The Second Internet Cafe, Part 2: The Cascade Annihilator

by Chris James

“I killed you, you know that? And now I gotta kill you again…”

Dimension researcher Lucas Hunter returns to confront his nemesis, Dietrich, in an explosive showdown. But now Lucas’s enemy is armed with the most devastating weapon imaginable.

In reality one, the Second Internet Café is itself under renewed threat. The return of Dietrich has given its enemies the means to see it closed down once and for all, before it can be destroyed. From among its staff, senior analyst Paula Featherstone finds herself unwittingly thrown into the centre of the battle to keep control of the Second Internet Café.

But the conflict between Lucas Hunter and Dietrich’s universe has captured the attention of other, more advanced realities, who make unusual efforts to influence events. As danger of a military strike on Europe in our universe increases, Lucas jumps to an alternate 1988, which is on the brink of World War Three, to confront Dietrich. Back in the Second Internet Café, Paula and others struggle to keep the facility functioning so Lucas can return.

Lucas clashes with Dietrich in a devastating final battle, where he must defeat both Dietrich and the weapon that can destroy our universe: the cascade annihilator.

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2013

About the author

Chris James is the critically acclaimed author of Repulse: Europe at War 2062–2064, the history of a future war between NATO and the New Persian Caliphate, and a series of companion novels called The Repulse Chronicles. The first six books, Onslaught, Invasion, The Battle for Europe, The Endgame, The Race against Time, and Operation Repulse, have been published. Chris is currently writing the seventh and final novel, The Repulse Chronicles, Book Seven: Aftermath. He has also published the ground-breaking science fiction novels Dystopia Descending and Time Is the Only God.
Chris works in the international legal industry in Central and Eastern Europe, and is an occasional lecturer in English at Warsaw, Prague and Krakow universities. He lives in an agreeably anonymous and nicely forested suburb of Warsaw, Poland, with his Polish wife and their three children, two dogs and four cats.

Reviews

[KD Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite sci/fi series (period)

[Jo-Anne Teal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was anxious to begin reading Part 2 of the Second Internet Café series because I enjoyed Part 1 so very much. I’m one of those readers who, upon finding an author I enjoy, devour every book he/she has written. I had to wait a year for The Cascade Annihilator; I’m happy to say the writing, story and characters were worth the wait!

The Cascade Annihilator picks up soon after the action of The Dimension Researcher. Some of the main supporting characters are back and some intriguing new ones are introduced. The story starts in the middle of action so we’re immediately pulled into Lucas Hunter’s latest adventures/dangers.

Chris James is a rich writer: scenes provide us with just enough detail to fill our imaginations, realistic dialogue(real for both time and place) moves the story along as it would in real life, the writing is beautifully woven. Strange how science can provide such poetic imagery. In particular, the colourful visual of the dimension ‘tree’ has stayed with me.

To fully enjoy this novel, I do believe readers must read The Dimension Researcher first. DR provides more background on how the Second Internet Cafe came into being (and why it has the unusual moniker. It also provides the science groundwork.
There is an added voice in this book of the series, and James has made an excellent choice with the female character of Paula Featherstone. Her storyline is integral and provides emotional balance overall.

I’m shocked to have become such a diehard fan of this series as science fiction has never captured my attention previously. It is the high quality of James’s writing, a rollicking original story and the blend of tension, humour, drama and adventure that keep me riveted and lead me to ask: when, oh when, is Part 3 making its appearance? Trust me,readers, this series is brilliant!

[Mikey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I only gave this a four out of five, but please do not think for a second that I did not thoroughly enjoy this book. The problem is that I cannot help using the first part as the bar by which the rest of this series should be judged. That being said, with respect to most sequels, you sort of lose a bit of the ‘umph’ factor you get once a really interesting concept/storyline (both in the case of this series) has been introduced. Frankly speaking, something like that is just hard to top, and I think that is James’ greatest challenge with this series – how to build upon on the extremely interesting and complex idea of dimension research he presented to us in the first novel. Nevertheless, this tome is action-packed and will still have you turning pages at lightning speed. In the second part we see the indefatigable Lucas Hunter continue his fight against his alternate-reality American nemesis, a fight that if he wins will not only save the research facility from which he and his fellow dimension researchers explore and record life in alternate realities, but also his entire reality (“reality one” – our reality?). The action really gets ramped up in this one as Hunter and his colleagues are in a non-stop struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds. There is also an interesting revelation in that that the “DRs” from various realities may not be the only ones who can navigate “the tree”. The introduction of new and mysterious characters and the series of chapters leading up to the spectacular denouement are sure to keep you entrenched in the story and wanting more. If you liked the first part, you will definitely want to read this one. I am certainly eager to read the next installment.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris James has once again created an exciting sci-fi adventure in his follow-up to The Dimension Researcher. The story picks up shortly after the Dimension Researcher ends with Lucas Hunter back in action with The Second Internet Cafe, travelling to alternate realities and researching how the world could have been if certain events from the past had played out differently. The only problem is that his old "pal" Dietrich is starting appear once again. This time, however, Dietrich claims to have a device that threatens Lucas's home reality/universe.

In the meantime, the threat that Dietrich poses has the rest of the world wanting the Second Internet Cafe shut down for good.

Part of the story focuses on Lucas as he tries to save the world from Dietrich's threat. We are also treated to a set of new characters who are struggling to keep the Second Internet Cafe. This is all going on with the looming threat of a military strike on Europe for their activities with dimension research.

Chris James further proves his talent for writing a complex yet entertaining story with great characters and unique ideas. I love the alternate realities James creates, and his strong grasp on history helps make those realities come to life realistically. One of my favorite new characters is Paula, a woman with an amazing ability(I don't want to give it away here.)

The Cascade Annihilator starts with a bang(almost literally) and doesn't let up until the last page and still leaves you wanting more. If you haven't read The Dimension Researcher, you may want to start there, but both are incredible books with unique concepts and thought-provoking plots. Well done, Mr. James!