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Sting of the Drone  By  cover art

Sting of the Drone

By: Richard A. Clarke
Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
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Publisher's summary

In Washington, the Kill Committee gathers in the White House's Situation Room to pick the next targets for the United States drone program. At an airbase just outside Las Vegas, a team of pilots, military personnel and intelligence officers follow through on the committee's orders, finding the men who have been deemed a threat to national security and sentenced to death.

On the other side of the world, in the mountains where the drones hunt their prey, someone has decided to fight back. And not just against the unmanned planes that circle their skies, but against the Americans at home who control them.

Clarke not only remains an active and respected presence within the national security community but also appears regularly as an expert commentator for ABC and other media. His insider's expertise is on full display in Sting of the Drone, a breathtakingly realistic novel set within America's contentious drone program.

©2014 RAC Enterprises (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Insider knowledge of politics paired with amazing state-of-the-art technical details fuels this realistic nonstop action thriller, the best yet from Clarke... [Clarke] has set the standard by which all such titles in this growing subgenre will be measured.” —Publishers Weekly starred boxed review

“It's rare a novel is written ahead of the headlines, but the plot of Sting of the Drone is just that book. If you've wondered what it's like to be inside the U.S. Predator drone program, your wait is over. Prepare for your hand to take hold of the joy stick, your heart to lodge firmly in your throat. Tom Clancy takes to the air. Put this book on your radar.” —RIDLEY PEARSON

“What Tom Clancy did for submarines, Richard A. Clarke does for drones. Fascinating and frightening, Sting of the Drone moves as fast as the new kind of warfare that it depicts, with authentic details that only someone with the author's impressive insider credentials could know. This first-rate thriller . . . a cross between a techno-thriller and a docu-thriller, ought to be required reading for anyone who wants to know the current status of the battle against terrorism.” —DAVID MORRELL

What listeners say about Sting of the Drone

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Which part is fiction?

During the story I keep thinking which part is fiction?
While not every character get's it own personality this is a story that I've listened to from start to finish in one single session.
It makes clear that the world of conflict is much more complicated than at first sight visible. I can't wait to get to the next novel by mr. Clarke.

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Interesting insight from an inside source

The part I enjoyed about this book was the unique insights which only someone who has been there can bring to this fictionalized account of the US Government's drone warfare campaign. As for the story, I would describe is as simple, straightforward, predictable, and just too conveniently wrapped up and decorated with a nice bow at the end. It's worth the read though just to learn more about how (with room for literary exaggeration) the real drone program works.

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technothriller on terror

great ideas and realistic scenareos. makes you hope that the bad guys dont read this. very interesting take on both sides of the war on terror. good to listen to.

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A good yarn . . . and something of an education

Clarke has spun a story that moves right along and certainly kept me engaged. I knew precious little about drones at the outset. It proved to be an education about both the ethics and the mechanics of drone warfare. In addition, if one fifth of what is accomplished by the various hackers and electronic intruders is actually feasible, it is also a tad on the scary side.

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