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The Tau Ceti Agenda #4
Trail of Evil
BOOK #4 IN THE BEST‑SELLING TAU CETI AGENDA SERIES.
A century and a half after the Martian Separatist Wars, and the final defeat of insane terrorist leader El Ahmi, Alexander Moore returns to the stars with the Sienna Madira, a United States Navy supercarrier spacecraft outfitted with advanced FTL and endlessly strange, extremely effective, quantum‑based weapons and remote sensing technology. And, of course, he's brought Marines, and lots of them. These are troops superbly trained for space battle, and equipped with advanced powered armor and artificial intelligence backup.
Moore's task: hunt down remnant weaponry platforms left by the brilliant, mad artificial intelligence known as Copernicus, the being ultimately responsible for the Solar System wide civil war. Yet Moore is about to uncover something far more sinister: before his destruction, Copernicus had established multiple mecha‑warrior defended bases with the intent of resuming the destruction of humanity. Worse, an a.i. presence even more dangerous, evil, and clever than Copernicus may have formed an alliance with something else out there with a similar goal: wipe humanity from the galaxy forever.
But those enemies will have to face a fully armed and equipped military task force led by a resolute general and his soldiers who know they are all that stand between human life, freedom, and progress—and the total annihilation of mankind.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About Travis S. Taylor
“[E]xplodes with inventive action.—Publishers Weekly on Travis S. Taylor’s The Quantum Connection.
“[Warp Speed] reads like Doc Smith writing Robert Ludlum. . .You won’t want to put it down”—John Ringo
Dr. Travis S. Taylor is the co-creator and star of the National Geographic Channel’s hit series, Rocket City Rednecks. Taylor is a physicist who has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past twenty years. His expertise includes advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies, and next generation space launch concepts. Taylor is also the author of pulse-pounding, cutting edge science fiction with the Tau Ceti Agenda series including One Good Soldier, The Tau Ceti Agenda, One Day on Mars and his ground-breaking Warp Speed series, with entries Warp Speed and The Quantum Connection.
A century and a half after the Martian Separatist Wars, and the final defeat of insane terrorist leader El Ahmi, Alexander Moore returns to the stars with the Sienna Madira, a United States Navy supercarrier spacecraft outfitted with advanced FTL and endlessly strange, extremely effective, quantum‑based weapons and remote sensing technology. And, of course, he's brought Marines, and lots of them. These are troops superbly trained for space battle, and equipped with advanced powered armor and artificial intelligence backup.
Moore's task: hunt down remnant weaponry platforms left by the brilliant, mad artificial intelligence known as Copernicus, the being ultimately responsible for the Solar System wide civil war. Yet Moore is about to uncover something far more sinister: before his destruction, Copernicus had established multiple mecha‑warrior defended bases with the intent of resuming the destruction of humanity. Worse, an a.i. presence even more dangerous, evil, and clever than Copernicus may have formed an alliance with something else out there with a similar goal: wipe humanity from the galaxy forever.
But those enemies will have to face a fully armed and equipped military task force led by a resolute general and his soldiers who know they are all that stand between human life, freedom, and progress—and the total annihilation of mankind.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
About Travis S. Taylor
“[E]xplodes with inventive action.—Publishers Weekly on Travis S. Taylor’s The Quantum Connection.
“[Warp Speed] reads like Doc Smith writing Robert Ludlum. . .You won’t want to put it down”—John Ringo
Dr. Travis S. Taylor is the co-creator and star of the National Geographic Channel’s hit series, Rocket City Rednecks. Taylor is a physicist who has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past twenty years. His expertise includes advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies, and next generation space launch concepts. Taylor is also the author of pulse-pounding, cutting edge science fiction with the Tau Ceti Agenda series including One Good Soldier, The Tau Ceti Agenda, One Day on Mars and his ground-breaking Warp Speed series, with entries Warp Speed and The Quantum Connection.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
9 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Travis S. Taylor
54 books224 followersTravis Shane Taylor is a born and bred southerner and resides just outside Huntsville, Alabama. He has a Doctorate in Optical Science and Engineering, a Master’s degree in Physics, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a Master’s degree in Astronomy from the Univ. of Western Sydney, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Alabama.
Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He is also involved with multiple MASINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and HUMINT concept studies.
He has published over 25 papers and the appendix on solar sailing in the 2nd edition of Deep Space Probes by Greg Matloff.
His first science fiction novel is, Warp Speed, and his second is The Quantum Connection published by Baen Publishing. He is also working on two different series with best-selling author John Ringo also by Baen Publishing. He has several other works of both fiction and nonfiction ongoing.
Travis is also a Black Belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain and road bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, his daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.
Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He is also involved with multiple MASINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and HUMINT concept studies.
He has published over 25 papers and the appendix on solar sailing in the 2nd edition of Deep Space Probes by Greg Matloff.
His first science fiction novel is, Warp Speed, and his second is The Quantum Connection published by Baen Publishing. He is also working on two different series with best-selling author John Ringo also by Baen Publishing. He has several other works of both fiction and nonfiction ongoing.
Travis is also a Black Belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain and road bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, his daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 26, 2015
Another enjoyable read in a very good series.
December 20, 2023
another excellent chapter in the war
Another excellent chapter in the Tau Ceti Agenda as Alexander Moore and his daughter and their colleagues take on a new menace to humanity. For fans of military science fiction, this is great. It is gritty and tough. Lots of marines and seals and aircraft dogfighting.
Another excellent chapter in the Tau Ceti Agenda as Alexander Moore and his daughter and their colleagues take on a new menace to humanity. For fans of military science fiction, this is great. It is gritty and tough. Lots of marines and seals and aircraft dogfighting.
June 7, 2024
another excellent chapter in the war
Another excellent chapter in the Tau Ceti Agenda as Alexander Moore and his daughter and their colleagues take on a new menace to humanity. For fans of military science fiction, this is great. It is gritty and tough. Lots of marines and seals and aircraft dogfighting.
Another excellent chapter in the Tau Ceti Agenda as Alexander Moore and his daughter and their colleagues take on a new menace to humanity. For fans of military science fiction, this is great. It is gritty and tough. Lots of marines and seals and aircraft dogfighting.
December 1, 2018
A bit longer than I liked; fairly interesting characters; plot was a bit slow: might read another
January 31, 2024
Took this from the local library, own # 1, 2, 3, 5. Somehow has missed this one. Quickly remembered the prior books in context. Easy read to catch up on. Went to read #6 once I had finished this.
August 12, 2019
Y'all, I love Travis Taylor's books, and this one is no exception.
But.
Every time I read a sex scene, I can't help but "hear" it in Jeff Foxworthy's voice.
But.
Every time I read a sex scene, I can't help but "hear" it in Jeff Foxworthy's voice.
February 7, 2015
There were parts of this story that didn't hang together for me. Sometimes, it seemed like simple science puzzles would stymie the good guys or the bad guys, and other times it seemed like they were able to solve difficult science problems too easily.
There are implanted AI's in everyone's heads, kind of like a laptop without a lap. They give them names and the AI's take very little initiative. They require commands. Not spoken, you can think them. And your AI can talk to your boyfriend's AI and it's probably a lot more private than texting. But those tools don't appear to get the best usage from the people who have them in 2407.
But those are just quibbles. The important thing was that I liked the good guys, and wanted to know what happened to them next, and cared about whether the human race got wiped out or not. This is the fourth book in the Tau Ceti Agenda. I haven't read the first three. Yet, I felt like the story stood on its own, and I'm ready to read forward. I may never read the previous stories in the series.
There is a plot twist - books that have them are often better for it. I'll tag it as a spoiler though.
I am ready for the next book now, Mr Taylor. Thanks!
There are implanted AI's in everyone's heads, kind of like a laptop without a lap. They give them names and the AI's take very little initiative. They require commands. Not spoken, you can think them. And your AI can talk to your boyfriend's AI and it's probably a lot more private than texting. But those tools don't appear to get the best usage from the people who have them in 2407.
But those are just quibbles. The important thing was that I liked the good guys, and wanted to know what happened to them next, and cared about whether the human race got wiped out or not. This is the fourth book in the Tau Ceti Agenda. I haven't read the first three. Yet, I felt like the story stood on its own, and I'm ready to read forward. I may never read the previous stories in the series.
There is a plot twist - books that have them are often better for it. I'll tag it as a spoiler though.
I am ready for the next book now, Mr Taylor. Thanks!
August 16, 2015
Trail of Evil , Tau Ceti Agenda by Travis Taylor. This book continues Taylor’s tradition of fast paced action adventure military science . The book follows the story of Moore family featured prominently in the other 3 books of the series. Although this is a standalone novel it would be helpful if the reader had a passing knowledge of the prior books. Do a quick Google or Bing, or Amazon search and read the reviews. The book continues the story of the Alexander Moore ex president of of the solar system,and former Marine and his family.The events begin 6 years since the end of the Separatist War. The war which began as a revolt on Mars In One day on Mars, continued on Tau Ceti system in the Tau Ceti Agenda and came to its conclusion back in Earth’s solar system in One Good Solider . Moore who has secrets that even the current President isn’t privy to, asks for use of a decommissioned super-carrier to mop up the remaining pockets of resistance left over from the Separatists Wars. His true agenda is to track down the source and purpose of the alien signal. This is the same signal that is believed to have been received by the Separatists before the end of war by the terrorist leader of the Separatists and unbeknownst to all but a few ex President of the solar system Moore's ’mother. Alexander Moore with his now grown daughter, and fellow Marine pilot, wife and a select crew leave the solar on this grand quest. This quest lies at the heart of this story and will lead to events that will pave the way to what should be an exciting sequel. This story is a good summer read with space battles, strange technology and plans within schemes, sealed in mysteries and locked with great cliff hanger ending . Despite that at times the story was kinda boring and flawed. I hated the extensive use of military abbreviation ’s without the benefit of glossary to remind the reader what they stood for. The science explanations soon degenerated into technobabble, which ironically one of characters mentions, Taylor’s habit of switching between characters personal name and their combat call sign was distracting and took away from stories overall impact.
April 23, 2015
Spoiler alert, this book stinks.
The first 2/3rds of the book is gratuitous violence and sex, neither of which advance the plot or develop a character and after a few pages is as boring as hell. TLAs (three letter acronyms) and other abbreviations are liberally scattered throughout the text along with cliched military speak and bafflegab in an attempt to liven things up, it just make matters worse. Technology is bizarre, problems are either simple or complex not based on their scope, but what drives the action. Take over an enemy fleet, invent and retrofit a new technology, no problem give me a minute, turn off engines in your own engine room, problem.
Finally, the book seems to take a turn for the better, why isn't the Earth visited by aliens? We were auctioned of to the highest bidder, an ingenious plot idea, something thought provoking. No, expanding on that theme might mean this book wouldn't stink. Cancel that. Instead they bring out the villain they've been chasing for decades that makes Hitler look like a litterbug and the alien intelligence that wants to mentally enslave the entire human race which tells them to go attack the aliens AND THEY DO IT! Why do they believe these evil jokers? The mind boggles. This also means more space battles to snooze through.
Why did I bother finishing this novel? Previous books in this series were OK, if a bit rough in spots and I figured that it was just off to a bad start. I was optimistic. Read the previous books, skip this one and read the next. I hope it won't be like this one and I will likely drop it if the early bits aren't good.
The first 2/3rds of the book is gratuitous violence and sex, neither of which advance the plot or develop a character and after a few pages is as boring as hell. TLAs (three letter acronyms) and other abbreviations are liberally scattered throughout the text along with cliched military speak and bafflegab in an attempt to liven things up, it just make matters worse. Technology is bizarre, problems are either simple or complex not based on their scope, but what drives the action. Take over an enemy fleet, invent and retrofit a new technology, no problem give me a minute, turn off engines in your own engine room, problem.
Finally, the book seems to take a turn for the better, why isn't the Earth visited by aliens? We were auctioned of to the highest bidder, an ingenious plot idea, something thought provoking. No, expanding on that theme might mean this book wouldn't stink. Cancel that. Instead they bring out the villain they've been chasing for decades that makes Hitler look like a litterbug and the alien intelligence that wants to mentally enslave the entire human race which tells them to go attack the aliens AND THEY DO IT! Why do they believe these evil jokers? The mind boggles. This also means more space battles to snooze through.
Why did I bother finishing this novel? Previous books in this series were OK, if a bit rough in spots and I figured that it was just off to a bad start. I was optimistic. Read the previous books, skip this one and read the next. I hope it won't be like this one and I will likely drop it if the early bits aren't good.
November 30, 2015
This is the 4th book in the "Tau Ceti Agenda" series by Dr. Travis S. Taylor. Although all the previous books in this series have been very good I think this one is the best so far. It is a perfect blend of Military Science Fiction and Space Opera. It is action packed with battles against evil aliens intent on the conquest of Earth and her space colonies. The characters are all people you would probably want to know in real life and definitely you would want them watching your "six" in a battle. They all have personal demons and problems in their private lives but when it's time to fight they are the best. These few stand between Earth and alien domination. I highly recommend this book to all fans of Military Science Fiction and Space Opera. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 25, 2015
I have read all of Mr. Taylor's books and really enjoyed them all, so I was excited to see this one come out. However, the slipshod way the story is told, the gaps in time and the lack of explanation around issues in the story make it hard to follow. The previous stories make little if any mention of the AI which took over the head of the Separatists, yet now this is the main character and the story comes across as if this was something which should have been known all along.
July 23, 2015
Not quite up to the standard of the first three, this book seemed forced and the plot a bit contrived and all of a sudden it got all sexual, the combat was srill excellent as was the science, Taylor's grasp of science leaves you a bit woozy, so it was still a good book but it had issues. As I said, there were some plot points that abused one's suspension of disbelief.
July 21, 2016
This was a good book continuing the story of the Tau Ceti Agenda series ! It really helps if you have read the first 3 books and liked them ! Lots and lots of battles for the Military SciFi fans ! The ending though pushes you to really, really want to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next !
January 15, 2015
A decent book with a couple of surprise twists.
Those we thought were dead might not be, and those whom we thought we knew are different.
Everything up to this point was smoke and mirrors, and it still might be.
Those we thought were dead might not be, and those whom we thought we knew are different.
Everything up to this point was smoke and mirrors, and it still might be.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews