Dead Hand

Harold Coyle

ISBN 10: 0312879199 / ISBN 13: 9780312879198

Published by Forge/Tom Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2001

About this Item

Forge/Tom Doherty Associates, New York. 2001. Hardcover. Stated First Edition/First Printing by Line Number. Book is tight, square, and unmarked but for small remainder mark on the textblock top and sale stamp on the FFFP. Book Condition: Near Fine; light bumping to head and tail. DJ: Near Fine; NOT Price Clipped ($24.95); light bumping to head and tail, light edge bumping. Blue boards and spine with bright blue lettering on the spine. 303 pp 8vo. From the master of military fiction here is a novel of apocalyptic impact about a world that waits on edge as Mother Nature triggers a relic from the Cold War, the Dead Hand, an nuclear weapon that can strike back even if all the people in Russia are dead. A clean very presentable copy.

Seller Inventory # 009019

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Dead Hand
• Publisher: Forge/Tom Doherty Associates, New York, NY
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312879199
• ISBN 13: 9780312879198
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Cold War
  • Historical Fiction
  • Guns/Weapons/Armor

About this title

Synopsis

After an asteroid strikes Siberia with devastating results, a powerful doomsday weapon originally designed by the Soviets falls into the hands of ultra-nationalist fanatic General Likatchev, who threatens unleash a global holocaust in order to topple the current Russian regime, as a NATO special operations unit is sent in to stop him. 150,000 first printing. $200,000 ad/promo.

Reviews

Never one to spare readers his personal insights into all things military, Coyle (God's Children; Team Yankee; etc.) goes overboard in this uneventful, didactic thriller about a NATO-led assault to destroy Russia's nuclear missile silos. The title refers to an automated Russian doomsday system designed to retaliate against a first strike, even if the country's whole population has been wiped out. NATO launches its raid after an enormous asteroid hits Siberia. The resulting shock waves, whose seismic signature is identical to that of a nuclear explosion, activate Dead Hand, bringing the world to the brink of a nuclear exchange. The person who now has his finger on the button is renegade Gen. Igor Likatchev, who views the situation as his opportunity to throw the country into such turmoil that it will allow him to stage a coup. Moscow, fearful that Likatchev may be crazy enough to activate Siberia's network of nuclear missiles, dispatches its own contingent of commandos to assassinate the exiled general. NATO forces, on the other hand, aim to destroy the missile silos, neutralizing Likatchev and disabling Russia's nuclear capability. Coyle, who usually delivers gritty, hard-driving (and bestselling) war novels, founders with his latest. A former army officer who spent 17 years on active duty, he shows a deep understanding of power politics and fighting techniques, but his exposition-heavy plot spends far too much time describing commandos readying themselves for battle, explaining military procedures and examining the specific qualities of the soldier mindset. When the action finally begins about two-thirds of the way through the book its course is predictable.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.