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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 15, 2003 10:59:14 GMT -5
Power Games is a series of novels, 4 until now, I'll thus review the whole series first then each book separately. The four novels are entitled: Politika, Ruthless.com, Shadow Watch and Bio-Strike. Author: Tom Clancy Type: Thrillers Synopsis: (for the whole series) The adventures of Roger Gordian, CEO of Uplink Inc., and his "Sword" team (named after the famous Alexander The Great's solution to the Gordian node problem) facing the political, economical, technological and biological threats that a hi-tech company may have to face in todays world. Review:Originaly written to support Red Strom Entertainment products (Video Games) the series are nevertheless really interesting. Each of the books dealing with a particular threat. The most interesting aspect for DG keepers is the fact that the "sword" doesn't have governmental credential and must therefore stick to a straight line of action. Ratings: (I'll only rate the whole series for style, fun and overall and will rate each book's plot separately)
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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 15, 2003 11:00:55 GMT -5
Title: Politika (1997)
Type: political thriller
Synopsis:
The death of the Russian president brings the country on the edge of chaos. The three men who should take the interim - a nationalist, a reformist, and a communist - are unable to avoid a famin, which is increased by mysterious terrorist attacks on wheat reserves.
At the same moment, terrorism strikes in New York, making hundreds of casualties. It seems like someone wants to forbid the US to bring help to Moscow.
Roger Gordian starts to see the scheme behind these events and asks his own network of managers, experts and ex-"letter soup agencies" agents to solve the problem.
Review:
Starting with the (ironic) death of Boris Eltsine, going on with a terrorist strike in Time Square and leading to the real powers in headless Russia, this book is a page turning read. Not much in terms of ObDG but interesting nevertheless.
Plot Rating: 4
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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 15, 2003 11:01:34 GMT -5
Title: Ruthless.com (1998) Type: economical thriller Synopsis:Today, encryption softwares keys are protecting the codes used by communication networks and security systems. Legalising the exportation of these technology would generate enormous income but would also give access to sensitive data to spies and terrorists. When Roger Gordian refuses to give the license to his encryption softwares to foreign companies, he soon finds that his company is the target of an hostile takeover, which goal is precisely the access to the encryption keys. He must face alone a dangerous coalition of drug cartels, military personel and shady politics whose primary goal is to take him and his company out-of-business. Even if it must lead the world to another world war. Review:Once again a really interesting book. The world of finance is the living place of too much human monsters. What if we added a touch of Mythos to it?  Plot Rating: 4
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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 15, 2003 11:02:09 GMT -5
Title: Shadow Watch (1999) Type: technological thriller Synopsis:Uplink has opened a new program, a joint-venture with NASA, and became the most important subcontractor for the International Space Station program. The shuttle Orion, which was supposed to bring one of the major ISS modules in orbit, is destroyed by a sudden fire and, almost simultaneously, a terrorist group attacks the construction site installed by Uplink in the middle of the Brasilian jungle. Is there a link between those events? It's what Uplink's agents and the NASA investigation commission think. If so, the terrorists next target will probably be Baikonur, where the next ISS module will be launched... Review:Interesting if not the best of the series... If your campaign deals with the space programs you should really read it Plot Rating: 3
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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 15, 2003 11:02:42 GMT -5
Title: Bio-Strike (2000)
Type: biological thriller
Synopsis:
It's no longer a nightmare, it might be the Truth now.
The perfect weapon, the one which has the power to destroy humanity as a whole but can also target its victims. A dormant virus that the contact with microcapsules can activate.
Yet, nobody is aware of the threat. When Roger Gordian is one of the first people targeted by this dreadful virus, his "Sword" team has really few time left to find those who created the virus and may detain the cure...
Review:
The best of the series IMHO... The ObDG is obvious in this one: what if 'Special K' got his hands on such a virus?
Plot Rating: 5 (!!!)
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Post by Rick T.Nash on Nov 25, 2003 8:38:50 GMT -5
I finally reviewed the third opus |
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