Ignition [Hardcover]

Kevin J. Anderson (Author), Doug Beason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1997

As American and Russian astronauts take their positions aboard the shuttle Atlantis, terrorists seize the Kennedy Space Center and threaten to blow up the shuttle if their demands are not met, and it is up to the mission's injured former commander to stop them. 35,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Col. Adam "Iceberg" Friese was scheduled to pilot the next space shuttle, Atlantis, to dock with the Russian space station, Mir, until a freak accident just before the launch sidelined him. While his former girlfriend, Nicole, supervised the launch, Iceberg sneaked in a back gate and found his own front-row seat for the event. Meanwhile, Mr. Philips, a homicidal megalomaniac, and his fellow terrorists attack the launch site, holding hostage the astronauts, Nicole's launch team, and Atlantis until his demand for a fortune in precious gems is met. When Iceberg realizes that something is wrong, he goes to investigate, following the dead bodies back to the terrorists and, one by one, eliminating Mr. Philips's savage murderers while Nicole keeps the ringleader busy. Anderson and Beason have written a nail biter full of details about NASA and the Kennedy Space Center. This writing team, which admits to changing some details to preserve NASA security, has written several other high-tech action thrillers (e.g., Virtual Destruction, Ace, 1996). For all public libraries.?Grant A. Frederickson, Illinois Prairie Dist. P.L., Metamora
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The latest effort of this popular team is not the first thriller set at Cape Kennedy with a space-program background, but it is the most ambitious. Ready to carry a joint U.S.-Russian crew to a rendezvous with the Mir space station, the shuttle Atlantis comes under attack by an adept and ruthless band of terrorists, organized by an unsuccessful junk-bond dealer trying to recoup his fortunes. The former mission commander, Colonel "Iceberg" Fries, has been sidelined by injuries but plays a key part in organizing a successful counterattack, in the process rescuing his former lover, astronaut turned launch controller Nicole Hunter. This yarn is in the classic mold of the novel that marries space advocacy to the techno-thriller, featuring lots of bloody action and exotic hardware at the expense of characterization, which is definitely subordinate. (Not to mention that some of the characterization is over the top: did two of the terrorists have to be a brother and sister who are bisexual and incestuous?) Readers will definitely keep turning the pages, but Anderson and Beason have--in Virtual Destruction and Assemblers of Infinity (1993), for instance--done better work. With a prepub movie sale and plenty of publicity in the pipeline, though, this one may fly higher. Roland Green

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312862709
• ISBN-13: 978-0312862701
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,555,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin J. Anderson has written 46 national bestsellers and has over 20 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. He has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. Find out more about Kevin Anderson at www.wordfire.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A chilling thriller that is a fun read, March 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Ignition (Hardcover)

The space shuttle Atlantis is nearing the final countdown before lifting
off into space. Since a decade has passed since the Challenger accident, the
public has become complacent towards the shuttle program and there is no
reason to believe that this lift off will any different from those of any
other shuttle in the nineties. However, unbeknownst to American and Russian
astronauts on board waiting for the final IGNITION, and the millions watching
on TV around the world, this trip has been aborted. A team of terrorists has
seized control of the launch center.
...... The leader, Mr. Phillips will sell the shuttle back to America for a case
filled with gems and a helicopter within four hours or else. Only one man
might be able to abort the upcoming disaster. Colonel "Iceberg" Friese was
the former commander of this particular mission until he broke his foot. He
knows his crew is in deep trouble unless he can not stop Phillips and his
gang. If he fails, the degree of the disaster could match that of the
Challenger or perhaps even worse.
....... IGNITION is a by the book thriller that provides no new twists and has an
action hero that has been seen in many a novel and movie. Yet the Anderson
and Beason collaboration still grabs the reader by the throat and never lets
up until the tale is finished. Anyone who enjoys action packed thrillers
like the DIE HARD series or the space program (the insight into NASA by two
former insiders is intriguing) will find this novel immensely satisfying.

.......Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but the ending could be better., May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ignition (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is packed with a whole bunch of fun loving stunts. The writers went to make it as realistic a possible, but just enough to make interesting. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Beason use the ever so popular terrorist plot, but with a major twist. This group of terrorists siezes control of something thought to be totally secure, NASA's Kennedy Space Ceter. Colonel Adam "Iceberg" Friese is our protagonist in this story. His icey cool actions allow him to think clearly while under pressure. He is shot at with bullets and even missiles, bunched, kicked, and all around beaten. He does this all with a broken ankle. While Iceberg is roaming around the complex fighting off terrorists, his off and on lover affair, Nicole Hunter, is captured in the Launch Command building by the terrorist leader. Along with her is the entire launch staff, a senator, and a Russian delagate. As if thing could not get any worse, a shuttle crew is being held hostage within the shuttle sitting on top of millions of pounds of solid and liquid rocket fuel. Will Iceberg save the day? See for yourself in Ignition by Kevin Anderson and Doug Beason.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable "Die Hard" formula, April 27, 2004

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ignition (Mass Market Paperback)

I agree with another reviewer that when I got into this book, I could easily see Bruce Willis taking another stab at the "Die Hard" formula in this one--but getting it right again (after that third movie flopped). One man against an army of terrorists who hold several hostages, including the man's love interest...sound familiar? Well, it works anyway. This is a fast-paced book that never really slows down once it gets started. Its breathless pace will keep your interest until the end. No, there aren't many surprises here, but the fact that the hero has a broken foot is an interesting twist.

There are a few "Oh, come on" moments in here where the hero ignores the obvious solution to a problem and goes for the grand-stand play, but if you can overlook those, you get a great story. Despite its weak points, this is an interesting story and worth the time to read it. Recommended.