sandstorm

Sandstorm
By James Rollins
William Morrow
An imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY
10022
www.harpercollins.com
Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure
446 Pages
Principal settings:
London, England
Oman
The Empty Quarter, Arabian Desert

A mysterious explosion rocks the British Museum. In the aftermath scientists discover a clue to the location of an ancient city that lies buried in the sands of the Middle East. Tests on the debris suggest that the inhabitants of that city may once have had the power to harness an unusual form of energy, a force only recently rediscovered by modern physics.

The patroness of the exhibit, superwealthy Lady Kara Kensington finances an expedition to the heart of the desert to find the answers to its destruction. But she is also searching for something more. Twenty years ago she watched helplessly as her father was swept into the heart of a sand devil, a natural phenomena called by the locals nisnases or black ghosts. At last, she feels close to solving the mystery of his disappearance.

More clues to the hidden city surface in the tombs of revered biblical figures, but only Middle Eastern history expert and British Museum curator, Dr. Safia al-Maaz can unravel their riddles. She and Lady Kara have been friends since childhood, but the secrets she is uncovering may set them apart forever.

The promise of virtually limitless power draws other forces into the quest, chiefly the U.S. government and a powerful clandestine organization that spans the globe. Both dispatch emissaries to secure the power source, which puts U.S. agent Painter Crowe up against a particularly resourceful enemy commando team led by Crowe's turncoat former partner, Cassandra Sanchez. Unfortunately, for Crowe, she seems to possess the power to anticipate his every move.

A group opposed to all of these competitors enters the picture. For millennia a desert tribe composed only of women have preserved the city's secrets. Claiming descent from the city's last inhabitants, they wield esoteric powers that may be equal to any of the cutting edge technologies the others employ.

A collision between forces is inevitable, and it seems destined to take place in the midst of a mammoth sandstorm of unprecedented size and power. Surviving the fury of the storm will push all of the characters to their limits and force them to call upon all of their strength and resources.

But for most of them, mere survival isn't enough. Each character is embarked on a personal quest that means almost as much to him or her as life itself.

Author James Rollins pelts the reader with a veritable sandstorm of physics, ancient lore, and esoteric Middle Eastern history. Steadfastly rejecting the temptation to turn aside from his pulse-pounding yarn to delve into the fascinating scientific and archeological background, Rollins recklessly burns through full clips of simple declarative sentences to keep the action rolling. Not only does the pace never flag, Rollins doesn't allow his readers so much as a moment to catch their breath before the next peril looms.

Obviously, this is a storytelling technique that will not appeal to every reader, but if you favor mysterious quests, larger than life characters, games of wit, and desperate battles, Rollins is your man and "Sandstorm" is your book. Enjoy!