Title: The Spear And The Sentinel
Author: J. L. Hancock
Publisher: Braveship Books
ISBN: 978-1-64062-202-9
Pages: 340
Genre: Fiction / Techno-Thriller
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.
Hollywood Book Reviews
Author J. L. Hancock’s The Spear And The Sentinel is a fast-paced techno-thriller featuring themes of weapons of mass destruction and artificial intelligence weaponry. Miles Johnson, the newly appointed CIA Chief of Station from Japan, calls Voodoo and his group to conduct a covert operation in Japan. This is connected to an American asset who has escaped from a Chinese reeducation center. She was detained on “suspicion of having had communication with people who were thought to be involved in terrorism.” She witnessed crucial events related to a very dubious project at a covert laboratory that aimed to advance AI warfare. Unfortunately, she refuses to say anything unless she is aided first in getting someone important to her out of a highly secured facility in China.
One year prior, Voodoo and a few other team members had been embroiled in a high-stakes conflict over a potent artificial intelligence technology known as the God Algorithm. Although there were no deaths, the understanding that this was simply the beginning of a disastrous global security situation has them concerned about what may happen next.
This stunning sequel to The Hawk Enigma instantly transports readers to the middle of a developing tech-driven cold war. One of its most notable characters is a woman who will do everything to secure her freedom, even if it means killing someone. The stakes rise as her escape draws the attention of key Communist Party figures. The author, who has served in government intelligence groups for twenty years, does a fantastic job of describing how a unique access program – the proactive element of the AI Cold War – was developed. He expertly builds tension in each chapter of the story by emphasizing how vital and urgent it is to win this battle, “before anybody even realizes it has started.”
Suspense and trepidation pervade the pages of The Spear And The Sentinel as it unfolds. It offers a look on future periods of sophisticated technology that countries could be willing to finance. This is an intriguing, enlightening, and enjoyable book on having the fortitude to face any obstacle in life, regardless of the gloom of the past. It has all the elements a fan of thrillers would want – action, tension, high-stakes themes, state-of-the-art technology, and, most of all, engaging characters.