Tremor: A John Taft Novel [Paperback]

Craig Dirgo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2008

More than 100 years ago, inventor Nikola Tesla created a device for transferring electricity without wires. It was supposed to be his greatest triumph—but his invention spawned a nightmare. And the nightmare has returned…

When unusual surges of electricity are tracked emanating from the former Yugoslavia, Special Agent John Taft uncovers a conspiracy of terror led by a fanatical Serbian nationalist—and powered by a machine capable of causing apocalyptic earthquakes to strike on command.

As the terrorists fell cities at will with their earth-shattering weapon, Taft must fight a battle on dangerous ground, against an unstable foe whose greatest desire is to control the world—or destroy it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dirgo, coauthor of Clive Cussler's Oregon Files series (Sacred Stone; Golden Buddha) follows his solo effort, The Einstein Papers, featuring National Intelligence Agency senior special agent John Taft, with this lackluster thriller of international blackmail and intrigue. In 1899 legendary scientist Nikola Tesla performs a series of successful experiments designed to send huge surges of electricity through the earth. In the present, after a series of tremors is felt in several European cities, an ultimatum is sent to the government of the Netherlands: free imprisoned Serbian war criminal Radko Ilic or your country will be destroyed by a massive earthquake. Agent Taft has been dispatched to Belgrade to hunt for the earthquake-maker, but after a series of promising leads, he's taken off the case and returned to Washington. The villain doesn't perpetuate much villainy, the threat remains vague and it's difficult keeping all the Serbians straight. Taft is amiable and lethal, but as soon as he begins making headway, Dirgo removes him from the central action until near the end. Most importantly, the author swaps a treasure trove of fascinating Tesla material for a quick and easy doomsday machine. Tack on a tearjerker epilogue, and you end up with a disappointing novel from a writer capable of far better work. (Jan. 3)
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.

About the Author

Craig Dirgo is the author of The Einstein Papers, and co-author with Clive Cussler of the New York Times bestselling Oregon Files novels Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Onyx; Reprint edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451412613
• ISBN-13: 978-0451412614
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,806,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable Read, May 11, 2006

By 

omie "omie" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tremor (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to start off by saying that the action series is not my normal genre. I usually stick to fantasy/sci-fi, with an occasional foray into action with murphy and sapir's "Destroyer" series. With that said, I really enjoyed this book. From start-to-finish I was able to envision the whole thing in my mind, as if it were a movie being played out in my imagination. Unlike a previous reviewer, who obviously seemed not to have noticed the book is a work of fiction, I found the story to be really interesting. I've always been interested in Tesla-related stories. I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars action oriented thriller, January 3, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tremor (Mass Market Paperback)

After being cheated out of money he should have gotten from his patents involving alternating current, Nikola Tesla vowed to keep his next project secret until the patents were secure and the robber barons of the 1890's had to pay him for using his new invention. He was trying to find a way to use wireless electricity sent through the earth to a specific point. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams in his test project but he caused the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, although nobody connected the two events.

In the present in Serbia Galadin Ratzovik who was instrumental in the ethnic cleansing is wanted by the UN War Crimes Commission. He has Tesla's notes and a scientist to work on two experiments to trigger earthquakes in Spain and Italy. NIA Agent John Taft is sent into Serbia to figure out what is going on and if the quakes can be related to Tesla's experiments. A note is given to the UN demanding the release of former President of Ilic who is being held at The Hague awaiting trial for war crimes. John Taft is sent home but learns that the demands are a cover for an action that would totally decimate the United States.

The latest work of Craig Dirgo, co-author of The Oregon Files, will appeal to the fans of Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy. TREMOR is action oriented but there is enough background information on Tesla, a real nineteenth century genius, and enough fill-ins on the key characters to make this a well-rounded and balanced novel. The protagonist is a man of honor, willing to lay down his life to save otherss; his dedication will appeal to mainstream readers of both genders.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cussler's protege, April 2, 2006

By 

J. Harris (Meridian, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tremor (Mass Market Paperback)

If you like Cussler, you will like Dirgo just as well. It's great reading and I couldn't put it down. It will fill in the gaps between Cussler's new books