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New Jerusalem
The year is 1962, in a different world. The setting is New the free Jewish state, founded in 1948, that occupies 15 percent of pre-war Germany. Cold war is a growing threat, made more likely by a neo-Nazi resurgence in Outer Germany.
David Wolf is a scientist and a spy, tragically in love with a woman who can never be his.
When treachery, betrayal and weapons-grade uranium mix together, can one lone Wolf possibly save lives and a fragile peace from total annihilation?
PRAISE FOR JOHN MEANEY “A spectacular writer. He makes SF seem all fresh and new again.” Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author
“Absorption is the best hard science fiction I’ve read this year, well written, exciting, mysterious, full of interesting characters and ideas...” The London Times, reviewing Absorption (Ragnarok book 1)
“…the world building is phenomenal and the pace as chapters switch from time zones is just right, keeping the tension levels up. The female characters are particularly strong and literally jump off the page, particularly the WWII code breaker Gavriela. The novel is also steeped in historical accuracy and authenticity.” Terror-Tree.co.uk, reviewing Transmission (Ragnarok book 2)
“Resonance is a book driven by big ambitions. Meaney has penned a story that aims to be epic beyond even the level of Dune or similarly famed series. Furthermore, the amount of research that has gone into the book adds a surprising degree of credibility...” Starburst Magazine, reviewing Resonance (Ragnarok book 3)
“Meaney's creepy death-haunted world lingers in the mind long after the book is closed... a smart and spooky read.” The London Times, reviewing Bone Song (Donal Riordan book 1)
“Cumberland leaps off the page, a trained killer whose anger and grief at his daughter's condition is brilliantly portrayed; the depiction of his simmering rage, barely held in check, and how he channels it, provides a masterclass in characterisation.” The Guardian, reviewing Edge (Josh Cumberland book 1)
“What starts off as a simple missing persons enquiry develops into a full-blown coup against a fascist state... Set in a Britain extrapolated from today's violent streets, yet still highly recognisable, Edge is the first in what will hopefully be a long running series.” Total Sci-Fi, reviewing Edge (Josh Cumberland book 1)
“Within five pages...I was completely hooked... the perfect blend of action and science fiction... I can only hope that there will be more.” The Eloquent Page, reviewing Point (Josh Cumberland book 2)
“I absolutely don’t want to live in the world [Meaney] has created. I didn’t want to in Edge (the first book in the series) and I most certainly don’t want to now. I do, however, want to read about it. It’s relentless and gripping, with a brilliant balance between the personal and the political.” BiblioBuffet, reviewing Point (Josh Cumberland book 2))
David Wolf is a scientist and a spy, tragically in love with a woman who can never be his.
When treachery, betrayal and weapons-grade uranium mix together, can one lone Wolf possibly save lives and a fragile peace from total annihilation?
PRAISE FOR JOHN MEANEY “A spectacular writer. He makes SF seem all fresh and new again.” Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author
“Absorption is the best hard science fiction I’ve read this year, well written, exciting, mysterious, full of interesting characters and ideas...” The London Times, reviewing Absorption (Ragnarok book 1)
“…the world building is phenomenal and the pace as chapters switch from time zones is just right, keeping the tension levels up. The female characters are particularly strong and literally jump off the page, particularly the WWII code breaker Gavriela. The novel is also steeped in historical accuracy and authenticity.” Terror-Tree.co.uk, reviewing Transmission (Ragnarok book 2)
“Resonance is a book driven by big ambitions. Meaney has penned a story that aims to be epic beyond even the level of Dune or similarly famed series. Furthermore, the amount of research that has gone into the book adds a surprising degree of credibility...” Starburst Magazine, reviewing Resonance (Ragnarok book 3)
“Meaney's creepy death-haunted world lingers in the mind long after the book is closed... a smart and spooky read.” The London Times, reviewing Bone Song (Donal Riordan book 1)
“Cumberland leaps off the page, a trained killer whose anger and grief at his daughter's condition is brilliantly portrayed; the depiction of his simmering rage, barely held in check, and how he channels it, provides a masterclass in characterisation.” The Guardian, reviewing Edge (Josh Cumberland book 1)
“What starts off as a simple missing persons enquiry develops into a full-blown coup against a fascist state... Set in a Britain extrapolated from today's violent streets, yet still highly recognisable, Edge is the first in what will hopefully be a long running series.” Total Sci-Fi, reviewing Edge (Josh Cumberland book 1)
“Within five pages...I was completely hooked... the perfect blend of action and science fiction... I can only hope that there will be more.” The Eloquent Page, reviewing Point (Josh Cumberland book 2)
“I absolutely don’t want to live in the world [Meaney] has created. I didn’t want to in Edge (the first book in the series) and I most certainly don’t want to now. I do, however, want to read about it. It’s relentless and gripping, with a brilliant balance between the personal and the political.” BiblioBuffet, reviewing Point (Josh Cumberland book 2))
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 25, 2011
This isn't the kind of book most readers expect from John Meaney, at least on the surface. It's a thriller at its heart, with spies, assassins, blood, guts, close calls, and sudden death. On the other hand, it's thoughtful, well-written, and full of fascinating characters and themes, so perhaps it is a typical Meaney novel after all. It straddles several genres, and quite well, I think. Readers of his science fiction books will find lots to like here.
What Meaney brings to all the genres he writes in is an emotional depth that's so often missing from the writing of his contemporaries, and a pretty spectacular talent with the language. He has also realized here political realities that no other writer has yet imagined--enough substance for a whole series of books about David Wolf and his friends, lovers, and colleagues which I fervently hope he writes.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the story is the use of psychology--black-ops hypnosis, that sort of thing. "We're predatory psychologists" David Wolf remarks at one point, "and the mind is our hunting ground." Unlike most writers who go to that place, he knows more than a bit of what he's writing about, and it shows.
So whether it's political thrillers, science fiction, well-imagined fight scenes, or wonderful 3-dimensional characters that draw you to a novel, you won't regret being drawn to this one. And when you've read it, please beg him to write a sequel.
What Meaney brings to all the genres he writes in is an emotional depth that's so often missing from the writing of his contemporaries, and a pretty spectacular talent with the language. He has also realized here political realities that no other writer has yet imagined--enough substance for a whole series of books about David Wolf and his friends, lovers, and colleagues which I fervently hope he writes.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the story is the use of psychology--black-ops hypnosis, that sort of thing. "We're predatory psychologists" David Wolf remarks at one point, "and the mind is our hunting ground." Unlike most writers who go to that place, he knows more than a bit of what he's writing about, and it shows.
So whether it's political thrillers, science fiction, well-imagined fight scenes, or wonderful 3-dimensional characters that draw you to a novel, you won't regret being drawn to this one. And when you've read it, please beg him to write a sequel.
September 7, 2011
This book is interesting in parts, but the opposite of un-put-downable. The alternative-history New Jerusalem is intriguing, and I found myself wishing the author had spent more time on exposition - I usually loathe alternative history, so that's definitely points in favour. Against is the general plot murkiness that in some places merely conceals unexpected shallowness (and in others probably falls victim to me getting easily distracted).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews