Nerve Center

Dreamland #2

by Dale Brown, Jim DeFelice

The second in a new series of high-tech, military-adventure thrillers centred on Dreamland, a top-secret weapons research centre, from the acclaimed author of FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG and WARRIOR CLASS. Hidden in the Nevada desert is Dreamland -- an advanced aerospace-weapons testing facility where the best of the best develop artillery and aircraft that push beyond the cutting edge. Dreamland's latest project is Flighthawk -- an unmanned aerial-attack aircraft. To help pilots master the complex remote-flying skills required to control it, a high-risk system is being trialled, in which a microchip is implanted in the pilot's skull. Initially, all goes well for the first volunteer, Army Captain Kevin Madrone. But the psychological stress proves too much -- and suddenly Madrone disappears, armed with one of the most powerful weapons in the world...

Genres: Fiction, Military Fiction, Thriller, Action, War, Science Fiction, Suspense

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 2, 2002

About the author

Former U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 25 consecutive New York Times best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996) and FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN (1999), and WARRIOR CLASS (2001). His Fourteenth Novel AIRBATTLE FORCE will be published in late Spring 2003... Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 10 million copies.

Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.

Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.

Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could happen in Area 51?
Dale Brown and Jim DeFelice weave a good story about possible future events.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favourite Dale Brown book, it was OK had all the usual characters. It was just far more weird than usual. I found myself bored with this one.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Techno thriller involves high tech stuff of Dreamland--interfacing experimental computer/human brain and piloting drones. Starts off a little unreal as the commander of "Dreamland" takes orders from a Congressman. Author's bread and butter technology laden airplane, a modified B-52, multiplies and becomes many. One of them goes berserk as the pilot takes retribution over two continents with a South American revolution thrown in....naw! C'mon Brown, get a grip.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am enjoying the new characters in the Dreamland series but would have been willing to get the ANTARES angle go. It was fine after Day of the Cheeta. I would have just left it.

Other than that a good book, am enjoying watching the new characters grow.

[Ultan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direct connection of flight controls to brain.

As politicians push for more budget cuts, Colonel "Dog" Bastian must do what he can to salvage a key experimental program known as ANTARES -- a method of merging electronic data with a pilot's natural senses

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Techno thriller involving the high tech stuff of Dreamland...this one entailing the development if interfacing computer/human intellect and piloting drones with catastrophic results...OK read only

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as you are somewhat familiar with military aircraft this book is fairly easy to follow. It reminds me a lot of shows on TV like Intelligence.

[Ronald Searl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoy Dale Browns techno thrillers. A glimpse into the future of the ugly but very necessary defense tech race.

[Mark Easter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yee, haw! What a hoot. Loved it.