Countermeasures

Description

In the stunning conclusion to Gear’s remarkable sci-fi trilogy, the rift between father and son—both trained killing machines—will reach an explosive climax. 

The Forbidden Borders—an unassailable gravity-powered barrier—confines rival human empires to a few star systems, leaving them to strive endlessly against one another for domination. Now the long-dreaded final war between Rega and Sassa, the last surviving empires, has been fought, and Staffa kar Therma, Lord Commander of the Companions, the finest of mercenary soldiers, is struggling to keep what remains of human civilization alive long enough to find a way to break free of the alien-created Forbidden Borders.
 
But Staffa’s own son and former enemy hasn’t decided whether to stand against the Lord Commander or to rally to Staffa’s cause. And the only two women Staffa has ever loved may soon become his unwitting betrayers as pawns of the one opponent who will stop at nothing to destroy the Lord Commander.
 
Yet beyond all these dangers waits the greatest challenge of Staffa’s career—the Mag Comm, the alien-created computer that has spread its net through all of human-inhabited space. The Mag Comm, which could make Staffa its unwilling slave—or free all of mankind from this alien prison.Praise for the author:

“What a ride!  Excitement, adventure, and intrigue, all told in W. Michael Gear’s vivid, compulsively readable prose.  A terrific new science-fiction series; Gear hits a home run right out of the park and all the way to Capella.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night
 
“A marginal colony on a living world—where human life and human will are tested to the limits. An intriguing and inventive new work from Michael Gear, first of a trilogy. Recommended!” –C. J. Cherryh, Hugo Award-winning author of Downbelow Station

“Mike Gear does for science fiction what J.R.R. Tolkien did for fantasy, and he does it with panache and elan.” —Rave Reviews

“Flowing imagination, storytelling marvels. The Gears have a fine time drawing the various interclan rivalries and clashes of cultures.” —Kirkus

“Galactic intrigue combines with military SF in a tightly woven, intricate storywith strong male and female characters…. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal

“Gear has managed to develop a vivid world, and in it set in motion a sweeping conflict.” —Locus

“Gear handles characters and plot twists with equal ease…. The different alien species are distinctively drawn and interesting.” —Science Fiction ChronicleW. Michael Gear is the author or co-author with his beloved wife, Kathleen O’Neal Gear, of fifty-seven published novels.  He is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author whose work has been translated into 29 languages and has over 17 million copies in print world wide. Both and anthropologist and archaeologist, he brings extraordinary depth and complexity to his characters and settings.  Gear lives on a back country buffalo ranch in Wyoming where he raises outstanding bison, indulges in his passion for large-caliber rifles, and pets his two shelties: Jake and Shannon. Michael can be found at gear-gear.com.US

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