James C. Glass

This book moves right along as a series of three murders propels a pair of grad students into a gray zone where classified research projects provoke treason on some sides, self-defense on others, and questions about academic freedom vs. responsibility. It's well-written on the whole, though I would have preferred more depth in the characterizations, especially of the two main characters. I never really got more than an inch or two into the personalities and worldviews of either one. I also had some questions about the plausibility and handling of both the nerve gas and the nano-weapons described here. Having worked in various sorts of labs, I had a hard time believing in the lone scientific genius idea, because truly high tech items like these take a lot more than that, both in equipment and personnel. Likewise, having worked with hazardous materials that can turn into aerosols, I found it hard to believe the containment methods described here would actually work. The nanotech, in particular, was unconvincing. That being said, I did believe how dangerous the stuff would be, and that people would kill or be killed over, by, or with it.… (altro)