Flash

Set in a near-future where Mars is a thriving colony and artificial intelligence has achieved self-awareness, this novel follows a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who left the service to pursue a doctorate and a successful career in advanced advertising. His quiet life is shattered when a deep-state conspiracy, driven by the desire to wage war against Mars to cover up financial corruption, targets him. The antagonists clone him to serve as a fall guy, leading to the murder of his family and forcing the protagonist to reawaken his dormant commando skills to survive and uncover the truth.

The narrative blends high-tech espionage with personal redemption, exploring the ethical implications of cloning and the lingering trauma of military service. Modesitt’s prose is direct and action-oriented, balancing technical details of the futuristic setting with a character study of a man torn between his past as a soldier and his present as a civilian intellectual. The story serves as a standalone thriller within the broader science fiction tradition, focusing on political intrigue and the personal cost of state-sponsored violence.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.