Absolute Zero

by Frederick Aldrich

Those responsible for the security of the nation were now fully awake, more so than they had ever been. The colonel’s words had bored through their fatigue like a laser. “If this thing is unleashed, the population of the planet will be returned to the level of the dark ages or perhaps even earlier. The very existence of mankind could be threatened.” In less than two minutes, they had been catapulted into a terrifying new world where they confronted a threat unlike any other in history. Like travelers awakening on a different planet, they were suddenly surrounded by a very unfamiliar landscape.

The gleaming silver tanker truck would not give up its secret easily. Only close inspection by a welder would reveal that the end cap had been skillfully reattached. Indeed, to motorists along the busy interstate, it appeared to identical to thousands of other such trucks that crisscross the country each day. But, unlike them, it contained no liquid, other than the bottled water for the terrorists concealed inside. They slept fitfully, the endless scream of eighteen tires burning into their consciousness. From time to time they would awaken and smoke a cigarette, never looking toward the box at the rear of the steel cavern. It contained a weapon they could not fathom, a horrible weapon.

In the early years, Fidel Castro believed his regime would usher in a new world order, with Cuba taking it place among the great nations of the hemisphere. But the American embargo had put an end to that, plunging his country practically into the Stone Age. Gradually, bicycles replaced cars as fuel shortages compounded the scarcity of virtually every basic necessity. On the walls throughout Havana, dispirited citizens scrawled ‘In Cuba, death is redundant.’ As his country slipped deeper into oblivion, Castro’s hatred grew and he resolved to repay the Americans for what they had done.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

397 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book, telling a tale of Cuban involvement with Iran and Hamas to launch a bio weapons attack against the US was brilliantly conceived and painstakingly plotted. High praise goes to the author for understanding that such a threat exists but also the many challenges facing anyone attempting to find terrorists within our borders or mounting an adequate defense when they are located.

Especially noteworthy is that the book was published in 1999 before many Americans understood our vulnerability to Islamic extremists focused on doing our citizens harm on a scale unknown to date.

In the last half of the book the action is fast paced and riveting but much of the earlier chapters droned on, dealing with one portion of the plot for an extended periods. The story would not miss anything if, for example, half of the details about deadly viruses was edited out.

With editing of some overly done chapters and better timeline and denouement, this could be a five star novel. The ending is totally unsatisfying however, and that is a real shame and seriously detrimental to the book. I've re-read the last chapter three times to make sure I am not missing something but still find the end to be intentionally vague, leaving me almost thinking - if I don't really understand the outcome past a certain critical attack, I wish I hadn't begun to read.

Was a sequel planned? This seems the only possibility that makes sense. Given how complex the plot to destroy America was laid out, I feel the author would have improved the book tremendously if he gave some attention to what happened in the days and weeks following the climax. Likely going for drama and shock value, he just didn't succeed the way he could have.

[Cheryl Turoczy Hart]

Entered this by mistake so just cleaning up my list

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is fairly well edited, it contains so many plot holes and improbabilities that it just becomes too much and can't bear the weight of the plot.

**** Warning! **** Potential Spoilers Below ****

Essentially there is zero character development, and nothing even remotely realistic in how the main protagonist should act. At least half the book would have never occurred if they had even once decided to involve proper authorities. The first opportunity was the moment he found the truck with the mud in the airport parking; the entire thing should have gone completely differently if he had acted as a normal person would to report that. The second would have been when the car with the scientists was exploded - how many red flags and coincidences need to occur to get someone in this story to act normally?
 
Also, as anyone who drives in this real world must wonder at the completely unbelievable "good fortune" for the antagonists' truck in being, apparently, utterly unimpeded by any other traffic which might slow it's progress. Makes one wonder if the author has ever actually driven on any road within say 90 minutes of Chicago.

Additionally, apparently even though by this time all authorities are aware there is a threat, very few of the police are able to get good shots on the terrorists, while the terrorists are able to cut them down nearly infallibly.

Then there's the completely ridiculous addition of some "regular guy wronged"-turned terrorist-turned hero that is just too ridiculous, especially as his weapon for revenge, one which considerable time was spent planning and building, doesn't even factor into the ending at all - that would have at least made some sense, however improbable. But no, it's just another random thing that has no function other than as a vehicle to get the "bad guy-turned-hero" to the point of saving the world with some other randomly accessible explosive vehicle.

And then it just ends... like there's nothing left after the main incident. Nothingness, as if the author just got tired of writing and stopped.

Boring, cliched, and unimaginative.

[Dave Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absobsolute Zero is excellent


With many twists and turns, this action adventure 8s well worth reading. Starting rather slowly, the story gains momentum to a explosive ending.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good plot - cinematic. A bit too tied to the 1990's. Could have used more imagination in character names. Also, sometimes repetitive - will describe the same thing over and over. Sloppy editing, especially the use of the word "shore"

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Absolute Zero" was published in 1999 and was written by Frederick Aldrich. Mr. Aldrich has written four novels.

This is written in the third person with the action taking place in several places around the world in the late 90's. A combined operation between Cuba and middle eastern terrorists threatens the US. Principals in the story are Cuban leaders (thinly disguised from Fidel Castro and his brother), American intelligence and military, as well as the terrorists. The primary hero figure does not appear until almost a third of the way through the novel.

It took me a little over 13 hours to read this novel. I enjoyed the novel, though it would have been better if I had read it closer to 1999 as it did seem a little dated. There were more editing errors than I expected in the novel. In the parts of the story set in Cuba, conversations were a mix of English and Spanish, which was a little odd. The novels started with action, but then slowed down for a few chapters, but did pick up. I give this a 4 out of 5.

All of the book reviews I have written can be found at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/

[Frank Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It really made me think about if this could happen here. Also, I liked the way gave real life characteristics to the fictional world leaders, most notably the President of Cuba and how he liked to give speeches that would last hours. I strongly recommend this book.

[Ehuerte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! Suspense, thrills & action. Intense, non-stop Without being frenzied or implausible.

[Carmen Gaarder kumm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the kind of book I usually read, hard to get into it but the last 1/4 was excellent except the end, it just ended, no follow up at all

[Michel Clasquin-Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cinematic thriller. You can spot the ending a mile away, but the way the author reaches it is entertaining. Tight plotting, sloppy editing.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written way before it's time! Scary.