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Cold War
Dropped on a frozen planet under suspicious circumstances, a group of marines struggles to discover the true objective of their mission. “Cold War” is set in the same universe as Adam Christopher’s novel The Burning Dark.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2014
1 person is currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Adam Christopher
48 books713 followersAdam Christopher is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith and Master of Evil, Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town. He has also written official tie-in novels for the hit CBS television show Elementary and the award-winning Dishonored video game franchise.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 3, 2022
A Bit Too Long.
Private Katarina Grec is on a mission. Sent to a new planet for a retrieval of missing marines.
The marines are nowhere to be found and she and the team are going to find out what is happening.
Will they survive this action or disappear?
Private Katarina Grec is on a mission. Sent to a new planet for a retrieval of missing marines.
The marines are nowhere to be found and she and the team are going to find out what is happening.
Will they survive this action or disappear?
December 23, 2016
This novelette is written well and is perfect when you have an hour waiting somewhere!
April 24, 2014
I read this immediately after finishing The Burning Dark because its a short story set in the same Universe.
After a Spec Ops team goes missing on an icy planet a seven man squad of marines, including Psi(Psychic)-marines, are sent in on a search and rescue. The missing Spec Ops team is thought to have encountered an "unspecified danger."
Of course, Grec and the others—Anderson and Alonso in her team, Bowen, Palladio and Khouri in the Psi-team—all knew what “unspecified danger” really meant.
The Spiders were here.
I liked the idea of Psi-marines that have their natural psychic abilities enhanced by the military so they can hack the Spiders (machine intelligence) network via "psi-fi" - yes, that's the actual term used in the book. I see what you did there Christopher.
I guess that makes this a military psi-fi
4 stars
After a Spec Ops team goes missing on an icy planet a seven man squad of marines, including Psi(Psychic)-marines, are sent in on a search and rescue. The missing Spec Ops team is thought to have encountered an "unspecified danger."
Of course, Grec and the others—Anderson and Alonso in her team, Bowen, Palladio and Khouri in the Psi-team—all knew what “unspecified danger” really meant.
The Spiders were here.
I liked the idea of Psi-marines that have their natural psychic abilities enhanced by the military so they can hack the Spiders (machine intelligence) network via "psi-fi" - yes, that's the actual term used in the book. I see what you did there Christopher.
I guess that makes this a military psi-fi
4 stars
August 30, 2015
A short story in the Spider War universe. This one veers back towards SF horror and does it well. Humanity in this future is so screwed.
A group of marines and psi-marines are on a frozen planet on a search-and-rescue mission for a group of special forces soldiers. Then one of the psi-marines goes missing. And then every communications channel they have is flooded with the rhythmic chattering of the Spider AI.
One other note: I'm not clear why the short story has so much better art design than the actual books in this series. I wonder if all the books would sell better if there were given as evocative cover art.
A group of marines and psi-marines are on a frozen planet on a search-and-rescue mission for a group of special forces soldiers. Then one of the psi-marines goes missing. And then every communications channel they have is flooded with the rhythmic chattering of the Spider AI.
One other note: I'm not clear why the short story has so much better art design than the actual books in this series. I wonder if all the books would sell better if there were given as evocative cover art.
January 1, 2017
The typical story of trapped marines facing an alien menace... This time on an icy planet. A correct story, not more.
September 12, 2016
A free novelette, this edition can be read on Tor.com (= link to the story) or printed to be read later or if you still prefer a hard-copy (36 pages short). I'm not familiar with any of Adam Christopher's works. This little story is said to take place in the same universe as his book The Burning Dark (just linking one edition), the first in the Spider Wars series.
SF on an icy planet and robotic spiders. Marines are on an unclear (at first) mission, which will lead them to an unexpected place and encounter. It will also test their comradeship until severe measures have to be taken. Or until madness takes control.
At first I found it a bit hard to get into it, but after a few pages, things start to become a little clearer. Christopher's style is alright, but as I'm also reading a French book, the transition from one language to another can create a slight adjustment problem.
All in all, this isn't a bad short story, and it does make me somehow curious to read the other books. So, if you're looking for spacey Sci-Fi, on a cold planet (maybe it's also best to read this in the winter months), then Cold War is a nice snack in preparation for something bigger. Comparable in a way to Alien (see also the films with Sigourney Weaver).
My TBR-pile is still too large to dive into Christopher's trilogy, so I'll pass for now.
SF on an icy planet and robotic spiders. Marines are on an unclear (at first) mission, which will lead them to an unexpected place and encounter. It will also test their comradeship until severe measures have to be taken. Or until madness takes control.
At first I found it a bit hard to get into it, but after a few pages, things start to become a little clearer. Christopher's style is alright, but as I'm also reading a French book, the transition from one language to another can create a slight adjustment problem.
All in all, this isn't a bad short story, and it does make me somehow curious to read the other books. So, if you're looking for spacey Sci-Fi, on a cold planet (maybe it's also best to read this in the winter months), then Cold War is a nice snack in preparation for something bigger. Comparable in a way to Alien (see also the films with Sigourney Weaver).
My TBR-pile is still too large to dive into Christopher's trilogy, so I'll pass for now.
August 11, 2025
A search and rescue mission goes sideways when the squad realises that one of their own is acting on alternate orders.
A nice little alien war story.
A nice little alien war story.
August 8, 2014
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
It is only this year that I got read my first Adam Christopher book. Yes I know shame on me. His debut, Empire State, got a lot of rave reviews but I never had the time to get around it. My first introduction was earlier this year with Hang Wire followed up by the first book in The Spider War Sequence, The Burning Dark (which I very much enjoyed). And by chance while I was browsing the short stories on Tor.com I came over one of Adam Christopher, Cold War and if luck would have had it, Cold War is a short story that features in the universe of The Spider War Sequence!
Since I read The Burning Dark earlier this year I already have some pre-knowledge about several aspects that Adam Christopher highlights in his The Spider War Sequence. And actually I have to admit that I think that reading Cold War after The Burning Dark gave just the same impression as I had with A Spell of Vengeance. It sort of recaps everything you already know but gives a lot more information about the series itself and the world wherein it takes place.
In Cold War you follow a group of marines that have been dropped on a frozen planet. They have been tasked with a simple Search and Rescue mission. A previous squad of Spec Ops marines that was dropped on Hrostar or according to the Fleet Warworld 3663, this planet is just one big ball of ice with frigid winds blasting and numbing you where ever you go. Due to the unknown events that caused the previous Spec Ops squad to loose contact the status of Warworld 3663 was updated to Ω status (Omega meaning "danger unspecified"). Even though using such a cryptic naming to the status of Warworld 3663, the SAR marines all know what it really means. The Spiders have come to Warworld 3663... If you have read The Burning Dark I don't need to brief you on what the Spiders are but if not... they are trouble, they are the alien race that the Fleet is fighting against time after time, they need to be eradicated from the galaxy. Ok but back to the story. As the group of marines slowly make their way through knee deep snow in search for the missing ones, unexplainable things start to happen; marines start to disappear, making the other even more edgier than they already were. There is an escalation of events nearing the ending of a story where you learn the real reason why the marines were sent out on the SAR mission. There was this bit of funny part, if you can call it that, where the marines protested that this wasn't a SAR mission, that they were lied to. Where the Captain countered with that they were actually sent on a SAR mission but that the marines weren't told everything. Maybe with this you already make up your mind a bit as to what the ending will possibly be...
One part that makes Cold War and interesting read is how Adam Christopher shows the marines. They are led by First Sergeant Furusawa who darn well knows the reason they are on Warworld 3663, but plays ignorant for his squad. Fleet Marine Private Katarina Grec readily leads the story. It's by her perspective that you see all the events unfold, Adam Christopher shows her character as more than just a simple army grunt, from the first moment you read her thoughts you see that she will be a well developed character. Her personal experience readily help establish this, Grec looks more after her squad mates than she does for herself. I think in itself it is quite a feat to be able to create such a strong character lead in only a few pages. Great job.
Added to the above comes the threat of the Spiders. I know just how nasty they can be and when Grec and the others encounter them it leads to an all out battle. Again what Adam Christopher does here defenitely helps to set the right setting about the Spiders in general. How they look, how they react and fight it will give you goosebumps just reading and thinking about it, and will leave you wanting to find out more about them nasties.
With Cold War, Adam Christopher has written a great introduction to his The Spider War Sequence, showing already just how dangerous of a threat the Spider are to the Fleet and just what they can do... if this doesn't want you to pick up The Burning Dark I don't know what will. Oh and by the by, the second book in The Spider War Sequence, The Machine Awakens, will be published in early 2015.
You can find the complete short story by this link
It is only this year that I got read my first Adam Christopher book. Yes I know shame on me. His debut, Empire State, got a lot of rave reviews but I never had the time to get around it. My first introduction was earlier this year with Hang Wire followed up by the first book in The Spider War Sequence, The Burning Dark (which I very much enjoyed). And by chance while I was browsing the short stories on Tor.com I came over one of Adam Christopher, Cold War and if luck would have had it, Cold War is a short story that features in the universe of The Spider War Sequence!
Since I read The Burning Dark earlier this year I already have some pre-knowledge about several aspects that Adam Christopher highlights in his The Spider War Sequence. And actually I have to admit that I think that reading Cold War after The Burning Dark gave just the same impression as I had with A Spell of Vengeance. It sort of recaps everything you already know but gives a lot more information about the series itself and the world wherein it takes place.
In Cold War you follow a group of marines that have been dropped on a frozen planet. They have been tasked with a simple Search and Rescue mission. A previous squad of Spec Ops marines that was dropped on Hrostar or according to the Fleet Warworld 3663, this planet is just one big ball of ice with frigid winds blasting and numbing you where ever you go. Due to the unknown events that caused the previous Spec Ops squad to loose contact the status of Warworld 3663 was updated to Ω status (Omega meaning "danger unspecified"). Even though using such a cryptic naming to the status of Warworld 3663, the SAR marines all know what it really means. The Spiders have come to Warworld 3663... If you have read The Burning Dark I don't need to brief you on what the Spiders are but if not... they are trouble, they are the alien race that the Fleet is fighting against time after time, they need to be eradicated from the galaxy. Ok but back to the story. As the group of marines slowly make their way through knee deep snow in search for the missing ones, unexplainable things start to happen; marines start to disappear, making the other even more edgier than they already were. There is an escalation of events nearing the ending of a story where you learn the real reason why the marines were sent out on the SAR mission. There was this bit of funny part, if you can call it that, where the marines protested that this wasn't a SAR mission, that they were lied to. Where the Captain countered with that they were actually sent on a SAR mission but that the marines weren't told everything. Maybe with this you already make up your mind a bit as to what the ending will possibly be...
One part that makes Cold War and interesting read is how Adam Christopher shows the marines. They are led by First Sergeant Furusawa who darn well knows the reason they are on Warworld 3663, but plays ignorant for his squad. Fleet Marine Private Katarina Grec readily leads the story. It's by her perspective that you see all the events unfold, Adam Christopher shows her character as more than just a simple army grunt, from the first moment you read her thoughts you see that she will be a well developed character. Her personal experience readily help establish this, Grec looks more after her squad mates than she does for herself. I think in itself it is quite a feat to be able to create such a strong character lead in only a few pages. Great job.
Added to the above comes the threat of the Spiders. I know just how nasty they can be and when Grec and the others encounter them it leads to an all out battle. Again what Adam Christopher does here defenitely helps to set the right setting about the Spiders in general. How they look, how they react and fight it will give you goosebumps just reading and thinking about it, and will leave you wanting to find out more about them nasties.
With Cold War, Adam Christopher has written a great introduction to his The Spider War Sequence, showing already just how dangerous of a threat the Spider are to the Fleet and just what they can do... if this doesn't want you to pick up The Burning Dark I don't know what will. Oh and by the by, the second book in The Spider War Sequence, The Machine Awakens, will be published in early 2015.
You can find the complete short story by this link
January 7, 2021
Tiivis ja toimiva lyhyttarina.
June 9, 2022
Extremely meh. Might have been more interesting if I'd read some of the novels in this universe.
September 1, 2025
All flayyva, so if you enjoyed book one this should go down easy.
September 25, 2014
As far as stories go, this one is pretty straight-forward. Marines on what they believe is a Search & Rescue mission. Naturally it turns out to be more than that. In a journey from Point A to Point B and then back to Point A, chaos ensues, some people die and in the end nothing is accomplished other than those deaths.
Maybe it would've helped if I was more familiar with the authors other works and the Spiders. The reader is told how all powerful the enemy is (and based off of what a Jr version of it can do, I'd have to agree) but not having read anything about these Spiders before, I had no real experience to back that up.
That said, the story did interest me enough to one day read more from this author.
Maybe it would've helped if I was more familiar with the authors other works and the Spiders. The reader is told how all powerful the enemy is (and based off of what a Jr version of it can do, I'd have to agree) but not having read anything about these Spiders before, I had no real experience to back that up.
That said, the story did interest me enough to one day read more from this author.
June 30, 2016
Well, Tor.com has roped me into adding another book to my to-read list. Cold War is a short story set in a universe were there are strange metallic spiders, some the size of planets, that seem to want to destroy humanity. What fun! This short takes place on an icy planet where, as it turns out, one of these spiders has crashed landed. Readers are led through a very competent survival horror narrative, and it makes you wonder whether humanity has any chance at all of exterminating these strange creatures. Interesting world building with a good dose of sci-fi horror.
May 19, 2014
Set in the same universe as The Burning Dark. We follow a group of marines on a search and rescue mission on a warworld. Turns out there might be more to their orders than meets the eye...
I really appreciated another look in to the Human-Spider wars. And nothing is black and white...
I really appreciated another look in to the Human-Spider wars. And nothing is black and white...
July 3, 2015
Classic trope of space marines in over their heads on a mission beyond their capabilities, with gear mysteriously failing and a leader with a secret adjenda. Why, who, where, what aren't even hinted at even at the end and to be honest, I didn't care.
Main character was likeable which is the only reason for 2 stars.
Main character was likeable which is the only reason for 2 stars.
December 15, 2016
This is just a good, old-fashioned Sci-Fi story. If it were in outer space, it would be space opera. It's fast-paced and exciting. It took me a little while to start keeping track of the characters, but I caught on to who everyone was before it really mattered to the story. If you're into Marine vs Alien stories, this one is for you.
March 10, 2014
I loved the story but was having trouble staying focused on the actual writing. It felt a bit difficult to read for some reason. Loved the story and concept though and want to read the book it's based around The Burning Dark.
March 25, 2014
A decidedly Berserker-like scenario. Just a teaser for Burning Dark, which I guess I'm going to have to read now.…
July 24, 2014
I love this universe he's created! Spooky...
August 17, 2014
My Amazon review -
http://www.amazon.com/review/RRVBOHH1...
http://www.amazon.com/review/RRVBOHH1...
March 27, 2014
A nice little co-novella for Burning Dark. Read online @ Tor
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews