Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Viking (2021), Edition: 01, 816 pages
Description
Fiction. Thriller. HTML:New York Times Bestseller The new must-read epic from master storyteller Ken Follett: more than a thriller, it�??s an action-packed, globe-spanning drama set in the present day. �??A compelling story, and only too realistic.�?� �??Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary �??Every catastrophe begins with a little problem that doesn�??t get fixed.�?� So says Pauline Green, president of the United States, in Follett�??s nerve-racking drama of international tension. A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert; a stolen US Army drone; an uninhabited Japanese island; and one country�??s secret stash of deadly chemical poisons: all these play roles in a relentlessly escalating crisis. Struggling to prevent the outbreak of world war are a young woman intelligence officer; a spy working undercover with jihadists; a brilliant Chinese spymaster; and Pauline herself, beleaguered by a populist rival for the next president election. Never is an extraordinary novel, full of heroines and villains, false prophets and elite warriors, jaded politicians and opportunistic revolutionaries. It brims with cautionary wisdom for our times, and delivers a visceral, heart-pounding read that transports readers to the… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sleahey
According to his introductory remarks, Follett wanted to explore how a war (like World War I) could happen without any world leaders wanting it to. Set in a near future, the novel revolves around three settings and sets of characters: the US president, a woman whose life has its own complexities as
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she navigates one crisis after another; the Sudan, where two agents are dedicated to stop rebel terrorism, and the flow of drugs and illegal immigration that victimiizes the impoverished citizens; and China, where a particular diplomat works tirelessly to manage the conflicts between North and South Korea and the impact on the world stage, in the face of hawkish politicians. The various threads are managed well, with distinct and interesting characters. But don't expect to be uplifted by the ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member jtsolakos
Ken Follett is one of my favorite authors but I don't know what happened here. This was not up to the quality of writing that is Ken Follett.
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Never, Ken Follett, author; January LaVoy, narrator
Two threads, foreign intrigue and romance compete for the reader’s attention as the chaos races across the pages. Absent the romance, with a concentration on the military and political conflicts, the book would have been more interesting, and
Although the idea of a growing political and international crisis leading to a conflagration, is in the realm of reality, the chick lit part of the book was out of place and perhaps should have been left to another book. This book would have been better by half.
Trying to follow the course of events leading to the deceitful negotiations and betrayals of each country involved, as its leaders jockeyed for prestige and power, was extremely difficult. The novel presents a world in turmoil with the left hand never fully understanding what the right hand is doing. The military conflicts were avoidable except for the hubris and arrogance of the leaders. The romantic scenes were at inappropriate times, and would have served the reader better if the characters chose common sense and survival rather than sexual fulfillment when danger arose. The cavalier way the heads of state retaliated against each other’s aggression, whether intentional or accidental showed that diplomacy constantly failed. If this is the world we are headed for, we are in deep trouble.
The idea of never is refuted, You can never say never because “whatever” often occurs instead. Satisfying the need for revenge seems to be the overriding endgame. No one would cry uncle, no one would lose face, so instead they would choose to sacrifice millions of innocent, unsuspecting victims. As China and the United States, two superpowers come head to head without regard for the consequences of their decisions, so obsessed are the leaders with retaliating for perceived wrongs, hawks overrule the doves every time. Corruption overrules honor in each instance leading to further and further man-made catastrophes involving world leaders of many countries, some that seemed insignificantly involved, but nevertheless are drawn into the conflagration building. North and South Korea, Chad, Vietnam, Sudan, Japan, Russia and others were involved in decisions leading to disastrous crises created by treaty agreements. City after city is destroyed in a never ending game of tit for tat. The leadership is Republican in the US and hardliners in China leading to the idea that these groups will probably be the ones to bring about the end of the world as we know it.
The female American President is weak, choosing appeasement over action, often allowing enemies to grow stronger. Overlooking the increasing danger in favor of diplomatic responses creates more and more threatening situations. As each political crisis grows, they conjoin oddly, as the author tries to knit the seemingly unrelated loose ends together. In the end, there is no real connection or conclusion, and the reader will wonder who will survive this game of chance? Like the relationships between people, which are so disingenuous, the relationships between the heads of state are duplicitous. Every leader wanted personal power as well as supremacy in the world order. One after another, the dominoes fall until there is no turning back. Innocent lives are expendable as those who create the horror remain free to save themselves.
What will happen to the characters featured---Tam and Tab, Pauline and Gerry or Pauline and Gus and Gerry and Amelia, Pauline’s parents as they travel to Canada, Abdul and Kiah in Nice, Kai and Ting in Beijing, Ting’s father, Jianjun, who betrays his own son putting Communism above all else, as the world spins out of control? Is the end near because of foolish decisions based on emotion and a lack of common sense. The book does not decisively answer the question nor does it leave the reader with hope, The need for power leads to betrayals, and they ultimately lead to what could be the end of the world. Is this our future?
In this conflict between the East and the West, we witness world leaders unable to compromise as they retaliate, honoring their treaties and sacrificing innocent victims to satisfy their political needs. Who decides what reprisals are appropriate? Are they really equipped to make the decisions about life and death for millions while they save themselves. They create a snowball that rolls downhill, gaining speed and growing in size as it destroys everything in its path. Checkmate is the only path available.
What was Follett thinking as he wrote this novel? His writing usually involves research and great content without wasted words even in huge novels. This one was confusing and seemed to be intent on covering all issues in society, sex, gender, homosexuality, race, civil and women’s rights, political views, and more. Every religion and race is included. The women seem like nymphomaniacs exercising their independence, ridiculous political statements are made like the comparison of Texans not giving up guns being the same as a country not willing to give up nuclear weapons, the men are toxic with their masculinity. Rather than elevate any of the issues raised, he has diminished them by making the characters caricatures.
Some authors seem to change their writing style when females are the protagonists so that the emphasis is on feelings not thoughts, emotions, not intellect. Follett seems to have fallen into this category making this book far different than his previous novels and far less appealing. I wondered, as I finished the reading, if he had sold his name to another writer, without attribution.
Two threads, foreign intrigue and romance compete for the reader’s attention as the chaos races across the pages. Absent the romance, with a concentration on the military and political conflicts, the book would have been more interesting, and
Show More
less distracting. As it was, the excess tangents and formidable amount of characters served to merely confuse the reader. Choosing names so similar for the characters made it hard to distinguish who was speaking, Like Tam and Tab, Kiah and Kai, etc. As the story jumps from Chad and the CIA fighting barbaric terrorists smuggling drugs and murdering innocents to clandestine plots by China to gain more power, deceit and failed negotiations give rise to the escalating danger of a nuclear war.Although the idea of a growing political and international crisis leading to a conflagration, is in the realm of reality, the chick lit part of the book was out of place and perhaps should have been left to another book. This book would have been better by half.
Trying to follow the course of events leading to the deceitful negotiations and betrayals of each country involved, as its leaders jockeyed for prestige and power, was extremely difficult. The novel presents a world in turmoil with the left hand never fully understanding what the right hand is doing. The military conflicts were avoidable except for the hubris and arrogance of the leaders. The romantic scenes were at inappropriate times, and would have served the reader better if the characters chose common sense and survival rather than sexual fulfillment when danger arose. The cavalier way the heads of state retaliated against each other’s aggression, whether intentional or accidental showed that diplomacy constantly failed. If this is the world we are headed for, we are in deep trouble.
The idea of never is refuted, You can never say never because “whatever” often occurs instead. Satisfying the need for revenge seems to be the overriding endgame. No one would cry uncle, no one would lose face, so instead they would choose to sacrifice millions of innocent, unsuspecting victims. As China and the United States, two superpowers come head to head without regard for the consequences of their decisions, so obsessed are the leaders with retaliating for perceived wrongs, hawks overrule the doves every time. Corruption overrules honor in each instance leading to further and further man-made catastrophes involving world leaders of many countries, some that seemed insignificantly involved, but nevertheless are drawn into the conflagration building. North and South Korea, Chad, Vietnam, Sudan, Japan, Russia and others were involved in decisions leading to disastrous crises created by treaty agreements. City after city is destroyed in a never ending game of tit for tat. The leadership is Republican in the US and hardliners in China leading to the idea that these groups will probably be the ones to bring about the end of the world as we know it.
The female American President is weak, choosing appeasement over action, often allowing enemies to grow stronger. Overlooking the increasing danger in favor of diplomatic responses creates more and more threatening situations. As each political crisis grows, they conjoin oddly, as the author tries to knit the seemingly unrelated loose ends together. In the end, there is no real connection or conclusion, and the reader will wonder who will survive this game of chance? Like the relationships between people, which are so disingenuous, the relationships between the heads of state are duplicitous. Every leader wanted personal power as well as supremacy in the world order. One after another, the dominoes fall until there is no turning back. Innocent lives are expendable as those who create the horror remain free to save themselves.
What will happen to the characters featured---Tam and Tab, Pauline and Gerry or Pauline and Gus and Gerry and Amelia, Pauline’s parents as they travel to Canada, Abdul and Kiah in Nice, Kai and Ting in Beijing, Ting’s father, Jianjun, who betrays his own son putting Communism above all else, as the world spins out of control? Is the end near because of foolish decisions based on emotion and a lack of common sense. The book does not decisively answer the question nor does it leave the reader with hope, The need for power leads to betrayals, and they ultimately lead to what could be the end of the world. Is this our future?
In this conflict between the East and the West, we witness world leaders unable to compromise as they retaliate, honoring their treaties and sacrificing innocent victims to satisfy their political needs. Who decides what reprisals are appropriate? Are they really equipped to make the decisions about life and death for millions while they save themselves. They create a snowball that rolls downhill, gaining speed and growing in size as it destroys everything in its path. Checkmate is the only path available.
What was Follett thinking as he wrote this novel? His writing usually involves research and great content without wasted words even in huge novels. This one was confusing and seemed to be intent on covering all issues in society, sex, gender, homosexuality, race, civil and women’s rights, political views, and more. Every religion and race is included. The women seem like nymphomaniacs exercising their independence, ridiculous political statements are made like the comparison of Texans not giving up guns being the same as a country not willing to give up nuclear weapons, the men are toxic with their masculinity. Rather than elevate any of the issues raised, he has diminished them by making the characters caricatures.
Some authors seem to change their writing style when females are the protagonists so that the emphasis is on feelings not thoughts, emotions, not intellect. Follett seems to have fallen into this category making this book far different than his previous novels and far less appealing. I wondered, as I finished the reading, if he had sold his name to another writer, without attribution.
Show Less
LibraryThing member breic
I liked the idea much more than the execution. Some early plot lines were mostly irrelevant, and the escalations could have been plotted more believably.
LibraryThing member bblum
Two budding romances, international setting, and how easy it for nations to misunderstand each other; constantly showing a test of strength, tit for tat and how dangerous it is to have nuclear warheads.
Nations in play are Chad, USA, China and North Korea. We have a contemporary female president, a
Nations in play are Chad, USA, China and North Korea. We have a contemporary female president, a
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Chinese political committee divid between old school and new and of course a crazy lunatic in N Korea. Good read, politics and the use of back channels and insider spies all very believable. Fillet is in good form with this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaggieFlo
Ken Follet pens another thriller that deals with Pauline Green, the President of the USA as she plays chicken with President Chen of China. Into the mix is thrown the North Korean supreme leader Khan, the South Korean leader No and the President of Chad. Include a subplot of a CIA agent in Chad who
One of the main characters is Chang Kai, a high profile spy within the Homeland security branch of the Chinese government. His father Jianjun is an old party communist.Kai has a network of contacts in the American, North Korean, France and other places who keep him informed of activities as they happen.
The first half of the book is dull with typical Follett one dimensional characters. The second half is more interesting as all sides play one upmanship in a race to unseat leaders before nuclear weapon are used while respecting treaty agreements with allies.
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is tracking a large shipment of cocaine to France where sales of the drugs will benefit the jihadis fighting in North Africa. Lo and behold, North Korea is supplying weapons to these jihadis which sets the,action into motion.One of the main characters is Chang Kai, a high profile spy within the Homeland security branch of the Chinese government. His father Jianjun is an old party communist.Kai has a network of contacts in the American, North Korean, France and other places who keep him informed of activities as they happen.
The first half of the book is dull with typical Follett one dimensional characters. The second half is more interesting as all sides play one upmanship in a race to unseat leaders before nuclear weapon are used while respecting treaty agreements with allies.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Bauernfeind
I believe I've read all of Follett's books and this one is a favorite. Suspense builds page by page as the threat of total nuclear war builds in a believable fashion. He never goes too far nor is he light in painting the mental picture necessary to imagine the story he is weaving. At 73 not much
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can move me but this book leaves me very unsettled, as we face a similar situation with Russia at this very moment. Show Less
LibraryThing member zhoud2005
A true horror story.
LibraryThing member pierthinker
Ken Follett is a master storyteller and this book is no exception. It weaves together a set of stories across America, Africa and China involving drugs, politics and the arms trade. As each story progresses it binds the world closer and closer to a nuclear war.
The characters and situations here are
Recommended.
The characters and situations here are
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all well-worn but that does not really matter because it is the narrative that drives everything along. Follett is able to pitch situations and realistic events in a way that make you want to read on. This is a profoundly sad book with the very slightest glimmer of hope at its heart.Recommended.
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LibraryThing member LivelyLady
Intense world crisis drama, with the protagonist differing, depending on the scenario. The US, mid east and far east with their differing intelligence agents and upper echelons at play. I was improessed with the research done with this book as well with how the author incorporated female leaders
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into the scenario. Physically a difficult book to handle as it was about 2.5 lbs., too big to comfortably hold over your head in bed with the possibility of a concussion. Not a quick read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mojomomma
This book takes place on multiple fronts, the White House, Chad, and Beijing primarily. The Chinese and the North Koreans sell arms to African countries, smugglers in Africa take desperate refugees to first world countries, the White House walks a tightrope trying not to appear weak and yet not
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willing to release Armageddon. The ending was singularly unsatisfying , but overall this was a griping story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
Another excellent novel written with evident careful research and attention to both political and societal issues and attitudes across the globe. I love his writing and hope to read many more.
LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
Meh.... This was not what I expected. Some of the story lines were compelling and interesting. The portrayal of the female characters (the US president and others) was quite poor and stereotypical... They did not ring true.
Not my favorite but this writer, whose writing I generally enjoy.
Not my favorite but this writer, whose writing I generally enjoy.
Original publication date
2021-11-09
Physical description
816 p.; 9.55 inches
ISBN
0593300017 / 9780593300015