The Last Weapon: A Novel

by Matthew McCluskey

A deadly lab disaster shakes the academic world of physics professor Mike Harris. When his ex-fiancee is murdered before his eyes, he becomes the prime suspect. As law enforcement and a shadowy organization pursue him, he must learn the true aim of the experiment that led to the disaster–before he gets captured or killed. The chase pushes Harris to a remote research center, where a powerful corporation prepares to unleash a weapon that could threaten humanity itself. Blending hard science with thrilling fiction, The Last Weapon is a page-turning, thought-provoking read.

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2013

About the author

Matthew McCluskey is the Distinguished Westinghouse Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University. He received his B.Sc. from MIT and Ph.D. from Berkeley, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the famed Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). He was also a Navy Reserve officer for 8 years. A world leader in semiconductors, high-pressure science, and optics, he has authored or co-authored over 100 publications, including a major graduate textbook. The Last Weapon is his first novel.

Reviews

[Robert Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this novel. It was well written by someone who knows the science behind his story, it was free of editing errors (as far as I found), and had a great story line that draws the reader in. It is one of those stories that will have you staying up later than you should as you read on and on. Well done Dr. McCluskey, well done. I look forward to reading more in your next installment.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.

The Last Weapon was a very interesting read, and kept me entertained the entire journey through the book. As a non-technical person, I appreciated the scientific details, however did not feel overwhelmed with information that was too complex.
This story contains some great plot twists and turns, and the interactions between Mike, Seth, Damien and Valarie added some interesting drama to the mix.

Overall a wonderfully put together book!

[John Panzic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb thriller.The science is intriguing but isn't the star. Often these techno thrillers get the science right but forget about the characters. The Last Weapon sweeps you along with the characters while giving you plausible science to ponder. Very refreshing from many other titles, a lucky find and highly recommended.

[Suzanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway from GoodReads. Very well written novel, plot was very plausible and the scientific background was very apparent. The tactical scenes and military references were plausible. Really hope that there is a sequel in the works.

[Yuiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review

This book was pretty awesome!! Give it a try guys!!

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew McCluskey is a professor of physics at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington State. McCluskey “has a broad research background in high-pressure and semiconductor physics” (WSU 2024). The hero of McCluskey’s book, The Last Weapon, is a physicist named Mike Harris. Harris is a professor at Colton University in Montana (Harris 15). Harris teaches “Modern Physics. The course was popular among students in the physical sciences” (McCluskey 12). I read the book on my Kindle. Harris has a laboratory at Colton University in Montana. Harris’ laboratory studies the relationship between “gravitation, high-energy lasers, and solid-state physics” (McCluskey 22). Colton University is owned by a “tycoon” named Henry Colton (McCluskey 12). A deadly accident at the laboratory of Harris makes Harris aware of a plot to build a new weapon based on his research that “can end the world” (McCluskey 415). Harris finds that he must work with a mysterious group working to stop the building of this new weapon. The book is readable and reminded me of the Writer Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons without the religious overtones. Both Harris and the hero of Angels & Demons are sexually lonely professors (McCluskey 233, Brown 42). In both novels, deadly events at the physics laboratory draw both heroes to investigate a broader conspiracy that involves a new weapon of mass destruction based on physics research. In one part of the novel, The Last Weapon, a character named Jing Shen thinks a building on a Pacific Island looks similar to “Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican” (McCluskey 428). Once again, The Last Weapon does not have the religious plotline that Angels & Demons has, but I thought this quote was interesting since a large portion of Angels & Demons takes place in Saint Peter’s Basilica (Brown 223). I found McCluskey’s book, The Last Weapon, an entertaining science fiction thriller.
Works Cited:
Brown, Dan. 2000. Angels & Demons. New York: Simon & Schuster, LLC. Kindle.
Washington State University (WSU). “Matthew McCluskey.” Department of Physics and Astronomy. Last modified: November 7, 2024. Matthew McCluskey | Physics and Astronomy | Washington State University

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad! I don't think that this work is a polished masterpiece but it was crafted well enough to keep me turning the pages. The premise is a little far fetched even compared to other hard sci-fi adventures I've read but the suspense and intrigue made up for it well enough.