Gideon's War: A Novel [Hardcover]

Howard Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2011

Howard Gordon—the longtime executive producer of the hit TV series 24—makes his fiction debut with a tale of political intrigue and international terrorism. Gideon Davis has just 48 hours to bring his rogue agent brother in—before a twisted global conspiracy turns deadly.

GIDEON DAVIS, whose behind-the-scenes negotiating skills have earned him the role of peacemaker in conflicts around the globe, knows more about hush-hush discussions in Capitol corridors than he does about hand-to-hand combat. But his more practical, tactical skills come into play when he’s called on by family friend and government bigwig Earl Parker to chaperone a rogue agent from Southeast Asia to D.C. The agent, Tillman Davis, has promised to turn himself in— but only to his brother, Gideon.

Although the two brothers have been estranged for years, Gideon cannot fathom how his brother could have turned into so ruthless a man. But when the plan for Tillman’s surrender goes awry and Earl Parker is taken hostage, Gideon is forced to embrace his dark side in order to evade hostile locals in war-torn Mohan to make his way to the Obelisk—the multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art oil rig that has been seized by terrorists led by Tillman himself. It is with the help of oil rig manager Kate Murphy that Gideon launches an unlikely one-man rescue.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brad Thor Reviews Gideon's War

Brad Thor, a graduate of the University of Southern California, has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security's Analytic Red Cell Program and is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books, including The Athena Project.

Becoming a writer has ruined me as a reader. I have set the bar so high for myself with writing that I can’t read anyone who doesn’t work as hard as I do. I’m very happy to report, though, that I’ve added a new author to my “must-read” list. His name is Howard Gordon and his debut novel, Gideon’s War blew me away.

When I heard the advance buzz going around about Gideon’s War and then learned that Howard was the Exec Producer of the television series 24, I figured his book had to be good. Secretly, though, I wondered if it could be better than “24.” If so, Howard Gordon was going to have another huge hit on his hands.

The question I began reading with was whether or not Howard could take the exciting, edge-of-your-seat, please-don’t let-it-end-yet elements that have worked so well in the television world and apply them to a novel. My question was answered instantly. He has – and he has done it in spades. Gideon’s War is every bit as good as you would expect it to be and a whole hell of a lot more.

While Howard’s debut will undoubtedly (and deservedly) be compared to thriller luminaries like Ludlum, Le Carré, and Forsythe, his rich writing style, pacing and exceptional character development reminded me of another dean of the thriller genre – Michael Crichton.

If it isn’t obvious, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I’m still haunted by the novel’s magnificent juxtaposition of a brother who makes peace vs. a brother who makes war. This was an incredibly compelling and incredibly entertaining story. Simply put, it has been a long time since I have had such a rewarding read.

Howard Gordon might have forever been known as the Executive Producer of 24, but I suspect he will leave that behind as Gideon’s War earns him the honor of being crowned one of America’s hottest new thriller authors.

From Publishers Weekly

This loosely plotted thriller, Hollywood screenwriter Gordon's first novel, lurches unpredictably from backstory to frenzied present-day action, employing a 24-hour ticking clock for suspense. The U.S. president dispatches professional peacemaker Gideon Davis, whose career as a special envoy has taken him around the world, to the sultanate of Mohan, a small Pacific island nation, where a rising Islamist insurgency under the leadership of terrorist Abu Nasir threatens to overthrow the local, American-friendly government. That Gideon's beloved brother, Tillman, is caught in the deadly conflict raises the personal stakes. Gideon ends up on a giant deep sea oil rig, the Obelisk, where he must battle insurgents bent on destroying the platform. Frantic action featuring miraculous escapes isn't enough to compensate for a silly plot, grandiose characters, and unbelievable twists, though fans of the TV show 24, of which the author is the executive producer, may be satisfied. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (January 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439175810
• ISBN-13: 978-1439175811
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Howard Gordon was the Showrunner/Executive Producer of the hit series 24. A twenty year industry veteran, he first gained national attention for his award-winning work on Fox's groundbreaking series The X-Files, for which he won multiple Golden Globes. Currently he is producing the pilot HOMELAND for Showtime. His other credits include Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beauty and the Beast, Spenser: For Hire and Sisters. He was also the creator and executive producer of the innovative 1999 drama Strange World. His first novel, Gideon's War, is being released on January 11, 2011.

Howard graduated from Princeton University, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. He is an active member of the Pacific Counsel on International Relations. He is a current board member and former president of the Stroke Association of Southern California. He serves on the Advisory Board of Princeton's Lewis Center for the Performing Arts, and is a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council's Community Resilience Task Force.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars '24' meets the written word..., January 5, 2011

By 

Jason Frost "RubiconReader" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gideon's War: A Novel (Hardcover)

I know I'm probably the only other person in this world other than that Tibetan monk living in Africa to never have seen `24', but I have heard of the show. So when I saw that a producer (executive no doubt) wrote a book... heck, why not check it out? Everyone else seems to be writing a freaking book. Actors, musicians, midgets (oops... little people), athletes, homeless folk, orange-skinned skanks from New Jersey, and prenatal babies. If those Darwin-reject yahoos that crashed the White House dinner can get a book (and TV) deal how hard can it be, REALLY!? Howard Gordon is exec. Producer for one of the baddest shows ON the tube, so what did he have to do? Put on his socks, grab his tall chai latte and say "I feel like writing a book today"? I doubt it but it's a likely enough story and it IS Hollywood right?

My nonchalant tongue-in-cheek attitude was quickly put in check as I started reading. Cutting through all my BS, I was completely taken with this book. This is an ecstasy pill of adrenaline for us thriller readers. The main man, Gideon, couldn't be more flawed and was actually getting on my damn nerves. A top negotiator on the world stage, Gideon is accustomed to using his words to get his meaning across. Usually he's very successful, and because of this the President has him on his team. Unfortunately irony's favorite bed mate is usually chaos, and their love child sprouts into Gideon's life, placenta and all, to bring him some serious hurt.

Gideon's brother is been accused of being a ruthless and severely bloodthirsty terrorist who is slaughtering his way across the Middle East. Gideon has some well placed misgivings but the amount of evidence leaves no room for doubt. His job: track him down and talk. If that fails? Well... Able, meet Cain. Be prepared for a journey as Gideon tracks down the only family he has left. We are taken us on a virtual peyote sit-n-spin of geographic locations, multicultural flavor, and "clinch it up" action. Blood, fighting, technology, villains to loathe, and some slight sexual tension is just some of what puts `Gideon's War' on my list (already) of `Jason's badass novels of 2011'. (Yes I know it's only January 5th, but just go with me here).

I mentioned earlier that Gideon was getting on my nerves. Dammit, that's because he was! This fool was being chased, shot at, set-up, handcuffed, damn near blown up and he was trying to stick by his "I don't use guns anymore" mantra. Lord help this fool! I'm not going to give away the story, but how long do you think he can keep up that ever so sweet motto while nine inch bullets are cutting him new sideburns? Whatever magic Gordon used for `24' translates nicely in `Gideon's War'. Everything about this book was just right. The tempo, the violence, the betrayal, and (of course) the male bravado with that fresh football locker room smell. Because this is a thriller and the main character is a guy who gets out of impossible situations, you'll hear comparisons to past books/characters/movies. Ignore them all. This one totally stands on its own.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good airport book, January 20, 2011

By 

Amazon customer (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gideon's War: A Novel (Hardcover)

This will sell well at airports. And really, it's not a bad choice for something to read on a plane.

Just like a season of 24, it's addictive, not really all that good, kind of dumbed down, but a dirty pleasure that you allow yourself. And it's really not *that* bad.

My biggest problem was the lacking and just kind of "thrown in" explanations of anything technical, confusing, or non-action. Like "hey, let me get back to writing about action scenes, here's the boring crap that isn't action." Problem is, that's the stuff that actually develops the story and makes it more interesting.

Second biggest problem was the undertone of "I must find my estranged brother at all costs!" It was weakly developed and kind of phony.

Also, it was a bit corny that it was set on an oil rig. Gee, where on earth did the author come up with the idea to have an explosion on an oil rig?

Anyway, it's not an amazing piece of literature, but it was ok. The closest I'll get to watching a new season of 24!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impossible to Put Down- Adrenaline Rush!, January 16, 2011

By 

stuart finkelstein (Chappaqua, NY, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gideon's War: A Novel (Hardcover)

I read Howard Gordon's Gideon's War knowing that I would not want it to end.

I was an obsessed fan of 24 from it's inception, and am an avid reader of thrillers, mysteries and suspense novels, so I had very high expectations for this debut novel. I was not disappointed.

From the first page I was riveted. The book is fast paced and Howard Gordon's plot twists are thrilling and continuous. The story immediately took me in as if I were there and living the adventure. There were moments when I actually thought I couldn't breathe. The writing is so good I felt like I was inside the heads of the characters. And, despite the suspense and the action, there is humor interspersed through their thoughts. This made them very relatable and likable to me--it was almost as if I knew them.

The setting is splendid and vivid, and extremely believable as I have been to the part of the world where the story takes place. It is so well described. The detail in all areas is extraordinary, from scenes on the oil rig to those depicting the remnants of war, to the portrayals of how much the human body can take under certain conditions.

I found the novel captivating, fascinating, exciting and well writren; it left nothing out. I was invested in the relationships and was overwhelmed emotionally by the reality of the strength of the family bond.

I highly recommend this book--It was excellent. I truly could not put it down! And yes, I am sorry that I finished it, although I am hoping for another! And, not surprisingly, I am hoping for a movie.