The Trigger [Hardcover]

This is a sensational masterpiece of fiction that has you asking questions as it goes along and wondering what if this were true? This analyses the gun debate from both sides of the story. If read with an open mind you'll get more out of this novel then if you read with a tunnel very pro gun or very anti gun vision.

This is one of the greatest books ever written and is about twice the size of a normal novel so is extremely good value for money. If you want a work of fiction that debates the issue of society without guns while taking you along for a fast paced thrill ride from cover to cover then this is for you. Warning though, once you start you won't be able to put this masterpiece down so buy some blank tapes because you won't be watching TV for a while.

Jeffrey Horton working for Terabyte Laboratories unwittingly invents a device that makes bullets and any other explosive devices explode when 'the trigger' is turned on thereby making guns or terrorist bombs useless in an area covered by the machine. At first this seems like the greatest invention in mankind's history with cowards no longer being able to use guns to rob, murder or even intimidate society. Not everyone however is pleased by this. Not only are there gun totting rednecks who think it is their constitutional right to have guns but the US army can see they will be at a disadvantage to more populous countries without being able to use bombs and guns. The Trigger asks the question will society really be better of without these sorts of weapons? Will Horton be able to manufacture and get his product out world wide before those who oppose it stop him? He soon realises his life will be short lived if he can't get develop, test and get this machine to everyone who needs it before it is too late. Sensational novel, just buy it!

This collaberation between Clarke and Kube-McDowell takes a simple 'what if?' question and develops it in a logical manner to its eventual cyclical conclusion. In this case the 'what if?' is 'What if we were able to render all nitrate-based munitions impotent?' What would the global, political and social consequences be?
In 'Trigger' our authors seek to pursue this to its ultimate conclusion with a massive dose of cutting edge physics and mathematics thrown in along the way.
The story focuses on the Terabyte corporation, whose bright young spark, Dr Jeffrey Horton, experiences scientific serendipity one day and discovers that he has created a machine that destabilises any nitrate-based compound, effectively acting as a detonator. Not only that, it has a range that is dictated only by its power. Inevitably, the realization occurs that this can act as an invisible shield as all known munitions simply explode or decay on contact with the edge of the shield thus paving the way for a fiercely debated topic as to the constitutional legitimacy of effectively removing the second act of the US constitution.
Very quickly, Horton and his boss, Karl Brohier, decide to release the discovery to the US government and President Mark Breland authorizes the development of the Trigger, thus loosing all the inherent issues that come with it. Over the next few hundred pages we are treated to debate at the highest level, amongst all forums possible as to the constitutionality of the trigger, its global impact and the social upheaval that it brings. This debate in its various forms dominates most of the book, Senator Wilman and Senator Trent taking it to its personal conclusion.
As the politics and debate rage, the Trigger continues to be developed, version 2 giving some ability to control a 'beam' and then the discovery that a Jammer can be developed that takes the initial 'hammer' effect that the Trigger version 1 has and convert it to a tool that safely disables all munitions. This is based on the scientific realization that the universe is simply a set of information instructions that binds energy and that if you change the instructions you can change anything. In a lot of respects, it's the ultimate alchemical answer - lead can truly be turned to gold.
The book's lengthy conclusion has Horton being kidnapped by a group demanding to know how to shield themselves from the effects of the Trigger and his final rescue before the final logical scientific step is taken in the last pages when they realize that as DNA enables them to isolate any specific individual then any single person can be uniquely targeted for expiry. So, by the end, we have come full circle and discovered that the ability of universal alchemy not only gives the means to save lives, but also to take it away.
I found this an intriguing piece of science fiction from the acknowledged master of the genre and Clarke's co-authorship with Kube-McDowell is written in a manner that makes compulsive reading. Laced throughout with the necessary debate that such an invention would engender, this is another fine effort.

This novel is typical of the influence of the great master of Sci-Fi himself and up incoming star Michael P Kube-McDowell.

Although it is a little long winded to read it does eventually pick up a storyline that totally goes of in a typical Arthur C. Clarke direction and leaves you quite chilled at the story's end.

The basic story is of a handfull of scientists in the not too distant future, who quite accidently stumble across a way of disabling the entire World's stock of fire arms. Using electrons to ignite gunpowder. Soon the discovery reaches the White House and the chance to disarm the world of weapons is undertaken...

If it was only that simple and in doing so the Trigger causes more distruction. However the same scientists later find a way around this and soon the Trigger, in a more safer form is released onto the mass market.

Soon the the enevidable uprising of those who think it is their right to bare arms (as it does say in the Constitution) takes over the storyline. A high paced conclusion is in order and that totally Aurthur C. Clarke twisted ending that he is famous for leaves you hanging and thinking, "Maybe having the world armed with primitive guns is not such a bad idea after all."

sheesh!