Earth, A.D. 2519. The clone soldiers of the Enlisted Man’s Empire, formerly members of the Unified Authority’s powerful military, believe they have finally secured their freedom. They may not live to learn how wrong they are…
After launching an unsuccessful invasion of Washington, D.C., the Unified Authority is on the verge of defeat. Then the clones intercept a message detailing the U.A.’s last ditch plan for survival: a super weapon, a virus designed to attack the clones’ internal architecture. Only one clone was created without the fatal flaw—Wayson Harris, an outlaw model with independent thoughts and an addiction to violence.
As his empire collapses and his comrades die around him, Harris begins a one-man war against the government that created, betrayed and ultimately destroyed his brothers. Fighting the war becomes more difficult, however, as the rush from the constant combat has reached its peak—and is driving Harris slowly insane…
Steven L. Kent is the author of the Rogue Clone series of Military Science Fiction novels as well as The Ultimate History of Video Games.
Born in California and raised in Hawaii, Kent served as a missionary for the LDS Church between the years of 1979 and 1981. During that time, he worked as a Spanish-speaking missionary serving migrant farm workers in southern Idaho.
While Kent has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Master’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University, he claims that his most important education came from life.
He learned important lessons from working with farm laborers in Idaho. Later, from 1986 through 1988, Kent worked as a telemarketer selling TV Guide and Inc. Magazine. His years on the phone helped him develop an ear for dialog.
In 1987, Kent reviewed the Stephen King novels Misery and The Eyes of the Dragon for the Seattle Times. A diehard Stephen King fan, Kent later admitted that he pitched the reviews to the Times so that he could afford to buy the books.
In 1993, upon returning to Seattle after a five-year absence, Kent pitched a review of “virtual haunted houses” for the Halloween issue of the Seattle Times. He reviewed the games The Seventh Guest, Alone in the Dark, and Legacy. Not only did this review land Kent three free PC games, it started him on a new career path.
By the middle of 1994, when Kent found himself laid off from his job at a PR agency, he became a full-time freelance journalist. He wrote monthly pieces for the Seattle Times along with regular features and reviews for Electronic Games, CDRom Today, ComputerLife, and NautilusCD. In later years, he would write for American Heritage, Parade, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and many other publications. He wrote regular columns for MSNBC, Next Generation, the Japan Times, and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.
In 2000, Kent self-published The First Quarter: A 25-year History of Video Games. That book was later purchased and re-published as The Ultimate History of Video Games by the Prima, Three River Press, and Crown divisions of Random House.
During his career as a games journalist, Kent wrote the entries on video games for Encarta and the Encyclopedia Americana. At the invitation of Senator Joseph Lieberman, Kent has spoken at the annual Report Card on Video Game Violence in Washington D.C.
With this being the tenth book in the 'Clone' series by Steven L. Kent, I was expecting the story to at least take a slight hit quality wise but this one surprised me more than anything.
The story moves along at a cracking pace and not only tackles the larger story of the constant battles with the U.A. but also tackles the descent in to madness of the main character, Wayson Harris. This is a brave move by Kent and really mirrors just what members of the military must go through in real life.
If you are a fan of the 'clone' series then this one has a lot of nods to the previous outings but even if you are a newcomer to the series, there is a lot here to make you not only grab the novel to take a look but enough here to hook you in.
I finished this book today with some sadness. Not because it wasn't a great read, it was. It is because according to the author's afterword this is the last book in the Rogue Clone series. It has been a fun ride with Wayson Harris and Ray Freeman and I am sad to see it over. This was a great book and a good ending to the series. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series. I can't wait to see what Mr. Kent writes next.
A great read. I can't believe the 10-book series is over. This series turned me on to military sci-fi, forever. Incredibly fun to read, I was on a waiting list before Christmas to get this one. Highly recommended!
The Clone Apocalypse kicks off straight after the previous book with Wayson, MacAvoy and the rest of the gang in open conflict with the United Authority! :D The United Authority though is not playing fair! :D Once this is clear this naturally attracts all of Wayson's attention! :D The UA finds itself under wrong footed much to there consternation Wayson is affected by the Flu that cuts through his troops leading to him being in an almost battle state which from the beginning you can see him descending into more of a psychopathy! :D Luckily his friends are on the case these from the start and this gives the book its tone along with other events! :D This propels the non stop relentless action that is there as you would expect from the start of The Clone Apocalypse! :D
The action comes relentlessly never letting up from the start! :D The changing POV also lets us see everything going on and you will find yourself on the edge of you your seat wanting for the characters not in the know to have the penny drop! :D The whole book has a feel of tense anticipation as things come to a head! :D At the same time new plotlines are also brought in! :D There is a constant feel on the other shoe dropping, this leads to characters showing there true colours! :D The book packs it in at every corner with plot twists that have twists on themselves! :D The characters from Wayson, Freeman, Emily, Watson etc all grow in unexpected ways! :D The book will keep you on your toes, at the same time it is great to see characters getting getting stuck in and working as a team, individually as an army etc! :D It is these characters reactions to Wayson's increasing crazy ideas, prosecution of the war etc that really shows how much is at stake! :D The character development, and their decisions, drive the book and work brilliantly married with visceral action that jumps out of the The Clone Apocalypse! :D
The plot twists and turn constantly with revelation and twist all over the place! :D The Clone Apocalypse puts in characters through the wringer! :D It never lets up from the beginning! :D At the same time the Epically evil United Authority are so slimily evil that you can't help understanding how Wayson and the SEALS are so bent on getting them! :D At same time, an ironically it is Freeman and Kasara who keep their heads! :D The Clone Apocalypse is pulse pounding action from the start that covers the previous plots but at the same time sets up new ones! :D This leads to unexpected call backs, new events etc that you will be taken by surprise! :D Great character development, Epic Battles, High stakes, Brilliant Grand Standing, Intrigue, Humour, Plot twists, daring do, Adventure and Action! :D Brilliant Crisp Specking High Five! :D
I’m on my 5th pass through this entire season and currently in book 7 of 10 in this pass and I enjoy every page of this series more each time. I will likely read it again and again. I love the futuristic sci-fi and even pseudo believable events that take place throughout. If you enjoy futuristic sci-fi military movies/books then I strongly recommend this series. Hell they even have a graphic audio copy of this series. For those of you that drive long distances or need something to eat the time while you workout I definitely suggest these. Each book leaves you wanting more.
It's the end of the line for this series which I've enjoyed. While some book series kinda end with a fizzle this one was an aggressive ride all the way to the end.
I'm kinda bummed the series ended, as it was a great universe. While there was a glimmer of 'left it open' at the end the afterword by the author indicated this would be the end of the line for the series, further than he expected.
There was a hint from the author that there is other works to come, will pick those up just based on how much I enjoyed this series. I also figured out I apparently missed one of the books, going to go back and read that one.
I've liked the Clone series but more and more I have wondered where it was going. With the quote saying that this will be the last in the series I think he's made the right choice. The ending feels a bit rushed but that my be me, and I'm not a big fan of the 'jump back a bit and get the story from a different character's perspective' style of writing but those issues don't really detract from the overall telling of how the clone empire ends. If he had managed to find another way to end the UA threat and died in the process I think that would have worked, then again I'm not an author so...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I'm not at all happy about the the ending. I thought though for a minute the empire was threw and I don't mean the unified empire either. Wow! The ending was kind of blah, but maybe the next book, if there is a next book will reveal all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.