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  • The Last Sword Maker

  • The Course of Empire Series, Book 1
  • By: Brian Nelson
  • Narrated by: Bradford Hastings
  • Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (469 ratings)

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The Last Sword Maker

By: Brian Nelson
Narrated by: Bradford Hastings
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Summary

A taut, fast-paced thriller about the coming high-tech arms race between the United States and China

In the high mountains of Tibet, rumors are spreading. People whisper of an outbreak, of thousands of dead, of bodies pushed into mass graves. It is some strange new disease … a disease, they say, that can kill in minutes.

The Chinese government says the rumors aren’t true, but no one is allowed in or out of Tibet.

At the Pentagon, Admiral James Curtiss is called to an emergency meeting. Satellite images prove that a massive genocide is underway, and an American spy has made a startling discovery. This is no disease. It’s a weapons test. Chinese scientists have developed a way to kill based on a person’s genetic traits. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The success of their new weapon proves that the Chinese are nearing “Replication”—a revolutionary breakthrough that will tip the global balance of power and change the way wars are waged.

Now the US must scramble to catch up before it is too late. Admiral Curtiss gathers the nation’s top scientists, including a promising young graduate student named Eric Hill who just might hold the missing piece to the replication puzzle. Soon Hill and his colleague Jane Hunter are caught up in a deadly game of sabotage as the two nations strive to be the first to reach the coveted goal. But in their headlong race, they create something unexpected … something the world has never seen and something more powerful than they had ever imagined.

The Last Sword Maker is an exciting globe-trotting thriller with unforgettable characters that depicts a haunting vision of the future of warfare.

©2018 Brian Nelson (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Last Sword Maker

Average customer ratings
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I was skeptical ..

Audible told me to pick this book, so I did but I will be honest in that I expected to give it up after a short while because the description seemed a bit blah.
I am glad I read it though as I enjoyed it and will definately be looking out for more in this series!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Relatively basic but still satisfying

A good, if not relatively predicable story told well. Kept me interested throughout. The premise is more attractive than the characters but they are well enough defined. Recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping

Gripping story line but shut off with just under 2 hours left so couldn’t reach the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Took a while to get into the story but after a few chapters I was hooked. Great narrator and looking forward to the next instalment!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Unputdownable

A gripping story absolutely loved it I'd sussed what was going to happen with Eric just before the end due to the way the story was written great book

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Science of the future. Horrific.

I have to say this book scared the poop out of me!
Not for the horrific content but that much of this could one day be a reality!!!!
Brilliant and very thought provoking.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Thriller

I was slightly unsure at the very beginning, but once it got going it was pretty much impossible to stop.

This really an amazing first novel. It feels very believable (for the most part) and there are some very clever twists and turns that are difficult to predict. It feels like a mix of Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy, and has themes covering important current issues such as the aggressive expansion of China and nanotechnology in a very effective way.

The narrator also did an excellent job and was a perfect choice for this book.

I'm not sure if publishers read these, but the only very minor issue is that sound engineer used gating too aggressively and sometimes the narrator has a syllable cut off. (This doesn't take away from the experience too significantly though.)

I'll definitely be jumping straight into the next book and keeping a close eye on this author.

Highly recommended book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best Thriller Ever

Some 20 years ago I remember reading an article about Nano Technology and how it was going to change everything. I didn't fully appreciate or even understand it at the time but this is a manifestation of all that article foretold. This is science fiction but feasible science fiction; the science and research would seem to be already in place in the technology we already use. The story itself is full of thrills, twists and generates real excitement, it is also quite prophetic being written pre-covid. For me, this was better than anything I have read by Frederick Forsyth, Robert Harris or Len Deighton. The whole thing is narrated perfectly by Bradford Hastings, I would have given it more stars if it were possible.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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outstanding

absolutely outstanding story and narrator.
I found it hard to take a break. amazing descriptions and writing style. this is literature not just another mass produced book. not sure about the author's education but he knows what he's doing. magnificent. thank you. we need books like this to stay sane and alive.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An excellent and well-paced thriller

I rarely write reviews but this deserves one. Nelson has written a thinking-mans techno-thriller that blends the scientific literacy of Michael Chrichton with the intrigue and espionage of any good spy novel. Thrilled to learn its one of a series and I plan to devour them all.

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