Pandora's Legion [With Headphones] (Harold Coyle's Strategic Solutions, Inc. (Playaway)) [Preloaded Digital Audio Player]

Harold Coyle (Author), Barrett Tillman (Author), William Dufris (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2008 | Series: Harold Coyle's Strategic Solutions, Inc. (Playaway)

In this explosive new series from New York Times bestseller Harold Coyle and noted military author Barrett Tillman, a new type of war is being fought by private paramilitary companies at the beck and call of the highest bidder. With the military and intelligence agencies spread thin, the US is constantly calling upon the services of these organizations--and Strategic Solutions, Inc. is among the best. 

   
Members of Al-Qaida have set in place a vicious biological attack.  Men and women infected with the highly communicable and deadly Marburg virus have been sent to major cities and sensitive locations throughout the world in hopes of creating a deadly, global epidemic.

The dedicated men and women of SSI, led by former Rear Admiral Michael Derringer, are consummate professionals, nearly all ex-police or military, and are the among the best in the world at what they do. But the mastermind behind the living bio-weapons, Dr. Saeed Sharif, is more deadly than anyone could have possibly imagined. Spread throughout the globe and thwarting attacks on their home facilities, the staff at SSI soon find themselves engaged in a frontline game of ground warfare. And to make matters worse, two infected Marburg carriers are heading straight for the United States. Using every resource it has, SSI launches an all-out search for the walking plague carriers before thousands more become infected and die.

Posing a frightening scenario that could become all too real in the near future, and filled with the details of the military world that have made Coyle’s books bestsellers, Pandora’s Legion hits the front lines of the new war against terrorism in this engrossing, high-stakes novel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this promising first of a new series about the resurgence of the second oldest profession, the mercenary, in the guise of PMC (private military contractors), bestseller Coyle (They Are Soldiers) teams with aviation historian and novelist Tillman (Warrior) to chronicle the exploits of one such PMC, Strategic Solutions Inc. An eclectic assortment of ex-military action junkies and civilian specialists, the group is headed by a retired admiral who has the trust of certain elements of the current administration. When an American convert to Islam turns up at London's Heathrow Airport with a lethal and highly contagious disease, epidemiologists backtracking his itinerary uncover a jihadist plot to send biological time bombs among the infidels to spread disease, death and disarray. Problem: the plot's source is in a sensitive region of Pakistan where American troops can't go. While the characters never really come alive as in other Coyle novels, the description of how a PMC operates, with all its strengths and limitations, is engrossing and believable. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

PRAISE FOR HAROLD COYLE AND PANDORA'S LEGION:

 

“Harold Coyle is the best natural storyteller I know.”—Tom Clancy

 

“The Tom Clancy of ground warfare.”—W.E.B. Griffin on Harold Coyle

"Coyle is best when he's depicting soldiers facing death . . . He knows soldiers and he understands the brotherhood of arms mystique and transcends national boundaries."--The New York Times

 

"Action-filled revenge fantasy for desk-bound Terminators."--Kirkus Reviews

 

"Engrossing and believable."--Publishers Weekly

 

"Coyle is a master at high-tech suspense.  He spins his story with such power that you're swept along to the climactic finish."--Clive Cussler

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Preloaded Digital Audio Player
• Publisher: Playaway; Unabridged edition (April 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605147397
• ISBN-13: 978-1605147390
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,523,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barrett Tillman (b. 1948) was born into a NE Oregon ranching family and developed an early interest in aviation history. He learned to fly as a teenager, was first published at age 15, and graduated from the University of Oregon with a journalism degree in 1971. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, book publisher, and magazine editor, but has been self employed all but seven years since graduating from college. Though best known for his histories of US naval aviation, he also has published six novels plus short stories, and has sold a screenplay.

Tillman continues writing nonfiction books and has written more than 550 articles in the US and abroad. He frequently appears as a commentator on TV documentaries in addition to his speaking appearances. The recipient of six writing awards, he lives with his wife in Arizona.

Tillman's web site and blog are found at www.btillman.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, gripping, ending a bit too neat, April 16, 2007

By 

Serene (Marina, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pandora's Legion: Harold Coyle's Strategic Solutions, Inc. (Hardcover)

I listened to the unabridged audio edition of this book and I found it a fast-paced thriller with an intriguing suspenseful plot. What if a madman decided to use human carriers to deliver a deadly virus to the states? How would the USA respond?

This was a great book with some fun characters. I particularly liked the interaction with the men in the desert and hostage scene early on. I was on the edge of my seat!

Peeves: I did feel the author could've ratcheted up the suspense a bit by actual having a plague outbreak early on. Also, I wish the contagion was something a bit less gory. The scenes where the disease was described made me gag. I also wondered, wouldn't the terrorist be smarter to release something the carrier was immune to like smallpox? This would widen the impact of the threat and potentially be more devastating.

Overall this was a good novel, look forward to more.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Realistic plot but too many stereotypes, July 6, 2007

By 

DR. B (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pandora's Legion: Harold Coyle's Strategic Solutions, Inc. (Hardcover)

Like the other reviewers I found the plot realistic. Using Professional Military Corporations, PMC's, seems to be the new thing.

However I found the characters to be too stereotypic. The lead female character was a world renowned doctor from England (hard to believe no US doctor was qualified), a world class rock climber, a runner, etc. After never having fired a gun she was judged proficient after only 15 minutes. And of course she made Miss America look like a dog. Couldn't we just once have a female who is not perfect or would that not be PC. The rest of the team was made up of the usual jokers, caring medics and ex-Marine gunnys and so on.

My other criticism was predictability. You knew ahead of time when the team was heading into an ambush, which they managed to do quite often. If I were running the place I'd think about firing the team leaders who were out planned throughout the entire book. I'd even think of firing the president of the corporation, e.g., a rent-a-cop to guard a building whose business often included killing people and it never crosses anyone's mind they may want to get even. You often say things to yourself like, "the receptionist is history" and you're right. You want to scream to the female lead as she bends over the wounded bad guy to hear his whispers, "you putz don't get near him". Ditto for the border scene where you know five pages in advance what is going to happen and it makes you just want to tell these people what idiots they really are and what to do. They never listen.

Overall realistic plot, but not a unique one. Characters are just too stereotyped.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Just A Matter Of Time., March 5, 2007

By 

A Reader (Bend, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pandora's Legion: Harold Coyle's Strategic Solutions, Inc. (Hardcover)

It is just a matter of time until a dedicated and dangerous enemy like "Doctor Ali," actually does manage to infect a large population of innocent civilians with a deadly virus.

Coyle and Tillman's scenario is entirely believable, and unlike many examples of so-called "Men's Fiction," I found this one to be readable with believable and multi-dimensional characters. The begining scene reads more like a good women's mystery novel than a techno-thriller.

I do admit I was soon thumbing through the book looking for familiar acronyms like AK-47, 9mm, 7.62mm, G-3, 40 SW, and MP-5. Readers like me, who expect realistic, rather than Hollywood gun handling from these two authors will not be dissapointed.

Now combine that with a microbiologist who can shoot!

The authors description of Para Military Contractors (PMC) will be surprising to many. They are intelligent, successful, and much more mature than their younger counterparts who still serve in uniform. With something like 800 PMC's Killed In Action in Iraq in the last 4 years, Pandora's Legion should be an important novel for anyone interested in Military affairs.

Pandora's Legion appears to be the start of a series of books about PMC's for Coyle and Tillman. I am actually looking forward to the next installment!