Breakpoint

By: Richard A. Clarke

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Against All Enemies warned about how we were conducting the war against terror. The Scorpion's Gate demonstrated what could happen. And now America's preeminent counterterrorism expert and number-one best-selling author shows us all...what might come next.

The global village: an intricately intertwined network of technology that binds together the world's economies, governments, and communication systems. So large, so vital, and so fragile. Now a sophisticated group is seeking to "disconnect the globe" by destroying computer grids, communications satellites, Internet cable centers, and biotech firms. Hard to do? If only that were so.

The major government agencies all lumber into action, but behind the scenes, the special projects office of the Intelligence Analysis Center knows that to catch unconventional terrorists requires unconventional methods. A small team, smart, agile, and quick, immediately starts to sift through a welter of often contradictory information about right-wing militias, Russian organized crime, Jihadist terrorists, and enemy nation-states, and chases leads across the country and overseas. But the attacks begin to come more swiftly and to grow in destructiveness. Soon they will reach the breakpoint. And then there will be nothing anyone can do.

Breakpoint is filled with technology being developed right now for a future just around the corner or, in many cases, already here - a technology certain to cause enormous political, social, and economic change. Will the changes be for better or worse? And what will happen then? The answers will surprise you.

Sometimes you can tell more truths through fiction.

©2007 RAC Enterprises, Inc. (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Books on Tape. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"[A] fast-paced and fascinating novel." (Booklist)
"Veteran counterterrorism official Clarke...proves once again that authenticity, insider information and top-secret access artfully applied trumps fancy writing with this cutting-edge, nail-biter techno-thriller." (Publishers Weekly)

Breakpoint

The book is very well written, and a pleasure to read!
Richard A Clarke is very well versed in the subject matter!

To Much of a Political Statement

Narrator was good. Story was okay. Writer makes his political opinion heroic and demonize others ideas. Enjoyed other books but returning this one.

An Excellent Techno Triller

Would you listen to Breakpoint again? Why?

This novel is intended to be fiction, but in reality is far closer to the state of current affairs and technologies then most people knew till recently. If you are in the cyber-security field, I recommend you make your CIO or CEO read this book and then come discuss it with you. The content in this book provides a prediction into the next phase of asymmetric war - cyber war and covers a realistic scenario of what we might expect to see play out in the next few years. The prolog of the book cross-walks the reader through the technologies addressed in the story. While most will perceive many of these technologies to be pure scifi, you will learn many of these technologies are deployed, in testing, or in development currently. For those not in the know, I guarantee this will be an eye opener.

What about Robertson Dean’s performance did you like?

Dean's reading of the book was excellent. His differentiation of each character through voice and texture of language made the book come to life.

Great Listen!

This book was very thought provoking and entertaining with great action sequences. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and learning about the possibilities for the near-future.

SciFi Thriller

I could smell movie all over this. The epilogue of notes should come first, because it really fleshes out some of the SF stuff in the complex story. Richard Clarke has written a better novel than his first thriller. The characters are cookie cutter but the plot pulls on all the sort of things he did as a top DC official: terrorism, military stuff, computer and internet security, etc. A great audio book for a long drive. The narration was very good. Made me want to look into the concepts Clarke weaves thru the story.

Disappointing, flabby writing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this book to someone interested in espionage literature. The premise of cyber-war is intriguing, perhaps even possible, but the plot of this is weak and the characters colourless.

Would you ever listen to anything by Richard A. Clarke again?

No

Did Breakpoint inspire you to do anything?

Stop reading the book. Change my online passwords.

Plot idea good, compsci bad

I understand the authors intent, and the book had a decent plot line. But much of the speculation around the computer science is very bad and for someone from such a background, it ruins theh book horribly.

Great book - a real page turner

Reads like non fiction. Story line is pretty scary and you can relate it to events in the news today. Robertson dean brings the characters to life again. By far the best narrator on audible!!! Well worth the credit on Breakpoint!!

Scary theme, disappointing story

Would you try another book from Richard A. Clarke and/or Robertson Dean?

Probably not

Would you be willing to try another book from Richard A. Clarke? Why or why not?

Probably not. I've lost even more confidence in the excellence of Washington officials. The threat that Clarke describes is scary, but he imbeds this threat in a sophomoric story. Mark Bowden does a much better job of describing this threat.

Interesting but no cigar

Enjoyable listen but not near as good as his first book. Great insights into current R&D and future uses.