Reviews of Timothy S. Johnston’s A Blanket of Steel |

Reviews:

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “In Johnston’s SF novel, one in a series, an aquatic separatist is targeted for revenge.

In the year is 2131, due mostly to environmental factors, much of the human population now lives in colonies on the ocean floor. Truman McClusky is the mayor of one such colony, called Trieste City. He and the leaders of 14 other colonies declare independence from any of the surface countries like the United States or China. This collection of 15 declares itself a nation called Oceania. McClusky and the others know this act will spark conflict, and they have made preparations … McClusky and his close associates respond to trouble with action that ranges from close range combat to torpedo-fueled attacks. The result is a thriller that keeps moving from confrontation to confrontation. Technological details, such as an explanation on the importance and history of graphene, emerge from the story to help make this world seem possible … with constant danger and the vast depths of the ocean as a setting, there is always reason to keep reading.

While the political intrigue is lacking, the narrative propels at an appealing pace.” — Kirkus Reviews

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READERS’ FAVORITE: “In A Blanket of Steel, the protagonist of the entire series, Truman McClusky, faces two formidable foes in his determined efforts to make the 15 undersea colonies, known as Oceania, fully independent of their climate change-ravaged mother countries on land. The mother countries rely for their existence on Oceania but refuse to pay what their products are worth. McClusky’s other foe is the Steel Shiv, an undefeated, merciless, and mercenary Russian assassin. When McClusky makes the long-awaited declaration of independence, the final, most decisive, and deadliest war begins. While McClusky is focused on leading Oceania to victory, the Steel Shiv is focused on killing McClusky. There is just so much mental and physical action and activity filling the pages of A Blanket of Steel that it’s impossible to capture it in a short review. Solution? Read the book and prepare to be blown away by one of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure to read. Timothy S. Johnston is simply amazing.” — FIVE Stars from Readers’ Favorite

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AMAZING STORIES: “A Blanket of Steel is not simply a ‘daring do’ thriller. It is actually a serious look at the possibilities inherent in learning how to exploit the ocean’s riches for the benefit of humanity …

So, is Johnston just another writer grabbing relevant info from here and there to back up the underlying theme of his latest novel (the entire series, for that matter) to provide enough tidbits of ‘fact’ to render his fiction plausible?

The man writes from a profound knowledge of the subject …

The series begins with the oceans having risen, populations under extreme stress and dwindling, climate change running riot. A number of the most advanced industrialized nations have established undersea colonies on the continental shelf where stable populations are surviving, growing, and learning to be independent of the resources of the surface world.

Naturally this involves ever advancing technologies enabling mankind to go deeper and deeper. Johnston points out that many of the technologies he describes already exist, albeit not yet applied to crewed vehicles. And many of the more science fictional technologies are under active research and may actually be feasible within a surprisingly short span of time.

… It’s all about resources, and a precursor of things to come. Wars are going to be fought over these claims. The premise of The Rise of Oceania is not farfetched. It’s prescient.

… Anyway, Truman and his cohorts follow a trail of clues to assorted locations in the Pacific. We get to visit various undersea habitats, some of them of highly specialized purpose, and ride in a variety of vehicles. This ‘tour’ constitutes a running series of violent acts of sabotage and even more violent encounters with The Shiv and other enemy agents, many of whom are working at cross purposes. Betrayal seems as constant as revenge, greed, and our other shining emotions which supposedly lift us above the level of the animal kingdom. Things get very complicated.

Especially trying for Truman, evidence mounts that one of his companions is indeed The Shiv. Trouble is evidence mounts against all of them equally. This is beginning to drive him nuts. Paranoid fantasy begins to rule the roost. None of his friends are in a happy frame of mind either. They not only suspect each other, but fear that Truman’s intense suspicion will get them all killed.

Johnston is adept at keeping the tension rising. Just when you think Truman has figured everything out satisfactorily, the situation goes awry, and the situation is more dangerous than before. One encounter after another appears to resolve the problem, but in fact makes things worse. Trumen and The Shiv manage to evade each other’s murderous intent, against all odds but in keeping with the rapidly evolving situation, that one begins to wonder if they are immortal. But, of course, they’re not. It’s only a matter of time before one kills the other. Trouble is they appear to be equally matched and equally lucky. This causes no end of pain for everyone associated with them.

Meanwhile, events elsewhere are weaving a plot arc of their own. Rest assured all the disparate elements, no matter how unexpectedly complicating, ultimately make sense and come together for a satisfying conclusion. Satisfying not only in terms of the book, but of the series as a whole.

Conclusion:

… Beneath all the fun and excitement, there’s a serious message worth thinking about.

At any rate, A Blanket of Steel offers hope for our future. Johnston has put enough thought and research into the prospect to render the promise of the premise plausible and doable. It would be wonderful if he turns out to be prescient in that, too.” — Amazing Stories

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SFCROWSNEST: “For decades, the underwater colonies have been the backbone of commerce for a climate ravaged world, eroded coastlines and drought-stricken farmland, supplying food and other necessary resources. But their treatment at the hands of the sovereign fleets has been less than humane …

Over the course of the ‘Rise Of Oceania’ series, Johnston has guided Mac and his team through several adventures involving mystery, intrigue, revenge, bleeding edge technology and even a prison break. With each book, the stakes rise as Mac works to gather the tools necessary for him and his underwater coalition to not only declare independence but outlast the reaction of the world’s powers as they realise they no longer own the seas. Weapons never heard of, technology that enables Trieste’s subs to go deeper and faster and defences against the inevitable …

Mac has six days before the hurricane makes landfall, no more than seven days before the United States Submarine Fleet (USSF) arrives to reclaim their territory, to find his CSO. Cliff Sims had been following a trail of breadcrumbs to a final piece of technology that could allow the underwater colonies to stay ahead in the coming war. As it turns out, however, those breadcrumbs were scattered by an old enemy, one Mac thought he had already dealt with.

This enemy has a new tool: an assassin known as the Steel Shiv … and three new operatives have just arrived on the scene, one from Sheng City and two from Churchill Downs. Both underwater cities are allies, but are these operatives working for or against independence? Could one of them be this assassin?

Mac’s final mission will uncover the truth and guarantee the freedom of the new nation of Oceania but he’ll have to risk all of it along the way, including his own life.

If you’ve read any of the books in this series, you’ll think you know what to expect and, to some extent, you’ll be right. Innovative technology, Mac taking risks no one else would dare and thinking his way through to brilliant solutions. Camaraderie and betrayal. The testing and strengthening of family ties. But the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been before. This is it. The countdown to the final battle. Mac has enough to worry about without having to play a game of cat and mouse with an assassin. But it’s him or them and the countdown has begun.

Johnston does an excellent job of keeping the tension taut as he plays with the reader’s perceptions of characters we thought we knew and trusted and the relationships built thus far. I really did wonder if Mac would make it through to the end of this one!

But while I’m sad the series has concluded, I feel as though Johnston has left Oceania exactly as it should be, riding a rising tide that could easily carry a new series or simply be left to enjoy their independence.” — SFcrowsnest

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MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW: “Young adult and adult sci-fi readers who found the previous Oceania futuristic setting alluring in Timothy S. Johnston’s past writings will want to make A Blanket of Steel a priority selection …

The political confrontation in the name of freedom embraces the new possibilities of a submarine that can reach unprecedented depths, bringing terror and murder campaigns on and below the high seas.

As in his previous books, Johnston presents vivid confrontations between characters, political powerhouses, and a world transformed by climate change. The dual focus on thriller elements and sci-fi settings lends to an action-packed story that most cli-fi does not embrace in a vivid story of confrontation and survival tactics that is hard to put down …

As traps are laid, interceptions and counterpoints planned, and subterfuge revealed, all ages are provided with a thoroughly engrossing tale that feels realistic for its underlying probe of psychological motivations and responses and shifting political climates.

A Blanket of Steel is especially highly recommended for readers who enjoy futuristic stories set in cli-fi environments where nautical and political issues are compellingly presented.

Libraries that seek cli-fi collection additions that both stand nicely alone and compliment other books in series will find A Blanket of Steel outstanding.” — D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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AUTHOR MICHAEL LIBLING: “Oh, man! What an opening! What an ending! What a storyteller! This is EVERYTHING a great adventure novel should be. Slam-bang from start to finish, Johnston brings his multi-award-winning Oceania series to a close with the aptly-titled A Blanket of Steel, a rousing, hugely satisfying cap to a rousing, hugely satisfying series. Calling this superb techno-thriller action-packed is no exaggeration. Johnston keeps the reader riffling the pages, chapter after chapter, cliffhanger to cliffhanger, as he pits Truman McClusky and company against the most formidable and original villain I’ve encountered in years. Just wait till you meet The Steel Shiv! Yes, Johnston’s command of advanced technology is on full display once again. But what makes this all the more remarkable is how seamlessly the author incorporates his research and knowledge into the story, grounding the tale with a frightening tour of an all-too-plausible future. Bottom line: Expect to be left breathless. Indeed, readers would be well advised to keep a SCUBA tank nearby. The deeper you dive alongside McClusky and crew, the more you’ll need it. Trust me here. Please. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.” — Michael Libling, author of The Serial Killer’s Son Takes A Wife and Hollywood North: A Novel in Six Reels

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