Review by Roggyrus -- Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider

[Roggyrus]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Chrome Mountain" by Ben Schneider.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Chrome Mountain by Ben Schneider is an action-packed fictional novel, starting off northeast along I-80 of present-day California, and picking up action towards the neighboring states. The two main characters, Sonya and Trey, are both running from different personal circumstances in their lives, and got entangled in a common imbroglio when their paths crossed somewhere along the highway leading to Colorado Springs.

Sonya McCall is a Harley-Davidson-riding type of gal, who ganged up with a group of bikers, the Screamon Demons, engaged in neighborhood hooliganism, back in Sacramento. But as the gang’s activities became too much for her to bear, and her relationship with the gang’s leader turning sour, she ran away bringing with her the group’s stash, and leaving behind about half-a-dozen enraged men who had sworn to make pursuit.

Trey Radisson is a techie kind of guy, an inventor actually. But in Almighty IT where he works, nobody knows about a gadget he had invented, the VV1, which could give a cloak of invisibility to objects and persons. However, he had misgivings for his safety, and for that of his family, which made him destroy the only working prototype he ever made, lest it falls into the wrong hands. And that also destroyed all hopes of his fiancée, Zuri Navarro, who fantasized of them two hitting it rich with his invention. But Zuri divulged Trey’s invention to a high-tech, terroristic organization known as the Chrome Falcon which is now bent to get hold of Trey, by all means.

With the Screamon Demons at the heels of Sonya, and the Chrome Falcon hovering above, in pursuit of Trey, the highway leading to Colorado is surely in for peculiar traffic. Add to this the screaming police cars, and the news helicopters joining in the fray. How will the riding-in-tandem duo fare in this milieu?

I have the impression that the highway scenes would be graphic enough to make this novel suited for a sizzling motion picture, what with the incessant chase, entangling cars, trucks, tractors and trailers, and helicopter gunships, all pursuing the vulnerable pair astride a motorcycle. In another chase sequence, there are even more daring stunts done by helicopter gunships and a euro copter.

And yet, I could not say, I could hardly put the book down after I started reading. That would be untruthful. If I had been reading from hard copies, then that might be the case. But since I read from a monitor screen set on the table, I simply had to press the keys to flip the page, without holding the book. What I would rather say is that I could not stop flipping the pages.

I could not help recalling a simulacrum of the plot to James Bond movies, where the object of the arch villain is world domination. And once captured, the leading character is shown the facilities of the main headquarters, as though saying: Mr. Bond I will give you a guided tour of our premises before you destroy the complex and escape with your girlfriend. It is somewhat like that with Trey’s evasiveness and ingenuity. And one thing more, James Bond movies stay within the bounds of Physics, no matter how stupendous the gadgetry. Here, there are incursions to the paranormal, such as the invisibility gadget and the teleportation gates.

There’s no doubt, aficionados of fictional works would love this and, therefore, I recommend this to them. The fast-paced action is guaranteed never to hit the doldrums in their reading. And although I skidded into some few errors, my pleasure did not turn turtle. So, yes! The rating of 4 out of 4 stars is forthcoming.

******
Chrome Mountain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Roggyrus's review? Post a comment saying so!

[ea_anthony]

I like that you couldn't stop flipping the pages (even though the book was down), nice one! From the action scenes described, it seems transitioning to the big screen should be a peach. This book looks/sounds real interesting, especially with the snappy review you added. I think I will look out for this one.

[Roggyrus]

I like that you couldn't stop flipping the pages (even though the book was down), nice one! From the action scenes described, it seems transitioning to the big screen should be a peach. This book looks/sounds real interesting, especially with the snappy review you added. I think I will look out for this one.

Please do. It will not disappoint you.

[jcoad]

Great review! I love the James Bond reference. I have read many reviews on this book and I'm finally convinced to give it a try. Thanks for pushing me over the edge for this book.

[ea_anthony]

Forgot to ask, was the invisibility cloak not a scientific invention? Please explain.

And one thing more, James Bond movies stay within the bounds of Physics, no matter how stupendous the gadgetry. Here, there are incursions to the paranormal, such as the invisibility gadget and the teleportation gates

[Roggyrus]

Forgot to ask, was the invisibility cloak not a scientific invention? Please explain.

And one thing more, James Bond movies stay within the bounds of Physics, no matter how stupendous the gadgetry. Here, there are incursions to the paranormal, such as the invisibility gadget and the teleportation gates

Invisibility involves the behavior of particles, plasma if you will. The essence of light alone is not yet definitely decided by Science if it should be considered as belonging to the domain of particles or wave for it behaves on both criteria. It even behaves differently when watched from that of unobserved. It is beyond Physical laws and even baffling for Thermodynamic considerations. And teleportation may well be in the realms of the paranormal at the present times. The Einsteinian supposition for mass and energy would not yet allow it.

[Roggyrus]

Great review! I love the James Bond reference. I have read many reviews on this book and I'm finally convinced to give it a try. Thanks for pushing me over the edge for this book.

I am vaguely aware of other reviews for this book, I only take it for granted that there are, as per logical possibility for I have not bothered to search. I am grateful that my review was the last straw that broke the back of your camel named hesitation. lol. Thank you, and wishing you well.

[ea_anthony]

Forgot to ask, was the invisibility cloak not a scientific invention? Please explain.

And one thing more, James Bond movies stay within the bounds of Physics, no matter how stupendous the gadgetry. Here, there are incursions to the paranormal, such as the invisibility gadget and the teleportation gates

Invisibility involves the behavior of particles, plasma if you will. The essence of light alone is not yet definitely decided by Science if it should be considered as belonging to the domain of particles or wave for it behaves on both criteria. It even behaves differently when watched from that of unobserved. It is beyond Physical laws and even baffling for Thermodynamic considerations. And teleportation may well be in the realms of the paranormal at the present times. The Einsteinian supposition for mass and energy would not yet allow it.

Can't really say I get this explanation. To make it simpler, in Die another day, the James Bond entry in 2002, we had an Aston Martin that could engage invisible mode - Physics?

[Roggyrus]

Forgot to ask, was the invisibility cloak not a scientific invention? Please explain.

And one thing more, James Bond movies stay within the bounds of Physics, no matter how stupendous the gadgetry. Here, there are incursions to the paranormal, such as the invisibility gadget and the teleportation gates

Invisibility involves the behavior of particles, plasma if you will. The essence of light alone is not yet definitely decided by Science if it should be considered as belonging to the domain of particles or wave for it behaves on both criteria. It even behaves differently when watched from that of unobserved. It is beyond Physical laws and even baffling for Thermodynamic considerations. And teleportation may well be in the realms of the paranormal at the present times. The Einsteinian supposition for mass and energy would not yet allow it.

Can't really say I get this explanation. To make it simpler, in Die another day, the James Bond entry in 2002, we had an Aston Martin that could engage invisible mode - Physics?

Thanks for sharing the information. You see, in SciFi novels, we are usually given plots involving Time Travel, thought reading or transfer, hypnotism, time regression, and other possibilities. Some of these may be attempted by Physics to explain, the others considered as parapsychological topics. I call these paranormal because of these being dealt with in such realm. We sometimes read of Adepts in Eastern cultures who claim to have time-traveled, teleported, read minds or become invisible. There are attempts to duplicate these feats in the laboratory, under controlled conditions so as to satisfy the parameters of a scientific study. I could not definitely state the conclusions, but I will only come as much as to say that these are all classified as paranormal.

[ea_anthony]

Invisibility involves the behavior of particles, plasma if you will. The essence of light alone is not yet definitely decided by Science if it should be considered as belonging to the domain of particles or wave for it behaves on both criteria. It even behaves differently when watched from that of unobserved. It is beyond Physical laws and even baffling for Thermodynamic considerations. And teleportation may well be in the realms of the paranormal at the present times. The Einsteinian supposition for mass and energy would not yet allow it.

Can't really say I get this explanation. To make it simpler, in Die another day, the James Bond entry in 2002, we had an Aston Martin that could engage invisible mode - Physics?

Thanks for sharing the information. You see, in SciFi novels, we are usually given plots involving Time Travel, thought reading or transfer, hypnotism, time regression, and other possibilities. Some of these may be attempted by Physics to explain, the others considered as parapsychological topics. I call these paranormal because of these being dealt with in such realm. We sometimes read of Adepts in Eastern cultures who claim to have time-traveled, teleported, read minds or become invisible. There are attempts to duplicate these feats in the laboratory, under controlled conditions so as to satisfy the parameters of a scientific study. I could not definitely state the conclusions, but I will only come as much as to say that these are all classified as paranormal.

Now I get it, thanks for the explanation. In James Bond Die Another Day, Q explained the tech behind the Aston that could go invisible. I understand.

[Connie Otwani]

Lol!! I don't know if I'm also amongst the aficionados but you have convinced me to get entangled in an imbroglio with this book!

[jjmainor]

I'm reading this book now and find myself flying through it. I too can't stop thinking James Bond. I think I've seen critiques of this book regarding how the characters deliver elaborate speeches when they're thinking, but those moments remind me of the old horror movies where you might have Dr. Frankenstein spend 10 minutes delivering some existential speech while he's prepping the machine. This book is a lot of fun so far, but it is definitely not for people who take their entertainment too seriously.