Tin Men

A Novel

By: Christopher Golden

Narrated by: Stephen Mendel

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Brad Thor meets Avatar in this timely thriller for the drone age as award-winning author Christopher Golden spins the troubles of today into the apocalypse of tomorrow.

After political upheaval, economic collapse, and environmental disaster, the world has become a hotspot, boiling over into chaos of near apocalyptic proportions. In this perpetual state of emergency, all that separates order from anarchy is the military might of a United States determined to keep peace among nations waging a free-for-all battle for survival and supremacy.

But a conflict unlike any before demands an equally unprecedented fighting force on its front lines. Enter the Remote Infantry Corps: robot soldiers deployed in war zones around the world, controlled by human operators thousands of miles from the action. PFC Danny Kelso is one of these "Tin Men", stationed with his fellow platoon members at a subterranean base in Germany, steering their cybernetic avatars through combat in the civil-war-ravaged streets of Syria. Immune to injury and death, this brave new breed of American warrior has a battlefield edge that's all but unstoppable - until a flesh-and-blood enemy targets the Tin Men's high-tech advantage in a dangerously game-changing counterstrike.

When anarchists unleash a massive electromagnetic pulse, short-circuiting the world’s technology, Kelso and his comrades-in-arms find themselves trapped - their minds tethered within their robot bodies and, for the first time, their lives at risk.

Now, with rocket-wielding “Bot Killers” gunning for them and desperate members of the unit threatening to go rogue, it’s the worst possible time for the Tin Men to face their most crucial mission. But an economic summit is under terrorist attack, the US president is running for his life, and the men and women of the First Remote Infantry Division must take the fight to the next level - if they want to be the last combatants standing and not the first of their kind to fall forever.

Praise for Tin Men:

“Tin Men is the literary equivalent of a muscle car: stylish and fast-paced, with a hopped-up engine of a plot. Christopher Golden starts things off at tire-burning speed and never lets up. It’s a great ride - definitely as much fun as we can ever hope to have while the world falls to ruin around us.” (Scott Smith, author of A Simple Plan and The Ruins)

“A chilling tale of a world that could be, Tin Men is a vicious beast - Starship Troopers meets Generation Kill - that left my nerves fried and my brain craving another fix.” (Pierce Brown, author of Golden Son)

“When the human soul thrums inside machines of war, the ultimate weapon is born. Golden crafts a unique combination of Terminator and Saving Private Ryan.” (Scott Sigler, author of Alive)

©2015 Christopher Golden (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] superior near-future shoot-’em-up...a wonderfully effective SF thriller." (Publishers Weekly)

"The action and intrigue never relent in this all-too-real scenario of our future."(Booklist)

"A futuristic thriller that mixes science fiction, world politics, and gobs of action...an enjoyable and almost plausible peek into a future world under American protection." (Kirkus Reviews)

I’d love to know what happens next!

Loved this audiobook. The narrator was strong and the story stayed interesting throughout. I will say it can get a little predictable but overall I think it’s worth a listen if you enjoy modern apocalyptic techno-thrillers. I am hoping we get to hear more of the story.

Wow, what a ride

Very dark, but good story. When an EMP plunges the world into chaos. Soldiers trapped in drone like armored bodies, struggle to survive and hold onto what's left of their humanity.

Very unique approach to the standard armored mitary fiction. You will feel for these characters and the people in this fictional world.

There are some plot holes and items that make you scratch your head. But the story as a whole, is just too good.

Love the premise

Great opening. Great Middle. Good finish. The idea is fleshed out well, but I could have used a bit more twist at the end. A little too clean.

Quite enjoyable

This isn't my usual fare being a military type thriller and all, but I enjoyed the diverse cast and action.

Good not great

The author did not do all the research he maybe should have. The president travels with a limo that is harden, air force one is also harden against emp. Most of the Navy ships are hardened incase they have to operate in an area that nuclear weapons are used. More detail would have made the story great.

Great story with surprising twists

I really enjoyed the modern remote warfare storyline. Great character development, technology, plot and twists.

EMP the magical plot device

I didn't finish it I just couldn't stomach the ludicrous science used as the central plot device. My recommendation is that if you have any decent knowledge about how EMP actually works then avoid this book otherwise you might enjoy it but don't expect much it's fairly average in all other writing aspects.

Worst book so far this year

Yeah, I just utterly underwhelming. Jingoistic, nonsense, disappointed that I wasted a credit.

Just writing this, so that other people will avoid the mistake I made .

Boring and unbelievable

I was very disappointed by this book. This is a book that sounds good in summary but the execution was lacking. The attitudes of the characters and the way they talk to each other feels incredibly hallow. The way military personnel interact is completely unrealistic and you can see the plot armor clear as day with how the units don’t completely break apart due to insubordination that is completely unacceptable in a professional military environment. I get some of the circumstances, but when a character just straight up refuses orders because “they don’t take orders well” they would never have made it to where they are in the story.