Rating: 
Summary: Like "Die Hard," minus originality and a sympathetic hero
Review: "Ignition" must have sounded like a great idea: "Die Hard" on the space shuttle. And since the film rights sold before the novel was even published, you just know what the film will look like: a Joel Silver production starring (take your pick: Jean-Claude Van-Damme, Steven Seagal, Wesley Snipes, etc.) However, "Die Hard" had a sympathetic hero, a then-original premise (hostage situation in a sealed-up space with lone hero who outsmarts the bad guys), and effective villains (including their icey, high I.Q. leader) and a sense of humor. "Ignition" fails on all counts. The scenario is simple: Well-armed, organized terrorists take over Cape Kennedy on the day of a shuttle launch. The astronauts are already aboard the shuttle, and the terrorists have attached a bomb to it. Their demands are money. However, the forces of truth, justice and the American way have a card up their sleeves in the form of Colonel Adam "Iceberg" Friese, the original commander of the mission who has been sidelined with a broken ankle. Having sneaked onto the grounds to watch the launch, Iceberg (a nickname shamelessly stolen from the villain of Payne Harrison's far superior "Storming Intrepid," also about a hijacked shuttle) is, of course, the only one who can thwart the villains' dastardly plans. Iceberg, is of course, the most ubiquitous of all action-genre cliches; The Maverick [insert profession here: cop, fed, or in this case, astronaut] Who Makes His Own Rules. Not only that, but the authors deliberately portray him as an egocentric glory-hound, but we are supposed to like him anyway. After all, he is the hero. Of course, the spineless bureaucrats want him to stay out of the fray, but Iceberg will do what a man's gotta do. The only thing that keeps you from hating Iceberg so badly that you root for the villains is that the villains are even more puerile. Led by the business-like Mr. Phillips, they are the usual band of killer-degenerates, including a French brother and sister who, for no other apparent reason than shock value, the authors portray in an incestuous relationship. There is also the requisite ex-girlfriend/wife who our Maverick Hero Who Makes His Own rules must eventually rescue. They had a falling-out when she opted to accept a promotion and stopped being an astronaut. To Iceberg, this makes her a sell-out. However, the girlfriend is the one "hero" of the book that is actually fit to be liked, and you will spend a lot of your time wondering what she saw in an ass like Iceberg anyway. In short, the book is shameless, puerile, cliche-ridden grabage. No wonder the film rights got snatched up so quickly.
Rating: 
Summary: Combine Armageddon & Die Hard & you get Ignition...
Review: As far as I can tell, this is a tried & true formula that Hollywood has been using for YEARS, and it felt like on more than one occasion as I read 'Ignition' that I was reading the EXACT formula for a blockbuster movie screaming to be headed by Bruce Willis...however, with that said, I have to say that this was an exciting novel regardless. Sure it was predictable. Sure there was an obvious character who SHOUD'VE been ON the Shuttle, but due to circumstances beyond his control he was grounded, and SURE it ends up to be HIM who saves the day. This novel is FULL of 'SURES' but I SURE DID like it no matter what!This is a change from my other reviews of novels that were written by Kevin J. Anderson. Until I had picked up a copy of 'Ignition' (on the advice of a friend) I had a distinct LACK of respect for Andersons writing ability (his Star Wars books are a dismal failure in MY opinion) however this book was a dramatic change from his previous sci-fi books that were just plain awful. It is likely that NOTHING will surprise you within the pages of 'Ignition' but I am fervently hoping that SOMEONE in Hollywood picks up a copy of this and decides that the next summer blockbuster movie just very well could be from the pages of this book...
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most exciting thrillers ever published.
Review: From the moment you read the first page you become enticed by the research and technolgical background of the novel. Kevin J. Anderson have again compiled a superb novel; even better than Assemblers of Infinity, or Virtual Destruction. My advice is buy it and read it.
Rating:
Summary: Highly enjoyable "Die Hard" formula
Review: I agree with another reviewer that when I got into this book, I could easily see Bruce Willis taking another stab at the "Die Hard" formula in this one--but getting it right again (after that third movie flopped). One man against an army of terrorists who hold several hostages, including the man's love interest...sound familiar? Well, it works anyway. This is a fast-paced book that never really slows down once it gets started. Its breathless pace will keep your interest until the end. No, there aren't many surprises here, but the fact that the hero has a broken foot is an interesting twist. There are a few "Oh, come on" moments in here where the hero ignores the obvious solution to a problem and goes for the grand-stand play, but if you can overlook those, you get a great story. Despite its weak points, this is an interesting story and worth the time to read it. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Highly enjoyable "Die Hard" formula
Review: I agree with another reviewer that when I got into this book, I could easily see Bruce Willis taking another stab at the "Die Hard" formula in this one--but getting it right again (after that third movie flopped). One man against an army of terrorists who hold several hostages, including the man's love interest...sound familiar? Well, it works anyway. This is a fast-paced book that never really slows down once it gets started. Its breathless pace will keep your interest until the end. No, there aren't many surprises here, but the fact that the hero has a broken foot is an interesting twist. There are a few "Oh, come on" moments in here where the hero ignores the obvious solution to a problem and goes for the grand-stand play, but if you can overlook those, you get a great story. Despite its weak points, this is an interesting story and worth the time to read it. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! This book refused to be put down!
Review: I first picked up this book at the time of the launch of STS-93. Thinking it might be O.K. I was blown away! Although you don't get to know the characters too well, the story was fast paced and exciting. I love the ending with the horrid politician. I can see Bruce Willis as the star although for anyone who has seen the Television show "The Cape", Corbin Bernson would make an awesome "Iceberg". I can't wait to explore more of Anserson and Beason's storytelling.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, Slow Paced, Predictable
Review: I have been a fan of Anderson and Beason for a few years. However, even a fan of the two could not excuse this piece of garbage masquerading as a book. The story was difficult to believe. The Vilians were inept and incompetent. It was more a matter of watching the terrorists kill each other off. The characters were cookie-cutter, cardboard, one-dimensional characters with no depth and histories so laughable to almost make this story a comedy. Finally in what can only be loosely termed a closing the author waxes nostalgic and tries to stir up emotion for the space program with the most rambling and incoherent arguments this reader has ever heard. All I can say to anybody looking to read a good book is look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable and Overblown
Review: I have enjoyed all of Anderson & Beason's previous techno-thrillers, which were well-researched, suspenseful, full of 3-dimensional characters and believable -- if a bit apocalyptic. However, "Ignition" was just a cheap Hollywood pulp novel -- oversize hero, oversize villains and a plot that seems to be on rails. It was *way* below their potential and I'm sure it'll be a blockbuster movie.
Rating:
Summary: Yuck!
Review: I picked up this book after reading the Star Wars Jedi Acadamy Trilogy. I didn't like those three, but I hoped the coauthor would help. It didn't. The action was non-stop, of course, but that was the only thing going for it. The characters were awful, the bad guys disgusting. (see the editorial reviews) The ending left me wanting more, kinda like "thats it?, that whole book and thats it! " I also have to comment on the extent of iceberg's injuries toward the end. I find it hard to believe someone that badly injured could continue to function. My advice is, stay away, at all costs.
Rating:
Summary: A PAGE TURNER!! THE NEXT ARMAGEDDON!!!
Review: If you enjoy a fast-paced and absolutely non-stop thrill ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat and sweating onto the pages. Not to mention the serious possibility of the events within. This book is for you.
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