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The Last Sword Maker
- The Course of Empire Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Bradford Hastings
- Series: The Course of Empire Series, Book 1
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
Non-member price: $38.97
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Publisher's Summary
In the high mountains of Tibet, rumors are spreading. People whisper of an outbreak, of thousands of dead, of bodies pushed into mass graves. It is some strange new disease...a disease, they say, that can kill in minutes.
The Chinese government says the rumors aren't true, but no one is allowed in or out of Tibet.
At the Pentagon, admiral James Curtiss is called to an emergency meeting. Satellite images prove that a massive genocide is underway, and an American spy has made a startling discovery. This is no disease. It's a weapons test. Chinese scientists have developed a way to kill based on a person's genetic traits. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The success of their new weapon proves that the Chinese are nearing "Replication" - a revolutionary breakthrough that will tip the global balance of power and change the way wars are waged.
Now the US must scramble to catch up before it is too late. Admiral Curtiss gathers the nation's top scientists, including a promising young graduate student named Eric Hill who just might hold the missing piece to the replication puzzle. Soon Hill and his colleague Jane Hunter are caught up in a deadly game of sabotage as the two nations strive to be the first to reach the coveted goal. But in their headlong race, they create something unexpected...something the world has never seen and something more powerful than they had ever imagined.
The Last Sword Maker is an exciting globe-trotting thriller with unforgettable characters that depicts a haunting vision of the future of warfare.
A Publishers Weekly pick of 2018's Mysteries and Thrillers' "Not the Usual Suspects".
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What listeners say about The Last Sword Maker
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dr K
- 12-09-2020
Scary Future Possibilities of China VS USA
Having listened to this in Sept 2020 during a global pandemic, that we think originated in China, this novel had a different impact than it would of if I’d listened to it last year.
As technology advances at stunning speeds, nanotechnology being developed now is very real possibility. ALL scientific advancements we are achieving need to begin with the universal question of “Just because we can, should we? “ Nanotechnology can have some amazing benefits at a genetic & molecular level to cure disease, famine and to improve the overall human condition...but at what costs?
The Last Sword Maker is set in our very near future of 2025 when nanotechnology has been fully developed. It includes geopolitical aspects of China vs USA in a rush to develop the technology for military purposes.
The characters in the book are interesting though I would of liked a deeper dive into their back stories. Especially since the plot involves China’s genocide of the Tibet people and the ongoing suppression of individual rights in a communist regime. However this novel wasn’t intended to be an intense study of technology & geopolitics. It sticks to the surface of these much more complicated themes.
Overall, I would recommend this listen. I think Nelson did a good job of writing a thriller that kept me entertained while at the same time leaving me with thoughts of just how fragile our geopolitical climate is with China and actually any nation that can develop technology that would allow for a new kind of war we have not seen since the atom bomb.
As usual Bradford Hastings did an excellent performance!
22 people found this helpful
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- Ray Graham
- 31-08-2020
Great listen or read
A very surprising twist and it all worked. Just don’t be too harsh or judgmental on the science. It was a good book.
I can easily recommend this book. Narrator was awesome.
15 people found this helpful
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- kathleen
- 08-08-2019
wow
This was a well crafted novel that kept my attention from beginning to end. Thank you!
12 people found this helpful
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- C E Wright
- 14-09-2020
A possible reality.
This is not a happy sunshine story, it is a prophetic possibility. Simply put be careful when playing like a god.
10 people found this helpful
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- Stormin2b1
- 10-09-2020
so realistic I hope it doesn't become reality
At the pace technology advancement is moving it's easy for me to see this being a reality.
9 people found this helpful
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- Donna Walczak
- 09-12-2020
Too gruesome and narration very bland
The story is way too gruesome with descriptions of gratuitous violence that do little to enhance the story, The audiobook instead seems to target listeners with an unhealthy fascination with cruelty and sadism with little real story development. This is not a thriller, it is an exercise in psychopathy. As for the narration - the monotonous delivery and overall bland reading does nothing to improve the crappy story. Don't waste your time on this one
6 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-09-2020
Good 😊
This audiobook will be the reason I listen to random audiobooks,not just reviewed ones.
6 people found this helpful
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- J. Janca
- 26-11-2020
Lame
I can’t decide if the author was paid by the government to make this propaganda. The characters are stereotypes and extremely simplistic. The plot and action scenes reek of melodrama, pro US, bad China, and only the use of super weapons (for the greater good) can save us. It’s just too much, I would rather read military history.
4 people found this helpful
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- James
- 02-10-2020
Underwhelming
I was waiting for the real action to start. This sounds like the prequel. Literally. Did I just read a prequel?
3 people found this helpful
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- Jimmy
- 23-10-2018
Good book
It starts off great. It does slow down in the middle off the book and I felt myself having to just bore thru some of the parts but I'm glad I did. I will buy book two to see where this series is off too.
3 people found this helpful
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- McKeon
- 04-08-2020
Great listen
loved this story really good plot very well narrated, would definitely recommend this audio book
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- Peter
- 09-07-2020
Enthralling
Brilliant! So plausible, yet so frightening to believe that we are so far ahead with science, a scenario just like this could be just around the corner. Couldn’t put the book down. Can’t wait for the author’s next novel - unless fiction becomes fact!
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- Dennis Power
- 10-11-2018
Unputdownable
A gripping story absolutely loved it I'd sussed what was going to happen with Eric just before the end due to the way the story was written great book
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