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The Atlas Fracture
When a pioneering experiment in Antarctica somehow goes wrong, Perry Helion, an agent for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research and Projects Agency (DARPA), is dispatched to investigate the remote, windswept site. Soon Perry is involved with a terrorist gang carrying out a devious plan to wreak environmental havoc on a global scale. If the murderous terrorist team succeeds with their daring plan, they will alter Antarctica forever and plunge the northern hemisphere into a sudden climate change that will kill millions.
Aided only by Dr. Ellen Kaminev, a young scientist tricked into participating in the suspect Antarctic research, Perry must stop the terrorists from carrying out their destruction. In the empty reaches of the ice continent where there is no chance of help, Perry and Ellen must use their guile to prevail. They must outwit the terror team’s leader and quash his twisted ideas for “transforming” mankind. Will Perry prevail against brutal cold, betrayal, torture and a bizarre medical experiment? Will the maneuvers of a shadow conspiracy prevent the DARPA man from final triumph?
Aided only by Dr. Ellen Kaminev, a young scientist tricked into participating in the suspect Antarctic research, Perry must stop the terrorists from carrying out their destruction. In the empty reaches of the ice continent where there is no chance of help, Perry and Ellen must use their guile to prevail. They must outwit the terror team’s leader and quash his twisted ideas for “transforming” mankind. Will Perry prevail against brutal cold, betrayal, torture and a bizarre medical experiment? Will the maneuvers of a shadow conspiracy prevent the DARPA man from final triumph?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Tim Queeney
14 books78 followersTIM QUEENEY is the former editor of Ocean Navigator, a magazine for offshore voyagers. Tim's work has appeared in Professional Mariner, American History, and Aviation History. He has had short stories published in the crime anthology Landfall, Best New England Crime Stories 2018 and in the speculative anthology A Land Without Mirrors. Tim lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife and a rescue dog, Frankie. A life-long sailor, he has taught celestial navigation, radar navigation and coastal piloting ashore and at sea — where he tied plenty of knots and handled many a rope.
Preorder my book "Rope - How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization" https://bit.ly/RopeBook
Preorder my book "Rope - How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization" https://bit.ly/RopeBook
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 15, 2013
I swear, some of the best new novels are coming out on eBook. The Atlas Fracture is a fast, nonstop action thriller with cliffhangers as compelling as Dan Brown's, but Tim Queeney is a far superior writer. A page-turner and great read for all action lovers, with some fascinating and well-researched science stuff for the info-nerds among us. A great premise as well, an apocalyptic scenario worthy of James Bond - quite cinematic. I found this book thoroughly enjoyable, and am now going back to the first Perry Helion novel, because I want to know more about the characters. DARPA investigator is a wonderfully original profession for a hero. The villain, Dr. Crandee, was a terrific nemesis and I hope Mr. Queeney develops him even more in his next novel. Well done and definitely recommended.(less)
April 12, 2013
I must admit, that I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but after about a third of the way in it felt like a guilty pleasure. This was a lot better than many of the Antarctic adventures I read, but had a completely different feel. If you like this genre, you will probably enjoy this work.
May 9, 2013
Tim Queeny’s The Atlas Fracture is a refreshingly sharp adventure technothriller. Set mostly in austere Antarctic environs, the story’s plot, characters and action brought excitement and ceaseless amazement to the barren landscape. Queeny reignites the action genre with a strong blend of character development, technical detail and chain reaction adventure, pitting his protagonist Perry Helion against a diabolical group of terrorists in a nearly nonstop march to the book’s finish line.
Perry Helion, Tim Queeny’s protagonist from The Shiva Compression, is a hardened agent working for the Department of Defense’s enigmatic DARPA group, which is tasked with investigating new technologies and scientific discoveries for their possible military potential. When satellite imagery discovers that a scientific expedition to the Antarctic may have been wiped out, Helion is sent to investigate. It was no secret that the expedition had been drilling deep into the ice, in an effort to discover biological samples trapped miles below the surface.
What sets Helion apart from other “heroes” is his sense of humor and believable skill set. He’s handy with a weapon and not afraid of a little hand to hand combat, but he doesn’t excel in these areas like a Jason Bourne character. He’s a more rationale, analytical hero, often relying on his ability to make a quick, well-timed decision to throw off his enemies. Queeny cleverly injects this often-understated trait at critical times throughout the story, propelling the reader past some harrowing situations.
I particularly enjoyed watching the story’s progression through the eyes of antagonists. Queeny puts together an unholy alliance of twisted fiends, all hell bent on unleashing the power of the Atlas Fracture on an unsuspecting world for varying reasons. Money, revenge, scientific accolades…all combine to form a well-functioning evil coalition on the brink of imploding. Subplots and conspiracies abound within the coalition, adding to the suspense and intrigue…and the fun.
Without a doubt, Queeny did some solid research for this novel. He provided clear explanations of the scientific principles involved, without ever getting bogged down. I felt the same about his functional descriptions of the equipment and procedures employed by the different groups. I finished the novel thoroughly entertained, with an expanded knowledge of Antarctic operations.
The Atlas Fracture comes in shorter than most books in the genre, but while immersed in the story, I honestly didn’t notice the length. This is without a doubt, a complete story, with full background scenes and no plot holes on the way to the finish line. Queeny has effectively trimmed the fat and produced a rock solid adventure technothriller. I plan to read his first Helion Perry book, The Shiva Compression shortly.
Perry Helion, Tim Queeny’s protagonist from The Shiva Compression, is a hardened agent working for the Department of Defense’s enigmatic DARPA group, which is tasked with investigating new technologies and scientific discoveries for their possible military potential. When satellite imagery discovers that a scientific expedition to the Antarctic may have been wiped out, Helion is sent to investigate. It was no secret that the expedition had been drilling deep into the ice, in an effort to discover biological samples trapped miles below the surface.
What sets Helion apart from other “heroes” is his sense of humor and believable skill set. He’s handy with a weapon and not afraid of a little hand to hand combat, but he doesn’t excel in these areas like a Jason Bourne character. He’s a more rationale, analytical hero, often relying on his ability to make a quick, well-timed decision to throw off his enemies. Queeny cleverly injects this often-understated trait at critical times throughout the story, propelling the reader past some harrowing situations.
I particularly enjoyed watching the story’s progression through the eyes of antagonists. Queeny puts together an unholy alliance of twisted fiends, all hell bent on unleashing the power of the Atlas Fracture on an unsuspecting world for varying reasons. Money, revenge, scientific accolades…all combine to form a well-functioning evil coalition on the brink of imploding. Subplots and conspiracies abound within the coalition, adding to the suspense and intrigue…and the fun.
Without a doubt, Queeny did some solid research for this novel. He provided clear explanations of the scientific principles involved, without ever getting bogged down. I felt the same about his functional descriptions of the equipment and procedures employed by the different groups. I finished the novel thoroughly entertained, with an expanded knowledge of Antarctic operations.
The Atlas Fracture comes in shorter than most books in the genre, but while immersed in the story, I honestly didn’t notice the length. This is without a doubt, a complete story, with full background scenes and no plot holes on the way to the finish line. Queeny has effectively trimmed the fat and produced a rock solid adventure technothriller. I plan to read his first Helion Perry book, The Shiva Compression shortly.
August 30, 2014
If you' re a fan of fast-paced action-adventure stories, this book is for you. The Atlas Fracture is a quick and entertaining read full of clever plot twists, centered around a plausible terrorist / environmental disaster scenario. And while The Atlas Fracture has its fair share of action scenes, the author doesn't have to resort to an explosion a minute to keep the tension high because the conflict – and the life-or-death Antarctic setting – fuels the story naturally. The action is nicely balanced with scientific fact, without the book fading away into pages of lecture notes. Interesting extras like an in-depth “behind the scenes” section illustrates just how much went into creating this story. It's a great read for on the go or a couple of quiet evenings at home. (Well, quiet except for the action on the pages!)
March 23, 2013
Perry Helion returns in another adventure this time in Antarctica. The Atlas Fracture is set sometime after the end of The SHIVA Compression and follows Perry on a mission to Antarctica for some great action. I enjoyed reading The Atlas Fracture and look forward to more Perry Helion stories in the future. The Atlas Fracture was a much faster paced story then The SHIVA Compression and is a bit better story. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions and how the plot moved along.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews