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Chesspocalypse #7
Callsign: Deep Blue (Tom Duncan)
Tom Duncan— Deep Blue, former Army ranger, former president of the United States and handler of the black ops force known as Chess Team, is visiting the team’s new secret headquarters. The underground facility, known as Alpha, once belonged to Manifold Genetics, a corrupt corporation shut down by Chess Team. But despite being abandoned for years, Alpha still hides secrets. Security doors slam shut and lock, sealing Duncan and his assistants inside. As Matt Carrack, the leader of Duncan’s security team, attempts to gain access, Duncan discovers they are not alone inside the abandoned facility. High tech intruders have infiltrated the base, their goal unknown. But a far greater threat rises from the subterranean depths beneath Alpha—failed regenerative experiments from the days of Manifold, and they’re fast, hostile and hungry. While the security team are beset by ingenious death traps, determined mercenaries and vicious creatures that defy their imaginations, Duncan and his personal bodyguard must battle the growing tide of creatures, stave off the incursion of enemy forces and prevent the violent intruders from releasing the horror currently contained inside Alpha, to an unsuspecting outside world. And as the battle rages, a bomb quietly counts down in the shadows. Deep Blue was the seventh in a series of Chess Team novellas released in 2011. Each of the eight books in the series—deemed the ‘Chesspocalypse’—follows a single member of the team and is co-authored by Jeremy Robinson and one of six other fantastic authors. The stories take place after the events of Threshold, the third Jack Sigler thriller, and before the events of Ragnarok, the fourth full-length novel in the series. The Chesspocalypse novellas are designed to introduce readers to the series. If you haven’t read the novels, no worries. Enjoy the ride! Praise for Robinson “Rocket-boosted action, brilliant speculation, and the recreation of a horror out of the mythologic past, all seamlessly blend into a rollercoaster ride of suspense and adventure.” —James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eye of God “With Threshold Jeremy Robinson goes pedal to the metal into very dark territory. Fast-paced, action-packed and wonderfully creepy! Highly recommended!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin “Jeremy Robinson is the next James Rollins” —Chris Kuzneski, New York Times bestselling author of The Einstein Pursuit “If you like thrillers original, unpredictable and chock-full of action, you are going to love Jeremy Robinson...” —Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author of Pirate Alley “How do you find an original story idea in the crowded action-thriller genre? Two Jeremy Robinson.” —Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Pandemic “There’s nothing timid about Robinson as he drops his readers off the cliff without a parachute and somehow manages to catch us an inch or two from doom.” —Jeff Long, New York Times bestselling author of The Descent Praise for Gilmour “Resurrect is high adventure in the grand tradition, with a brash hero, relentless villains, beautiful women, and breathtaking locales from the Himalaya to Hong Kong. It is as addictive as hot buttered popcorn—you’ll keep coming back for more.” —Stephen M.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2011
31 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Robinson
164 books2,611 followersJeremy Robinson is the New York Times bestselling author of seventy novels and novellas, including Apocalypse Machine, Island 731, and SecondWorld, as well as the Jack Sigler thriller series and Project Nemesis, the highest selling, original (non-licensed) kaiju novel of all time. He’s known for mixing elements of science, history and mythology, which has earned him the #1 spot in Science Fiction and Action-Adventure, and secured him as the top creature feature author. Many of his novels have been adapted into comic books, optioned for film and TV, and translated into thirteen languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children. Visit him at www.bewareofmonsters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 21, 2023
This may be my favorite Callsign book - I love Deep Blue! The ending was perfect and it was great to have extra time with Tom Duncan.
August 22, 2012
Loved it, non-stop action. Once you start reading you will not be able to stop. Surprising twists along the way! One of the funniest things i have ever read is Tom Duncan has a hungry moment, you will never look at a hot-dog the same way again. Be warned tho there is graphic violence & one part was very difficult to read. I have had the honour of getting to know both Jeremy Robinson & Kane Gilmour, 2 very talented Authors who are apart of my BookClub. I highly recommend you read this, you will not be disappointed!
January 7, 2012
Good book, action start to finish.
July 19, 2012
I was really glad to read this one, to see how Deep Blue is going after the awful humiliating way he had to give up the presidency. Nice that he had the chance to be an action hero.
May 30, 2017
I'll admit that I read the first 30% or so of Callsign: Deep Blue while hopped up on a bunch of allergy fighting drugs. Therefore, it is totally possible that this novella is better than the 3 stars I decided to give it, but even so, those first couple of chapters were read amidst an anti-histamine induced fog.
I think the problem with this story (and the rest of the Chesspocalypse novellas in general) is that while they're action packed and super fast reads, their lack of plot development and relativly short length leave little breathing room or time for a deep connection with the story or characters to from. I know I used to a big proponent of books and stories that never had any real downtime and I used to hate sitting in my creative writing classes, listening to a professor tell me my own short stories involved way too much action and not enough moments of calm, but now, many books and years removed from college, I can begin to understand why readers need a break sometimes. Like the full length Ragnarok and Callsign: Rook before it, Callsign: Deep Blue is the perfect example of how too many continuous pages of stuff blowing up and people dying, gets really old and really repetitive quite quickly.
Now, I know what Robinson and his team of coworkers are trying to do with these novellas, and I do appreciate that I can sit down, read one of them in a day or 2, and not feel like I have to get super engrossed or involved in the story, so in that sense, I give some modicum of respect and credit to him. I will, however, state that I'm ready to be done with this series and I'm actually looking forward to crossing Callsign: King- Brainstorm off my list and saying farewell to this whole 8 book set.
I think the problem with this story (and the rest of the Chesspocalypse novellas in general) is that while they're action packed and super fast reads, their lack of plot development and relativly short length leave little breathing room or time for a deep connection with the story or characters to from. I know I used to a big proponent of books and stories that never had any real downtime and I used to hate sitting in my creative writing classes, listening to a professor tell me my own short stories involved way too much action and not enough moments of calm, but now, many books and years removed from college, I can begin to understand why readers need a break sometimes. Like the full length Ragnarok and Callsign: Rook before it, Callsign: Deep Blue is the perfect example of how too many continuous pages of stuff blowing up and people dying, gets really old and really repetitive quite quickly.
Now, I know what Robinson and his team of coworkers are trying to do with these novellas, and I do appreciate that I can sit down, read one of them in a day or 2, and not feel like I have to get super engrossed or involved in the story, so in that sense, I give some modicum of respect and credit to him. I will, however, state that I'm ready to be done with this series and I'm actually looking forward to crossing Callsign: King- Brainstorm off my list and saying farewell to this whole 8 book set.
November 19, 2019
Tom Duncan's presidency had ended in disgrace and his resignation. But, that was only a cover for Tom's true calling. As Deep Blue...the founder and handler of the black ops group CHESS TEAM... his value to the United States and the people that he was vowed to protect is way beyond that of only the president.
Now, able to dedicate all of his efforts to his new job, Duncan has jumped into the mission of converting the recently captured Manifold alpha facility into the new base of operations for the Chess Team. But...nothing ever comes easy in this business and an unexpected and deadly event may put an end to those plans. And, if that wasn't all, a new horror has raised its head that may destroy everything and everyone.
Jeremy Robinson and Kane Gilmour step aside from the in the field action members of the Chess Team to focus on the behind the scenes activity that makes their missions viable. Robinson and Gilmour show a deft hand at blending both subtle action and outright in your face conflict that keeps the story exciting and immerses the reader fully into the adventure. The authors ability to mash-up multiple genres creates a great addition to the CHESSPOCALYPSE series.
While this is the 6th in the series of short novellas centered around the CHESS TEAM, the story can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone with the references to others stories in the overall arc being fairly self explanatory...though...once you jump in here, you'll want to go get the rest.
Now, able to dedicate all of his efforts to his new job, Duncan has jumped into the mission of converting the recently captured Manifold alpha facility into the new base of operations for the Chess Team. But...nothing ever comes easy in this business and an unexpected and deadly event may put an end to those plans. And, if that wasn't all, a new horror has raised its head that may destroy everything and everyone.
Jeremy Robinson and Kane Gilmour step aside from the in the field action members of the Chess Team to focus on the behind the scenes activity that makes their missions viable. Robinson and Gilmour show a deft hand at blending both subtle action and outright in your face conflict that keeps the story exciting and immerses the reader fully into the adventure. The authors ability to mash-up multiple genres creates a great addition to the CHESSPOCALYPSE series.
While this is the 6th in the series of short novellas centered around the CHESS TEAM, the story can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone with the references to others stories in the overall arc being fairly self explanatory...though...once you jump in here, you'll want to go get the rest.
February 20, 2024
Gilmore and Robinson are a fan team
Action packed and 100 miles an hour! Giant creatures hide in the shadows while Manifold kill squad hunts the unsuspecting Chess Team support staff. This go from crazy to manic. Great story!!!
Action packed and 100 miles an hour! Giant creatures hide in the shadows while Manifold kill squad hunts the unsuspecting Chess Team support staff. This go from crazy to manic. Great story!!!
March 10, 2014
Take a tour of the Chess Team facility. The exciting way.
In this story, we get to go inside the new headquarters of Chess Team. It’s not set up yet, but an advance team is there looking around and taking stock. One of the team is the ex-president of the United States, Tom Duncan, aka Deep Blue, the leader behind Chess Team. The place is huge and amazing. It was captured from Manifold and is being refitted, unfortunately, not quickly enough.
Deep Blue, along with a computer whiz, gets trapped in the facility when the security doors all shut and lock. The rest of the advanced team, a security detail, is stuck outside trying to find a way. However, the reason the facility has shut down is because it is being invaded, by Manifold security. They are there to retrieve a sample and don’t care who gets in the way. There orders are to destroy the place after they have gotten the sample.
The Chess Team security detail immediately goes into action. While they are doing their thing, Deep Blue tries to find out what is going on. As suspected, a Manifold experiment has gone wildly out of control. Deep Blue and his security are fighting against the intruders and the results of the experiment. Then the lights go out.
The ex-president shows he is just as capable as any of his Chess Team warriors. Definitely, a must read!
In this story, we get to go inside the new headquarters of Chess Team. It’s not set up yet, but an advance team is there looking around and taking stock. One of the team is the ex-president of the United States, Tom Duncan, aka Deep Blue, the leader behind Chess Team. The place is huge and amazing. It was captured from Manifold and is being refitted, unfortunately, not quickly enough.
Deep Blue, along with a computer whiz, gets trapped in the facility when the security doors all shut and lock. The rest of the advanced team, a security detail, is stuck outside trying to find a way. However, the reason the facility has shut down is because it is being invaded, by Manifold security. They are there to retrieve a sample and don’t care who gets in the way. There orders are to destroy the place after they have gotten the sample.
The Chess Team security detail immediately goes into action. While they are doing their thing, Deep Blue tries to find out what is going on. As suspected, a Manifold experiment has gone wildly out of control. Deep Blue and his security are fighting against the intruders and the results of the experiment. Then the lights go out.
The ex-president shows he is just as capable as any of his Chess Team warriors. Definitely, a must read!
October 6, 2014
In this edition of the Chess Team novellas we hang out with their handler, Deep Blue, aka the former POTUS, Tom Duncan.
We also meet the support team of the Chess Team named Endgame (I guess Checkmate was already taken by DC Comics). Endgame is the umbrella organization which the CT fall under and their security, science, mission support are designated with Black and White number call signs like Black Zero and White One, etc.
We also get a tour of their new HQ which previously belonged to their arch-nemesis, Richard Ridley.
Unfortunately for them a group of soldiers who used to work for Ridley have also decided to take a tour of the facility.
And even more unfortuante there seems to be some leftover occupants of said base from the time it was a lab conducting dangerous genetic splicing experiments.
A fun book if you've already read the other Chess Team books not really for anyone trying to get into the series. You meet a lot of the supporting characters from the previous books who are now members of Endgame as well as some new characters. Don't get too attached to any of them though because like the red-shirted members of The USS Enterprise's security detail many of them don't survive.
Fun story, very Die Hard-like and even though some of the characters don't last very long I liked the effort made into giving them personalities so that their deaths hit a bit harder.
We also meet the support team of the Chess Team named Endgame (I guess Checkmate was already taken by DC Comics). Endgame is the umbrella organization which the CT fall under and their security, science, mission support are designated with Black and White number call signs like Black Zero and White One, etc.
We also get a tour of their new HQ which previously belonged to their arch-nemesis, Richard Ridley.
Unfortunately for them a group of soldiers who used to work for Ridley have also decided to take a tour of the facility.
And even more unfortuante there seems to be some leftover occupants of said base from the time it was a lab conducting dangerous genetic splicing experiments.
A fun book if you've already read the other Chess Team books not really for anyone trying to get into the series. You meet a lot of the supporting characters from the previous books who are now members of Endgame as well as some new characters. Don't get too attached to any of them though because like the red-shirted members of The USS Enterprise's security detail many of them don't survive.
Fun story, very Die Hard-like and even though some of the characters don't last very long I liked the effort made into giving them personalities so that their deaths hit a bit harder.
February 12, 2014
Call Sign: Deep Blue is a non-stop ride of fun. Attempting to convert an enemy's former base of operations to fit the Chess Team's needs, Deep Blue finds out the enemy isn't done with their former base. What follows is a sweet mix of action, sci-fi, and horror that is easily one of, if not the, best of the Call Sign novellas. I loved this one. You will too! Just make sure you've read Prime, Pulse, Instinct, Threshold, and Call Sign books King book 1 of the Brainstorm trilogy, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, and King book 2 of BST: Underworld first! Now on to the book 3 conclusion of the Brainstorm trilogy for Call Sign : King!
December 27, 2013
Loved reading about Tom Duncan (Deep Blue) former President and leader of the Chess team. You got bad guys, giant salamanders and heroic daring-do's. Another good CallSign novella that helps getting to know individual characters.
August 10, 2013
Another great read. This one is quick and dirty. this is really a continuation of Pulse. So it is best to read Pulse first. This is a great novel. There is not much room for character development. This is for the most part a straight action piece.
March 23, 2015
So we finally get to see 'Deep Blue' in action, and it was great to see. The man behind Chess Team is as good as the rest of the team at getting himself into and out of trouble. A great, fun story. Kane Gilmour & Jeremy Robinson are a great team and I look forward to reading more from them.
February 23, 2014
The Chess Team books are a blast to read and I loved each of the Callsign books. Get to know each character a little better with a great story. You can't go wrong with Jeremy Robinson's books, check them out!
February 8, 2016
Loved reading about Deep Blue after he decided to resign his position. He shows us he is just as good as any of his Chess Team members. Non-stop action!
April 7, 2014
Really Really liked this one as we do not know much about Tom....
Nice to see Anna back as well
Nice to see Anna back as well
May 7, 2024
Very cool. Combine creatures with bad guys, lock a few good guys in with them, and let all hell break loose.
September 29, 2015
not bad, but i would say he has done better!
love mythical creatures, but here i get a feeling of repetitiveness...
still a fun and entertaining read though.
love mythical creatures, but here i get a feeling of repetitiveness...
still a fun and entertaining read though.
February 4, 2015
nasty salamanders. great read
March 13, 2015
Another good story. Liked learning more about Deep Blue, but Dan, it seems like tons more people died in this one, poor security guys. :)
October 4, 2015
Again a good in between story, or stories. I'm really enjoying this bunch.
January 19, 2016
Fast paced, exciting, and a bit of a plot twist. A nice change of pace being able to see things from Deep Blue's point of view. Excellent.
April 11, 2016
Simple but wonderful story :)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews