Never judge a book by its Hollywood-grade blockbuster-like cover -- this is an exceptionally enjoyable piece of literature. Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves should win the Pulitzer Prize for best special effects or something. The author stated in book acknowledgement that he writes to entertain -- Mr. Reilly, sir, you did more than entertain. You made Action an art form. I challenge any of those award-winning postmodern Latin American writers whose names I cannot spell to write a faceoff scene between genetically-modified killer polar bears and a gun-mounted cute talking robot.. Must invent new high-tech weapons and fancy stream of consciousnessathingy not allowed

I read “Ice Station” the first book in this series when I was in high school and Oakley wraparound shades were the pinnacle of fashion. Fast forward to 2011, Captain Shane Schofield call-sign Scarecrow is back to save the world for the fourth time (yes, it’s a tie between him and Bruce Willis) with his trusty team of US marines. My favorite character from the series has always been Mother (she’s a six-foot-two skinhead super-ripped lady and the name is short for, ahem, Motherker) but this book has a new character named Bertie who just totally stole my heart. The story is supersonically fast-paced although somewhat predictable if you had read other books by Matthew Reilly in which case you’re a fan and probably wouldn’t mind anyway. The gasworks scene will put Snake Plissken to shame!