Customer Reviews

24 Declassified: Trojan Horse

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Franchise books -- novels based on popular television and/or movie series -- are a hard sell. In one respect, readers want a return to the characters that make these franchises work, but, in another respect, readers want to be taken to a realm of imagination perhaps just beyond the reach of the franchise, being delivered a product that fits within the established continuity of the program BUT pushes the limits to show them something further.

The world of 24 has an even greater challenge, given that the premise of the show -- the real time ticking clock -- gets a touch lost in translation. The adrenaline drive fueling Jack Bauer and his efforts on behalf of the United States' Counter Terrorist Unit kicks back a bit as novels tend to provide a greater backstory and filler details than one would get in a 24 episode season. This isn't to say that the book format is inferior to the show; it only assures one that the books will have to always work a bit harder at sustaining the level of tension fans have come to expect from Jack.

That said, TROJAN HORSE is a pretty solid yarn involving a terrorist plot that could cripple the World Wide Web, certainly taking the CTU adventures well beyond the boundaries of Los Angeles (where Bauer and his companions are located). In a story that's set outside the scope of the television events (the setting is, in fact, before Season 1 of the hit Fox series), author Marc Cerasini has taken some creative license at exploring not only a much different Jack, but he also fleshes out Teri Bauer (Jack's wife), Tony Almeida, Nina Myers, and even Ryan Chapelle. While some of the events that take place do come off a bit out of character for what we've come to expect on the television show, Cerasini has the perfect explanation: these folks hadn't quite yet become who they were about to be when Season 1 began. So -- though I had some reservations about some behaviors, especially Tony's -- it was easy to dismiss.

TROJAN HORSE is a good read. It doesn't stray too far from the popular formula of the show, but it does explore the ramifications of other forms of terror in the modern world. And, on most accounts, it delivers some more great Jack Bauer moments for fans to enjoy ... while they're watching their own clocks waiting for the next episode on television to premiere.

Of the three 24: Declassified novels, this one is by far the best. Jack gets involved, then uninvolved, then involed once again. Tony has his own undercover assignment, and Nina, Jamey, and Milo all play key roles. Even Edgar Stiles, introduced in season 4 has a cameo appearance.

There are many threads, but they all come together. A dead Hollywood producer. An assualt on a drug lab supposedly producing a new meth called Karma. A modelling agency. A Hollywood awards ceremoney Teri Bauer gets an invitation to attend. A techno-terrorist, a papparazii photographer who discovers something strange about a pregnant actress, and a cult loyal only to a man named Hasan.

This is 24... always action packed, and a lot of fun, even if there are plot flaws or big coicindences.

The new "24" tie-in novel comes through as a satisfying action-packed techno thriller, but also contains a scathing indictment of the Hollywood scene, making "Trojan Horse" sort of a pulp fiction version of "Day of the Locust." This motif is established at the outset, when authorites raid a drug lab housed in an abandoned studio once used by a bottom-feeding producer of direct-to-DVD features. Entertainment industry big shots as well as small fry move through a plot that centers on a terrorist assault on a glitzy Tinsil Town awards ceremony. Scenes in which Jack Bauer and his CTU colleagues risk their lives in total anonymity, rooting out rat's nests of terrorists, stand in contrast to preparations for yet another awards telecast staged for the aggrandizement of already well-rewarded Hollywood elite. The awards show collapses into horror and chaos when the terrorists begin their attack, recalling the climactic movie premiere riot in "Locust."

The villain who confronts Jack and CTU is a formidable foe who models himself on "The Old Man of the Mountain" --the world's first terrorist, an 11th Century Muslim holy man who brainwashed and manipulated a legion of suicidal murderers, the original "assassins." The original Old Man of the Mountain first became known to the west through the writings of Marco Polo. A summary of his career is given in "Trojan Horse." Readers interested in a more detailed account can find one in either of two books by Colin Wilson, "The Mammoth Book of True Crime" or "The Mammoth Book of The History of Murder." Both are currently available from Carrol and Graf, and can be found in the true crime section at the book store.

Fans of the character Nina Myers will enjoy the way "Trojan Horse" gets Nina out of CTU headquarters and into action in the field. The dark turn Nina takes on the show is foreshadowed here. One of the show's popular newer characters, Edgar Stiles, is also seen briefly, during his early days at CTU.

In closing, it is worth mentioning that the scope of the action in "Trojan Horse" is movie-feature BIG. The DEA, the Secret Service, the LAPD, the FBI, SWAT, and the National Guard all get into the act. If they ever do "24: The Motion Picture," this would not be a bad model.

First, check out my 5-star review of Operation Hell Gate. Second, I have not read Veto Power, so I can't compare to that one but I'll do my best.

This was a good read and all 24 fans should pick it up. Chappelle and Milo get much more time then in the first one, and Doris and Edgar Stiles drop in as well. Teri has her own subplot in the night hours, but at least this one is interesting. Tony also has his own thing going for most of the book and spends almost the entire day in Mexico. It also goes to a couple other characters from time to time and at first there may seem like there is no point to it but it all ties together at the end.

Well, now for some flaws. First, there were too many characters that were not needed. Jack must have gone thorugh 20 different CTU, FBI, SWAT personnel when we could go on without them. Also Marc reuses some first and last names already used in the 24 universe (Lonnie, Dodge, another agent named Frank, if you remember there was a Frank Hensley in hell Gate) but the biggest shocker is a black actor named Chip Manning (Curtis Manning, anyone?). I'm sure he could have come up with a better name then that.

Another thing that annoyed me was too many villains died too qucikly. In the middle chapters you will run into some bad guys that seem really cool but they die in the next hour. I won't spoil who they are, but you might find yourself disapointed that they did not last as long as Habib Marwan or Stephen Saunders.

The last major thing was at the end, so many issues were not resolved. Several characters were last seen in serious jeapordy but we do not know what happened, even in the Epilogue.

But, it's still a wild ride, and it's a nice addition to the novels but I still think Operation Hell's Gate is a better choice.

This was the third of the "24 Declassified" books that I have purchased and read, and it was the best. Don't know how an individual who is not a fan of 24 would feel, but I couldn't put it down. Stayed up far too late at night when my "few minutes of reading" prior to bed kept expanding into hours. It reads easy, and really grabs you. If you are a fan of Jack bauer and 24, you're sure to enjoy this book.

After being entertained yet slightly disappointed by Marc Cerasini's Operation Hell Gate and being satisfied by John Whitman's attempt at re-creating the '24' universe (in Veto Power), I did not know what to think when I first laid my hands on Trojan Horse. Cerasini's first take was a little dry and drawn out in parts, especially at the beginning, and its story and characters seemed to move all over the place. I also found that the novel failed to accurately portray the characters we've learned to love (or hate) from the television series.

Trojan Horse opens up in the same way as Hell Gate. Richard Walsh and Jack Bauer sit down and prepare for Jack's debriefing of the mission that ended just a few hours ago. We learn of a company that may be producing an illegal drug much similar to methamphetamines known as "karma." Of course, the story develops gradually into a much more complicated plot (anyone who has ever seen a TV show or read a book could predict that). Thankfully, Trojan Horse doesn't contain any slow-moving or rocky chapters. My eyes were glued to the pages, and I could easily imagine the story on my television screen.

Interwoven in the chaos are our favorite characters, such as Nina Myers, Jamey Farrell, Milo Pressman, Teri Bauer, and Tony Almeida. Heck, even Edgar Stiles and his lisp make an appearance. Cerasini really spends time to evolve these characters and make them do and say things that the TV characters would say.

Trojan Horse surpasses Operation Hell Gate by far and barely has the edge over Veto Power. These books seem to get better and better. I can not wait for the 4th adventure in the saga.

I do enjoy reading these books. They are a little more detailed and graphic than the series was allowed to be.

Jack's back!

Even though chronologically, "Trojan Horse" pre-dates Season 1 of the TV series, the story keeps up with many of the characters that appear on the TV series, and quite faithfully at that.

The plot is as good as a 24 script can be, and the action is unrelenting. There are aspects of some of the characters (like Tony Almeida, Teri Bauer, Jamey Farrell - to name a few) that are covered in this book, which the TV series doesn't cover, and Mark Cerasini does a good job at character building.

My only complaint - he makes the clock jump!

24, being the first series of its kind to actually show events as they happen in real-time, deserved a little better treatment. On more than one ocassion, the hour whisks away minutes, leaving you feeling a little cheated of time - the most essential aspect of the 24 syndicate, other than Bauer himself. I won't reveal the story, but there is one particular hour where the chapter starts at 55 minutes past the hour!

Surely something was left undone.

Other than that, the story and the plot are quite solid, and the rescue when it happens is also very believable (at least in Bauer-style!).

Overall Rating: 4 / 5

It's perfect for any 24 fan suffering from withdrawal due to the writers strike. It has all the heart pounding excitement you expect from 24.

You don't have to be a fan of the show to appreciate the book. If you like a good thriller, you'll love this book. Chances are if you're not a fan of the show before you read this book, you will be when you're done.

it was a slower read than the previous books but enjoyable, none the less