Eighth Trumpet

"The Eighth Trumpet" is Jon Land's eighth technothriller. Like his previous novels, they are quick reads with little to no fluff, complete with heroic characters that defy death on numerous occasions. This one also has the usual double-agent, surprise twist. However, this is my only knock on the book. It's obvious who the double agent is well before it is revealed.The story involves a madman who tries to destroy the world by attacking a vulnerable area of Antarctica. A submarine is commandeered for its valuable cargo for use in the climactic scene in Antarctica. The hero, Jared Kimberlain, is similar in nature to other heroes created by Jon Land. He managed to escape death at every turn and joins forces with the usual female ally. The female ally is not a strong one in this novel at first, but eventually shows her fortitude in the showdown at the end.The most enjoyable character is a giant, and former serial killer, named Peet. However, due to his lengthy institutionalization, Peet has changed his ways and aids Kimberlain. His evil double, Quail, is a serial killer who is trying to get out of the shadow of Peet and is determined to carry through his part of the ultimate mission -- the killing of one million people at once. There is an excellent showdown at the top of the Empire State Building between the two large combatants. The reader is not given any clues ahead of time as to who, if either, will survive the inevitable confrontation.Overall, this book is one of Land's better novels. It's much better than "The Gamma Option", the novel that proceeded this one. This one is non-stop action from the start that also includes a great scene with lifesize killer robots. The book may be out of print, but can be purchased through many used book outlets. If you enjoy technothrillers full of action and intrigue, you'll enjoy this one.