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Fracture Gradient
"My first reaction to Jim McCulloch's debut novel was, "When's the movie coming out?" McCulloch concocts a thriller with just the right ingredients to satisfy modern moviegoers, all without relying on zombies or vampires. Set during the Reagan Era, Fracture Gradient plausibly blends international intrigue, deception, governmental cluelessness and denial. ... If this story ever makes it to the silver screen, I'll be interested to see who plays Ronald Reagan - and if there's a role for Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Rating 5 Star in April 2013 QST magazine from the ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio.
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It’s the 1980’s, Ronald Reagan is President, and America has recovered from the crippling energy shortages of the 1970’s when OPEC nearly squeezed oil-dependent economies to death. But now the U.S. energy industry is faltering as OPEC again manipulates the international oil markets to wrestle back dominance and force America to her knees one more time.
Out of nowhere, rumors of an astonishing alternative energy discovery suddenly emerge and threaten to reshuffle the international balance of power, destroy OPEC, and make the world energy self-sufficient. Fletcher Boyd and Hollis Cade own it . . . for what it’s worth and at least for now. Information insidiously leaks and all hell breaks loose as Big Oil, OPEC, and governments explode into action. Who can be trusted? Can a handful of ruggedly individualistic underdogs withstand the massive assault from highly-trained government operatives and corporate security forces?
What seems simple is not. What seems logical is not. Energy is power and power means everything to those who wield it. But Fletcher and Hollis don’t bend or bow; they’re hard men who think for themselves and are willing to fight for principle and what’s theirs.
Deadly intrigue, numbing twists, and exhilarating action will rivet you to your chair as a question chafes somewhere in the dark recesses of your psyche . . . an itch that can’t be scratched. Has this happened?
What else will you find in Fracture Gradient? You will find breathtaking action and adventure in the international oil and gas industry, Texas, Saudi Arabia, OPEC and Saudi Aramco, ham radio, private jets, F-4 Phantoms fighting an F-14 Tomcat over northern Minnesota, general aviation carnage, and a fascinating peek into the concept of hydrogen power derived from a very common substance! Not enough? Well, then there are the US military veterans fighting for their lives, plenty of gunplay, a damaged marriage, and astounding wealth up for grabs! How’s that?
Rating 5 Star in April 2013 QST magazine from the ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio.
*******************************************
It’s the 1980’s, Ronald Reagan is President, and America has recovered from the crippling energy shortages of the 1970’s when OPEC nearly squeezed oil-dependent economies to death. But now the U.S. energy industry is faltering as OPEC again manipulates the international oil markets to wrestle back dominance and force America to her knees one more time.
Out of nowhere, rumors of an astonishing alternative energy discovery suddenly emerge and threaten to reshuffle the international balance of power, destroy OPEC, and make the world energy self-sufficient. Fletcher Boyd and Hollis Cade own it . . . for what it’s worth and at least for now. Information insidiously leaks and all hell breaks loose as Big Oil, OPEC, and governments explode into action. Who can be trusted? Can a handful of ruggedly individualistic underdogs withstand the massive assault from highly-trained government operatives and corporate security forces?
What seems simple is not. What seems logical is not. Energy is power and power means everything to those who wield it. But Fletcher and Hollis don’t bend or bow; they’re hard men who think for themselves and are willing to fight for principle and what’s theirs.
Deadly intrigue, numbing twists, and exhilarating action will rivet you to your chair as a question chafes somewhere in the dark recesses of your psyche . . . an itch that can’t be scratched. Has this happened?
What else will you find in Fracture Gradient? You will find breathtaking action and adventure in the international oil and gas industry, Texas, Saudi Arabia, OPEC and Saudi Aramco, ham radio, private jets, F-4 Phantoms fighting an F-14 Tomcat over northern Minnesota, general aviation carnage, and a fascinating peek into the concept of hydrogen power derived from a very common substance! Not enough? Well, then there are the US military veterans fighting for their lives, plenty of gunplay, a damaged marriage, and astounding wealth up for grabs! How’s that?
450 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Jim McCulloch
2 books13 followersA sincere thanks for landing here.
My background in a nutshell: Seven-industry (including oil & gas) business guy; former US Army officer (mustang); firearm versed; amateur radio operator (ham). Most important is the fact that I have been a voracious reader since childhood. I suspect most of you share that attribute or you wouldn’t be part of Goodreads.
Roll it all together and you have the underpinnings of my action novel, Fracture Gradient. You can depend on a period-accurate backdrop, firearm action that makes sense, radio communications that don’t defy physics or logic, and regular people doing highly irregular things! No ninjas, super-hero’s, or special forces operators. The quickest link to Fracture Gradient is via Amazon at bookShow.me/0985774509 which will open to your local Amazon page anywhere in the world. It’s also available in every eBook format.
What's the story about? The Reagan-era #oil industry relentlessly hunts one of its own mid-level employees as he tries to monetize a #green energy discovery that would provide immense economic benefit to mankind but destroy the industry. Big Oil will stop at nothing to keep this Next-Gen #disruptor from coming to market.
My wife, Dede, and I lived in the rural Coast Range foothills of northwest Oregon for 25 years but have now (2024) moved to northwest Ohio, near her hometown, to be closer to family upon my retirement from the business world.
I sincerely appreciate your support and happily accept all Goodreads friend requests!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 10, 2020
A strange thing happened to me during the current COVID-19 crisis: I spent less timing reading than before. It turned out that I do my reading mostly on the way to and from the job, and being in my home office nearly constantly for several months now robbed me of my reading time. Actually I have not even been on Goodreads for about 5 months straight now.
Well, be that as it may, the last book I did read was Fracture Gradient by Jim McCulloch. Jim is one of my few friends on Goodreads, so I have to admit one thing up front: Had I not liked his book, I would not have written this review. I would have just kept silent about it.
Fortunately it was quite an interesting and very good read. After finishing the book I took another look on his introduction here on Goodreads and nodded to myself: Yep, makes sense.
The story is set in the oil sector in the US in the 80s and centers on three guys who discover a cheap energy source by accident. As the story unfolds several players are added to the mix, and as one can imagine, the implications of the discovery and its potential to change the world lead to actions and reactions that grow more and more extreme and violent.
But what I liked very much about this, and I hope I find the right words for it (with English not being my first language and all): First you get to know the people, and they are all quite ordinary. Some of them outstanding in their line of work, and as the story progresses they also show their capability of defending themselves, but still, they are normal people. I followed them through their discovery and the period of timing afterwards, and they all felt like people I could know. Not the larger-than-life characters you so often meet in this kind of economical/political thrillers.
All the harder I was hit when the first act of violence occurred in this story. It was so shocking, seeing those normal people being confronted with what happened there. I felt like it happened to my neighbors. As the story evolves from there it becomes even more violent of course, and things get out of hand pretty fast, but all in a credible way. It could really happen like it is described here. What’s more, he drops a handful of real people in the story, and he does so quite skillfully.
Jim concentrates on his areas of expertise, and this lends a great deal of credibility to the story. He knows the business, he has military experience, and he knows ham radio. (As written above, the story is set in the 80s, which makes for an even more interesting read in the aspect of means of communication available at the time.)
He does not seem to consider himself a poet, so he generally does not bother the reader with the looks and smells and noises and the amount of butterflies of each location, only when it is necessary for the story. (For example when some characters hide in the woods and prepare their line of defense.) His no-nonsense approach to storytelling was quite refreshing and his writing is technically accomplished. The pacing is right, there are not too much characters, the protagonists stay true to their personality. Maybe in some respects short of a masterpiece compared with the giants of the genre, but a gripping and rewarding tale, told by a writer who knows his stuff.
Well, be that as it may, the last book I did read was Fracture Gradient by Jim McCulloch. Jim is one of my few friends on Goodreads, so I have to admit one thing up front: Had I not liked his book, I would not have written this review. I would have just kept silent about it.
Fortunately it was quite an interesting and very good read. After finishing the book I took another look on his introduction here on Goodreads and nodded to myself: Yep, makes sense.
The story is set in the oil sector in the US in the 80s and centers on three guys who discover a cheap energy source by accident. As the story unfolds several players are added to the mix, and as one can imagine, the implications of the discovery and its potential to change the world lead to actions and reactions that grow more and more extreme and violent.
But what I liked very much about this, and I hope I find the right words for it (with English not being my first language and all): First you get to know the people, and they are all quite ordinary. Some of them outstanding in their line of work, and as the story progresses they also show their capability of defending themselves, but still, they are normal people. I followed them through their discovery and the period of timing afterwards, and they all felt like people I could know. Not the larger-than-life characters you so often meet in this kind of economical/political thrillers.
All the harder I was hit when the first act of violence occurred in this story. It was so shocking, seeing those normal people being confronted with what happened there. I felt like it happened to my neighbors. As the story evolves from there it becomes even more violent of course, and things get out of hand pretty fast, but all in a credible way. It could really happen like it is described here. What’s more, he drops a handful of real people in the story, and he does so quite skillfully.
Jim concentrates on his areas of expertise, and this lends a great deal of credibility to the story. He knows the business, he has military experience, and he knows ham radio. (As written above, the story is set in the 80s, which makes for an even more interesting read in the aspect of means of communication available at the time.)
He does not seem to consider himself a poet, so he generally does not bother the reader with the looks and smells and noises and the amount of butterflies of each location, only when it is necessary for the story. (For example when some characters hide in the woods and prepare their line of defense.) His no-nonsense approach to storytelling was quite refreshing and his writing is technically accomplished. The pacing is right, there are not too much characters, the protagonists stay true to their personality. Maybe in some respects short of a masterpiece compared with the giants of the genre, but a gripping and rewarding tale, told by a writer who knows his stuff.
January 14, 2017
Greed drove everybody and everything in this novel. Three oil industry employees discover an alternative to fossil fuels and want to get really rich from it. Unfortunately, they don't approach it well, leaking information at the wrong time to the wrong people, and not securing their discovery with a patent before trying to get massive amounts of money from their employer, the American government, and the Saudis. Needless to say, if the product came to market, it would disrupt the world order and dramatically upset the national economy. The lengths to which individuals, companies and governments were willing to go (kidnapping and murder included) to keep the product from the public kept the story moving along at an intense pace.
November 18, 2012
This novel incorporates all the elements of a classic thriller. It has national and international intrigue, mystery and murder. The author has tapped into his own experiences of the military, Texas oil fields and communication. He has used factual events from the 80's and intertwined them with his fictional tale, but leaves you with the questions of is it fiction, or not?
The story is told in the genre of Tom Clancy with all of the twists and turns that makes the reader unwilling to put it down. I certainly hope that Jim McCulloch has another book in the offing. This is a TERRIFIC first novel!
The story is told in the genre of Tom Clancy with all of the twists and turns that makes the reader unwilling to put it down. I certainly hope that Jim McCulloch has another book in the offing. This is a TERRIFIC first novel!
November 22, 2012
This novel's plot encompasses both national and international intrigue as to the world's energy needs. The story line is most fascinating and makes the reader wonder if this has actually already happened in our search for an inexpensive substitute for energy independence from other countries.
The conspiracy and characters are very well defined and captures the time frame so accurately. It weaves actual well known people and occurrences seamlessly with the author's fictional characters.
This is a well written and exciting book and I would recommend it anyone who enjoys mystery, murder and a thrilling story.
The conspiracy and characters are very well defined and captures the time frame so accurately. It weaves actual well known people and occurrences seamlessly with the author's fictional characters.
This is a well written and exciting book and I would recommend it anyone who enjoys mystery, murder and a thrilling story.
November 27, 2012
Jim McCulloch's first novel is an impressive thriller with plenty of relevant detail about the time, the setting and the industry it exposes. It's a page turner as we follow Fletcher Boyd, Hollis Cade and Steve Addison on a dangerous flight from the bad guys who aren't prepared for what they find. Constructed with military precision, this book leads you to a believable conclusion once you understand the international implications of the men's discovery.
January 19, 2013
This was an excellent effort by a first-time author. The book was very well written, and it just pulls you through the pages; difficult to put it down for any length of time. The bursts of intense action, followed by narrative that brought one up to date on the characters and the story, so that no character or the story line ever got lost. This style engages the reader, as well as keeping the reader focused. Hopefully, this is not the last we will hear from this author.
December 10, 2012
What an excellent read. You will get to know the characters intimately and when you do, hold on! The author will take you for one of the most exciting rides you have ever been on. I hated for the book to end knowing I wouldn't see the characters again, but then again, I couldn't wait to see how it ended.
March 14, 2022
After stumbling upon an invention that would change the world, three friends and co-workers from Texas must fight to stay alive.
Action-packed page turner that always had me guessing. It's a very well-written book.
Action-packed page turner that always had me guessing. It's a very well-written book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews