World Without End [Import] [Paperback]

Chris Mooney (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743209249
• ISBN-13: 978-0743209243
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Sophomore Jinx, November 9, 2002

By 

A. Harrell "[e-mail]" (Denver, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Without End (Mass Market Paperback)

After Mooney’s first book, DEVIANT WAYS, I was anxious for the publication of this second effort. WORLD is as good as if not better than DEVIANT WAYS. There are no flat portions in this novel. Mooney’s character development is excellent. This story has some nice surprises that aren’t totally predictable. This is a must read for readers of the “serious thriller” variety. Here is the basic plot: Stephen Conway is an operative for the CIA and Raymond Bouchard a father figure/mentor type is Stephen’s handler. Conway is an orphan and that experience defines his strengths and weaknesses throughout the novel. Bouchard has Stephen on the trail of an elusive arch villain with the CIA code name of Angel Eyes. (The end of the cold war has not left writers of this genre without formidable foes). It seems that Angel Eyes has an unlimited source of funds that he uses to steal the latest weapons technology from private research efforts. Angel Eyes latest project is to secure a suit that makes its wearer invisible (this is fiction remember). Stephen’s job is to prevent the theft. Well, it seems that Angel Eye’s isn’t the only one interested in securing the suit. The non-stop action flows from how all of this plays out. The other characters in the cast include double agents, the FBI, turncoats, urban street gangs and some Russian mafia types: quite an interesting mix. There is an awful lot of double-dealing, sellouts and betrayal to keep the reader locked into all of the intrigue. You will have difficulty putting this book down before the last page is read.

Now, if we could only get Mooney to write a story centered on the mysterious and intriguing Malcolm Fletcher. Fletcher makes a brief appearance here but loomed large in DEVIANT WAYS.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tremendous Sophomore Effort! Bravo!, April 24, 2002

By 

R. Shaff "Velocipede" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: World Without End (Hardcover)

Chris Mooney's first book, DEVIANT WAYS, was an incredibly rapturous and complex novel, which is staggering considering it was a freshman effort. In many cases, succeeding offerings can be disappointing when one has had such success with a first attempt. Not so here. WORLD WITHOUT END (WWE) is not only rock solid, I believe it exceeds DEVIANT WAYS with a tighter, more thrilling storyline albeit still as complex.

Steve Conway is introduced to the reader initially as a low level CIA computer geek attached to a Black Ops group aptly named IWAC (Information Warfare Analysis Center). However, this is far from where the reader ends up with Steve Conway as Mooney develops his character throughout the book. Conway's CIA liaison and boss, Raymond Brouchard, is described as an incredibly sharp, highly experienced operative and one to whom Steve looks to for "guidance." His lover and fellow operative, Pasha Romanov, is as tough and smart as is Conway. These are the three core characters in WWE but represent only a sampling of the numerous characters presented to the reader in this intricate thriller.

The storyline follows the trail of "Angel Eyes," the notoriously brilliant and evil antagonist who has been stealing state-of-the-art military weapons. The challenge facing IWAC is...they've never been able to catch much less identify Angel Eyes. Moreover, Angel Eyes has yet to utilize his ill-gotten booty, which has IWAC further scratching its collective heads. This faceless fiend previously jacked a white laser weapon designed to temporarily or permanently blind foes. Now, the Company is protecting a cutting edge weapon known as the camouflage suit. This suit has hundreds of computer-synthesized cameras, which identify the wearer's environment and replicate it thus rendering the wearer of the suit invisible! Obviously, the bearer of this type of technology would have immediate and immeasurable power. IWAC is aware that Angel Eyes will make a play for the suit but when and where is the only question. The CIA and IWAC have been compromised in the past by Angel Eyes via double/triple agents. Who to trust is heaviest cross Conway bears.

As Mooney develops the storyline, the reader is taken for a ride of double-crosses and twists that leaves one wondering, "What's next?!" This, apparently, has become Mooney's MO as DEVIANT WAYS followed this path as well. Mooney does an outstanding job of developing each of the core characters as well as the peripheral players, much more so than many authors. Further and perhaps more importantly, Mooney assists the reader with the technological aspect by explaining the value and workings of the assets compromised (i.e. the white laser and the camouflage suit) without an overabundance of techno-babble.

Mooney's adeptness in researching the technological issues and germane uses in his storylines establishes immediate credibility. In fact, in a well-placed "Author's Note" at the end of the book, Mooney explains where he obtained his ideas for a few of the somewhat unbelievable, futuristic devices portrayed in the story. This leaves the reader scratching his head wondering if these types of devices/weapons will be a reality in the future. Regardless, Mooney makes it as real as is necessary to provide an incredibly thrilling ride.

As one reviewer so fittingly mused, one may never look at one's Palm Pilot device the same again after completing this thriller! Highly recommended.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MONSTER THRILLER, October 22, 2001

By 

David Baldwin (Salem, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Without End (Hardcover)

Mooney follows up Deviant Ways with another fast-paced thriller that's full of villians and double-crossing people who are after the coolest invention ever invented: this military suit that offers "optical camouflage" - a fancy way of saying cloaking. But the most fascinating (and coolest) villian in the book is Amon Faust, who may not be a villain at all. The guy's guaranteed to give you the creeps. The hero, Steve Conway, is a little bit too brooding for my taste (think Jack Casey, but younger) but Mooney makes up for it with guys like Faust and, even better, the butt-kicking Pasha Romanov and delivers an ending that's guaranteed to blow you out off your socks!!!!