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Minerva's Shield
The world has come to an end.
Or has it?
What starts out as a long overdue father-and-son vacation immediately becomes more complicated, when they uncover an unusual coin in the dirt. Frighteningly, it's as if the planet is thrown into upheaval over this innocent discovery. All of a sudden, the FBI shows up at their door asking lots of questions, planting the seeds of paranoia, doubt and worry. The neighbors start acting strangely, almost on the verge of panic. The nearby military base is abandoned overnight and the weather has never been so unpredictable.
As everything falls apart around them, no one is certain what is happening. There is no cell phone service, no radio or TV, no form of communication whatsoever. What should the people prepare for - the ever-popular zombie apocalypse, or global economic collapse, another American civil war, nuclear or biological terrorist attack, super volcano or titanic earthquake, planet-wide meteorological disaster, impending asteroid collision, or perhaps an alien invasion from outer space?
While the masses flee in every direction, a small organized group finds refuge in a corporate data bunker, which was once a military facility. Here, thirty people are thrown together, perhaps by fate or coincidence, they come to wait out the final days, the dreaded apocalypse. Without warning or explanation, their lives are spared by the power of the mysterious coin - Minerva's Shield. When they emerge from inside the mountain, however, they find a world relatively undamaged. Yet there is no trace that people ever existed. There are no bodies, no skeletons, not a single trace. It is a world without humans.
This diverse community of survivors quickly bands together to gather supplies and hammer out a new existence, where they appear to be the only living souls.
Still, they are curious about what really happened that fateful day.
And someone, or something, is watching them as well.
Or has it?
What starts out as a long overdue father-and-son vacation immediately becomes more complicated, when they uncover an unusual coin in the dirt. Frighteningly, it's as if the planet is thrown into upheaval over this innocent discovery. All of a sudden, the FBI shows up at their door asking lots of questions, planting the seeds of paranoia, doubt and worry. The neighbors start acting strangely, almost on the verge of panic. The nearby military base is abandoned overnight and the weather has never been so unpredictable.
As everything falls apart around them, no one is certain what is happening. There is no cell phone service, no radio or TV, no form of communication whatsoever. What should the people prepare for - the ever-popular zombie apocalypse, or global economic collapse, another American civil war, nuclear or biological terrorist attack, super volcano or titanic earthquake, planet-wide meteorological disaster, impending asteroid collision, or perhaps an alien invasion from outer space?
While the masses flee in every direction, a small organized group finds refuge in a corporate data bunker, which was once a military facility. Here, thirty people are thrown together, perhaps by fate or coincidence, they come to wait out the final days, the dreaded apocalypse. Without warning or explanation, their lives are spared by the power of the mysterious coin - Minerva's Shield. When they emerge from inside the mountain, however, they find a world relatively undamaged. Yet there is no trace that people ever existed. There are no bodies, no skeletons, not a single trace. It is a world without humans.
This diverse community of survivors quickly bands together to gather supplies and hammer out a new existence, where they appear to be the only living souls.
Still, they are curious about what really happened that fateful day.
And someone, or something, is watching them as well.
372 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2013
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Derek Hart
37 books93 followersDerek Hart is the prolific author of 30 action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek Hart's trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. Mr. Hart authored Secret of the Dragon's Eye, his first novel aimed at all age groups, which met with instant success and outstanding reviews. The author has since followed with Secret of the Dragon's Breath, Secret of the Dragon's Claw, Secret of the Dragon's Scales and Secret of the Dragon's Teeth. The final volume of the 6-episode series, Secret of the Dragon's Wings, will be available in December 2018.
List of published books:
Secret of the Dragon’s Eye
Secret of the Dragon’s Breath
Secret of the Dragon’s Claw
Secret of the Dragon’s Scales
Secret of the Dragon’s Teeth
Secret of the Dragon’s Wings
Claws of the Raven
Danger Cruise
Favor for FDR
Crooked Cross Factor
Tracks of the Predator
For Love or Honor Bound
Tales of the Yellow Silk
Element of Surprise
Seas Aflame
Ice Flotilla
High Altitude Low Opening
Tangles of Truth
Shadows in Replay
Flag of Her Choosing
Tidal Trap
Dangerous (Poetry)
Executive Firepower
The CARLA Conspiracy
The Wreckchasers
Minerva's Shield
Nike's Chariot
Apollo's Plague
Abandoned
Before the Dead Walked
Mercury's Wings
Books coming soon:
Neptune's Trident
Saturn's Fire
By the Moon Darkly
Broadmoor Manor
Tails of Thaddeus
Game Over
The Samuel Clemens Affair
Pearl and Topaz
Enchanted Mesa
Eagle Blue
Last Guidon
Excess Baggage
Operation Sovereign
Primary Weapon
Container
List of published books:
Secret of the Dragon’s Eye
Secret of the Dragon’s Breath
Secret of the Dragon’s Claw
Secret of the Dragon’s Scales
Secret of the Dragon’s Teeth
Secret of the Dragon’s Wings
Claws of the Raven
Danger Cruise
Favor for FDR
Crooked Cross Factor
Tracks of the Predator
For Love or Honor Bound
Tales of the Yellow Silk
Element of Surprise
Seas Aflame
Ice Flotilla
High Altitude Low Opening
Tangles of Truth
Shadows in Replay
Flag of Her Choosing
Tidal Trap
Dangerous (Poetry)
Executive Firepower
The CARLA Conspiracy
The Wreckchasers
Minerva's Shield
Nike's Chariot
Apollo's Plague
Abandoned
Before the Dead Walked
Mercury's Wings
Books coming soon:
Neptune's Trident
Saturn's Fire
By the Moon Darkly
Broadmoor Manor
Tails of Thaddeus
Game Over
The Samuel Clemens Affair
Pearl and Topaz
Enchanted Mesa
Eagle Blue
Last Guidon
Excess Baggage
Operation Sovereign
Primary Weapon
Container
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 5, 2014
OMG! What a wild ride! I love to read...I read a LOT! This is, by far, the best book I have read in years, if not ever. From the moment I opened the book until I read the last sentence, I was riveted, I could not put it down.
Bob and Ian (father and son) travel from Georgia to the Dakotas to scatter Bobs parents ashes, stopping to explore abandoned properties along the way, finding some awesome treasures. At a seemingly abandoned military base the find a mysterious artifact, a gorgeous medallion that is unusually heavy for it's size.
Shortly after returning home, they are visited by some government agents interested in why they were at the military base and asking if they had found anything. Then all hell breaks loose as a strange "storm" rips through Georgia, killing Bobs wife and forcing him, Ian, and several friends and neighbors on the run searching for shelter. They find shelter in a data storage facility,capable of sustaining a nuclear blast, in the side of a mountain. After the "storm" passes, the survivors venture out, only to discover that there is no sign of human life...anywhere. Stranger still, there are no bodies, no remains, nothing.
Bob and Ian (father and son) travel from Georgia to the Dakotas to scatter Bobs parents ashes, stopping to explore abandoned properties along the way, finding some awesome treasures. At a seemingly abandoned military base the find a mysterious artifact, a gorgeous medallion that is unusually heavy for it's size.
Shortly after returning home, they are visited by some government agents interested in why they were at the military base and asking if they had found anything. Then all hell breaks loose as a strange "storm" rips through Georgia, killing Bobs wife and forcing him, Ian, and several friends and neighbors on the run searching for shelter. They find shelter in a data storage facility,capable of sustaining a nuclear blast, in the side of a mountain. After the "storm" passes, the survivors venture out, only to discover that there is no sign of human life...anywhere. Stranger still, there are no bodies, no remains, nothing.
April 3, 2015
This may earn 5 stars by the time I finish it. A real page turner. This writer is a master at weaving bits of real history into amazing stories. This would make a great movie.
Update 5/25 - Sorry I forgot to update this. The pacing stayed fast. Overall, this book was a pleasant surprise & so I raised the star count as I thought I might. I don't like apocalyptic books as a rule but this one was more of a survivalist tale and was fascinating. After all, what would we do for toilet paper when there's none to be had in the stores? It isn't just about guns and bullets. We also need soap and toothpaste.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Update 5/25 - Sorry I forgot to update this. The pacing stayed fast. Overall, this book was a pleasant surprise & so I raised the star count as I thought I might. I don't like apocalyptic books as a rule but this one was more of a survivalist tale and was fascinating. After all, what would we do for toilet paper when there's none to be had in the stores? It isn't just about guns and bullets. We also need soap and toothpaste.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews