Flash

Return to the future of Archform: Beauty. In the twenty-fourth century, Earth is vastly changed. Ecological and biological catastrophe have raged across the planet, but for the survivors, it is a world of plenty. Even the poorest live in abundance, and the upper class -- the ascendant -- command technological marvels.Ten years ago, Jonat deVrai was a rising star in the Marines. But he shocked his superiors by walking away from the Corps after witnessing atrocity and hypocrisy during the Reclamation of Guyana. Starting his life over, he established himself as the world's expert on the effectiveness of "prod"-- product placement, the only advertising which viewers will allow through the sophisticated filters they all use against unwanted intrusions on their electronic link networks. Prod, reinforced with sublims and the "res" -- resonant frequencies, a form of sonic branding -- is the wave of the future.Jonat now advises multinational corporations on their prod campaigns, his busy life only occasionally disturbed by vivid flashbacks to his military years. Then his comfortable world is upset when the Centre for Societal Research approaches him to study the effects of res and prod on political campaigns.After a res-heavy political rally for Laborite Republican Senatorial candidate Juan Carlismo, armed thugs jump deVrai in a parking garage. A day later, a sniper ambushes him. What looked like a safe, lucrative contract has suddenly turned dangerous. The stakes raise further when deVrai foils a remote-controlled cydroid assassination attempt on a Popular Democrat candidate. Cydroids built from deVrai's stolen DNA are turning up dead throughout NorAm.Suspicion and conspiracy race around Jonat. Who wants him dead? Candidate Juan Carlismo's use of prod is skirting the limits of legality. The Centre has its own obscure agenda and may want deVrai as a martyr. The terrorist group PAMD is targeting ascendents in deVrai's family. And one of his clients is known for holding legendary grudges - could he have gone over the edge?With his life on the line, deVrai must sort flash from fact before it's too late. Flash is a blend of all-out thriller and thoughtful social, political, and technological exploration that that gets into your mind in a way even res and prod could never match. Jump ahead a couple of centuries to a world not so different from today except in advanced technology, a colony on Mars, and self aware AI's. Find a retired Lt. Col who quit the marines over violating his personal ethics, despite his proficiency as a commando, who goes on to get his doctorate and his own business at what we would call advanced advertising today. Extremely good in his profession he is content until powers that want a war with Mars because they don't want their crookedness at scamming Mars going and coming as well as the government discovered pick him as their fall guy by cloning him. They have no qualms about killing him and his family. Old skills and abilities as a commando must re-emerge again. Well written with an acute character study of the main players in this story - of course, one would expect no less from Mr. Modesitt. A new adventure in the 24th century world of Archform. Former Marine Jonat deVrai is an expert on the effectiveness of "prod", an electronic product placement technology. When a political campaign goes wrong, Jonat's life is suddenly endangered Pursuing a career in marketing after resigning from a corrupt twenty-fourth-century marine corps, Jonat deVrai is asked to study the effects of marketing practices on political campaigns, an assignment that proves deadly