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The Braintrust #3
Rhapsody for the Tempest: The Braintrust, Book 3
She’s invading the Cradle of Civilization.
Thousands of years ago, the Northern plateau of China gave rise to the first great civilization. Now, Jam, an ex-commando from the BrainTrust, is searching the plateau for the untapped geniuses needed to power the BrainTrust’s expansion. She leads a two-woman invasion that could roil the power structure in China to its core.
As Jam rides roughshod over tyranny, bureaucracy, and ignorance, as she accumulates evermore enemies, she wanders ever nearer to an ancient secret - the secret that powered the first Cradle of Civilization so long ago.
Even with all the help she can get from her best friends Dash and Ping, will it be enough to bring the secret home where it belongs? Is Dash’s brilliance truly nonhuman? And above all, will Ping ever get to use her big gun?
Thousands of years ago, the Northern plateau of China gave rise to the first great civilization. Now, Jam, an ex-commando from the BrainTrust, is searching the plateau for the untapped geniuses needed to power the BrainTrust’s expansion. She leads a two-woman invasion that could roil the power structure in China to its core.
As Jam rides roughshod over tyranny, bureaucracy, and ignorance, as she accumulates evermore enemies, she wanders ever nearer to an ancient secret - the secret that powered the first Cradle of Civilization so long ago.
Even with all the help she can get from her best friends Dash and Ping, will it be enough to bring the secret home where it belongs? Is Dash’s brilliance truly nonhuman? And above all, will Ping ever get to use her big gun?
- GenresScience Fiction
Audible Audio
First published August 21, 2018
31 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 19, 2019
Enjoyable
Glad to see the diversity of women is expanding in this book. Happy to Jam, ping and dash somewhat working together again. Onward to part time four
Glad to see the diversity of women is expanding in this book. Happy to Jam, ping and dash somewhat working together again. Onward to part time four
March 8, 2019
Some of the realism of the plot, as discussed in the afterword, saved this book from losing a star rating and being reviewed as the inevitable follow up to my previous negative comments. While it's still incredible how things just keep coming together *just so*, it is at least better that the author has chosen not to lean so hard on Dash, and also has chosen to build into the canon of the universe reasons why Ping might be so exceptional all the time. The idea of a society within a society is inherently attractive to me. In fact, I did not know how attractive until the village was described to me. So, I am excited to see how that, and much besides, plays out (assuming this isn't the last book, which it may well be). I would like to see the author expand this universe. I would love to know what's going on with literally all the other geniuses on the Braintrust and, due to the nature of the universe he's created already, he has almost endless expansion potential here. Think The Culture series by Iain M. Banks. There's the future. There's the past. There are parallel plotlines. There are secrets. Please consider expanding.
September 17, 2018
Better, but still MarySue
Handwavium rules the day. Every time they face an obstacle, super duper advanced technology to the rescue!!
Pretty strong takedown of California and Blue States. Asset forfeiture is a driving factor of the plot.
While the author uses a very appropriate quote by Will Rogers, he fails to see the irony in using it.
Handwavium rules the day. Every time they face an obstacle, super duper advanced technology to the rescue!!
Pretty strong takedown of California and Blue States. Asset forfeiture is a driving factor of the plot.
While the author uses a very appropriate quote by Will Rogers, he fails to see the irony in using it.
April 19, 2021
Great book in an awesome series
I have enjoyed every book in this series, and this is no exception. The characters are and detailed along with a sad future world where they are trying to make it better. There is a ton of action, and unlike some series, I would love to live on one of their boats. I recommend it.
I have enjoyed every book in this series, and this is no exception. The characters are and detailed along with a sad future world where they are trying to make it better. There is a ton of action, and unlike some series, I would love to live on one of their boats. I recommend it.
August 23, 2018
Another excellent installment
A really fun read and especially for an old but unreformed hippy. Lots of stabs at the government and our leaders. Looking forward to more of this series.
A really fun read and especially for an old but unreformed hippy. Lots of stabs at the government and our leaders. Looking forward to more of this series.
November 17, 2018
This story felt quite ‘bitty’ and as the number of characters has expanded, it has lost some focus. There lots of incidents and interesting sections that kept me reading, but I am beginning to lose interest in the overall story.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
October 3, 2018
Continues to be captivating
So many delightful fully fleshed characters. So many storylines to follow that interweave, overlap and captivate. Well worth reading and rereading.
So many delightful fully fleshed characters. So many storylines to follow that interweave, overlap and captivate. Well worth reading and rereading.
October 28, 2018
Very well written with lots of twisty turns and surprises. Once you get started ... it's really hard to put down! I love this series!!!
April 7, 2019
Conclusion of the trilogy with most plot threads tied up to my satisfaction, but a few new ones started that could lead to sequals, which I would look forward to.
June 21, 2022
thrilling, at times funny and a very good read all around. Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews