Saucer

by Stephen Coonts

Book Overview

Saucer is a dazzling flying story and an action-filled look at what might have been...and what might be. Stephen Coonts has earned an extraordinary worldwide reputation with his military thrillers featuring Jake Grafton, one of the most popular and recognizable characters in contemporary suspense fiction. In this exhilarating departure, Coonts takes readers on an imaginative journey into space that is as suspenseful as any of his other stories . . . When Rip Cantrell, a seismic survey worker in the Sahara, spots a glint of reflected light in the distance, he investigates-and finds a piece of metal apparently entombed in the sandstone. Before long, Rip and his colleagues uncover a flying saucer that has been resting there for 140,000 years. Their discovery doesn't remain a secret for long. The U.S. Air Force sends a UFO investigation team, which arrives just minutes before a team sent by an Australian billionaire to steal the saucer's secrets. Before either side can outwit the other, the Libyan military arrives. Meanwhile, Rip has been checking out the saucer. With the help of a beautiful ex-Air Force test pilot Charley Pine, Rip flies the saucer away, embarking on a fantastic journey into space and around the world, keeping just ahead of those who want the saucer for themselves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312283423
• ISBN13: 9780312283421
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Sure, It'll Fly to Mars - But Can It Make Missouri?

Whiz-kid seismic surveyor Rip Cantrell finds a still-functioning 140,000-year old flying saucer embedded in the Sahara sandstone. The U.S. Air Force isn't far behind with their recon satellites, sending out UFO investigator and top test pilot Charlotte "Charlie" Pine. A seedy Australian multi-billionaire sends out his own goon squad to reclaim the ancient artifact for an international auction, and the Libyan government is getting into the act with an air assault that just might stop them all.Under those circumstances, what's a good, patriotic pair of red-blooded Americans to do? Why, take the saucer out of harm's way for starters, of course - even if the only way out is to fly the damn thing to safety.You can't have more fun than this book. It's a non-stop roller-coaster ride of adolescent fantasy/action-adventure. The first half is often very, very funny, with Rip and Charlie making headlines around the world as a fleet of invading aliens, as they zip in and about various highway coffee shops for a bite to eat before taking off into orbit to evade heat-seeking interceptor missiles. The second half is where the uglier adult action begins, with the Rupert Murdoch-esque Australian weapons contractor getting his hands on Charlie and the saucer...but, of course, there's a great deal more fun to be had from there.Ignore the nay-sayers who simply missed the point. None of this book is meant in any way to be taken that seriously. It does manage to raise some interesting questions regarding human evolution and ancient civilizations, but they are only lightly touched upon and more or less glossed over in favor of the Disneyland action-ride. So just hop on in the cockpit, and aim for the stars - or Missouri, whichever comes first.

Sure, It'll Fly to Mars - But Will It Make Missouri?

Geological whiz-kid surveyor Rip Cantrell stumbles over a 140,000 year-old flying saucer lodged in Sudanese sandstone, and before he and his science team cronies can say "exploit E.T.," the secret is out and everyone's making a grab for it. The U.S. Air Force sends its UFO investigators, including hot-shot young test pilot Charlotte Pine, who takes a mutual liking to Rip. By the time a tipped-off Australian billionaire and the Libyan government make a move on it, Rip and Charlotte have figured out how to fly the still-functioning ancient technology - and do so, fast, to escape all the aforementioned parties and figure out what best to do with the saucer. Many zany hijinks ensue.This is easily one of the most fun books I've ever read. It's part action-adventure, part sci-fi speculation, part spoof, and all entertainment. The entire first half is often very, very funny, with Kip and Charlotte making intentional and unintentional headline news on their flight to escape all authorities. Things turn more serious when the power-players catch up to the hot-rodding young whippersnappers, intent on capitalizing on their particular hot-rod. It all comes to a roller-coaster conclusion in a mini-World War III in Australia, with every major power on Earth hell-bent to either own the twenty-first century's leading edge in technology, or destroy it to insure that no rival nation gets it.Ignore the nay-sayers. They missed the point. This book is just plain kick-in-the-pants fun, from start to finish.Enjoy.

If you want to lose yourself in a book...this is the one

Stephen Coonts is the master of military action-adventure and this foray into a little-bit of science fiction highlights the creative, master literary skills that have made him the best-selling author he is. Saucer grabs the reader on the first page and you're off in a page-turning race that doesn't let go until the last page. This is Stephen Coonts at his best with full characters, great dialogue and a story line that marks this book as an outstanding, fun read. CAPT David E. Meadows, USN Author of the SIXTH FLEET serieshttp://www.geocities.com/igor1610

saucer

I will make this short and sweet. read this book in two nights. stayed up until 3am. one of the best i have ever read. i read a lot.

SAUCER is a great read! Stephen, Music City USA, Nashville

Don't believe the poor reviews given about this novel! I enjoyed it spellbound from page 1 and was fascinated by it until the last page! I give it 5 stars for plot and writing! I have most of Coonts' books and this ranks at the top with all the others! I finished it in two days, hard to put down! Thank you Stephen Coonts for another great novel!...