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Sam Harper #1
Techno Ranger
North and South Korea are on a collision course with the prospect of reigniting war in this action-packed military thriller!
1LT Sam Harper, surfing engineer, tries to fit in on his new job. He’ll risk everything to prevent mass destruction.
Sam’s intelligence analysts identify security vulnerabilities in a government lab in Seoul, causing the locals to lose face and their patience with him.
Meanwhile, his CIA ex-girlfriend complicates his life with her spy priorities.
A desperate North Korean general sends a naive Special Forces lieutenant and his team across the DMZ to steal nuclear materials technology.
Sends them disguised to infiltrate the top-secret lab Sam protects.
Sam will need all his combat and technical skills to safeguard those he cares about, but his involvement with a traitor and a CIA temptress may teach him the wrong lessons about who to trust.
Dedicated to Tom Clancy, David Drake, and Robert Ludlum.
1LT Sam Harper, surfing engineer, tries to fit in on his new job. He’ll risk everything to prevent mass destruction.
Sam’s intelligence analysts identify security vulnerabilities in a government lab in Seoul, causing the locals to lose face and their patience with him.
Meanwhile, his CIA ex-girlfriend complicates his life with her spy priorities.
A desperate North Korean general sends a naive Special Forces lieutenant and his team across the DMZ to steal nuclear materials technology.
Sends them disguised to infiltrate the top-secret lab Sam protects.
Sam will need all his combat and technical skills to safeguard those he cares about, but his involvement with a traitor and a CIA temptress may teach him the wrong lessons about who to trust.
Dedicated to Tom Clancy, David Drake, and Robert Ludlum.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2020
162 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Sewell
10 books26 followersThomas Sewell lives in Charlotte, lured there by his wife, but grew up out West. A late intellectual bloomer, at age 13 he graduated from high school and started computer electronics courses in college. (Assembly for 8-bit processors!) Already 6 ft. tall, so no one noticed he was a little young. Bummed rides to school because he was too young for a driver's license.
Thomas has always been an autodidact with a variety of hobbies and interests, especially economics, military history, and the law. Worked in Reston and McLean, Virginia on 9/11, but only ever officially worked for the government as a contractor. Thomas has performed technology and security work for several fortune 500 companies and in a quarter of his time manages a team responsible for one of the world's largest financial networks.
Along the way, he's founded a private security company, an Internet Service Provider, and a K-8 Charter School. He's read over ten thousand books and written a few in self-defense, among them the Sam Harper, Sovereign Security Company, and Mike Drake series, some of which you can even purchase.
Thomas has always been an autodidact with a variety of hobbies and interests, especially economics, military history, and the law. Worked in Reston and McLean, Virginia on 9/11, but only ever officially worked for the government as a contractor. Thomas has performed technology and security work for several fortune 500 companies and in a quarter of his time manages a team responsible for one of the world's largest financial networks.
Along the way, he's founded a private security company, an Internet Service Provider, and a K-8 Charter School. He's read over ten thousand books and written a few in self-defense, among them the Sam Harper, Sovereign Security Company, and Mike Drake series, some of which you can even purchase.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 3, 2020
This is a military thriller that does a great job of depicting the relationship between people. The characters are very realistic, and the plot builds suspense for a number of reason and situations. The style of writing is very straightforward and easy to read. I was initially put off by the dropping of subjects in sentences when Sam is speaking in first person. After a while it becomes a good wy to determine when the narrative is entering Sam's head. The action takes place in modern Korea with all the intrigue and problems the divided country has to deal with. This is a complete story and sets the stage for more as Sam and his brother rangers move to Southeast Asia with their CIA cohort. The author does a great job showing the ways a beautiful woman can manipulate men to her advantage. I am looking forward to more of Sam Harper.
April 10, 2020
Is this the new one man wrecking crew. He is talented, lucky, technically adept and a very capable MacGyver.
The story moves well. Many characters blend in to build a story that is very entertaining.
A couple of twists that you do not expect and a very exciting ending.
The character will be a winner in any further stories that are brought forward.
I enjoyed the read and hope for further stories with these characters.
The story moves well. Many characters blend in to build a story that is very entertaining.
A couple of twists that you do not expect and a very exciting ending.
The character will be a winner in any further stories that are brought forward.
I enjoyed the read and hope for further stories with these characters.
December 31, 2020
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
"Techno Ranger: A Sam Harper Military Thriller" definitely lives up to it's name.
Sewall had me surfing on the edge of my seat the entire book! The author's world building and character development is top shelf!
Especially that of Sam Harper. The story of Sam's growth as a person as he attempts to fulfill his duty and learns about family is drawn against a backdrop of betrayal, manipulation, high stakes international affairs and plain old skullduggery. I can hardly wait to dive into the next Sam Harper book, "Covert Commando."
I highly recommend this book.
I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
"Techno Ranger: A Sam Harper Military Thriller" definitely lives up to it's name.
Sewall had me surfing on the edge of my seat the entire book! The author's world building and character development is top shelf!
Especially that of Sam Harper. The story of Sam's growth as a person as he attempts to fulfill his duty and learns about family is drawn against a backdrop of betrayal, manipulation, high stakes international affairs and plain old skullduggery. I can hardly wait to dive into the next Sam Harper book, "Covert Commando."
I highly recommend this book.
I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
Read
January 19, 2022As the author said Techno Ranger has an "insane plot.". And I am all for it! This is a very exciting ride! I come for a military family and I appreciated that the author recognized that the military is often under-appreciated by the public as a whole. Sewell gave our men and women a little more well-deserved credit and publicity for who they are and what they do. This novel kept my attention riveted. The story moves along at a good pace, giving you respites to catch your breath. I am totally hooked and just waiting to get my fingers on the next novel. I received the novel through BookFunnel. This is my true and honest opinion
June 10, 2020
A great read! A fast- paced, smooth, well written book, with all the characters realistically portrayed.As is the scenario between North and South Korea. Sam Harper's character is so well delineated that you feel you are there with him. and waiting for his next maverick move.... and he doesn't disappoint. There is no way to put this book down,I read it in one sitting. This book is a must read for fans of Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, military thrillers. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to more of Sam Harper.
April 21, 2020
The New Old Army!
This story has more Ups and downs than a rodeo bull. A techno geek who became a Ranger, a hard core 1LT to butt heads with, an old girl friend, and a wide old Top serve all dependent on each other. All stirred together by the author in a story you won't want to put down. A definite 5 star read.
This story has more Ups and downs than a rodeo bull. A techno geek who became a Ranger, a hard core 1LT to butt heads with, an old girl friend, and a wide old Top serve all dependent on each other. All stirred together by the author in a story you won't want to put down. A definite 5 star read.
December 25, 2021
Very interesting and enjoyable
This was a very interesting and enjoyable book, with good characters. The Korean characters were a little hard to understand, I guess because they came across as children. The story was good, with a lot of information to help the story along. The flow was good the way the author fit the chapters together. Read and enjoy.
This was a very interesting and enjoyable book, with good characters. The Korean characters were a little hard to understand, I guess because they came across as children. The story was good, with a lot of information to help the story along. The flow was good the way the author fit the chapters together. Read and enjoy.
April 10, 2020
It was a well written. Characters worked well together. Enough action but not over loaded with a lot of techno stuff, that makes a book boring ( at least to me). Thomas Sewell has written another great book. Thank you for it
June 15, 2020
Powerful people story. Action, adventure mixed with a touch of hope.
This is a solid storyline, believable iinteractions and fast paced. I'm looking forward to the next book. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who likes military and adventure storys.
This is a solid storyline, believable iinteractions and fast paced. I'm looking forward to the next book. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who likes military and adventure storys.
May 29, 2021
Great story
Great story! Really good characters, a hero with a few flaws but perseveres throughout the narrative. Engaging and sufficiently complicated to keep interest throughout. Worth a read.
Great story! Really good characters, a hero with a few flaws but perseveres throughout the narrative. Engaging and sufficiently complicated to keep interest throughout. Worth a read.
August 23, 2021
Fast pace, good read...
Good character development, plenty of action from beginning to end, with plenty of realistic military procedures, and modern technology woven into the story.
Good character development, plenty of action from beginning to end, with plenty of realistic military procedures, and modern technology woven into the story.
April 12, 2020
Whisky Tango Foxtrot LT Sam Harper🐿️
Well worth reading 🤓
Well worth reading 🤓
July 22, 2020
An action packed military thriller that is very easy to read. Relevant situational plot that has the reader on the edge of their seat, praying that the good guys win. All in all, a great read.
September 18, 2020
Outstanding
This is an Outstanding Book award and I cannot wait for Covert Commando to dome out. It closed really well.
This is an Outstanding Book award and I cannot wait for Covert Commando to dome out. It closed really well.
December 28, 2020
Review to come soon.
January 4, 2022
Excellent story worth reading
June 13, 2020
Different and very interesting
Never read a novel centered on South Korea before. Took some getting accustomed to for me. Good premise. I always wondered if the North Koreans were really that totally brainwashed but I suppose it's inevitable when people are so totally isolated from.The rest of the world.
Never read a novel centered on South Korea before. Took some getting accustomed to for me. Good premise. I always wondered if the North Koreans were really that totally brainwashed but I suppose it's inevitable when people are so totally isolated from.The rest of the world.
April 10, 2020
Thomas Sewell did a fine job with this story. The style of writing gave the book a very Oriental feel to it. A good amount of action and very interesting plot. This is a long novel and it is great for a bedtime read. You can put it down, go to sleep and catch back up the next night. There is a sub story that shows how a new (surfer dude) ranger becomes part of the Ranger "family". A good ending that leaves the story open to new books in this series.
June 13, 2020
A Delightful Yet Thrilling Tall Tale
There great weighting tricks where we, The e reader, is taken over hill and into the dale. Holly geee, we then had to. Swim a half mile to find a buyer up canoe that takes South to a marshland. We then goon C-130J up towards 15,000 feet, to then jump out for a HALO drop to the O--Club for dinner! I enjoyed the writers craft that keeping me intrigued.
There great weighting tricks where we, The e reader, is taken over hill and into the dale. Holly geee, we then had to. Swim a half mile to find a buyer up canoe that takes South to a marshland. We then goon C-130J up towards 15,000 feet, to then jump out for a HALO drop to the O--Club for dinner! I enjoyed the writers craft that keeping me intrigued.
Read
March 7, 2022Good characters and well written
August 3, 2020
Excellent book
I wouldn’t call it a thriller, more of an action drama type story.
Had a good time reading it, the characters are interesting.
I wouldn’t call it a thriller, more of an action drama type story.
Had a good time reading it, the characters are interesting.
August 14, 2023
Twists And Turns In The Life Of An Army Ranger In Korea
Sam Harper has got to be the Army Ranger with the hardest head! You can enter the military with all kinds of baggage that limits your ability to be an integral member of your unit. But if you've been in long enough to have completed Ranger training, ALL of it, and you still are a loner, you're a blockhead! No matter how good you are, nobody wants a loner in their unit. It takes the death of his unit's Top Sargeant for Sam to finally come to his senses.
Through wandering alone into North Korea looking for lost hard drives or attempting to infiltrate secure facilities to prove lax security protocols when he's been ordered not to do so, Sam proves he can do more damage than good. Of course, Sam does manage to sometimes be where he can be helpful, but that's more often than not the exception than the norm.
The action moves at a good pace, no chance to get bogged down. I really enjoyed the storyline and flow.
Sam Harper has got to be the Army Ranger with the hardest head! You can enter the military with all kinds of baggage that limits your ability to be an integral member of your unit. But if you've been in long enough to have completed Ranger training, ALL of it, and you still are a loner, you're a blockhead! No matter how good you are, nobody wants a loner in their unit. It takes the death of his unit's Top Sargeant for Sam to finally come to his senses.
Through wandering alone into North Korea looking for lost hard drives or attempting to infiltrate secure facilities to prove lax security protocols when he's been ordered not to do so, Sam proves he can do more damage than good. Of course, Sam does manage to sometimes be where he can be helpful, but that's more often than not the exception than the norm.
The action moves at a good pace, no chance to get bogged down. I really enjoyed the storyline and flow.
October 31, 2020
Techno Ranger
The story line was good and subject interesting. The choppy sentence structure made it difficult to read and I could not get through that. There were very few complete sentences and virtually no paragraphs.
The story line was good and subject interesting. The choppy sentence structure made it difficult to read and I could not get through that. There were very few complete sentences and virtually no paragraphs.
June 26, 2025
Techno Ranger is a fast paced military thriller that blends high stakes international tension with cutting edge technology and gritty personal conflict. Set against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile Korean peninsula, Thomas Sewell delivers a story that feels alarmingly plausible grounded in current global dynamics yet driven by sharply drawn fictional characters and cinematic action.
The protagonist, 1LT Sam Harper, is not your typical military hero. He’s a surfing engineer, a technical savant with a knack for combat, trying to find his place in a new assignment in Seoul. What I appreciated most about Sam was how human he felt flawed, stubborn, sometimes naïve, but always driven by an unwavering desire to do what’s right, even when the lines between loyalty and betrayal blur dangerously.
When Sam discovers major security vulnerabilities in a high level government lab, he inadvertently sets off a chain reaction. The locals turn cold, and his efforts to protect them are met with mistrust and political tension. Add to that a North Korean plot involving stolen nuclear tech, a team of infiltrators disguised as friendlies, and a CIA ex-girlfriend whose loyalties are as unclear as her motives and you've got a tightly wound web of suspense and strategy.
Sewell’s writing is crisp and intelligent, clearly influenced by the likes of Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. The tactical scenes feel authentic, and the technological aspects are explained well enough for a lay reader without slowing the pace. I especially liked the moral ambiguity Sam is pulled in multiple directions, and no choice comes without cost. The relationships, particularly the push-pull with the CIA ex, added a nice human layer to the broader geopolitical stakes.
If you like military thrillers with brains, brawn, and a believable hero caught between diplomacy and disaster, Techno Ranger hits the mark. It's a satisfying, thought provoking ride that leaves just enough loose ends for a sequel one I’ll be looking out for.
The protagonist, 1LT Sam Harper, is not your typical military hero. He’s a surfing engineer, a technical savant with a knack for combat, trying to find his place in a new assignment in Seoul. What I appreciated most about Sam was how human he felt flawed, stubborn, sometimes naïve, but always driven by an unwavering desire to do what’s right, even when the lines between loyalty and betrayal blur dangerously.
When Sam discovers major security vulnerabilities in a high level government lab, he inadvertently sets off a chain reaction. The locals turn cold, and his efforts to protect them are met with mistrust and political tension. Add to that a North Korean plot involving stolen nuclear tech, a team of infiltrators disguised as friendlies, and a CIA ex-girlfriend whose loyalties are as unclear as her motives and you've got a tightly wound web of suspense and strategy.
Sewell’s writing is crisp and intelligent, clearly influenced by the likes of Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. The tactical scenes feel authentic, and the technological aspects are explained well enough for a lay reader without slowing the pace. I especially liked the moral ambiguity Sam is pulled in multiple directions, and no choice comes without cost. The relationships, particularly the push-pull with the CIA ex, added a nice human layer to the broader geopolitical stakes.
If you like military thrillers with brains, brawn, and a believable hero caught between diplomacy and disaster, Techno Ranger hits the mark. It's a satisfying, thought provoking ride that leaves just enough loose ends for a sequel one I’ll be looking out for.
July 9, 2025
Sam Harper is a new Army Ranger but his specialty is electronics and intelligence. He has his first command on a f intelligence specialists that are assigned to a Ranger Company. Sam gets deployed to Korea with the help of his CIA maybe girlfriend. Sam is a loner and has trouble with the Ranger leading the Company he supports. This is just the beginning as Sam soon finds himself involved with some North Koreans that break into a government lab and steal secrets. Sam ends up in North Korea and that is where the fun really begins for him. I had doubts about the book when I started reading but so that was all forgotten. I found it hard to put the book down as I just wanted to see what happened next. Sure glad I kept reading, really enjoyed it.
December 20, 2021
It's hard to sum up Sam. His actions will pull you in two directions simultaneously. He's brilliant, independent and hasn't figured out how to fit in with his Ranger team. He is absolutely a hero, but doing things alone had a huge price.
The author's writing didn't help the story. Many sentences have no subject assuming the reader will figure it out. If you assumed a different direction than the author, you will immediately do WTF? Then the author comes back with details that pull you in completely.
Lot is action for sure in this story. Lot of introspection to try and understand Sam, but in the end you still have some questions.
The author's writing didn't help the story. Many sentences have no subject assuming the reader will figure it out. If you assumed a different direction than the author, you will immediately do WTF? Then the author comes back with details that pull you in completely.
Lot is action for sure in this story. Lot of introspection to try and understand Sam, but in the end you still have some questions.
December 26, 2020
I agree with the review about choppy sentences. The author doesn't seem to like pronouns like I, she, her as sentence starters and during dialogue sentences, so it created a choppy, and distracting read. It was a good story overall.
December 27, 2020
A good story, a choppy read
Overall, it was a good story. The author's style of writing, not using personal pronouns to start many sentences and dialogues, made it a choppy read, and a distraction. I won't be reading follow-up stories by this author.
Overall, it was a good story. The author's style of writing, not using personal pronouns to start many sentences and dialogues, made it a choppy read, and a distraction. I won't be reading follow-up stories by this author.
April 8, 2022
Not well written and sometimes hard to follow.
Read
December 3, 2023DNF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews