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Sigma Force #11.5
Crash and Burn
New York Times bestselling author James Rollins comes a shocking short story, where a chance mishap leads to the discovery of a weapon like no other in . . . Crash and Burn.
On a transatlantic flight, the two black sheep of Sigma Force--Seichan and Kowalski--must set aside their mutual dislike as a mysterious fiery force knocks their aircraft out of the sky. This unlikely duo must use every skill, weapon, and bit of ingenuity to survive a night on a remote volcanic island, where their only refuge is the haunted, bat-plagued grounds of a seemingly deserted resort. But something horrific awaits the two, something born of the latest science but rooted in our basest human instincts. To survive they will need to learn to work together--but even then, it may be too late.
On a transatlantic flight, the two black sheep of Sigma Force--Seichan and Kowalski--must set aside their mutual dislike as a mysterious fiery force knocks their aircraft out of the sky. This unlikely duo must use every skill, weapon, and bit of ingenuity to survive a night on a remote volcanic island, where their only refuge is the haunted, bat-plagued grounds of a seemingly deserted resort. But something horrific awaits the two, something born of the latest science but rooted in our basest human instincts. To survive they will need to learn to work together--but even then, it may be too late.
54 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2016
533 people are currently reading
3201 people want to read
About the author
James Rollins
126 books14.3k followersJames Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
April 5, 2022
Crash and Burn
by James Rollins is a short story or novelette in the Sigma Force series. While most of the Sigma Force members are former Special Forces soldiers, Seichan and Kowalski are the ‘outsiders’. Seichan is a former assassin and Kowalski had been a navy seaman. They are on a transatlantic flight when something happens and their jet goes down. What follows is a suspenseful action-adventure story that is a fight for survival.
Due to how short this story is, there isn’t much time for character depth. However, you do see some in Seichan. There is plenty of action and descriptions of weapons as one expects in a Rollins novel. There was not a lot of dialogue, but some banter occurred between the two main characters. The plot is tense and suspenseful, with a dramatic over-the-top ending.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was an entertaining book that grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. This is the 17th book/novelette that I have read by this author and I own four more that I am looking forward to reading.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way.
Due to how short this story is, there isn’t much time for character depth. However, you do see some in Seichan. There is plenty of action and descriptions of weapons as one expects in a Rollins novel. There was not a lot of dialogue, but some banter occurred between the two main characters. The plot is tense and suspenseful, with a dramatic over-the-top ending.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was an entertaining book that grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. This is the 17th book/novelette that I have read by this author and I own four more that I am looking forward to reading.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way.
December 2, 2016
My fangirlism is on and I'm always ready to dive into new Sigma Force story. This story was awesome! I just adored my beloved 'black sheep' of Sigma Force, Kowalski, with his new toy and various mind-blowing ways to use it and Seichan, with her strong personality and dark and touching past. As always Mr. Rollins prepared a tasty candy with scientific revelations, action, thriller, great characters, cool tech and a heart-warming story <3 I almost cried at the end. And it was all in a short story!
July 23, 2025
Seichan is back! Wasn't a huge fan of this one as it felt forced, but I do look forward to the next release.
December 23, 2020
Kowalski and Seichan crash land on an island full of zombified people. It's a cool Halloween-ish type tale that leads into The Seventh Plague. This was the best one of Rollins between the numbers Sigma Force stories yet.
February 6, 2017
Right, I'm just going to do a short review of this novella since there is just not much to say about it. I thought I read it since I just got the latest James Rollins book (woohoo!) and I thought this story may be important to the book (or in some way connected). I do like that it featured two of my favorite characters, but to be honest it was way too short to be more than I appetizer. And, not even an intriguing appetizer. I felt that because the shortness of the story did nothing really happened, or rather everything had to happen in a matter of a few pages and then the end. I could see how this could be a prologue, but as a short story? Nah, it didn't work for me.
May 14, 2018
داستان کوتاه بود دیگه. یه ایرانی به اسم سرهنگ روحانی هم داشت که میخواست سلاح قاچاق بخره.
November 18, 2016
Crash and Burn is…well…umm…short. I know. I know. It is a novella, so I should expect it to be short, but even though there was plenty of action which one expects from a James Rollins book, it seems to end even before it got started. I almost got the feeling that this was a scene that Rollins really liked, but couldn’t figure out how to place it in one of his novels. Rollins puts two divergent characters, Seichan and Joe Kowalski, together in an unplanned mission where both are dependent on the other to not only to save themselves, but to thwart a group of evil madmen from developing and using a rather disturbing piece of technology.
Rollins had a great opportunity to have some entertaining bantering between Seichan and Kowalski, and even though there was some of that, I really feel that opportunity was lost. The interactions between these two could have made Crash and Burn a real page-turner, but instead it is a rather ho-hum adventure.
If you are interested in learning more about the Sigma Force Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week
Rollins had a great opportunity to have some entertaining bantering between Seichan and Kowalski, and even though there was some of that, I really feel that opportunity was lost. The interactions between these two could have made Crash and Burn a real page-turner, but instead it is a rather ho-hum adventure.
If you are interested in learning more about the Sigma Force Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week
November 16, 2016
Kowalski's always fun to have around, and I liked getting to see a little character growth in Seichan as well.
December 6, 2016
Rather than a Rollins novella this is a short story coupled with a lengthy expert of his next book due out in a couple of weeks. I've already preordered that book so I was not interested in reading a snippet now. This story features two of the regular characters appearing in Rollins' Sigma Series of which I am an admitted fan. However, fan or not, my reviews are done objectively and this story was a bit weak. The two main characters are well known to fans of this series so character development really isn't necessary but the villain and his prospective sponsor are completely undeveloped. This story read more like a chapter in a larger work and takes advantage of loyal readers who would rightly expect more from Rollins. I would not recommend purchasing this story as it wasn't worth the $0.99 that I paid for digital download.
September 18, 2019
Not my favorite of Rollins but it’s a very short story. I not a fan of short stories like this🤦🏽♀️.... but he’s one of my favorite authors🤷🏽♀️
September 20, 2020
3.5 Stars
Crash and Burn was an enjoyable read featuring two of my favorite characters in the Sigma Force series.
While nearing the end of their transatlantic flight, two of Sigma's outcasts are hurtled onto a remote island after an unknown force knocks their plane from the sky. In order to survive Seichan and Kowalski must put aside their differences if they hope to make it through the night alive. But it quickly becomes clear the pair aren't alone on the island and sinister forces are at play.
Crash and Burn is one of the shortest novellas in the Sigma Force series, but the author manages to include a nice mix of action and intrigue in the story. After reading the synopsis for this story, I was very excited to read it as Seichan and Kowalski are my two favorite characters in the series. It was great getting to read a story where the two had to rely on each other as their styles are polar opposites. Seichan is all about stealth while Kowalski has the subtlety of an elephant. The mystery of what caused their plane to crash as well as who is behind it was interesting. I will admit that the villain's background isn't well fleshed out due to the shortness of the story, so I do wish it had been a bit longer to add more depth.
Overall though, Crash and Burn was a nice, quick addition to the series and I would recommend it for fans of the series.
Crash and Burn was an enjoyable read featuring two of my favorite characters in the Sigma Force series.
While nearing the end of their transatlantic flight, two of Sigma's outcasts are hurtled onto a remote island after an unknown force knocks their plane from the sky. In order to survive Seichan and Kowalski must put aside their differences if they hope to make it through the night alive. But it quickly becomes clear the pair aren't alone on the island and sinister forces are at play.
Crash and Burn is one of the shortest novellas in the Sigma Force series, but the author manages to include a nice mix of action and intrigue in the story. After reading the synopsis for this story, I was very excited to read it as Seichan and Kowalski are my two favorite characters in the series. It was great getting to read a story where the two had to rely on each other as their styles are polar opposites. Seichan is all about stealth while Kowalski has the subtlety of an elephant. The mystery of what caused their plane to crash as well as who is behind it was interesting. I will admit that the villain's background isn't well fleshed out due to the shortness of the story, so I do wish it had been a bit longer to add more depth.
Overall though, Crash and Burn was a nice, quick addition to the series and I would recommend it for fans of the series.
May 29, 2024
Zanimljiva ideja, prekratka priča. Moglo je to i roman biti.
Joe standardno zabavan. Uživa u isprobavanju nove puške.
Seichan malo dobila glavnu ulogu.
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala
Joe standardno zabavan. Uživa u isprobavanju nove puške.
Seichan malo dobila glavnu ulogu.
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala
September 5, 2017
A very fast moving and interesting short story, it obviously is the prelude to a lot of fun
November 17, 2016
Crash and Burn is a Sigma Force Halloween novella. Surprised? I was! Rollins challenged himself to write about a haunted hotel, bats, and zombies in a story, and it did it science thriller style. Seichan and Kolowski are travelling in a plane when a strange wave of pain hits them. It knocks out the pilot and they crash land. Luckily there's a new resort just down the beach! Or not... the strange wave seems to have made everyone react to the world in violence, and it only gets worse when an evil scientist shows up to exposition about this new project of his...
I have to admit, Crash and Burn is even more of a stretch than most Sigma Force novels. On the other hand, once I saw that it was a Halloween story, I accepted the ridiculous nature of the short. This is Rollins having fun, and I can get behind the outragenousness. I read the main series after all!
I have one major complaint. $3 CAD was too pricey for 25-30 pages of story. I am used to paying$1-2 for these types of short stories, and I think the cost rightfully deters readers from purchasing these short additions to the main plot.
I have to admit, Crash and Burn is even more of a stretch than most Sigma Force novels. On the other hand, once I saw that it was a Halloween story, I accepted the ridiculous nature of the short. This is Rollins having fun, and I can get behind the outragenousness. I read the main series after all!
I have one major complaint. $3 CAD was too pricey for 25-30 pages of story. I am used to paying$1-2 for these types of short stories, and I think the cost rightfully deters readers from purchasing these short additions to the main plot.
November 18, 2016
Too short and too silly.
December 13, 2016
Short but good. Can't wait for The Seventh Plague to come out in a few days.
October 26, 2019
there you go, seichan.
p11: a man lay facedown in the grass next to the trailer. from the looks of his green overalls, he was part of a landscaping crew.
she saw his chest rise and fall.
p11: a man lay facedown in the grass next to the trailer. from the looks of his green overalls, he was part of a landscaping crew.
she saw his chest rise and fall.
December 8, 2024
Kowalski and Seichan are flying to Europe on separate business when their jet crashes near the Azores. They soon find out it was brought down by an EMP weapon that is being field tested on an outlying island by an Iranian and some Russian mercs. A quick and satisfying read as they resolve some serious evil stuff.
January 23, 2024
★★★
A short story that brings two unexpected characters together for a small adventure. Nothing too exciting - just gives a glimpse of changing character dynamics; a good page turner nevertheless.
A short story that brings two unexpected characters together for a small adventure. Nothing too exciting - just gives a glimpse of changing character dynamics; a good page turner nevertheless.
January 1, 2024
Fun bit of nonsense. A little too short for everything it’s trying to do.
November 13, 2024
2.5 stars.
November 16, 2016
Deciding on the rating for this short story was really hard. I enjoyed the story but the feeling I have of being ripped off financially has clouded my rating. My disappointment came because of the cost. $2.99 Canadian for something that took me 30mins to read?!?!? Half the "book" in my Kindle edition was the prologue and Chapter 1 for the upcoming novel The Seventh Plague, which I've already pre-ordered. I understand there is a lot of cost that goes into publishing books, and the prices are set by the publisher not the author, but this was incredibly disappointing. Next time I'll skip out on the novellas and just read the main stories.
January 1, 2017
Great little prequel to the next Rollins adventure.
I enjoyed this little story. Especially since I have the Seventh Plague to read next. Very cool way to get interest for the next book.
I enjoyed this little story. Especially since I have the Seventh Plague to read next. Very cool way to get interest for the next book.
August 31, 2017
Always like James Rollins books and they keep you on the edge of your seat.
March 20, 2018
Good old fashioned zombie story with a James Rollins/sigma force twist.
October 6, 2020
A short story in the Sigma Force series. Fast-paced and entertaining.
February 8, 2023
So I was looking for a short story I could focus on and I found this, an extremely short Sigma Force book.
While it was not a typical Sigma Force novel, there was no historical or scientific record starting the tale, it was definitely Sigma Force.
If there are Black sheep in a family, then Kowalski and Seichen are the Black Sheep in the Sigma Force family; yet they put aside their differences and team up in this short thriller.
Both are traveling together but towards different destinations when the plane they are in radiates heat and pain, then starts plummeting from the sky. Saschen manages to keep the plane from crashing and the two drag the unconscious pilot to safety; but when he regains consciousness, he acts like a wild animal. Kowalski uses the new test weapon on him, rendering him unconscious, and later they realize they have saved his life.
They realize they are not alone on this island, that someone else is actively seeking them and worse that people inside have been rendered unconscious.
It's a gruesome tale of Zombies and Bats, all fought off by the Sigma Force Black sheep!
While it was not a typical Sigma Force novel, there was no historical or scientific record starting the tale, it was definitely Sigma Force.
If there are Black sheep in a family, then Kowalski and Seichen are the Black Sheep in the Sigma Force family; yet they put aside their differences and team up in this short thriller.
Both are traveling together but towards different destinations when the plane they are in radiates heat and pain, then starts plummeting from the sky. Saschen manages to keep the plane from crashing and the two drag the unconscious pilot to safety; but when he regains consciousness, he acts like a wild animal. Kowalski uses the new test weapon on him, rendering him unconscious, and later they realize they have saved his life.
They realize they are not alone on this island, that someone else is actively seeking them and worse that people inside have been rendered unconscious.
It's a gruesome tale of Zombies and Bats, all fought off by the Sigma Force Black sheep!
October 28, 2017
From Darkness Comes the Light!
Seichain and the Big K’s vacation cut short to save the island resort/ hotel workers’ staff and family during Amelia’s birthday party, after their plane crash landed. Set on the Azores, the device, Colossus EMF/ microwave based, stuns then turns victims into zombie like combatants. The two Sigma operatives foil the Iranian and Bachlor’s plan to field test the victims and kill the innocent hotel workers.
Amazingly concise, yet detailed novella that draws and holds the reader’s attention. It was well edited, full of, as usual, modern/ future technology that gives us pause on illicit usage. A MUST Read!!
Seichain and the Big K’s vacation cut short to save the island resort/ hotel workers’ staff and family during Amelia’s birthday party, after their plane crash landed. Set on the Azores, the device, Colossus EMF/ microwave based, stuns then turns victims into zombie like combatants. The two Sigma operatives foil the Iranian and Bachlor’s plan to field test the victims and kill the innocent hotel workers.
Amazingly concise, yet detailed novella that draws and holds the reader’s attention. It was well edited, full of, as usual, modern/ future technology that gives us pause on illicit usage. A MUST Read!!
February 13, 2022
This is book 11.5 in the series and I listened to the Audible version. Seichan and Kowalski are on a small jet, set to split out on two separate journeys. They are stunned when their plane is hit by some kind of force that causes an extremely painful nerve sensation, one that knocks out their pilot. They manage to land in the water near a small island, near what looks like a resort. As they cautiously explore, they find that there is a sinister new weapon being tested, and their lives are not the only ones in danger. This was an entertaining short episode for the series.
September 1, 2022
In the back of the book is a stand alone story also by James Rollins which should have been read before The Seventh Plague to keep action totally in sync. But I read it after...didn't bother me too much since the new piece of equipment was fairly well described in The Seventh Plague. In this story Saichan and Kowalski crash land on a small island in the Azores, where they alone save the world (again.) It was good as short stories go. I'm more enamored with involved novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews