Universal.

Dave Blankinship has written an intruing story with poignant overtones for everyone...even those of us who don't like to think of it.

You see, we screwed up the world. (again)

Three hundred years after that cataclysmic event, the world is being fought over again. In what was North America, the ruling force is The United Americas Trade Federation. In direct conflict with the Federation is the Libre Voyaguers, guerilla type warriors who want to overthrow the Federation.

Colonel Anthony Hammond of the Federation, was one of the brains of a particularly nasty weapons project, code named The Spider Project (or in Latin, The Scoloderus Project. His unit is attacked by the Libre Voyaguers and although there are many casualties, the colonel is simply missing.

He is part of an elaborate plan to have him tell the Libre elite the final pieces of the puzzle of this great weapon, and they have stopped at nothing to make that work.

The Federation taps a brilliant professor, a civilian, Taylor, who is a whiz at analysing and assessing to help in the search for the colonel.

The events to unravel the conspiracy and see what war and conflicts breed, is absolutely riviting. It is like Spy vs Spy vs Spy..you don't know who is in the right, who is telling the truth. Kind of like real war.

There are frightening references to the distant past, where characters marvel at things from the old (pre-Federation era) that show how the world has lost so much because of never ending conflict.

Mr. Blankinship writes crisply and delivers a book that only encompasses the events of three days, but shows what few actions can truly change the war.

An excellent read.

ellen george

The Scoloderus Conspiracy by D.A. Blankinship, ISBN 1-58597-402-1, Leathers Publishing, review by ellen george