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dvmille2's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
kaitlynisliterate's review
4.0
I wouldn’t exactly describe this novel as “thrilling.” The first 2/3 of it is dedicated to character backstory, set-up, and providing context. Very slow build but it paid off in the end.
danubooks's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A disillusioned Russian scientist alerts the US to a dangerous line of space research.
Ivan Volkov was a bright student fascinated with astronomy and physics. Growing up in an industrial town with ordinary parents it was not certain that he would ever achieve his dreams, and when his father died and money ran out he had to leave his university in Russia and instead study at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The Chinese were willing to pay the best students to come and study at their universities, hoping to then keep them working in research to advance Chinese technology. While there Ivan catches the eye of Cao Lin, a man who works within the highest ranks of academic research and industrial circles. Ivan also meets and falls in love with Edith Ryan, a fellow international student from the US. He soon discovers that everyone around him has an agenda beyond mere admiration for his scholastic achievements; things end badly with Edith, whom he suspects is working for the CIA, and he is summoned back to Russia when his mother’s health deteriorates. Cao Lin does his best to tempt Ivan to stay and continue his work in space technology, but Ivan wants no part of it….his ties to Russia run deep. Years later, Ivan has a broken marriage, a son whom he adores who has become a federal prosecutor investigating government corruption, and an FSB handler who keeps tabs on what he does. When his son is found dead after a suspicious “accident”, in a manner not uncommon to others who try to investigate well-connected people who use their jobs and contacts to create personal fortunes, Ivan realizes two things: the Chinese and Russian governments are working together to find ways to overtake the US in dominating military and commercial space domains (and long term planning in that regard is coming to fruition), and he needs to bring what he knows to the attention of the Americans. He tries reaching out to the only person who might be able to help….Edith, the woman who broke his heart. Will he be believed, and will he be able to prevent a major shift in geopolitical dominance?
Phantom Orbit is a well-paced thriller that looks at what is definitely the next field of battle for international dominance, space. When the US created a new military division known as the Space Force many laughed, but it turns out that there is a lot happening in that arena that has nothing to do with who is landing on the moon or sending Rovers to Mars. It’s all about satellites and enhancing GPS systems, and who can optimize what their country has for resources. Wars are being waged based on information from above, weapons are setting targets based on data collected from orbiting satellites. The two main characters are both well-versed in the technologies that affect the world in this arena, and both have struggled within their careers. Ivan wanted nothing more that to be a scientist, allowed the freedom to explore within his chosen field, but has continually been ensnared by political priorities, while Edith was a woman in a male-dominated intelligence field who was never forgiven for what happened with Ivan in China, and whose instincts and capabilities were no longer fully trusted. The roles each have played and will ultimately again play in China’s long game strategy to become the dominant world force, the war in Ukraine and Russia’s shifting fortunes, and the petty jealousies and egos that are rife in any government agency are all interwoven with the underlying mystery. Plenty of false leads and twists to keep the reader guessing….it is never entirely clear who can be trusted. Fans of espionage novels, especially of authors like Charles Cumming, Paul Vidich and David McCloskey, should add David Ignatius to their list of authors to read. Phantom Orbit is a well-though out and timely thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for allowing me early access to this intriguing novel.
Ivan Volkov was a bright student fascinated with astronomy and physics. Growing up in an industrial town with ordinary parents it was not certain that he would ever achieve his dreams, and when his father died and money ran out he had to leave his university in Russia and instead study at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The Chinese were willing to pay the best students to come and study at their universities, hoping to then keep them working in research to advance Chinese technology. While there Ivan catches the eye of Cao Lin, a man who works within the highest ranks of academic research and industrial circles. Ivan also meets and falls in love with Edith Ryan, a fellow international student from the US. He soon discovers that everyone around him has an agenda beyond mere admiration for his scholastic achievements; things end badly with Edith, whom he suspects is working for the CIA, and he is summoned back to Russia when his mother’s health deteriorates. Cao Lin does his best to tempt Ivan to stay and continue his work in space technology, but Ivan wants no part of it….his ties to Russia run deep. Years later, Ivan has a broken marriage, a son whom he adores who has become a federal prosecutor investigating government corruption, and an FSB handler who keeps tabs on what he does. When his son is found dead after a suspicious “accident”, in a manner not uncommon to others who try to investigate well-connected people who use their jobs and contacts to create personal fortunes, Ivan realizes two things: the Chinese and Russian governments are working together to find ways to overtake the US in dominating military and commercial space domains (and long term planning in that regard is coming to fruition), and he needs to bring what he knows to the attention of the Americans. He tries reaching out to the only person who might be able to help….Edith, the woman who broke his heart. Will he be believed, and will he be able to prevent a major shift in geopolitical dominance?
Phantom Orbit is a well-paced thriller that looks at what is definitely the next field of battle for international dominance, space. When the US created a new military division known as the Space Force many laughed, but it turns out that there is a lot happening in that arena that has nothing to do with who is landing on the moon or sending Rovers to Mars. It’s all about satellites and enhancing GPS systems, and who can optimize what their country has for resources. Wars are being waged based on information from above, weapons are setting targets based on data collected from orbiting satellites. The two main characters are both well-versed in the technologies that affect the world in this arena, and both have struggled within their careers. Ivan wanted nothing more that to be a scientist, allowed the freedom to explore within his chosen field, but has continually been ensnared by political priorities, while Edith was a woman in a male-dominated intelligence field who was never forgiven for what happened with Ivan in China, and whose instincts and capabilities were no longer fully trusted. The roles each have played and will ultimately again play in China’s long game strategy to become the dominant world force, the war in Ukraine and Russia’s shifting fortunes, and the petty jealousies and egos that are rife in any government agency are all interwoven with the underlying mystery. Plenty of false leads and twists to keep the reader guessing….it is never entirely clear who can be trusted. Fans of espionage novels, especially of authors like Charles Cumming, Paul Vidich and David McCloskey, should add David Ignatius to their list of authors to read. Phantom Orbit is a well-though out and timely thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for allowing me early access to this intriguing novel.
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