Critical Asset

by Ian Tonnessen

"5/5 stars. This has blockbuster movie written all over it." - Reedsy"I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last." - OnlineBookClubA hijacked spacecraft. A desperate revolutionary. A world on the edge of war. By 2065 Captain Jaana Pierce has spent her career in the Second Cold War. One of U.S. Space Command's best officers, she and her crew train for a day they doubt will ever come. But the Seventh Arrow revolutionaries are ready to make that unthinkable day happen. Desperate to overthrow their nation’s regime, rebel commandos seize the most valuable and secretive research station ever built. Setting up their government to take the blame for its destruction, the rebels expect the ensuing war will be quick and decisive. Unexpectedly drawn into the siege, Pierce and her crew must battle a relentless enemy. Outmatched while the world hurtles towards disaster, she will have to risk much more than her life to end the crisis. She will also have to confront her limits of duty. The approaching war is a lie -- but stopping it may be the more destructive choice. The debut novel of intelligence analyst Ian Tonnessen, CRITICAL ASSET brings some projected crises of the mid-21st Century to life with realistic action and unforgettable characters. Fast-paced and rooted in the dilemmas of today’s world, this novel mixes trailblazing science into a rich and relatable vision of the future -- a future both exciting and unsettling.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Roger L. Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and realistic

As a retired intelligence officer and scifi fan I truly enjoyed this book. Not because it was fun but because it wasn't. It showed realism in the dance between strategies and trying to figure them out enough to come up wit some sort of structure. I also appreciate the reference to the US and our current situation. I'm still working on that one. Over all very good gut-wrenching scifi mystery. Thanks!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the year 2065, the Second Cold War is in full swing. The world is divided into military alliances with names like the Democratic Alliance and the United Caliphate. Dirac Station is a very secretive space station at one of Earth's Lagrange Points (look it up). It makes Earth's entire supply of antimatter, which has made colony ships to other stars much more possible. Antimatter is also extremely unstable, which is why the station has to be a long way away from Earth.

The country of Turkey is involved in an attack on Dirac Station. Does the Turkish government intend to weaponize some of that antimatter? Do ant-government rebels want to blame Turkey for the attack, and push America to take out Turkey's fascist government, permanently? Can the ensuing war be kept quick and local, or is Earth looking at World War III?

The USS Lincoln, with its Captain Jaana Pierce, is the only vessel in a position to fight the attackers. Many pitched battles are fought on the station. As the world edges closer to all-out war, Pierce risks her life, and pushed the limits of her duty, to end the rapidly approaching crisis.

This is an excellent novel. It has Blockbuster Movie written all over it. The author is a former intelligence analyst, so it feels very plausible. It has everything a reader could want: a combination of politics and near-future science fiction, violence, action and approaching nuclear war. Here is a story that is very much recommended.

[John Yelverton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book takes place in the near future with technology which quite frankly could not exist in this limited amount of time. The author also, clearly, has an axe to grind against religion, which made me stop my reading, because my eyes were rolling. There was some good action scenes, but there are far more negatives than positives.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed techno future thriller. In space

A fast moving thriller set in a believable future. A very good read and unlike some Unlimited freebies, not only is it typo free, it feels like someone has proof read it.

Highly recommended

[Heather Tonnessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer - my husband wrote this. However, it is the real deal. Strong female lead, plausible plot, compelling moral dilemmas.

[Jeff Tix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enough

Military sci fi is one thing, but not at the expense of the story. I gave up on this. I was already not caring about these characters.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very detailed book with some excellent characters and compelling plot. There were many aspects that made me think of Tom Clancy's Sum Of All Fears.