The Gray Stopgap [Paperback]

D. L. Tolleson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001

Plagued by hellish wartime memories and betrayal at the hands of a fiancée, government agent Karns Gray volunteers for an experiment with "bio-chemical synthetic intelligence." But the experiment turns upon the experimenters. So begins a web of events spanning more than twenty years and costing numerous lives. The Gray Stopgap is a psychological and emotional tapestry seamlessly woven between flashbacks and reality. Double agents, assassins, underwater adventure and sub-orbital dogfights are but a few facets of this adrenaline-driven pell-mell rush. Adventure aside, The Gray Stopgap is as much a story about relationships and integrity as it is international intrigue.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Receiving one of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association's highest awards for Journalistic Excellence, DL Tolleson also garnered awards for Feature Writing and News Photography from the Texas Community College Press Association.

A one-time Fine Arts Consultant/Instructor under a state grant program to the Association for Retarded Citizens, he has also taught Creative Photography in the College for Kids program at Tarrant County College. He holds an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Applied Science from Tarrant County College, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Texas. A former member of the Legal Assistant's Divison of the Texas State Bar, he is a freelance photographer and self-described artist. Tolleson resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Lighthouse Press (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971191565
• ISBN-13: 978-0971191563
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,955,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed because I am disappointed, September 3, 2007

By 

Timothy Fish (Fort Worth, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gray Stopgap (Paperback)

This is not the review that I hoped to be writing. When I began reading this book I had high hopes and with good reason. D. L. Tolleson is the brother of a friend of mine. The family has been a member of our church for many years. I have been told that a movie deal was in the works. What I wanted to do was to finish the book and then go to my friend and say, "you really should read your brother's book. It is a good book," so it was major disappointment when I realized that I would not be able to do that and that I would not be able to finish reading the book.

The book is somewhat hard to follow because it jumps between several characters who seem to have little in common and I did not get far enough into the book to tie these pieces together. Very little is said about Karns Gray in the part of the book I read (first hundred pages or so), but the back cover implies that he is the main character. What I have gathered is that he was in Vietnam and was suffering from post traumatic stress. Because of this, he agreed to take part in a experiment with artificial intelligence. The computer attempted to take over his brain. For some reason, this computer was launched into orbit, but was later destroyed. The result was that Karns (frequently called Gray, by the author) regained control of his brain, but now he has some unusual abilities.

Some people will find the language offensive. Colorful metaphors abound in the dialog. More people will find the sex scene offensive, in which a graphic description of a scene that simultaneously involves adultery and incest. Presumably, there are people who do not find these things offensive, but I cannot recommend such a book in good conscience.

Aside from the offensive material and being slow to get to the point, the book was readable. At no point did I have the impression that the author was describing something that could not have happened within the confines of the world he created. However, I felt no emotional attachment to the characters and I could not care less what happened to them, so I quit reading and put the book down.

My biggest disappointment is that I cannot give the book high marks.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Graystopgap, June 21, 2008

By 

M. Saltzgiver - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gray Stopgap (Paperback)

If you like suspense, spies, bad guys, heroes and just everyday good guys this is a book you should read. DL Tolleson has done a magnificent job of taking all the different characters and subplots of love and government experiments going disappointingly wrong and connecting them all together with one single thread of intrigue. From the prologue through the very last page you will be captivated by this well written and highly entertaining novel. Prepare for some late nights because once you start reading you won't want to stop.

4.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue, July 31, 2001

By 

Isabeau (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gray Stopgap (Paperback)

The first page captured my attention with intense excitement. I could not put the book down after that. The Karns charater I found at first aloof, but sensed he was a very deep and emotional man but with extremely self control. The book was great. I would recommend it to everyone.