Beyond Visual Range

Mark Rollins Adventures, Book 6

By: Tom Collins

Narrated by: Eric Bryan Moore

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The Outer Space Treaty prohibited nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons from being placed in or used from Earth’s orbit. What no one could imagine was that mankind would conceive of the simplest weapon ever deployed - one with extinction power - to launch from space. The military named this weapon “Rods from God". And yet, it is not nuclear, biological, or chemical. Two women drone pilots battle in outer space to defend their country from a rogue military element threatening to overthrow the government. One is a former fighter pilot who, after a crash, now flies from a wheelchair.

©2020 M. Thomas Collins (P)2020 M. Thomas Collins

With your time

Interesting, educational, thought provoking and exciting! This is the best yet in the Mark Rollins series. I loved the two heroines in this book and hope to see them again. The amount of research that went into this book is amazing. I didn’t want to stop listening and almost didn’t—I finished the book in less than 48 hours. Loved it!

Engaging Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this new addition to the Mark Rollins series. Entertaining and, more importantly, thought provoking. I found myself thinking about the complex philosophic issues related to drone warfare (and the use of other advanced weapons programs) and geopolitic and domestic politics while listening to it. Being a resident of Middle Tennessee, I was excited to see the book continue to feature it in this series.

I love this book! The premise is awesome!

Loved it! I love mystery and intelligent prose. A great way to spend my spare time!

Tom's research supporting the twists and turns of this complex plot makes me feel like he lived the story - the detail is minute and thorough.

And besides, he uses my last name! Hennessy Cognac is sublime.

Beyond Good!

A friend recommended this book so I listened to the sample. Never heard of Eric Brian Moore but I loved the narration immediately so I say sure, worth a credit.

I've listened to 500+ titles (going back to the 1900's with Books on Tape) and this reader is as good as any I have ever heard. George Guidell, Frank Mueller, Arthur Morey - even Dick Estell (now you know how long I've been consuming Audible).

Now the story. I re-read one of the other reviews and I can't help think, GOSH, she's nitpicking. Is Tom Collins the next Vince Flynn? OK, maybe not. BUT Mark Rollins does remind me of Mitch Rapp :)

I like super detailed tech thrillers and Collins does a superb job of weaving in the interesting facts to support the plot. I like it when a book has the President of the United States as a character. As I write this in November of 2020, this book foreshadows the populist president questioning the validity of an election and even hinting at a military coup.

Collins could not have been more timely and spot on with his observations about the polar divide in the USA today.

I especially like authors who get better with every book. Based on other reviews, I can't wait for the next effort from Mr. Collins.

PS - Really? Tom Collins? Probably a pseudonym. Next you'll tell me his wife's name is Margarita!

A must read on corporate driven warfare

I really enjoy Tom Colin's novels. With his characters he enables any reader to quickly learn about so many vital issues of our modern times. Beyond Visual Range gives us characters that help readers experience the realities of drone warfare as a pilot, the nefarious aspects of the corporations that make huge profits on modern warfare at the tax payers expense, and the changing dynamics of strategic areas around the world. I recommend reading all of The Mark Rollins novels. You will giggle at some of the characters that tap some of the classic Nashville stereotypes and at the same time open your eyes to the powerful players and national issues right under your nose. The Mark Rollins novels are quick reads, but completely grounded in fact. Everyone needs to understand what Beyond Visual Range makes accessible to anyone who opens the book.

A Let Down

The thing is, I really wanted to like this book. The premise of two female drone pilots uncovering an extinction level weapon being used against the citizens of Earth is awesome and really up my ally. However, I just walked away feeling let down.
My biggest issue with the book is that we are told and not shown so much of the story. Most of it takes place in one "situation room" or another. For example, in chapter 18 Rebecca is relaying all of her information gathering and intel on the X37B and its just being explained over the phone. It is a missed opportunity to show her potentially in action gathering intel, getting in sticky situations and getting out of them. But instead its just a phone call.
We also don't really get to know our two main characters all that intimately. We are told about them in a passive way and learn about their histories, but we never get any insight into how they think or what they feel. Nothing. Also....there was no need for the detailed inclusion of Rebecca's rape. It could have been mentioned, but I don't think the blow by blow was needed. Also, also, why did Rebecca get sidelined towards the later half of the novel? Sam kind of took over as the primary character and I'm not 100% sure why that is.
Additionally, while I understand this is part of the Mark Rollins universe I felt the addition of Mark Rollins into this story didn't really add anything. It would have been more interesting to see these two women tackle their problems together with perhaps Mark as a backup character, mentioned but not given much page time. I found his addition to be as unnecessary as the two mentions of him being a cancer survivor and working out.
Overall I just feel let down by a book that had so much promise.