The Doomsday Box

The Doomsday Box

Herbie Brennan

The CIA has a new need for the Shadow Project operatives (Opal, Michael, Danny, and new operative Fuchsia), concerning another top-secret project. A long time ago, the CIA meddled in teleportation and time travel, creating a rift in the fabric of space-time. It has been sealed for a long time, but the American government thinks it is time to open it up again. While digging a tunnel back down to the rift, an alarm went off in the room where the rift remains open, signaling that something came through. The CIA needs the Shadow Project operatives to check and see if everything is okay. Opal sees nothing, so the digging continues. When they finally break through, someone finds a box filled with old urine samples sitting on the floor. When the box is opened, everyone is exposed to a terrible virus, more deadly and contagious than the Black Death. Now, it is up to Danny, Fuchsia, Opal, and Michael, to travel back in time and prevent the box from coming through, but their task is far from easy...

I always say that a sequel can never be as good as the first book, but this book has proven me wrong. As much as I enjoyed the Shadow Project, this one tops it. The concept of time travel always interests me, as I stated in my review of the Tomorrow Code, and combining it with Cold War history and the KGB makes it even more interesting. The combined powers of the operatives and many twists and turns in the novel make it extremely suspenseful and exciting. The characters develop a lot more in this book, and I like that it occurs in the real world, even if it is in the past. I still love the way that it switches from character to character. This was a great book and I hope it isn't the last Shadow Project Adventure!

Why do you think that the Shadow Project operatives' mission was sabotaged? (I don't think there is a finite answer in the book, sorry if I just forgot it. It has been a few days since I read it and some details escape me.)

Do you think time travel is possible? Do you think the benefits outweigh the risks?

If someone told you to kill their father, not out of anger but as a sacrifice to save countless others, could you do it?

As usual, please comment!

The Shadow Project

The Shadow Project

Herbie Brennan

Danny is just trying to survive, not join some top-secret CIA/MI6 spy operation. Unfortunately for Danny, when he accidentally stumbles into their secret underground facility, he is sucked in to the Shadow Project. The Shadow Project uses special machines to separate your energy body from your body, almost like being a ghost or some sort of spirit. You can see other people, but they can't see you. You can visit anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye. To the CIA and MI6, this seems to be the perfect reconnaissance tool. The problem is, one of the agents has been captured in their spirit body, which was said to be impossible! Meanwhile, Danny discovers a plot to summon spiritual monsters from the parallel Astral world and attack the Shadow Project! It is up to Danny and his fellow teen agents, Opal and Michael, to stop this attack at all costs.

When I first read the inside cover summary of the book, I had no idea it would involve all of the spiritual side. I thought it would just be remote viewing. The concept of the remote viewing was intriguing enough, but the whole Astral Plain was another story. When you get over the fact that it is a little far-fetched (because in reality, the whole story is, being science fiction), it adds a unique perspective on the three agents, as well as Danny's grandmother. The way that the operatives can bend the rules of physics there is very interesting, and helps tell the reader to keep an open mind about things. Another thing I liked about the book is the way that the chapters change perspective from character to character. It is not only helpful to get each person's opinion on the situation, but their opinion of each other as well. I really enjoyed this book and immediately bought the sequel. It wasn't a cliffhanger where you NEED the sequel right away, I just really enjoyed the book and wanted more, which I think is a sign of a very good book.

Do you think that it is possible to have machines create an OOBE (out-of-body-experience)? What about just spontaneously having them, like Danny?

If you were Danny or Opal, would you believe Michael and his Uncle about the Astral Plain?

Aside from spying, how else do you think the technology behind creating OOBE's should be used?

Please leave your comments and answers!