Pop Culture has been good to author Nick Pope. As a government official, Pope once headed the division that deals with paranormal investigations. Thanks to the phenomenal success of The X-Files, Pope, in a sense, suddenly became the "British Fox Mulder." His first fiction, Operation Thunder Child mixes rich authenticity with an intriguing perspective as he details the first contact between humans and aliens.
Set in the near future, the British Government and military are faced with an extraterrestrial threat. An unknown enemy possessing diabolical technology is destroying RAF planes. Suffering crippling losses, the skeptical establishment is forced to consider incredible theories about their mysterious foe and their relationship with our supposed allies. Rather than pandering to cliché, Pope matter-of-factly portrays the Government as bewildered, but quickly adapting to an unconventional adversary, as well as handling a rumour-hungry media and the prospect of a belief-shattering revelation. His commitment to authenticity is most compelling and, despite a Clancy-esque fondness for acronyms (a helpful glossary is supplied), you are drawn in to the abundant tensions. The characters are not gung-ho heroes or cynical outsiders, but well constructed participants in a most fantastic situation, which only accentuates his drive for realism. Or, like a new twist on the old saying "Truth is stranger than fiction," Pope has used fiction as a vessel for a quite believable truth. --Danny Graydon
Genre: Science Fiction
Set in the near future, the British Government and military are faced with an extraterrestrial threat. An unknown enemy possessing diabolical technology is destroying RAF planes. Suffering crippling losses, the skeptical establishment is forced to consider incredible theories about their mysterious foe and their relationship with our supposed allies. Rather than pandering to cliché, Pope matter-of-factly portrays the Government as bewildered, but quickly adapting to an unconventional adversary, as well as handling a rumour-hungry media and the prospect of a belief-shattering revelation. His commitment to authenticity is most compelling and, despite a Clancy-esque fondness for acronyms (a helpful glossary is supplied), you are drawn in to the abundant tensions. The characters are not gung-ho heroes or cynical outsiders, but well constructed participants in a most fantastic situation, which only accentuates his drive for realism. Or, like a new twist on the old saying "Truth is stranger than fiction," Pope has used fiction as a vessel for a quite believable truth. --Danny Graydon
Genre: Science Fiction
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