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J. M. Erickson

Autor(a) de Albatross: Birds of Flight

7 Works 10 Membros 6 Reviews

Obras de J. M. Erickson

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**I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review**

A Time for Dragonflies and Angels by JM Erikson is a compilation of five short stories whose main focus deals with the notion of parallel universes.

Recount Our Dreams: This is the story of a man participating in what was supposed to be a psychology experiment utilising sensory deprivation. Unfortunately, there is an accident elsewhere in the facility, that sends off chain reaction repercussions for all involved., sending them jumping from world to world with each death faced. I found this story interesting. It played with a concept dear to my heart: physics experiments that breach or merge parallel universes. There was a definite Quantum Leap feel going on here. The premise to 'Recount’ was good, and I found the story intriguing. The language did come across as a bit clunky to me. I feel it could be tightened a bit.

Neurogenesis: This is the story of Robert Wright, a mentally challenged young man who lives in a group home and works as a janitor at MIT. This story again played with the notion of the multiverse. An encounter with people from another universe leaves Robert forever changed, and allows him to finish the work that has stymied the researchers on the floor he tends. This story was a cross between Flowers for Algernon, a book referenced several times within the story, and the X-Files episode 'Roland’, where a resident of a group home works in a research facility as a janitor. Through extraordinary events Roland is able to complete one of the researchers projects, getting it to work correctly. I enjoyed this story. Flowers is one of my favourite childhood books. I recently snagged a Kindle copy to read again. It's just so sad! Unlike the last story, 'Neurogenesis’ had better flow. It wouldn't hurt to be trimmed down a bit though.

Rogue Event: Here we follow Gabriel and his two children as they explore old ruins in Boston. The world they live in is a somewhat dystopic one, where a corporation rules all, and everyone is expected to be a cog in the great corporate machine. Curiosity is frowned upon, and he and the kids have to keep their excursions from his wife. This story has overtones of Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and the movie Equilibrium. Other aspects remind me of Star Trek’s Ferengi society, crossed with Borg practicality. This, too, touches on the multiverse. The rogue planet in a near-course to Earth, the cause for the dystopic civilisation has evolved, happens to be from another universe. Just what is this rogue planet, and where did it come from? Where is it going? What are the consequences to Earth because of it presence?

The Grey: This was a quick little story focusing on an alien survey group observing a planet called Terra Nova 7. The Greys are investigating a pair of hominid species that have evolved together. The grey alien watchers make a deadly choice, with Borg efficiency, before moving on, shifting universes to visit our Earth. Personally, I find this notion that galactic explorers can so easily make choices on what is best for another plenty terrifying.

To See Behind Walls: Here is the story of a young man named Colonel Benjamim Wood, en route to the international space station. He has stopped his shuttle to check the wellbeing of a Chinese astronaut who was running out of air in their damaged shuttle. He risks his very life to protect the shuttle despite being warning away. Why? That is what he's determined to uncover. I loved Ola, the onboard computer for Ben’s ship!

🎻🎻🎻 recommend
… (mais)
 
Marcado
PardaMustang | Oct 31, 2016 |
“Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur”
“The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived”
– Attributed to Petronius ~ First Century AD

“Inter arma silent leges”
In time of war, laws are silent”
Attributed to Cicero in his published oration Pro Milone, although Cicero's actual wording was "Silent enim leges inter arma."

Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty. ~ George Washington

Two women, one child, a blind man, and a former good guy. Not exactly an elite task force. ~ Lieutenant Anderson, Albatross

What do you do, who do you turn to, when your government and your military are out of control? When, in the name of anti-terrorism, your country becomes the terrorist itself, slaughtering, imprisoning and torturing the innocent? When your military turns on its own citizens, slaughtering at will, in order to cover up their own atrocities?

Alexander Burns is a soldier to his bones. Deployed to the nastiest, most violent locations on the planet, he is handled by his superiors as an attack dog- cold, emotionless, and completely and utterly heartless in his drive to reach his goal, no matter what the collateral damage. Go in. Kill. Get out. Do it again.

Now, Burns has been given a goal – kill Oman Sharif Sudani. The president has given the OK, the Chief of Staff is on-board, and all lights are green for the takeout of one of “the key architects of domestic and foreign terrorist attacks.” However, there is a problem. Burns’ superior, Field Agent Anthony Maxwell, has other plans. Capture Sudani, kill all witnesses, innocent women and children, and bring Sudani back as a trophy.

To hide his actions, he arranges for Burns and his pilot to be shot down by friendly fire. The pilot dies on impact. Burns, however, while escapes – and he knows more than Maxwell would like. The only problem is, Burns has holes in his memory. And with him being found by the Red Cross, and treated in military hospitals across the globe, Maxwell can no longer just kill Burns to cover up what he has done. Too much paper, too many witnesses. Innocent American citizens – citizens who find their lives ripped away and their families destroyed as Maxwell and his boss utilize black operatives to protect themselves at all costs.

Thus begins Albatross, Birds of Flight by J.M. Erickson. And let me tell you – this is one scary book. Oh, not scary in the Twilight Zone or Halloween vein. No, this is a real, hard hitting look at a government and military out of control. Erickson displays a deft hand at maneuvering through the maze of governmental and police agencies, tearing at the veil of silence that shrouds the manipulations and murders authorized or committed by the upper echelons. Further, he delves deeply into the complete lack of oversight which allows the influencing and control of the American public to the advancement of the careers of a privileged few.

Broken, and with severe head trauma causing memory loss, Burns is brought to a prominent expert in psychopathology, David Caulfield, by a covert group, led by Maxwell, who are determined to find out what Burns knows about not only the Sudani situation, but also information critical to Maxwell’s own boss – information that could destroy not only Maxwell but others in positions of power. Others with no moral ambiguity regarding the murder of innocent American civilians.

When Burns regains his memories, and apparently loses the very sociopathy that made him a peerless covert operative, the deaths begin, as his psychologist’s wife is blown up in a car bomb meant for both David and Jenny. As David and Burns flee, others become victims of the shadow group bent on seeing Burns, and anyone who comes in contact with him, dead.

This is definitely a book requiring thought and attention, a true literary hard-hitter of covert operations, governmental cover-ups and senseless slaughter in the name of a shadowy concept of what constitutes national security. I truly enjoyed the fact that Erickson is educated and practices in the field of psychopathology, counseling & ethics and as a critical incident specialist for police and firefighters. The man knows of which he speaks, which was enormously refreshing! His military and police characters are believable, alternating between sympathetic and horrifying.

His main characters are immensely likable and understandable. Samantha, a nurse who cared enough to realize that Burns’ medications were being skewed and to try to obtain help for him – and who also has worked as a prostitute for many years, dealing with the trauma of abuse and torture in multiple foster homes. Becky, her frightened, anxious sister who deals with obsessive eating disorder and anxiety after she is forced to murder her cousin to protect Samantha, and now has rescued her brother’s baby daughter, Emma, from his murderer’s hands and is on the run with the child. And David, of course, blinded in the explosion that killed his beloved Jenny. Not much of a strike team – but with care, training, and dedication, they will do what they must to protect themselves, and see some small amount of justice.

As an aside, I see a lot of Erickson in the portrayal of David. Write what you know, right? I feel that Erickson and David truly know one another, and it adds a whole other layer to my understanding and enjoyment of the character.

This is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat suspense/espionage/thriller that will take your breath away and leave you reeling. If this is your genre, please don’t overlook this fast-paced thrill ride. It makes the whole “Bourne” series look like a pale imitation of reality.

Highly recommended! I wanted to finish it last night, but I just couldn’t keep my eyes open – but darn, I sure wanted to!
… (mais)
 
Marcado
soireadthisbooktoday | outras 2 resenhas | May 4, 2014 |
J.M. Erickson’s Eagle: Birds of Flight #3 is a complex, fast-paced suspense thriller. Although the Foreign Intelligence Service has been gutted and become defunct, two men still feel the sting of the agency’s fallout: Alexander Burns and Eric Daniels. Alexander Burns is trying to retire quietly with his dog and his therapy sessions while trying to get over the loss of the love of his life, Samanth Littleton. Eric Daniels is anything but getting over the fallout. Blaming Burns for his downfall, Daniels is out for revenge. Using his family as bait, Daniels kidnaps Burns’ niece’s half-sister, kills Burns’ best friend, and almost kills his niece. As a series of devastating events unfold like clockwork, Burns know only one man can be behind it, Daniels. Forced to finish what he started, can Burns deal with his grief and help the FBI bring Daniels to justice? Will he be able to outmaneuver the bad guy or will he lose everything he holds dear?
One great aspect of Erickson’s novel is the complexity of his characters and the deep sympathy and love the readers feels for them. Their likable, flawed, personalities only increases the book’s natural way of grabbing the reader’s interest. The mix of seriousness, action, and suspense is masterfully done and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The one problem with this novel is it can be a little confusing to follow at the beginning, especially if you haven’t read the other two in the series. The confusion, however, adds to the level of mystery and suspense surrounding the book. Fans of FBI thrillers like Catherine Coulter, Clive Cussler, and Allison Brennan or books with lots of suspense and action will enjoy reading this book.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
kirathelibrarian | Jul 1, 2013 |
Alexander J. Burns was a special op leader for the U.S. Government, until a difference of philosophy between team leaders left several foreign civilians dead and Burns injured without his memory. Nurse Samantha provided some personal favors to get his case assigned to Dr. David Caulfield. But there are those who do not want him to regain his memory and are willing to kill one and all to stop him from doing so. Burns must move quickly to save himself and others from becoming collateral damage.

Left it open ended for a possible sequel.… (mais)
 
Marcado
bemislibrary | outras 2 resenhas | Jun 4, 2013 |

Prêmios

Estatísticas

Obras
7
Membros
10
Popularidade
#908,816
Avaliação
4.0
Resenhas
6
ISBNs
13