Britt Gillette's Conquest of Paradise is a complex, engaging thriller. Completely ignorant of nano-technology, this reviewer found himself searching the net to learn more. The things learned at sites where research is well underway confirmed the frightening reality I learned in the book.

The tragic events of September 11 terrorist attacks are unleashed in the novel, focusing on the plane that crashes into the Pentagon. A plan is presented to the president known as The White Horse Plan. It sets forth the policy to and outline to begin the newest arms race. It involves a revolutionary technology known as nanotechnology. The first nation to possess what is known as an assembler, will essentially be protected from any type of terrorist attack.

"The maturation of assembler-based nanotechnology will shower tremendous benefits on Americas humanity, but those benefits come with a price. Serious dangers lurk around the corner…Whoever breaks out with the assembler lead, whether it's a several hour lead or several year lead--that state will have the rest of world at it's mercy."

In a contest to be the first with an assembler, it is important to construct a way to defend against an attack should America not win the race.

At the same time Raphael Vicente is on a quest of his own, as the new president Europe he has the power to follow through on a life-long mission. He is working to eliminate disease, poverty and oppressive power.

With relevant passages from the Bible quoted at the beginning of each chapter, it is clear that things cannot work as smoothly as planned. With power come all things associated with it. Raphael, as well as other leaders, learn that they must act and react to events that take place.

With explosive narrative, fast-paced scenes, and an intense plot, Conquest of Paradise is as troubling a thriller as you can expect to read. The plot is very comparable to a Tom Clancy novel; the writing, parallel. The characters are deep, rich and well defined. The likelihood of the fiction of nanotechnology becoming true, all too likely.

Book Summary:

September 11, 2001 marks the beginning of a world-wide war on terror. Unbeknownst to the citizens of the Western Powers, their governments are working on a modern-day Manhattan Project to create a weapon so potent, it will defeat the terrorists of the world once and for all. In an era when the very survival of liberty and the global economic system are daily threatened by weapons of mass destruction, the Western democracies ardently push the limits of the known universe to unleash a weapon of unrivaled omnipotence--a self-replicating assembler.

Amidst these troubled times, a god-like figure rises to power. As leader of the newly integrated European Union, Raphael Vicente sets out on a bold quest to exterminate disease, eliminate poverty, and destroy the world's oppressors. The ascendance of this new breakthrough technology sets the stage for realizing his dream--a world entrenched in democratic social justice for all peoples of the world.

But in Raphael's world of black and white, the dream of eradicating injustice proves to be a formidable task, and in the end, man's elusive pursuit of perfection drives him to the edge of never-before imagined consequences. In a struggle to provide adequate security, while preserving liberty, quick decisions must be made, and they leave the world teetering on the brink of annihilation.

REVIEWED BY PHILLIP TOMASSO III

DO NOT REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, PHILLIP TOMASSO III

Phillip Tomasso III is the award-winning author of Adverse Impact, Johnny Blade, Third Ring, Tenth House and Mind Play. He works full time as an employment law paralegal, freelances for a community newspaper and writes regular book reviews for Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, The Best Reviews and Curled Up With A Good Book. Tomasso also writes middle grade novels under the pen name, Grant R. Philips. King Gauthier and the Little Dragon Slayer will be released by Port Town Publishing, September 2003; Sounds of Silence in the Fall of 2004 by Star Bright Books. Living in Rochester, New York with his wife and three children. Tomasso is currently at work on his next mystery and middle grade novels.