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The Face of Oo
Mr Samson Plews, assassin and saboteur par excellence, is the primary agent of the guiding brain behind The Project for a Greater America. This has it 'In order for the American people to become great then they have to want to be great . . . the greatest device for raising a great upsurge of patriotism, is war.' Plews' intrigues throw a new light on many previously mysterious occurrences. Amongst others, the mysterious UFO sightings in the sky over the southern USA; the airship crash at Aurora, Texas; a fiery disaster in Berlin; and the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. Along the way he becomes involved with Miss Sha, the Red Dragon Empress. If starting a war is easy, winning one decisively and finally is not. Bringing about a Greater America requires something powerful beyond reason; a 'divine weapon' mentioned in an ancient Indian text. Though previously thought to be mythical, information contained in a long lost Chinese encyclopaedia suggests differently. The weapon might actually exist, but if it does it is well hidden and only Plews and Miss Sha have the gifts to find it. If they can beat some deadly enemies!
698 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2013
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 6, 2014
This is one of the most extraordinary books I’ve ever read. If you like Dan Brown, George MacDonald Fraser, C J Sansom, Boris Akunin, et al, then you’ll love this even though it really isn’t like any of them. I could also add that if you love zeppelins, weapons of mass destruction, murder, intrigue, puzzles and perilous situations generally, then it will be your kind of book. Or rather books plural, because there are two separate, though linked, books in the one volume.
Why is it extraordinary? Well, without revealing any plot spoilers: the main characters are definitely not heroic in the conventional sense. In fact both of them, Samson Plews and Sha Luli, are cold-blooded killers. How the author makes them attractive is something of a mystery but he does. The main plot line in the first story, entitled ‘The Project for a Greater America’, basically relates how they became what they are and got together. The background is the plot as mentioned, which includes the development of zeppelins in the southern part of the USA in the late 1890s, and throws in some intriguing scenarios along the way. It also answers one or two mysteries and reveals the ‘truth’ behind several conspiracy theories including a certain mysterious airship crash in Texas and the build up to the American invasion of Cuba.
The second tale, ‘The Face of OO’, is set ten years or so after the first one and is based around a hunt for a mythical weapon and the uses to which it will be put when and if found. Again it seems based on real events, but is too shocking to be really true. Or at least I think so. It says at the beginning of the volume that all of it is based around real people and events, and you do wonder where the join is. The author is a historian with quite a few books under his belt, and nearly all the so called facts in the book that I’ve checked out have proven to be just that. Facts.
To be truthful it took a while to get into as where it is all going is a bit murky at first. Luckily I persevered and once I did get into it I couldn’t put it down. The writing style is straightforward and unpretentious and the whole thing is very well structured. What I’m trying to say is that it is an easy read once you get into it. Its definitely different to most in its approach, but undoubtedly a success. I do hope there will be more in this vein as the author is certainly on to a winner with this formula.
Why is it extraordinary? Well, without revealing any plot spoilers: the main characters are definitely not heroic in the conventional sense. In fact both of them, Samson Plews and Sha Luli, are cold-blooded killers. How the author makes them attractive is something of a mystery but he does. The main plot line in the first story, entitled ‘The Project for a Greater America’, basically relates how they became what they are and got together. The background is the plot as mentioned, which includes the development of zeppelins in the southern part of the USA in the late 1890s, and throws in some intriguing scenarios along the way. It also answers one or two mysteries and reveals the ‘truth’ behind several conspiracy theories including a certain mysterious airship crash in Texas and the build up to the American invasion of Cuba.
The second tale, ‘The Face of OO’, is set ten years or so after the first one and is based around a hunt for a mythical weapon and the uses to which it will be put when and if found. Again it seems based on real events, but is too shocking to be really true. Or at least I think so. It says at the beginning of the volume that all of it is based around real people and events, and you do wonder where the join is. The author is a historian with quite a few books under his belt, and nearly all the so called facts in the book that I’ve checked out have proven to be just that. Facts.
To be truthful it took a while to get into as where it is all going is a bit murky at first. Luckily I persevered and once I did get into it I couldn’t put it down. The writing style is straightforward and unpretentious and the whole thing is very well structured. What I’m trying to say is that it is an easy read once you get into it. Its definitely different to most in its approach, but undoubtedly a success. I do hope there will be more in this vein as the author is certainly on to a winner with this formula.
March 24, 2014
I love steampunk. I love history too, and the melding of the two is one of my favorite aspects of steampunk. This book isn’t exactly steampunk, but it does give an alternative history and takes it to a new level. I like airships. This book features airships in abundance. I like mystery, thrills and adventures. It has them as well. I don’t like torture (particularly of women) and there’s a nasty bit in here. But it all comes out ok. So elements of steampunk, airships, history, mystery, thrills and adventures. I loved it (apart from the painful bit which had me squirming) and read it in as few goes as possible.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews