Echelon

ECHELON grabs us right out of the box and never lets go. Conviser does a terrific job of immersing us in a world that's like ours but not quite - which is the mark of great "what if" science fiction. Sci-fi can be obtuse at times; ECHELON isn't. The future he envisions is a believable evolution of the one we live in now. And in Ryan Laing he's created a great franchise character. Can't wait for the sequel!

In the late twentieth century, the NSA used ECHELON as an information gathering program on the net but the data collected proved too chaotic and overwhelming to be useful. Computer scientists sought the key to separate the dross from the gold, which led to Echelon becoming the guiding force that ruled humanity; though most people believe that to be an urban legend. However those who allegedly control Echelon use the program to insure the planet is a safe place to live. The head of Echelon believes that a saboteur is working inside the Echelon community. The head of the Agency maneuvers thing so that when he is captured, Echelon agent Ryan Laing, restored from the dead due healing drones added to his physiology, learns who the traitor is. However, Ryan assumes this is too simple because the person is a follower not a leader so he turns to hacker Sarah to help him uncover the traitor's master. Josh Conviser paints an interesting picture of a future guided by guardians who hold so much power that when one turns egomaniacal the world is in jeopardy. Combining current technology with Lord Acton's warning that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" ECHELON is a plausible science fiction thriller that grips readers with its grim realism. This compelling action-packed story line starring a wonderful hero will have audience pondering whether we are already walking that path with telecommunication manipulation. Harriet Klausner

If you are looking for a really good summer page-turner, this is your book. I bought it to take on vacation, but I ended up reading the whole thing before I even left. It is a good mix of adventure, science, science fiction, and suspense, with a bit of steamy romance thrown in. It is definitely cinematic, as the editorial review states. The book also could serve as a timely dialogue on government snooping into the lives of citizens - but it doesn't force any kind of politics down your throat. A good, fun read.

This is an amazingly thought provoking book. It is where politics meets action-thriller. It keeps you wanting to find out what is next and you feel a sense of wanting more at the end. I often had to remind myself this book is a fiction since it seems like it is turning into our reality. A great read! Highly recommended. I can't wait for the sequel.