twists, curves and downward spiral and an ending that will send everyone spiraling into orbit, back and where they land you just won’t believe. Lives lost and many saved. What an explosive ending to an action packed book filled with missile attacks, fights, and hopefully saving the Earth. Sheldon Townsend: you knocked another FIVE MISSLE BOOK OUT!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
December 5, 2012
Rock Killer is good old-fashioned science fiction with genuine science and a fascinating view of the future. Asteroids are turned into space-ships by the addition of strategically placed engines, then flown to earth to be mined in orbit, their materials used to satisfy the ever-growing needs of a technological society. Of course, some people worry about safety—some with justifiable cause, others with the usual political disregard for logic and science. When the Gaia Alliance starts throwing bombs and killing SRI’s employees to publicize their cause, it’s time for Strategic Resources Inc to do some clever spying, and Charlie, upset at the death of her lover, is just the person for the job.
The novel has lots of interesting characters and intersecting storylines, all coming together as the asteroid is snared and heads for earth. Ecological terrorists join forces with political evil in a very convincing way and the science is nicely plausible with well-chosen details. Chapters told from different points of view give the reader a good feel for character and motivation and provide an ideal platform for the author’s ideas. Dialog is slow sometimes as characters ponder their own motivations. And the politics is intensely American—a problem to my European ears because of its implied criticism of other points of view. But some truly lyrical passages bring readers into the wonder of space, while genuine science emphasizes its dangers. This post-modern world of big corporations, still rife with the follies of politics and nationalism, is scarily real.
If real science bores you, or right-wing politics infuriates you, this probably isn’t the novel for you, but it’s a well-crafted well-told tale with plenty of excitement, solidly real details and a really good plot, highly recommended for real science fiction fans.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy of this novel by the author as he thought, correctly, I might be interested in it.
The novel has lots of interesting characters and intersecting storylines, all coming together as the asteroid is snared and heads for earth. Ecological terrorists join forces with political evil in a very convincing way and the science is nicely plausible with well-chosen details. Chapters told from different points of view give the reader a good feel for character and motivation and provide an ideal platform for the author’s ideas. Dialog is slow sometimes as characters ponder their own motivations. And the politics is intensely American—a problem to my European ears because of its implied criticism of other points of view. But some truly lyrical passages bring readers into the wonder of space, while genuine science emphasizes its dangers. This post-modern world of big corporations, still rife with the follies of politics and nationalism, is scarily real.
If real science bores you, or right-wing politics infuriates you, this probably isn’t the novel for you, but it’s a well-crafted well-told tale with plenty of excitement, solidly real details and a really good plot, highly recommended for real science fiction fans.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy of this novel by the author as he thought, correctly, I might be interested in it.
May 3, 2012
Rock Killer – S. Evan Townsend
SRI – Space Resources Incorporated, is a powerful multinational conglomerate based in Japan. SRI has interests all over the world, a well as in space. They bring asteroids from the belt near Jupiter into Earth orbit and harvest them for resources.
GA – Gaia Alliance, is a militant arm of an organization like Greenpeace. They consider SRI the enemy, claiming they are raping the environment of space, making it unstable. Unfortunately, they have very powerful friends in the US government as well as other parts of the world.
Faruq is the leader of UBAS – United Baath Arab States. An ambitious man, he wants the presidency of Syria for himself. He has manipulated and maneuvered until he has himself in a position to take the country by force. He plans to use the GA to strike against SRI, initiating a revolution.
The first step in the process, members of the GA attack SRI's base on the Moon, stealing one of their own ships to use against them. The attack goes off as planned, but the GA members meet more resistance than anticipated. They still manage to steal the Rock Skipper, renaming it Rock Killer. Armed and highly dangerous, the Rock Killer goes after their target, SRI asteroid 1961.
Rock Killer is a well paced, exciting novel of international intrigue. The plot is engaging and the reader feels sympathy with the plight of the characters. The intricate plot is clearly delineated, the tendrils of each diverse storyline woven into a fascinating whole that keeps the reader involved.
Rock Killer is a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great story of adventure and intrigue.
Five Golden Acorns
SRI – Space Resources Incorporated, is a powerful multinational conglomerate based in Japan. SRI has interests all over the world, a well as in space. They bring asteroids from the belt near Jupiter into Earth orbit and harvest them for resources.
GA – Gaia Alliance, is a militant arm of an organization like Greenpeace. They consider SRI the enemy, claiming they are raping the environment of space, making it unstable. Unfortunately, they have very powerful friends in the US government as well as other parts of the world.
Faruq is the leader of UBAS – United Baath Arab States. An ambitious man, he wants the presidency of Syria for himself. He has manipulated and maneuvered until he has himself in a position to take the country by force. He plans to use the GA to strike against SRI, initiating a revolution.
The first step in the process, members of the GA attack SRI's base on the Moon, stealing one of their own ships to use against them. The attack goes off as planned, but the GA members meet more resistance than anticipated. They still manage to steal the Rock Skipper, renaming it Rock Killer. Armed and highly dangerous, the Rock Killer goes after their target, SRI asteroid 1961.
Rock Killer is a well paced, exciting novel of international intrigue. The plot is engaging and the reader feels sympathy with the plight of the characters. The intricate plot is clearly delineated, the tendrils of each diverse storyline woven into a fascinating whole that keeps the reader involved.
Rock Killer is a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great story of adventure and intrigue.
Five Golden Acorns
May 21, 2012
Story Line: SRI is attacked by GA and has a ship stolen. Frank is murdered. Charlie has to find the GA to prove they killed frank. Alex has to save his crew. Rock Killer wants resources. Miners for Earth want resources. Mrs. Cortez helps save Charlie. Earth and the moon and the asteroid belt are all connected.
Characters: Charlene (Charlie), Mitchel (Mitch), Frank, Kijoto, Yamada, Alex, And many more.
My Favorite Character: I don’t really have a favorite because I love them all. Each has their own abilities and each are strong in their own ways.
My Favorite Part: There is a section where Charlie and McConnell are talking about how humans are living larger lifestyles then they should. Even if they have the resources to do so, the technology and growth are dehumanizing humans. I love the thought and philosophy of this section. It connects with times now so real that you’d think you were hearing it in person and not reading a fictional book. BRAVO!
Full Concept: Read about how terrorist never give up. How earth and the moon forces team up to save the peace. How resources have now become plentiful. How strength is not always how strong you are but what actions you do. Read about the future, about how the world could be. I loved this book. I loved getting to read and explore the depths of space and the people in it.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5. This could be our future. This could be how things and lives will survive. This COULD be real. Any book that makes my mind believe that the future could hold everything that is being spoken and can put that much realistic philosophy into a fictional story is amazing.
Characters: Charlene (Charlie), Mitchel (Mitch), Frank, Kijoto, Yamada, Alex, And many more.
My Favorite Character: I don’t really have a favorite because I love them all. Each has their own abilities and each are strong in their own ways.
My Favorite Part: There is a section where Charlie and McConnell are talking about how humans are living larger lifestyles then they should. Even if they have the resources to do so, the technology and growth are dehumanizing humans. I love the thought and philosophy of this section. It connects with times now so real that you’d think you were hearing it in person and not reading a fictional book. BRAVO!
Full Concept: Read about how terrorist never give up. How earth and the moon forces team up to save the peace. How resources have now become plentiful. How strength is not always how strong you are but what actions you do. Read about the future, about how the world could be. I loved this book. I loved getting to read and explore the depths of space and the people in it.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5. This could be our future. This could be how things and lives will survive. This COULD be real. Any book that makes my mind believe that the future could hold everything that is being spoken and can put that much realistic philosophy into a fictional story is amazing.
March 4, 2012
Featuring some of Townsend's most well-rounded characters, Rock Killer is not your average sci-fi novel. Filled with realistic (and often witty) dialogue and plenty of exciting action, Rock Killer is some of Townsend's best work. I'm not a sci-fi fan and yet I enjoyed this book. I really cared about Charlie and it's easy to see why Townsend himself has admitted to being "a little in love with her". She is smart and capable, both good qualities in a leading lady. Rock Killer boasts an ensemble cast of strong, realistic and sympathetic characters, and the Gaia Alliance functions collectively as an effective villain. Rock Killer is an enjoyable and accessible read.
December 28, 2012
I’m not exactly sure how Townsend’s new novel Rock Killer came to my attention. All I do recall is that the ebook edition was up on Amazon as a free download, so I took a flyer on it. The book proved an entertaining read, if a bit irritating at times.
Rock Killer is set in the latter half of this century. Several private companies, including Space Resources Inc. (SRI), are mining the asteroid belt by locating and moving asteroids into Earth orbit. Charlene Jones is a member of the security group for SRI, and when the book opens, her base on the moon is under attack by terrorists, presumably working with Gaia Alliance, a group opposed to all space mining. From that point on, the action continues briskly, ending up with a dramatic battle in space.
This novel is a SF thriller, and suffers from some of the problems inherent in the genre. Character development is secondary to plot, although in fairness to Townsend there is some development, mostly of the protagonists. The author falls down on characterization for his antagonists, making them either fools or one step away from mustachio-twirling cardboard cutouts.
I also found the author’s politics both grating and gratuitous. Townsend postulates an America where “radical socialism” has run rampant, and defending oneself from a criminal attack has become a crime. These are not my politics, and so I found them grating.
I also felt that these political leanings were unnecessary to the plot. I have reviewed and enjoyed books like Charles Sheehan-Miles’ Insurgent and Republic. Here the politics were strongly left-leaning, but in Sheehan-Miles’ case, the story simply couldn’t be told without the politics. Not so with Rock Killer. The plot point of the “illegal self-defense” was simply to blow somebody’s cover, which could have been done in other ways, and the “radical socialism” was simply not needed.
Yet, despite these objections, I found myself quickly flipping electronic pages while reading Rock Killer. Simply put, it’s an exciting read, with protagonists, at least, that are believable and that one can care about.
Rock Killer is set in the latter half of this century. Several private companies, including Space Resources Inc. (SRI), are mining the asteroid belt by locating and moving asteroids into Earth orbit. Charlene Jones is a member of the security group for SRI, and when the book opens, her base on the moon is under attack by terrorists, presumably working with Gaia Alliance, a group opposed to all space mining. From that point on, the action continues briskly, ending up with a dramatic battle in space.
This novel is a SF thriller, and suffers from some of the problems inherent in the genre. Character development is secondary to plot, although in fairness to Townsend there is some development, mostly of the protagonists. The author falls down on characterization for his antagonists, making them either fools or one step away from mustachio-twirling cardboard cutouts.
I also found the author’s politics both grating and gratuitous. Townsend postulates an America where “radical socialism” has run rampant, and defending oneself from a criminal attack has become a crime. These are not my politics, and so I found them grating.
I also felt that these political leanings were unnecessary to the plot. I have reviewed and enjoyed books like Charles Sheehan-Miles’ Insurgent and Republic. Here the politics were strongly left-leaning, but in Sheehan-Miles’ case, the story simply couldn’t be told without the politics. Not so with Rock Killer. The plot point of the “illegal self-defense” was simply to blow somebody’s cover, which could have been done in other ways, and the “radical socialism” was simply not needed.
Yet, despite these objections, I found myself quickly flipping electronic pages while reading Rock Killer. Simply put, it’s an exciting read, with protagonists, at least, that are believable and that one can care about.
June 13, 2012
I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I agree 100% with the comparison to Tom Clancy. This is just like a Sci-fi version of one of his books!! You have 4 or 5 stories going on simultaneously together which you think would be kind of confusing. It isn't. I had no problem following along and I liked the fact you were able to see things from all of the characters POVs. You weren't left trying to guess at one character was thinking or why they were acting a certain way. The way this book is written, it also gives you an immense amount of detail about the politics going on behind the story. So not only do you get a taste of the character situation, you also get to glimpse whats going on with the masterminds. Its like being able to see the armies fighting, watching the generals position the troops, and the subsequent fall-outs. It was quite fascinating. Charlie was definitely my favorite character. If you like your Sci-fi with an extremely layered plot and a lot going on than this is the book for you! I enjoyed it!!
April 24, 2016
Just as ridiculous as Captain Planet
Remember the cartoon Captain Planet? Remember how ridiculous the corporate villains were in that story? Fat, greedy, and out to make a buck at the expense of humans and nature alike? Spin that around and you have technology hating
environmentalist terrorists villains who are equally juvenile. Oh but the hero here is the corporation who has more money than God but somehow grows a heart and takes good care of its employees. And yes tosses nuclear waste around for revenge? Please. Technology isn't evil and neither are environmentalists. The only interesting thing is the technology behind the asteroid mining operations, but the liberal bashing politics makes it difficult to enjoy. Being an environmentalist doesn't make you a terrorist or anti-technology.
Remember the cartoon Captain Planet? Remember how ridiculous the corporate villains were in that story? Fat, greedy, and out to make a buck at the expense of humans and nature alike? Spin that around and you have technology hating
environmentalist terrorists villains who are equally juvenile. Oh but the hero here is the corporation who has more money than God but somehow grows a heart and takes good care of its employees. And yes tosses nuclear waste around for revenge? Please. Technology isn't evil and neither are environmentalists. The only interesting thing is the technology behind the asteroid mining operations, but the liberal bashing politics makes it difficult to enjoy. Being an environmentalist doesn't make you a terrorist or anti-technology.
November 4, 2015
The first 2/3 of this book had me wondering if I should continue reading. There are a lot of characters that initially I had trouble keeping track of, which is my issue, others may like that aspect. The last 1/3 of the book stepped it up well and I'm glad I finished. An interesting premise, moving astroids near Earth and mining them and the violent resistance by radical environmentalists set up a good conflict. Probably some will like this more than I did but still happy I finished it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews