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Anonymous
Posted October 11, 2006
Amazing what-if story
Wow. This book was a gift from my wife Nell. Very interesting story. Spy themes mixed with a high concept story of how a group of terrorists gets a hold of Nikola Tesla's rumored plans for his fantastic inventions and assemble a terrible weapon with them. The first four or five chapters set the stage for things to come, guiding the reader to learn about the protagonist and his foe, and the supporting cast, as well as their motives. The book then becomes a rollercoaster ride across Europe, with the good guys chasing the bad guys, then the other way around. Gun play, secret agents, and lots of action. The story holds water, without Deux ex machina moments so common in the paint-by-numbers thrillers these days. More than a few surprises toward the satisfying end of the book. Speculative without being pure fantasy, and the bits about Tesla's inventions seem based on actual events. A great read, contemporary settings, plausible -- highly recommended.
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Anonymous
Posted September 6, 2006
Surprising and entertaining story
I crave thrillers and mysteries and normally stick to my favorite authors. A friend recommended 'The Tesla Testament' and although it's from a freshman author, the story is tight and action-packed. Francis, the protagonist, is a flawed hero, not one of those square-jawed cartoons like Dirk Pitt that are good at everything and never get as much as a scratch regardless of what happens to them. Varenka, the heroine and love interest, starts as a bit of an airhead but later shows remarkable strength of character and even saves Francis on more than one occasion. The historical research about Tesla's inventions appears to be accurate based on some further research I did online, and the line between fact and fiction is nicely blurred. The espionage bits were a bit incredible but not over-the-top like in the James Bond movies, nor lengthy and boring like in most Tom Clancy books. The book reminded me of the kind of work that Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, or Christopher Reich might produce. The story was fast moving and the surprise ending (no spoilers!) fit the story and the protagonists' characters and behavior.
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