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lellowturtle's review
5.0
Norad’s Ghost is a science-fiction post-apocalyptic novel written by Chris Black. This book follows the mysterious man, who defies all that it means to be topside. Those who are topside have lessened lifespans, radiation sickness, and infertility due to the war in 2025. Thundersky (the man who defies all) makes some discoveries about himself that he is supposed to keep secret. However, it is that secret that holds the potential future for everyone. As the secret unfolds, it also reveals the deception and corruption of the Utopians. It comes down to if Thundersky and his friends can help save everyone.
I cannot stress enough how much I love this book. Black has written such a fascinating and engaging science-fiction book. I had a hard time putting the book down from the start. The concept of the apocalypse and people living through part of that with dire consequences is such a good one. I love the idea of an old computer program that comes through to the new-age technology and has a domino effect on a well-crafted plot. From there, we discover so many aspects of Thundersky that are pivotal to future action.
There are so many secrets that are revealed throughout, but they come out in a way that leaves so much tension building. It kept me engaged and wanting more from the book and wanting more quickly. The storyline was easy to follow but had a lot of depth to it with layers of deception and explanation. I also liked how the story building occurred, telling us what happened that led to the current situation, including the science involving the secret behind Thundersky. One of my favorite parts was learning about the different types of people that evolved from the nuclear winter and the famines. I found this book to be thrilling, and if people like futuristic, science-fiction this book is definitely for them. There is supposed to be a sequel, and I am very excited about that!
I cannot stress enough how much I love this book. Black has written such a fascinating and engaging science-fiction book. I had a hard time putting the book down from the start. The concept of the apocalypse and people living through part of that with dire consequences is such a good one. I love the idea of an old computer program that comes through to the new-age technology and has a domino effect on a well-crafted plot. From there, we discover so many aspects of Thundersky that are pivotal to future action.
There are so many secrets that are revealed throughout, but they come out in a way that leaves so much tension building. It kept me engaged and wanting more from the book and wanting more quickly. The storyline was easy to follow but had a lot of depth to it with layers of deception and explanation. I also liked how the story building occurred, telling us what happened that led to the current situation, including the science involving the secret behind Thundersky. One of my favorite parts was learning about the different types of people that evolved from the nuclear winter and the famines. I found this book to be thrilling, and if people like futuristic, science-fiction this book is definitely for them. There is supposed to be a sequel, and I am very excited about that!
typicalbooks's review
5.0
The fear of nuclear war will always scar us since the bombs we remember were used for destruction and fury. These old scars get traced, with a foreshadow of fallout and the resulting dystopia for survivors five centuries after, making NORAD's Ghost by Chris Black a fascinating read.
Thundersky Reese is a worker sent on an unexpected high-stakes adventure when he discovers he is not at all who he trusted he was. Set five centuries into our future, Thunder is thrust into the elite Silosian empire, which has a tight rein on all citizens within its grasp. This does not include the scavengers, religious zealots, or cannibals that claw at the city borders, but they maintain a veil of safety from outside threats.
With the awakening of ancient, crumbling technology deep in a mountainside that had laid waste to the Old-World in 2025, this uneasy peace between factions will not save a soul if live nuclear warheads suddenly awaken then count down to detonate in ten days. Thunder and his sudden ally Tiger White team up with soldiers and a faction from the wilds beyond their borders to track down the missiles set to launch. Despite aid from the omnipresent yet mysterious AI named Arti, betrayal and manipulation from the highest levels of society threaten to stop the team. With the puzzle pieces of his past falling into place, and a new love falling into his arms, Thunder is put to the ultimate test.
The hierarchies here, a sort of caste system, work really well. The writing is vivid and descriptive, yet moves the story along at a fast pace; a good balance. Fans of high-tech, the low-rent dystopian drama will find a lot of meat on these bones. Reminiscent of William Gibson in this being recognizable as our world, 2525 is enough years removed that the feel of a space opera takes hold, as these characters are alien beings in so many ways. If there were no ‘Matrix’ in the titular film, the world surrounding that story would feel like home to the characters in Black’s alternative world.
NORAD, or North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a series of installations across Canada and the US as we know them and function the same now as they did in this book. This puts the story on the map authentically, as fiction fans with a love of modern warfare are more than familiar with NORAD. That said, even readers not as widely read in the genre can have a lot of fun here, as with other similar futurist properties like Planet of the Apes there are cities and states that are familiar or renowned.
A minor distraction is the use of creative but awkward compound words. We find similar wordplay in some great futurist or science fiction and fantasy work, yet the distraction here is that the words chosen don’t always fit as well as they could. Traction could be gained with restraint in choosing what words to stitch together or using fewer of them instead of a handful of curse words and slang strung into phrases. Otherwise, the creative glossary is varied and interesting while being mostly organically absorbed as the story unfolds and the reader gains footing.
Richly woven landscapes, from the new cites to those crumbling nearby and the forested wastelands in between, are more than memorable and well written. The characters are dressed with fascinating names, weaponry, and wearable tech so even being part of a large cast every one stands out with each more varied and interesting than the last. From battles to boardrooms, the pace of NORAD’s Ghost is taut and time well-spent.
Thundersky Reese is a worker sent on an unexpected high-stakes adventure when he discovers he is not at all who he trusted he was. Set five centuries into our future, Thunder is thrust into the elite Silosian empire, which has a tight rein on all citizens within its grasp. This does not include the scavengers, religious zealots, or cannibals that claw at the city borders, but they maintain a veil of safety from outside threats.
With the awakening of ancient, crumbling technology deep in a mountainside that had laid waste to the Old-World in 2025, this uneasy peace between factions will not save a soul if live nuclear warheads suddenly awaken then count down to detonate in ten days. Thunder and his sudden ally Tiger White team up with soldiers and a faction from the wilds beyond their borders to track down the missiles set to launch. Despite aid from the omnipresent yet mysterious AI named Arti, betrayal and manipulation from the highest levels of society threaten to stop the team. With the puzzle pieces of his past falling into place, and a new love falling into his arms, Thunder is put to the ultimate test.
The hierarchies here, a sort of caste system, work really well. The writing is vivid and descriptive, yet moves the story along at a fast pace; a good balance. Fans of high-tech, the low-rent dystopian drama will find a lot of meat on these bones. Reminiscent of William Gibson in this being recognizable as our world, 2525 is enough years removed that the feel of a space opera takes hold, as these characters are alien beings in so many ways. If there were no ‘Matrix’ in the titular film, the world surrounding that story would feel like home to the characters in Black’s alternative world.
NORAD, or North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a series of installations across Canada and the US as we know them and function the same now as they did in this book. This puts the story on the map authentically, as fiction fans with a love of modern warfare are more than familiar with NORAD. That said, even readers not as widely read in the genre can have a lot of fun here, as with other similar futurist properties like Planet of the Apes there are cities and states that are familiar or renowned.
A minor distraction is the use of creative but awkward compound words. We find similar wordplay in some great futurist or science fiction and fantasy work, yet the distraction here is that the words chosen don’t always fit as well as they could. Traction could be gained with restraint in choosing what words to stitch together or using fewer of them instead of a handful of curse words and slang strung into phrases. Otherwise, the creative glossary is varied and interesting while being mostly organically absorbed as the story unfolds and the reader gains footing.
Richly woven landscapes, from the new cites to those crumbling nearby and the forested wastelands in between, are more than memorable and well written. The characters are dressed with fascinating names, weaponry, and wearable tech so even being part of a large cast every one stands out with each more varied and interesting than the last. From battles to boardrooms, the pace of NORAD’s Ghost is taut and time well-spent.
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