The seemingly indestructible Marine captain Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield returns in this high-octane adventure from Reilly (Area 7, etc.). This time out, Schofield finds himself, along with 14 other members of the world's most elite military units, being hunted by a seemingly endless army of bounty hunters. The prize for the hunters is $18.6 million per head, and all 15 heads must be taken within six days. The search for the person behind this bounty hunt takes Schofield and his loyal band of marines around the world and in and out of one life-threatening situation after another. Reilly knows exactly what kind of book he's writing. His heroes are brave and self-sacrificing, his villains are bloodthirsty and ruthless, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Narrator Sowers is in perfect synch with Reilly's storytelling. Obviously enjoying himself, he knows just what words to punch in order to get the most out of each action-packed sentence, and he supports his Clint Eastwood-like delivery of Schofield's dialogue by giving each of the numerous secondary characters their own distinct voices and accents. Those who like their adventures fast and furious will not be disappointed by this energetic production. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's/Dunne hardcover (Forecasts, Jan. 26). (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Reilly's latest slam-bang actioner delivers more thrills than most other adventure novels. Shane Schofield, a.k.a. Scarecrow and the hero of Ice Station and Area 7, finds himself on a hit list of 12 men, all members of elite military units from around the globe. A bounty of $18.6 million a head spurs the hopes of professional assassins. There's only one catch-the men on the list must be dead by noon on October 26th, Eastern Standard Time. The novel starts three hours before the deadline and is essentially one long action scene-a bold experiment. Plot points and exposition occur even as Scarecrow fights for his life, creating a tale that never lets the hero, or the reader, take a breath. Overall, this is an over-the-top roller-coaster ride that would make a pulse-pounding movie if you had a budget of $6 billion. For all fiction collections.-Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Third installment in the way, way over-the-top action adventures of US Marine Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield, and the best yet from this Australian author (Contest, 2003, etc.). Called Scarecrow because of his disfigured eyes, Schofield and a crack crew of Delta Force soldiers rush to a Siberian sub repair base that's been overrun by Islamic terrorists who have seized a cache of nuclear missiles. But instead of terrorists, Schofield finds a trap set by competing teams of international bounty hunters who've already killed two Delta Force soldiers on an $18.6 million-per-head kill list that also has Schofield's name on it. The list of 15 super-soldiers, spies, scientists and one terrorist was complied by Majestic 12, a secret council of supremely rich multinational military industrial complex tycoons who not only buy and sell governments but have been responsible for every late-20th-century conspiracy from the assassination of JFK to Clinton's impeachment trial-except for 9/11. Thus begins a serious of breathless, thoroughly contrived, but immensely entertaining action scenes in which Schofield, fellow soldiers Libby Gant, Book II, and Mother join with bounty hunter Aloysius Knight (being paid by an anonymous client to protect Schofield) and Knight's trusty pilot Rufus as they take on killer sharks, fancy sports cars, helicopters, jet aircraft, a supertanker, an entire aircraft carrier, X-15 rocket planes, and the combined air forces of five African nations to stop a plot to pit rival countries against each other and plunge the world into anarchy. The action is so accomplished that we don't care about cheesy Star Wars dialogue, as when Jay Killian, the Ralph Lauren-wearing head of amultinational arms-manufacturing company, mercilessly guillotines one of Schofield's buddies and Schofield vows to "kill them all." An endless stream of interchangeable bad guys wind up "deader than disco," and everyone agrees when the US President intones of Schofield that "the fate of the free world could be resting on that man's shoulders." Superb print version of a video game shoot-'em-up. Agent: Eugenie Furniss/William Morris UK
“The text is all fury, akin to taking a James Bond film, cutting out everything but the action and running that at double speed. As much video game as novel. Reilly's admirers will love this one, and anyone interested in the outer limit of action writing should check it out.” —Publishers Weekly
“James Bond and Dirk Pitt can step aside-a new action hero has arrived to take their place in Reilly's latest roller-coaster ride. This thrill fest is highly recommended for all fiction collections-even the most jaded readers will need to fasten their seatbelts and hang on for dear life.” —Booklist
“Scarecrow should come with a blood pressure cuff shrink-wrapped to it. Nonstop action, adventure, and a HUGE surprise for fans of Reilly's other Schofield novels-what more could you ask for from a novel? You'll give up television forever after reading Scarecrow.” —Bookreporter.com
“Lightning-paced.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Move over, Jack Ryan and Dirk Pitt-Marine Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield is the next great action hero. Matthew Reilly's well-developed characters and nonstop action more than compensate for an implausible plot.” —Dallas Morning News
“The pace is breakneck... will hook you right from the start.” —Waterstone's Books Quarterly (UK)
“This is unashamedly ball-busting reading... it certainly clears the palette.” —Arena (UK)
“Here's pace, jargon, diagrams, gadgets and guns to get excited about... Scarecrow is breathless.” —Mirror (UK)
