Power Failure

Jake Ross #3

by Ben Bova

Award-winning writer Ben Bova returns with another tense political thriller starring Jake Ross, science advisor to Senator Frank Tomlinson, as they continue their complex power maneuvers they began in Power Play and Power Surge.

Dr. Jake Ross came to Washington to try to make a difference, but he's learned the only way to get something done in Washington, assuming your ideals survive the corrosive atmosphere, is to gather power. Ross has gathered a great deal, riding in the wake of Frank Tomlinson. But now Tomlinson has decided to shoot for the moon. If they win, they get it all. If they lose, the game is over for Jake Ross.

The Power trilogy combines the political thriller with nuts-and-bolts near future science fiction. Bova's vision of a future powered by solar satellite transmission is tantalizingly within reach.
Also Available
#1 Power Play
#2 Power Surge

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

366 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2018

About the author

Ben Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.

Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.

Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.

In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.

In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".

Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.

Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.

Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.

Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).

Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".

http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova

Reviews

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is supposed to be Science Fiction as Ben Bova is known for his work in science fact and fiction.
I did not think there was much science fiction in this story. There was certainly a lot of fiction as he wants me to believe that there are credible people in politics.
Anyway the story is about Jake Ross who works for a second term republican senator Frank Tomlinson. Jake is his science advisor and helped him get elected by creating some fantastic energy plan that is saving money for everyone.
Now the senator wants to run for President and he has to get the republican nomination. He wants Jake to create a plan that will help get him elected as the republican candidate for president and eventually get him elected as President.
Jakes plan is called Back to the Moon. It is decided that we need to return to the moon and use the moon resources to create industry and to help improve the lives of the people on earth. This I guess is the science fiction part. The story is not really very science based and what science there is, is easy to understand and is quite believable. Why not set up a factory on the moon?
Anyway the part that was hard to believe was that the wife of a future presidential candidate could entertain a man who was not her husband and get away with it and that a man who turns out to be a pedophile is allowed to continue in his work and not be sent to jail. I guess if you are a billionaire anything is possible.
I think that this story was more thriller than science fiction.
This was an easy to read book as the author did not bury us in science.
I am not sure if I would read another book by this author but as they say "never say never."

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a political thriller book with a dash of science ficition, which has been the forte of the author in the past. The book is the third in the Jake Ross series, but it does well as a stand alone novel. I had not read the first two books, but had not problem following the storyline or the characters. The author is best known for his science fiction books, but does a very good job in branching into a different genre, but bringing a little science fiction into it. The book involves the race for the nomination to become President and is an easy and quick read that does not require a great deal of hard concentration.

If you are a fan of Ben Bova or politicial/science fiction thrillers, you will find this a good read.

I received a free Kindle copy of Power Failure by Ben Bova courtesy of Net Galley  and MacMillian-Tor/Forge, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as I am a fan of the author and have read several of his other books.

[Lee McKerracher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like a good political drama and when you add in a good dash of science, well what's not to love?

Ben Bova is an excellent storyteller who places us front and centre into the political campaign of Senator Frank Tomlinson who is keen to obtain the Republican nomination to run for President of the United States. But what can he use to make him stand out from the other candidates?

Hand over to Dr Jake Ross, Tomlinson's science advisor, who comes up with a bold plan to return to the Moon and use its resources for job creation and reduced energy costs on Earth. All seems to be going well until the political and personal games commence. There are deals to be done, secrets to keep (for a price) and partnerships to foster. Will all of this skullduggery and power play result in Tomlinson achieving his goal?

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jake Ross devised the energy plan that got Frank Tomlinson elected to the Senate. He's now directed to come up with a plan that will get Tomlinson into the White House. He decides that we'll return to the moon, start a lunar mining colony and build satellites that will transmit solar energy back to Earth. Most of this book is a political yawner. It might have been interesting to learn the mechanics of the plan. It would be interesting to know why this plan would be viable at a time when wind energy is the cheapest new energy on the planet and some reports suggest that solar thermal (earth based) will be cheaper. It also would have helped if Russian support for a US moon colony was credible.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Jake Ross series. I have read the first two, so this one was a natural extension. It might not stand alone too well because it may be confusing until you catch up to all the players. Though it is billed as a thriller, it has a lot of political involvement and the intrigue is woven in. I do recommend the series, as Jake Ross is a complex interesting hero, and in the arc of the books is strong and compelling. The science fiction aspect of this third book is lighter than in the previous 2, which makes Power failure move a little slowly. As the close of a trilogy, I enjoyed Power Failure. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

[James Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book finished this series like it started. It was nothing special. Very light on the science fiction. It was a very political book and also enlightening as to exactly how much government would be good government. We like what government does for us but we also want the freedom from government interference too. Jake Ross steers the twisted political roads to get his space plan off the ground (pun intended). I would almost say this was the introduction into a "Star Trek: First Contact" sort of book. I almost want to see his plan come to fruition. Again, not Ben Bova's best work but not terrible.

★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.

[Porter Versfelt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book failed to deliver the science in science-fiction.

With Ben Bova’s great accomplishments as a writer, I expected a much better story from POWER FAILURE than it turned out to be after I picked this book out on a whim at my public library. I have never read any of Mr. Bova’s books before.

The story has an intriguing premise - the colonising of Mars for commercial profit - but the book turned out to be more political intrigue than science or science-fiction. This book failed to deliver the fascinating scientific innovations and adventure of living and working on Mars.

[Marvin Mathiak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a major disappointment. I prefer realistic, near term science fiction, rather than fantasy science fiction with interstellar travel, special powers, fantasy civilizations, etc. I had high hopes for this book, as Bova can be pretty good at science fiction. But this book is not science fiction, just an tepid attempt to grind out a political novel. It is highly inappropriate to categorize this book as science fiction. I ended up pretty quickly going through the book, hoping for some improvement but was just disappointed with a dull, ground out story.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a loy of Ben Bova's work and while I would say it is rarely, if ever, outstanding, I find them a good read that I like, that was until I read Power Failure. Oh dear. Sorry I just didn't like it. The plot was predictable. The writing had all his normal minor faults that I don't like, but they seemed far worse. A couple of the other things in the plot, made me go "WHAT???". I just didn't enjoy it.

[Edward Silverman · Rating 3 out of 5]

More political thriller than sci-fi opposes to most of his other work, this was entertaining enough. The idea advanced by the main characters in the book for political gain is inspired. If you are a a Bova fan you’ll like this but understand there is less sci-fi than most of his work.

[Stephen Schmelz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the workings of a national political campaign from start to completion through the eyes of a loyal campaign worker/strategist was totally intriguing. Throw in a little love story on the side and it makes it complete.

[Laura Godfrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light weight read with light weight character development. Disappointed.

[Revkid · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style is very curt and the characters are not very deep. I would not choose this author again.

[Jade S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's alright. I sort of enjoyed the previous books but I can't get over how juvenile the main character acts. Also the female characters are one dimensional and only serve to further the plot.

[Falbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ouch. This series started average at best and then got worse as it went along. This one was hugely disappointing.

[Philip Garside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taut political thriller.

[Joey Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. On to book #4.

[Catherine Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, a good end to the series.

[Roger Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the author would stick to science fiction subjects. This story was barely on the sci-fi periphery.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

+++A very good insight into politics, journalism and why our government continually seems to be spinning its wheels. All about massive solar, power politics, and man's conquest of space beginning on the moon. Jake Ross is science advisor to Senator Frank Tomlinson of Montana. Jake's wife Tami has been a TV reporter and also works for the senator in the PR area.+++

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average political thriller. Nothing to write home about

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways I enjoyed the book, but I was devastated when a character in the book was discovered to be a pedophile who adopted a child and raped him from the age of 8. The main character in the book discovered the truth. The child, now a young man, got help, but the (probably serial) pedophile goes on with his life with no consequences. Totally inexcusable.