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'Bot War
Walid Hasan has one aim in life: to make as many Americans as possible pay for the bombing of his home, and the killing of his family. James Grey, of Grey Capital, knows how to make money, but he wants more. One way is to make a massive short on a stock that will sustain a severe price drop. One way to make the price drop is to blow up major assets of the company. Grey plus Hasan is a marriage made in hell. Each need the other; Hasan to get things done, Grey to provide the means. The means involve the acquisition of an enormous number of robotic war machines, designed for the US Army.
John Maxwell wants a quieter life than that of providing security for the wealthy at a time when even law and order is being privatized. However, the experience of his company is needed to help counter the war machines, and soon he and a small team are all that stand between order and the total collapse of society.
John Maxwell wants a quieter life than that of providing security for the wealthy at a time when even law and order is being privatized. However, the experience of his company is needed to help counter the war machines, and soon he and a small team are all that stand between order and the total collapse of society.
339 pages, ebook
Published December 2, 2016
11 people want to read
About the author
Ian J. Miller
16 books102 followersI am a semi-retired chemist, PhD from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and during this PhD my results came out on the wrong side of a scientific debate that was going on at the time. This story is being told on my scientific blog http://my.rsc.org/blogs/84 from October, 2012 onwards. The net result of this was I became perhaps a little skeptical of how science proceeds, and later, when invited to write a scientific book, I began "Elements of Theory". I was somewhat too slow, and the fact the editor found out that I was not a professor did not help. The project was orphaned, but I continued, and four volumes are now available on Amazon as ebooks. The first shows how to form theory, and provides seventy problems to test theory-forming skill. The second involves an alternative theory of planetary formation and biogenesis. The third elaborates on my alternative interpretation of quantum mechanics, while the fourth surveys biofuel technology, an area in which I have spent much of my scientific career
I had also tried writing a novel as an undergraduate, which was rejected four times, after which I gave up, however some time later I revisited this, and later self-published. However, I was barred from publicity through a different commercial venture, and I found selling this novel without any advertising somewhat difficult. About 1990, with spare time, thanks to the financial crisis, I began writing a future history, which is now being self-published as ebooks. Two of these, Puppeteer, Troubles involve a future in which we do nothing to address declining oil supplies, and hence involve a dystopian future. Red Gold, and the "First Contact" trilogy involve a future with Martian settlement and a major Federation of countries, and is thus also involving an economic future in which resources become scarce. The last, Jonathon Munros, illustrates the problems of evil androids. The Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy is partly about military strategy, partly about what science is really about, and partly about how humans could live in an advanced alien society.
I had also tried writing a novel as an undergraduate, which was rejected four times, after which I gave up, however some time later I revisited this, and later self-published. However, I was barred from publicity through a different commercial venture, and I found selling this novel without any advertising somewhat difficult. About 1990, with spare time, thanks to the financial crisis, I began writing a future history, which is now being self-published as ebooks. Two of these, Puppeteer, Troubles involve a future in which we do nothing to address declining oil supplies, and hence involve a dystopian future. Red Gold, and the "First Contact" trilogy involve a future with Martian settlement and a major Federation of countries, and is thus also involving an economic future in which resources become scarce. The last, Jonathon Munros, illustrates the problems of evil androids. The Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy is partly about military strategy, partly about what science is really about, and partly about how humans could live in an advanced alien society.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 13, 2017
The premise of this book is that evil doers use 'bot' robots, blackmail and drug money to wreck havoc on the United States.
The book included a large cast of characters, many of whom were called by aliases. Parts of it captured my interest and I found very exciting but much of it seemed disjointed. At times the author used the character's first name and then switched to his last name in the next sentence which made me feel lost. It has the potential to be a page turning thriller but needs complete editorial review. Sadly the many duplicated words, typos and grammatical errors detracted from the experience.
I would like to have one main character that I could become invested in as a reader. There is so much potential if the storyline focused on John Maxwell or even one of the women investigators rather than constantly tossing in another character, whose value was limited.
The book included a large cast of characters, many of whom were called by aliases. Parts of it captured my interest and I found very exciting but much of it seemed disjointed. At times the author used the character's first name and then switched to his last name in the next sentence which made me feel lost. It has the potential to be a page turning thriller but needs complete editorial review. Sadly the many duplicated words, typos and grammatical errors detracted from the experience.
I would like to have one main character that I could become invested in as a reader. There is so much potential if the storyline focused on John Maxwell or even one of the women investigators rather than constantly tossing in another character, whose value was limited.
May 25, 2017
Intriguing story that shows how well researched the topic is and one would expect nothing less from an author with such an impressive science background.
January 26, 2018
‘The years of corruption had removed the moral will to do the right thing from so many,’ writes the author in the closing chapter of this riveting, action-packed adventure by Ian Miller. And in my opinion, this powerful line fully encapsulates the author’s view and warning.
‘Bot War’ is a dense story which fits, in my opinion, just marginally within the framework of Science Fiction, with the principal theme being greed, high-level corruption, and the fragility of our economic system.
Mr Grey, a very powerful investment banker, is in league with a dangerous faction of Middle Eastern terrorists. Where Grey’s motivation is simple stock manipulation for financial gain, by any means, including murder, his partners have a more complex and destructive agenda.
‘Bot War’ is, I believe, a declarative statement by Mr Miller of how a country could conceivably be brought to its knees through the internal moral breakdown by the powerful rather than by invasion, (Though a robot invasion is part of the scheme) bio-terror, or runaway technology.
The intrigue and corruption are almost too real in this well-written book, and the action, from about the mid-point on, is almost frenetic.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely and have but one criticism. I drew no images of or felt any real attachment to the main characters while reading. Though I believe this to have been the intent of the author, one I’ve also found in classic works of literature, usually to make an additional point, it’s not my favourite approach to character development. Beyond that one criticism, I give this a solid 4 ½ star review and a strong recommendation.
Note: Mr Miller is very detailed in his writing, specifically about the inner workings of the Stock Market. For this reason, and this reason alone, I would suggest that ‘Bot War’ may not be suitable for very young readers. For others, who enjoy a fast-paced, high-intensity drama, this is a great piece with many clever and imaginative scenes.
T.E. Mark - Author
‘Bot War’ is a dense story which fits, in my opinion, just marginally within the framework of Science Fiction, with the principal theme being greed, high-level corruption, and the fragility of our economic system.
Mr Grey, a very powerful investment banker, is in league with a dangerous faction of Middle Eastern terrorists. Where Grey’s motivation is simple stock manipulation for financial gain, by any means, including murder, his partners have a more complex and destructive agenda.
‘Bot War’ is, I believe, a declarative statement by Mr Miller of how a country could conceivably be brought to its knees through the internal moral breakdown by the powerful rather than by invasion, (Though a robot invasion is part of the scheme) bio-terror, or runaway technology.
The intrigue and corruption are almost too real in this well-written book, and the action, from about the mid-point on, is almost frenetic.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely and have but one criticism. I drew no images of or felt any real attachment to the main characters while reading. Though I believe this to have been the intent of the author, one I’ve also found in classic works of literature, usually to make an additional point, it’s not my favourite approach to character development. Beyond that one criticism, I give this a solid 4 ½ star review and a strong recommendation.
Note: Mr Miller is very detailed in his writing, specifically about the inner workings of the Stock Market. For this reason, and this reason alone, I would suggest that ‘Bot War’ may not be suitable for very young readers. For others, who enjoy a fast-paced, high-intensity drama, this is a great piece with many clever and imaginative scenes.
T.E. Mark - Author
March 26, 2019
Not many books are described as financial or economic thrillers; those terms seem to be self-contradictory. But they precisely describe 'Bot War, which is also a perfect example of speculative fiction. What if a country's economy became so dysfunctional that key parts of society just didn't work any more? What if terrorists took advantage of that and of robot technology that made it possible to attack major infrastructure? What kinds of people would be successful in this situation and what would they do?
Ian J. Miller presents a multitude of scenarios -- meetings, surveillance, and combat -- that attempt to answer these questions. There is a multitude of characters as well, of which a handful emerge as the good guys. They are characterized more by their skills and actions than by emotions or personal quirks. In each scenario the author outlines what is at stake and what options the players have to achieve a desirable outcome, whether that is obtaining information, disabling robotic weapons, or just staying alive. Despite this almost didactic approach, there are almost no dull moments. In fact, there is a great deal of violence in this book. People are killed, singly or en masse, things are blown up or otherwise destroyed. The almost clinical descriptions of these events makes them more interesting than shocking. Each one is followed by a scene in which John Maxwell and those he works with assess the situation and plan their next moves. It's quite amazing how much chaos is created and what emerges from it. Readers who care to will find logical approaches to problem solving and leadership amid the fictional events. Altogether, 'Bot War is an unusual book, but one that leaves a reader with a lot to think about.
Ian J. Miller presents a multitude of scenarios -- meetings, surveillance, and combat -- that attempt to answer these questions. There is a multitude of characters as well, of which a handful emerge as the good guys. They are characterized more by their skills and actions than by emotions or personal quirks. In each scenario the author outlines what is at stake and what options the players have to achieve a desirable outcome, whether that is obtaining information, disabling robotic weapons, or just staying alive. Despite this almost didactic approach, there are almost no dull moments. In fact, there is a great deal of violence in this book. People are killed, singly or en masse, things are blown up or otherwise destroyed. The almost clinical descriptions of these events makes them more interesting than shocking. Each one is followed by a scene in which John Maxwell and those he works with assess the situation and plan their next moves. It's quite amazing how much chaos is created and what emerges from it. Readers who care to will find logical approaches to problem solving and leadership amid the fictional events. Altogether, 'Bot War is an unusual book, but one that leaves a reader with a lot to think about.
November 17, 2017
I really quite enjoyed this book, and found it fast-paced enough to make me sit up and pay attention. This was one of my first forays into this genre, but this book made me want more. I thought the characters were all a little bit too similar in some respects, but I imagine that the author's main focus was on the drama - and, boy was there plenty of that! If you are looking for a book to help you get to sleep at night this might not be the best choice, but if you are looking for an action story with some great twists, the Bot Wars is definitely for you.
August 1, 2022
Imagine a future where bots are sent for war! Bot War is a really great Sci-Fi novel suitable for all ages that deals with a corrupt government crushing under a terrorist attack.
The unique thing about this book is its simplicity in writing but conveying a really deep message to the reader. The story is well written and there are u expected plot twists.
Often, authors with a scientific background tend to show their knowledge off in their books by filling them with scientific jargon that makes the reader's head spin. However Miller, with all his scientific knowledge doesn't do this and that makes this book really stand out.
When reading books usually, there are some places that readers tend to skip. I didn't notice any part that I wanted to skip in this book given that it was written in third person omniscient, which many writers mess up by including unwanted scenes.
The degree of reality in this book is amazing. I am sure that in the future when we do have self driving cars available for sale......Miller might be even said to be a time traveller!
The other thing I love about this book is that it is suitable for all ages from a 13 year old to a 60 year old!
Good Luck Ian Miller! May you continue to produce more novels like this!
RECOMMENDED: Sci-Fi lovers, Thriller fans, Fans of Robots Vs Humans books, Young Adults, Anyone of all ages
The unique thing about this book is its simplicity in writing but conveying a really deep message to the reader. The story is well written and there are u expected plot twists.
Often, authors with a scientific background tend to show their knowledge off in their books by filling them with scientific jargon that makes the reader's head spin. However Miller, with all his scientific knowledge doesn't do this and that makes this book really stand out.
When reading books usually, there are some places that readers tend to skip. I didn't notice any part that I wanted to skip in this book given that it was written in third person omniscient, which many writers mess up by including unwanted scenes.
The degree of reality in this book is amazing. I am sure that in the future when we do have self driving cars available for sale......Miller might be even said to be a time traveller!
The other thing I love about this book is that it is suitable for all ages from a 13 year old to a 60 year old!
Good Luck Ian Miller! May you continue to produce more novels like this!
RECOMMENDED: Sci-Fi lovers, Thriller fans, Fans of Robots Vs Humans books, Young Adults, Anyone of all ages
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews