Product Description

Go to the ends of the earth and back with the elite scientists of Sigma Force as they race to crack the ultimate mystery of mankind, a quest that will save or destroy us. From the frozen peaks of the Himalayas to the diamond fields of the Congo, from the subterranean labs of a lost era to the glittering halls of the Smithsonian, Sigma Force will face its most cunning adversaries, its most daunting challenges, and its most dire threat to unravel our most perplexing scientific mystery - the origins of life - a secret locked within cryptic runes. And the very future of mankind will belong to the victor. For any hope of success, former U.S. Navy SEAL Painter Crowe, head of the counterespionage team, must make a pact like no other: to align Sigma Force with an old enemy. And it will be up to Commander Gray Pierce to find the balance between salvation and damnation, even it if means sacrificing those closest to him. But victory is far from certain, for there are some riddles that even the greatest minds were never meant to solve...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304811 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

The Glasgow Herald
''a breakneck thriller''

Review
''a breakneck thriller'' (The Glasgow Herald )

About the Author
James Rollins is the author of seven previous bestselling novels. An amateur spelunker and scuba enthusiast, he also holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine. He currently lives and writes in Sacramento, California.

Customer Reviews

Another fantastically gripping book by this author!
I took this book away with me at Half Term, and discovered the usual snag to James Rollins' books - I couldn't put it down!!! The story was gripping, with a several strands linking together as the plot developed. Once again, we are introduced to the Sigma force and, from an early stage, we find that the life of one of the key characters is threatened - and there seems to be no cure. However, he pushes on and perseveres in his battle against another of the evil foes that he and the rest of the team encounter - and, as ever, the reader is pulled in further and further!

The plot is one that will instantly appeal to lovers of Dan Brown and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is pure adventure and fantasy, but at the same time, sweeps the reader around the world as the adventure travels through a range of countries!

Scientifically, it is as intriguing as any of his other books and sends you rushing to the internet to find out more! I will leave you to research which elements are based on truth and which are not!

For those who have enjoyed previous Sigma force books, I will say that there is a lot of good news on the relationship front in this book - as well as at least one that is left hanging!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Successfully Sticking to the Formula
For readers not familiar with James Rollins previous books he writes escapist fiction that mixes high adventure, usually in exotic locales, with just about believable science, global conspiracies, evil boo hiss bad guys and sometimes, but not always, monsters. In his two most recent novels, Sandstorm and Map of Bones he's also added in a group of heroes belonging to Sigma Force; an elite unit operated by the US weapons research department DARPA.

With Black Order, his latest novel, recently published in hardback in the US, Rollins sticks to the formula that has brought him success. Sigma is back, and so is the global conspiracy, evil meglomaniacal bad guys, psuedo-science, action, adventure and monsters. Featuring hidden bands of German Nazis and former Nazis, advanced sources of quantum energy and genetically altered humans and animals, and with action that jumps from Denmark to Nepal to South Africa, its what could fairly be described as a 'roller coaster ride'.

Okay, so its not going to win any prizes for realism or scientific accuracy (despite Rollins throwing in a bunch of scientific theories) but that's not really the point with Rollins' books. Like its predecessors what it is great fun, fast paced and exciting. Characters are developed well enough to be more than cyphers or plot devices, the conspiracies aren't too far fetched to be utterly implausible (with the possible exception of a Bavarian castle carved into a Nepalese mountain) and events unfold with a real sense of pace.

So if what you're looking for is fun escapism James Rollins is your man. Its worth picking up Sandstorm and Map of Bones first to experience Sigma's earlier adventures, but even without them Black Order is still one hell of a good read.

even better then map of bones!
I've only just stumbled upon James Rollins books and since reading map of bones have rushed out to buy the Sigma force books that go either side of that one, this is the one which comes after Map of bones and it is brilliant! I tried so hard to make the book last but it was so fast paced i read it in 4 days and couldn't believe it when i'd finished! The Sigma force characters are so well rounded, I totally sympathise to them all and find myself gasping aloud at the tense bits! I'm totally sold on Rollins as an action adventure author, i still have Sandstorm to read and as soon as i've finished that i intend to order some of the earlier books as i notice others have reviewed them well! If you want a gripping, pacey adventure to take you away from hum drum life then these books are for you!