Bill Napier: Nemesis

Bill Napier

Nemesis

Monika says:

A Russia led by President Schirinowski plans a vicious attack on the USA, or that’s what the American military claims to have found out. Allegedly the Russians managed to change an asteroid’s path so that it will crash into the western hemisphere of Earth. An international team of scientists has five days to identify Nemesis, named after the Greek goddess of revenge. Nobody knows exactly when the impact will take place. The US government came up with a 40-day-plan to engage counter-measures. British astrophysicist Dr. Webb not only discovers the asteroid but also a conspiration against the American president.

If scientists pick up the pen to write a novel at least the scientific background of the book is sound. Bill Napier, one of the leading experts in the field of asteroid research, doesn’t disappoint the readers in that area. It’s possible to skip the formulas incomprehensible for the layman without missing out on the plot. However, the initiated will appreciate them. In the first part of the book the author takes his time to develope the story, placing a stronger emphasis on facts than on character developement. Excursions to Renaissance Italy seem to break the flow of the narrative, but their meaning becomes clear as the story progresses and in the end all seemingly loose threads are tied up. From the middle of the book the pace picks up rapidly and suspense reaches its height and it’s increasingly difficult to put it down to attend to other troublesome duties. One thing I was not happy with is the projection of the east-west-conflict into the near future, whenever that may be in this book.

In spite of some minor incoherences that can be overlooked NEMESIS offers a suspense-filled way to spend your free time.