Title: The Silicon War
Author: Mark Hanson
Publisher: Pageturner Press and Media
ISBN: 978-1649089328
Pages: 310
Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Hollywood Book Reviews
The Silicon War is a thrilling fictional story that is based on events as they may have happened after World War II. Set in the period during the Cold War and the arms race, the book begins with the American intelligence team realization that advanced electronic equipment and stolen integrated circuits from Silicon Valley companies have illegally reached communist nations, and in particular, the Soviet Union.
Author Mark Hanson introduces us to the three antagonists in the story. These are Rudolf Schmidt, a private businessman living in West Berlin, tasked with obtaining US high technology secrets for the Soviet Union; Glenn Robertson, an American who obtains reject microchips for Rudolf which is against international laws; and Dmitri Korsakov, a Russian government service worker, tasked with finding out intelligence information about the United States. The author juxtaposes the activities of these three characters with those of American CIA agents keen on cracking down this breach of contract and seal all the channels of these illegal activities.
These attempts by the US agents to close down the operations of the syndicate have different impacts on all those involved, including the US intelligence team, and even puts their lives at risk. Author Hanson explores heavy themes in his book and even generates conversations among the characters about communism and capitalism.
My favorite character was Bruce, a highly intelligent and well-trained man who relied on his mind to solve the mystery of the advanced electronic equipment and stolen integrated circuits from Silicon Valley. Marge’s character stood out as well. As a CIA agent, she was disciplined, intelligent, and had a phlegmatic personality. I enjoyed seeing how Irena and Marge’s encounter at a park grew into an impeccable friendship which would eventually save Irena’s life.
I found the writing style to be informative, neat, and detailed. The writer meticulously alternated between a slow and a fast pace. At the beginning of the story, many characters are introduced to the reader and I was curious to see how they would all fit into one wholesome plot. As the book buds, they all fit in perfectly in the mystery thriller.
I learned a lot about the Cold War and the relations between countries in Europe during that period. I recommend The Silicon War to readers who enjoy thoughtful, comprehensive, suspenseful and historical stories peppered with physics terms.