The Domino Pattern [Hardcover]

Timothy Zahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2010

Frank Compton used to be an agent for the security forces of Earth, but that was a piece of cake compared to what he’s had to deal with working for the aliens who run the Quadrail, an interstellar transportation system connecting a dozen civilizations across the galaxy.

 He’s been trying to end the domination of an alien lifeform called the Modhri. This enormously powerful creature wants to rule the galaxy by controlling the thoughts of all its citizens. It does so by having parts of itself “infect” others on contact, and act as agents for it without them being aware they’re being manipulated. When Frank and his assistant Bayta journey to investigate a connection between the Modhri and the Filiaelians, they come up against a conspiracy on the Quadrail.

Passengers are being murdered…but something besides murder haunts the Quadrail. A plot is brewing that even the Modhri fears. And once again, Frank and Bayta may be the only ones who can stop it.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The fourth Frank Compton caper begins as a locked-room mystery on an interstellar transport system’s express run. Frank and partner Bayta are aboard investigating the alien Modhri, who aim to rule the galaxy by controlling all its sentient minds, because Modhri agents are bound to be on the train, too. A day out from the station, passengers begin dying of poison, which is supposedly impossible. Frank and Bayta must find the murderer(s), respect at least three nonhuman species’ cultural taboos, watch for Modhri agents, and avoid getting killed. The plot grabs from the get-go, characters and style are well-wrought and complementary, so sf and thriller fans alike should be pleased. --Roland Green

Review

“An easy read, the novel pays homage to the noir detective and thriller genres, and Zahn spices his novel with a variety of aliens. Nonstop action keeps the reader turning the pages.” —SFRevu.com on Odd Girl Out

 “Good thriller, full of red herrings, blind alleys, and rising tension.” —Booklist on The Third Lynx

“An inventive plot…. Zahn’s strength is hard science fiction, and he excels at technical description. The comic-book-like nonstop action will attract fans of the genre.” —Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Night Train to Rigel

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765322129
• ISBN-13: 978-0765322128
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Timothy Zahn is the Hugo Award-winning author of more than a dozen original science fiction novels and the bestselling Star Wars trilogy Heir to the Empire, among other works. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder on the Orient Express meets Star Wars, January 14, 2010

By 

William D. Jackson "hobby reader" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Domino Pattern (Hardcover)

Wow! I just finished "The Domino Pattern" by Timothy Zahn. This is the fourth book in the Quadrail series that began with "Night Train to Rigel". I love science fiction, spy novels, and detective fiction and somehow Zahn has combined all three genres into one with this series. Unlike the previous three books in the series, the action in "Domino" took place almost entirely on the train. Think murder mystery with Frank Compton playing the part of Hercule Poirot and the other passengers on the train played by various and assorted aliens and you get some idea of the story. But read it! (Only after reading the first three, of course.) I am already looking forward to the next installment. Bravo Mr. Zahn.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A voyage long and strange, February 10, 2010

By 

Baslim the Beggar "Baslim" (Ventura County, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Domino Pattern (Hardcover)

Six weeks on a Quadrail train? And it's the express train!

First some good news... Frank is kind of warming up to Bayta.
but the bad news... he is reluctant to get too close.

The good news... this series is going to go on for a while, unless Zahn pulls something out of his hat.

The really bad news... Something wicked this way comes and things are going to get tough.

This definitely has a "Murder on the Orient Express" feel to it, but the situation is very complicated. There are some red herrings here and there. I think Zahn does pretty well with this level of mystery.

There is a feeling for a good part of the book that this is a hiatus from the war with the Modhri. But there are some surprises here. Just a few.. uh huh.

I do recommend that the reader should have read one of more of the previous 3 books. There are a lot of things that we who have read all of the books are accustomed to that might seem like they are pulled out of a hat to accomplish something or change a result, if you were a little unfamiliar with the previous events.

Its a very good read, and as I was thinking it could be Hugo material.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't stop thinking about this one!, January 27, 2010

By 

Book-a-holic (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Domino Pattern (Hardcover)

I finished The Domino Pattern two days ago, and I still get excited thinking about it! I start thinking about the book, get ready to go read some more, and then remember with a real sense of let down...oh yeah, I finished it... This was my favorite installment in the Frank Compton series so far. I loved the murder mystery plot, and wow, the ending is CHILLING! ENJOY!