The Trigger

Arthur C. Clarke
Michael Kube-McDowell

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

THE TRIGGER: THE ONLY TRUE PROMISE OF PEACE THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS EVER DEVISED.

From the legendary Arthur C. Clarke, in collaboration with Michael Kube-McDowell of Star Wars fame, comes a chilling day-after-tomorrow thriller.

Jeffrev Horton of Terabyte Laboratories is the brilliant, driven and idealistic scientist responsible for the discovery of the Trigger. It was an accidental discovery. When Horton fired up his prototype analogue of a laser it triggered all nearby explosive material. In that moment, an end to the power of the gun became feasible. In future, a firearm - or a bomb - could be made powerless to harm the innocent. The Trigger might even mean an end to war.

Patriotism dictates that Terabyte hands over the science to the Pentagon. Idealism demands the invention be given to the whole world regardless of politics.

But in a world where violence has reached epidemic proportions, too many people have a stake in the business of violence to give peace a chance. Clarke and McDowell offer a startling vision of the future in which the fate of humankind depends on who controls THE TRIGGER.

'Arthur c. Clarke is one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age... The colossus of science fiction.'

New Yorker

'Kube-McDowell is reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarke at his best.'

Newsday

Review by Nigel (310501) Rating (8/10)

Review by Nigel
Rating 8/10
What would happen to the current powers that be if all their weapons were taken from them? This is the premise of The Trigger.

A group of Scientists accidentally discover a strange phenomenon when running an experiment when all the guns and explosives in the vicinity are destroyed. The field they have generated has the affect of triggering any nitrate base chemicals causing them to burn or explode.

Since the majority of modern weapons use explosives and these invariably use nitrates the experimental equipment and the scientists suddenly find themselves in the middle of a political nightmare, as well as fearing for their lives. Certain people in power do not want to see this development continue and will stop at nothing to control or destroy it.

The Trigger is skillfully written, blending the hard science typical of Clarke, with the fast paced story telling of a thriller.
Nigel (31st May 2001)