- Hardcover: 391 pages
- Publisher: McArthur & Company / Not Applicable; First Edition edition (Sep 4 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 193240709X
- ISBN-13: 978-1932407099
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 794 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #945,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The startling cover of Collins's new thriller, of a nuclear bomb exploding along a country road, well fits this frightening speculative tale, which describes how Iran might come into possession of a nuclear weapon. "As you read this," veteran journalist Collins (Fall from Grace; Oh, Jerusalem with Dominique Lapierre; etc.) writes in an author's note, "Iran possesses at least three, and possibly as many as six nuclear weapons," and then goes on to warn that "much of what you are about to read is true." The story Collins tells follows two basic plot lines: one follows the money, as Iranians transform opium gathered from Afghan poppies into heroin by way of Turkey, then into cash to fund their weapons program; the second follows disaffected CIA agent Jim Duffy as he's recruited from his Maine hideaway to prevent the Iranians from obtaining triggers for their nuclear devices. Both plot lines grab interest, but the novel would have been stronger if they were better integrated. The story is grounded in the deep research Collins is known for, which takes the reader into such arcane matters as encryption; nuclear arms; drug growing, drug processing and drug-running; money counterfeiting and laundering; Special Forces techniques. There's even a bit of romance, as Duffy falls for a widowed American ex-pat. "Many have asked why I didn't write this as a work of nonfiction," writes Collins. "I'm afraid that is just not possible. It would put innocent people at great risk." Nonetheless, this gripping novel features, along with strong action sequences and a wicked surprise ending, enough detail and verisimilitude to unnerve most readers at the same time that it entertains them.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Collins employs his talent as a nonfiction writer--he cowrote Is Paris Burning? (1965)--in this engrossing story of Iran's quest for militant Islamic domination. In fact, Collins begins with a rather passionate argument for how, while much of his research could support the details of what he recounts as being true, this is indeed a work of fiction. (Dost thou protest too much, Mr. Collins?) At issue here is how Iran funds its alleged purchase of nuclear weapons--the dreaded WMD--and thus is able to keep its neighbors on high alert and the West in a state of panic. The source is opium, which is harvested throughout war-torn Afghanistan, processed in Turkey, and sold as high-grade heroin in the West. It's up to Jim Duffy, a retired CIA operative dragged back into action, to connect the links in this chain of corruption, where crazed zealots in positions of authority exploit devout Muslims to carry out unspeakable acts. (Compared to what is happening in Iran, Duffy concludes, the cold war was downright gentlemanly.) This is a compelling enough high-concept thriller on its own, but knowing there might be truth beneath the surface makes it disturbing on an altogether different level. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
wordy, lenghthy, 1-dimensional & self-justified.,
By justareader (yorba linda, ca United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Road to Armageddon (Hardcover)
i was lured to get this book simply based upon two reasons: 1) larry collins' the 5th horseman & is paris burning? were two great books high on my list, 2) other viewers' great ratings. but after i've tried several times to re-jump start to reread from those last pages i've dropped or given up, i've found myself impossible to continue to finish this one. so boring, so one-dimensional, so tastelessly written with cardboard-like characters, so formatted and contrite cliched plot, and, i just hate to read the words 'weapon of mass destruction' again and again. why not just use nuke, nuclear bomb? and you are not supposedly to understand those old jargons that they mean mass destruction? do we really have to change 'barbershop' into 'hair stylist saloon'? they are actually the same: cutting your hairs for a price if you don't want to cut it yourself. now, we are trying very hard bashing iran after we destroyed iraq, after bashing china, india, pakistan, libya...what and who else on our shortlist? north korea! i believed that i've already seen some of the opportunist novelists have already cooked up some thrillers with some patriotic spies and under-cover agents to infiltrate into north korea (as the lastest lousy video-game-like 007 movie) to do some real damages to pave the warpath of liberating that dirt poor country run by a stubborn and stupid sob. the other thought came into my mind when i tried continuely to re-read this book again and again was: every country got its own patriotism. when two different patriotisms clash, you simply cannot blame other coutry's patriotism and insist they are wrong. every countrmen like iranians, iraqians, chinese, koreans....and so on, got their own patriotisms to protect their own countries and to fight other patriotic invaders. patriots from two different countries killing each other with their own patriotism simply cannot justify the righteousness of the winning side. give me a break, larry, and no cigar for you this time.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A book which both entertains and educates you.,
By Wayne (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Road to Armageddon (Hardcover)
This book is a thriller which describes how money received from trafficking heroin could be used by terrorists to aquire weapons to carry out attacks. the author spends a lot of time describing the various tactics used by the terrorists and the police to outwit each other.Actually this part of the book is the only minor flaw as the story gets a bit bogged down in the middle as the authour describes in great detail how the heroin trade works in the Middle East.The last third of this book is very exiting.Overall the book is both exiting and informative.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very timely, exciting story,
By Pangloss "soldierblue" (Woodstock, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Road to Armageddon (Hardcover)
This may be a fictional story, but it could very easily become reality. After reading it, you can see that all of the events could be in tomorrow's headlines. It is a great story that moves along quickly and is easy to read. The characters are not really well developed but this is a plot oriented story. It is quite scary and Mr. Collins seems to have a lot of factual knowledge to support this storyline. My only complaint is the romantic byline in the second half of the book. Although not much time was devoted to it, it is the one unbelievable event in the book. Otherwise I highly recommend it. It is a story that will scare you and keep you reading late into the night.
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