Mondays Book Talk - The Gemini Effect

Written by Ben Kesp 

The Gemini Effect by Chuck Grossart

Chuck Grossart is a retired United States Air Force officer has completed a 20 year USAF career along with having written numerous books including The Gemini Effect. The Gemini Effect could be classed as fantasy in addition to being a military sci-fi. This is one I read on kindle and I must say that it pulled me in right from the beginning. 

The story is set in the United States of America and follows the exposure of a genetic research chemical designed during World War II on the local population of rats that transform into unstoppable beasts infecting humans and other wildlife. Bio warfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour is ordered to investigate a possible solution to the crises along with Colonel General Hoffman who develops a likeness to his new associate. While the country is being ravaged and eaten alive, the movement of the beasts are so fast that America begins to lose city after city in the zombie path of destruction. The US President finds himself under intense pressure needing to keep an outward look of control while the Russians and Chinese try to seize the opportunity to shift world power at the expense of a weakened US. 

The pace is fast, opening up a scenario that just begs to be controlled somehow. However my feelings for the story changed I must admit half way in when the story pace changed, driven by characters that seemed a little too one sided and stereotyped. However despite the poor characters, the story is driving the book and kept me reading to discover how it would all close. Towards the end of the book, I did begin to question was this the first book in a series as the story showed no signs of ending and the pages were getting less and less. However it did end! I would not say abruptly but rather more open ended giving the reader an end but the story has potential to be developed further. 

A fast paced action story added with an attempted political coup gives for an entertaining read, however the story can fall short due to its lack of strong characters who find themselves in such a situation. 

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