Breakthrough (Mass Market Paperback)

by R. J. Pineiro (Author) "Yellowish light diffused through the hissing rain as a burgundy Ford Bronco turned a corner, sending a three-foot-high wave of puddled water splashing onto the..." (more)
Key Phrases: dismemberment clause, seasoned operative, second locker, Jake Fischer, Sergei Iyevenski, Kathy Bennett (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Finally, Jake Fisher and his high-tech Fisher Technologies team have created the first working protein-based F1 RAM. Many people are interested in FTI's progress: The FB. is monitoring communications (intending to take control as soon as the F1 is viable), while Germany, needing this industry-shattering technology to finance reunification, has planted a mole. Soon after Fisher's bio-chip breakthrough occurs and before the FBI can move, Germany's mercenary (the Kardinal) grabs both the tapes and Sergei (FTI's top scientist) and destroys the building, killing most of the team. Survivor Jake's efforts to stay alive, to recover the F1 RAM data, and to help Sergei escape his captors crisscross those of the lead FBI agent, Sonya Wuttenberg. Moving from California to France, the conflict intensifies among the three former Eastern Bloc-trained spies: Sergei (KGB), Sonya, and the Kardinal (who once worked together in East Germany). Pineiro's (Exposure, LJ 9/15/96) efficiently set scenes and plot action do not compensate for the lack of involving characters or suspense, making this a marginal purchase.?V. Louise Saylor, Eastern Washington Univ. Lib., Cheney
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews
The development of a revolutionary new computer chip by a Silicon Valley scientist puts him and his colleagues in mortal peril from the US and German governments--in a suspenseful, transnational thriller from Pineiro (Exposure, 1996, etc.). After four years of effort, Jake Fischer's fledgling firm (Fischer Technology, Inc.) fabricates a reproducible molecular memory device (built from bacterial proteins) whose speed and processing power could make obsolete conventional semiconductors. Mindful the BND has a man inside FTI, the FBI keeps the company under surveillance as well. Whereas Berlin wants to purloin the breakthrough to jump-start a united Germany's flagging economy, Washington plans to delay its market introduction by a decade or more to ensure an orderly programmed transition that would salvage the investments of domestic circuit suppliers. Meanwhile, the Germans recruit Vladimir Titov-Escobar (a.k.a. ``Kardinal''), a Stasi veteran who moves fast, burning FTI's California lab to the ground, kidnapping Sergei Lyevenski (the company's chief technical officer), and making off with a computer tape detailing the protein chip's technology. Although special agent Sonya Wttenberg (also an old Stasi hand) is powerless to stop this raid, the FBI tracks the terrorist to Paris, where he's to collect his fee in return for Sergei and the tape. The feds stage an 11th-hour ambush, and the Russian ‚migr‚ (a former KGB officer) escapes in the confusion-- with the payoff ($25.0 million in securities as well as cash) and the tape. While Sergei dodges his erstwhile captors in the back alleys of Montmartre, Sonya browbeats Jake into letting her use him as bait. Once in the City of Lights, Jake proves himself a good man under fire. With a little help from hardnosed Sonya, the amateur operative leads the increasingly desperate Kardinal and his murderous crew a merry chase, as does the resourceful Sergei (with whom he's linked up). The threesome eventually survives a climactic confrontation in the Bois de Boulogne. A rough-and-tumble entertainment with violent action and plot twists aplenty. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (February 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812543904
• ISBN-13: 978-0812543902
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,548,818 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pineiro strikes gold again, May 15, 2000

By	Melvin Hunt (Cleveland,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Pineiro has once again shown an original captivating writing style. His expertise in computers certainly shows through. He has created another hero role with his star of the book. Another outstanding trait definitely comes through with Pineiro's ability to create villains. The Cardinal and the East Germans are without any question the Evil Empire. This book was definitely hard to put down. Pineiro once again shows that he is a top of the line author.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Laughable., May 15, 2002

By	Allan Drummond (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

If this book didn't take itself so seriously, it'd have a shot at being comedy. Pineiro's writing reads like a botched attempt to recreate 30's pulp science fiction, and his editor was clearly asleep at the switch. My favorite quote:

"...[The Kardinal] curled the fingers of both hands against the yellow-painted metal cover and took a deep breath. Hinges creaking in silent protest, the heavy cover inched upward." (p. 106)

The characters are always being "scourged" by some kind of pain, at least when that pain is not "screaming obscenities" at them.

The plot is standard-fare airport trash, and one never seriously doubts the good guys are going to win it all: the girls, the money, and the technology. It's too bad the ending hinges on the hero, drawn as a brilliant biotech CEO, being convinced to compromise his dream by a painful and silly economics lecture on disruptive technology.

I'd recommend you pass this one up unless you're looking for some good laughs. I hope Pineiro gave his other books better QC before shipping them.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edge-of-your-seat Entertainment, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Breakthrough (Hardcover)

Would governments suppress state-of-the-art technology? Can this technology trigger an international race to steal it and a defensive response to prevent the theft? You bet. Pineiro has put together all the elements of an action-packed thriller that has you rooting hard for the good guys, while considering the possibility of what would happen (or what is happening) if such an advance did take place.