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Version 13
Yavlinsky, a Russian scientist has created a piece of wonder-technology: a drilling process that uses the forces of supercavitation. Named "Version Thirteen", it enables oil explorers to take forty per cent more out of the ground - it's worth trillions.But there's a problem. Supercavitation is also the basis for highly sophisticated weaponry: submarines and torpedoes that can travel at hundreds of kilometres per hour. Russian arms dealers have been selling this technology to Iran since the 1980s. If Version Thirteen works, these weapons are rendered useless.
When Yavlinsky is found dead, the designs for the revolutionary drilling process disappear. Except one set of design plans still exists: the one lodged in Samuel Spendlove's head. Spendlove, an Oxford academic with a photographic memory now working undercover, suddenly finds himself the most wanted man in the world.
When Yavlinsky is found dead, the designs for the revolutionary drilling process disappear. Except one set of design plans still exists: the one lodged in Samuel Spendlove's head. Spendlove, an Oxford academic with a photographic memory now working undercover, suddenly finds himself the most wanted man in the world.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 1, 2014
Unbound is a new style of publishing house - readers contribute to the publishing costs. I "bought" this for my husband as a birthday gift last year.
I think that Samuel Spendlove is a wonderful name for a pseudo-spy - this is apparently first in a planned series about Spendlove. Having a photographic memory is a very gift when trying to "steal" the blueprints for this innovative technology that can make people trillions; the question is: is it being stolen for the good of mankind, or to get more oil out of the ground, or to become a new weapon of destruction?
The story itself is quite fast paced at time, the technology involved was way beyond my comfort zone and felt a little bit far fetched, but didn't detract too much from the tale, and the writing style is good.
Set mostly in Russia, it has good cops, bad cops, villain on steroids, philanthropist, matriarch, a submarine chase, an arch enemy and a love interest - something for most people.
I think that Samuel Spendlove is a wonderful name for a pseudo-spy - this is apparently first in a planned series about Spendlove. Having a photographic memory is a very gift when trying to "steal" the blueprints for this innovative technology that can make people trillions; the question is: is it being stolen for the good of mankind, or to get more oil out of the ground, or to become a new weapon of destruction?
The story itself is quite fast paced at time, the technology involved was way beyond my comfort zone and felt a little bit far fetched, but didn't detract too much from the tale, and the writing style is good.
Set mostly in Russia, it has good cops, bad cops, villain on steroids, philanthropist, matriarch, a submarine chase, an arch enemy and a love interest - something for most people.
May 13, 2014
really struggled to get into this. All the characters blend into each other, which is a bit worrying when the characters range from an English academic/spy through a Russian oligarch's daughter to a Chechen rebel.
you shouldn't need to count back several pages of quotes to work out who said what!
Gave up on the three page infodump - again given as confusing dialogue where I had to keep counting quote marks - about tadpole tech.
you shouldn't need to count back several pages of quotes to work out who said what!
Gave up on the three page infodump - again given as confusing dialogue where I had to keep counting quote marks - about tadpole tech.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews