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Bullets and Train
Bullets and Train is a fast-paced action thriller that tackles the critical issue of terrorism, exploring the emotional and environmental forces that trap individuals in this abyss. The novel conveys the message that drone attacks breed anger, revenge, and hatred, and that anything fuelling these emotions cannot effectively combat terrorism. It also discusses the contributing factor of corrupt and oppressive regimes to the surge in terrorism.
Set against the aftermath of Afghan War when Russia attacks its neighbouring country, Bullets and Train follows terrorists as they steal a tactical nuclear bomb. Agencies from different countries must collaborate to track it down before it is used in a terrorist plot. Concurrently, a vactrain is hijacked in Singapore as part of a larger terrorist scheme.
Set against the aftermath of Afghan War when Russia attacks its neighbouring country, Bullets and Train follows terrorists as they steal a tactical nuclear bomb. Agencies from different countries must collaborate to track it down before it is used in a terrorist plot. Concurrently, a vactrain is hijacked in Singapore as part of a larger terrorist scheme.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2014
11 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
About the author
Adeerus Ghayan
13 books49 followersAdeerus Ghayan has a catalogue of 20 works, both fiction and non-fiction. His fiction delves into socio-politico-military themes, often addressing controversial topics such as religious tensions, military interventions, Western interference in international affairs, elitism, global corruption, and drone warfare. He is also written in other genres, including hard science fiction and thrilling adventure series.
In his non-fiction works, he covers a diverse range of subjects such as autism, eco-friendly plastics, renewable energy, the circular economy, historical events, neurophology, and religion.
In his non-fiction works, he covers a diverse range of subjects such as autism, eco-friendly plastics, renewable energy, the circular economy, historical events, neurophology, and religion.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 16, 2015
Bullets and Train is written by a Pakistani author; Adeerus Ghayan. Topic is US drone attacks on Pakistan. Although the novel is being promoted as such but it is only at the end that we understand HOW drones are linked with the central plot.
Taliban grab a tactical nuclear bomb from the US army in Afghanistan. The bomb is taken to Pakistan and then finally to Singapore. It is part of a terror plot in which the terrorists hijack a train in Singapore. Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia then work together to stop the terrorists.
Pace was too much for my taste. Had to go back a couple of times. If you want to read this, then you need time. Although it is not a huge novel, you will need to read each and every page and sentence.
A very different style of writing. Don't know if it is related to writer's command on English language or a Pakistani style. I haven't read anything I think from a Pakistani writer before. There are a few grammatical mistakes but nothing that hinders the flow of reading. I usually expect this from a writer who is using English as a second language.
Understandably, the novel is from a Pakistani's perspective that drones attacks are no good towards ending terrorism. Can't argue there. But it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Also, a few more details wouldn't have dented novel's pace but would have made reading enjoyable.
Taliban grab a tactical nuclear bomb from the US army in Afghanistan. The bomb is taken to Pakistan and then finally to Singapore. It is part of a terror plot in which the terrorists hijack a train in Singapore. Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia then work together to stop the terrorists.
Pace was too much for my taste. Had to go back a couple of times. If you want to read this, then you need time. Although it is not a huge novel, you will need to read each and every page and sentence.
A very different style of writing. Don't know if it is related to writer's command on English language or a Pakistani style. I haven't read anything I think from a Pakistani writer before. There are a few grammatical mistakes but nothing that hinders the flow of reading. I usually expect this from a writer who is using English as a second language.
Understandably, the novel is from a Pakistani's perspective that drones attacks are no good towards ending terrorism. Can't argue there. But it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Also, a few more details wouldn't have dented novel's pace but would have made reading enjoyable.
January 14, 2015
One of the two books I’ve read from Pakistani authors; the other being The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Incidentally both are on terrorism but that’s the only thing which is common.
Bullets and Train is an extremely fast-paced thriller and I won’t be surprised if it is turned into a movie. Adeerus has tried to explain that terrorism is being fueled by revenge, poverty, illiteracy and so forth. Another theme of the novel is the nexus between the criminals and the terrorists. The terrorists rely on the criminal enterprise to achieve their nefarious designs. We also see another side of the terrorists, where religious fundamentalists use religion for personal gain; a view that I think hasn’t been explored in Western literature.
Story is simple: a nuclear bomb is stolen, transported to Singapore and terrorists threaten to detonate it. Malaysian and Singaporean authorities try to neutralize the terrorists with help from Pakistan’s ISI.
A recommended read.
Bullets and Train is an extremely fast-paced thriller and I won’t be surprised if it is turned into a movie. Adeerus has tried to explain that terrorism is being fueled by revenge, poverty, illiteracy and so forth. Another theme of the novel is the nexus between the criminals and the terrorists. The terrorists rely on the criminal enterprise to achieve their nefarious designs. We also see another side of the terrorists, where religious fundamentalists use religion for personal gain; a view that I think hasn’t been explored in Western literature.
Story is simple: a nuclear bomb is stolen, transported to Singapore and terrorists threaten to detonate it. Malaysian and Singaporean authorities try to neutralize the terrorists with help from Pakistan’s ISI.
A recommended read.
January 15, 2015
The novel starts as a fast pace thriller, right from the first page. Pretty so so with introducing the characters, don't know whether its the author's style or lack of literary skill or an attempt to introduce mind boggling fast pace, nonetheless, its not noticeable due to the lightning pace of the novel. During the novel it seems that many of the incidents and characters are irrelevant (i forgot about some as well) until the end when it turns out to be connected. For such a short novel a lot is in there. Understandably the book is from Pakistani perspective, as its written by a Pakistani.
As for plot, it is a revenge novel. A terrorist masterminds a complicated plot in order to avenge ******. Majority of the plot takes place in Afghan-Pakistani border and Singapore. It is linked with the Al-Qaeda plot to blow up US Embassy in Singapore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapor...). I think its an attempt to make the plot more realistic and believable.
The author has tried to convey the message that drone attacks breed terrorism and the best way to fight terrorists is by education. I agree here with the author. A good message.
The action is good, continues throughout the novel right up till the end. No dull moment. I definitely enjoyed the book.
As for plot, it is a revenge novel. A terrorist masterminds a complicated plot in order to avenge ******. Majority of the plot takes place in Afghan-Pakistani border and Singapore. It is linked with the Al-Qaeda plot to blow up US Embassy in Singapore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapor...). I think its an attempt to make the plot more realistic and believable.
The author has tried to convey the message that drone attacks breed terrorism and the best way to fight terrorists is by education. I agree here with the author. A good message.
The action is good, continues throughout the novel right up till the end. No dull moment. I definitely enjoyed the book.
January 23, 2015
While this book had a lot of promise, the numerous mechanical/grammatical errors and the awkward phrasing made the book unreadable for me. As a random example from just the page I gave up on, "Although Josh's assignment was on a chopper but it had been sent back for major repairs and the new one hadn't arrived, making him available for assignment with the ground strike force."
The rest of the book that I'd read had similar problems, and again, while the story had some promise, that standard of writing just doesn't earn more reading. Likewise, the early chase scene doesn't make sense- save in an action movie style, which severely detracts from an apparent attempt to be a more realistic story. Things like breaking a four-story fall on the bad guy's body, or jumping a motorcycle from an overpass onto a truck, or shooting blindly through a car roof and hitting the driver in the leg, all work well in a movie, but they don't translate so well on the written page.
In good conscience, I can neither finish this book, nor recommend it to anyone else.
The rest of the book that I'd read had similar problems, and again, while the story had some promise, that standard of writing just doesn't earn more reading. Likewise, the early chase scene doesn't make sense- save in an action movie style, which severely detracts from an apparent attempt to be a more realistic story. Things like breaking a four-story fall on the bad guy's body, or jumping a motorcycle from an overpass onto a truck, or shooting blindly through a car roof and hitting the driver in the leg, all work well in a movie, but they don't translate so well on the written page.
In good conscience, I can neither finish this book, nor recommend it to anyone else.
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November 24, 2016i want to read this book first
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews