Customer Reviews

World Without End

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!!

Mooney follows up his debut novel with a stunner. After Deviant Ways, I held my breath, hoping this new talent did not fall victim to the publishing world version of 'one hit wonder'. Mooney does not disappoint with his latest. Conway proves to be a character full of contradiction and I loved that. I'm not one for the superhero protagonist, I want real. Mooney gives us 'real' in World Without End - and then some. The plot had me from page one and kept me wondering throughout my day, until I could hit it again at night. Faust is one creepy S.O.B. and Mooney kept me wondering about his motives right to the end. I also loved the reference to my favorite character from Deviant Ways - Malcom Fletcher. Mooney, if you are listening, we want more Fletcher when you get a minute! I was sad to close the jacket on 'Ways', sadder still with 'World'. My friends and I look forward to Mooney's next venture. Hope it doesn't take too long!

I had been anxiously awaiting Mooney's newest book, as "Deviant Ways" (his last novel), sits on my "all time favorite thrillers" list.

I loved World Without End. While this book is more of a techno thriller, the plotline moves at top speed (I finished it in two sittings). As with his previous book, Mooney manages to develop his characters without making them into "super heroes" and you find yourself liking them despite their flaws.

Another riveting read and I look forward to more and more from this author.

Mooney's follow up to his excellent DEVIANT WAYS is so full of villains, double agents, and dastardly deeds, it's hard to keep up with them all. But Mooney's clever enough to keep the scorecard easily tabulated. One reviewer mentioned how glum the hero Steve Conway is. Granted, but take a look at his life, and you might see why he's so aloof and downtrodden. More than anything, Conway possesses the loyalty and dedication to take the risks necessitated in this cannon-fired thriller. Take a look at the villains (and I can't name them all as it would spoil the plot): Angel Eyes --- is he as bad as he seems? Gunther, his assistant; Mischa, the gigantic Russian; Jonathan Cole, a despicable earchewing maniac; Owen Lee/Chris Evans, along for a ride he's not prepared for. Are all the heroes the heroes they appear to be? Will Steve ever get a real break? Mooney keeps his labyrnthine plot moving and is an excellent technological thriller. Highly recommended.

Who is this Angel Eyes, who seems invisible and invincible as he steals special weapons leaving behind dead people whom might identify him? No one in law enforcement, espionage, State Department, or Defense can explain how this villain knows where to go. Whether it is Massachusetts or Texas or elsewhere, somehow Angel Eyes knows, comes, and steals. Even more confusing is these state of the art weapons never seem to surface anywhere as if Angel Eyes destroyed them, but the CIA and FBI who have loosely collaborated on these cases have no proof beyond the disappearance and suspicious deaths.

THE CIA believes they know where Angel Eyes will strike next. They plan to finally end his successful pilfering of weapons. CIA operative Stephen Conway has the assignment to keep safe a prototype cloaking device that allows users to move while being seemingly invisible. However, others want this gadget too and the trap to capture the master thief unravels with several CIA agents dead, leaving Conway apparently by himself except for perhaps his girlfriend, if he can trust her, to confront Angel Eyes.

WORLD WITHOUT END is an action packed thriller filled with double and triple crosses that keep on coming at the reader. Though the premise seems stretched, the story line keeps the reader fully indulged wanting to know what next. The support cast is incredibly developed though the lead character seems a nit wimpy in comparison. Still fans of non-stop techno-thrillers will enjoy Chris Mooney's fast paced tale.

Harriet Klausner

Mooney's second book is the best kind of sophomore effort. It delivers the pacing and stylistic punch of his great first novel, DEVIANT WAYS, yet is wildly inventive and compelling in a totally different way. This is a technological "what if" story, risky because the conceit asks us to buy into what, in lesser hands, would be thin ice science fiction. But Mooney creates "science friction" instead, using the techno-gimmick for what it is, a playing field upon which [the]story unfolds. Keep a close eye on Mooney, because he's the real deal.

The day I received this book I couldn't put it down and read about 1/3 way through the book. Chris has the perfect mix of technology, spy-thriller and psychology to keep the reader intrigued. The reader will keep going back trying to figure out who are the good and the bad guys, and in the end it turns out none of them are all either all good or bad (except the Russian Misha). I guess hero is luck the guys who stole the suit didn't enter the clues into Google, otherwise they would have immediately broken the encryption code.

I was attracted by the good reviews. However the writing is formulaic..you can pick the good guys and the bad guys fairly quickly. And there is double cross after double cross...one yawn. And almost of course there is the "ultimate betrayal" near the end...double yawn.
The characters are one dimensional. The attempt to make the story interesting by running different time lines is amateurish.
And OK maybe just maybe you could make a helicopter invisible. But there is no attempt to explain how it was made SILENT. Just not good enough.
Possibly OK for a brainless read on a long flight.