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    Sting of the Drone: A Thriller
    Sting of the Drone: A Thriller
    Sting of the Drone: A Thriller
    Audiobook8 hours

    Sting of the Drone: A Thriller

    Written by Richard A. Clarke

    Narrated by Ari Fliakos

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateMay 13, 2014
    ISBN9781427245229
    Sting of the Drone: A Thriller
    Author

    Richard A. Clarke

    Richard Clarke was appointed by President Clinton as the first National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism in May 1998 and continued in that position under George W. Bush. Until March 2003 he was a career member of the Senior Executive Service, having begun his federal service in 1973 in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, as an analyst on nuclear weapons and European security issues. In the Reagan administration, Mr. Clarke was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence. In the first Bush administration, he was the Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs.

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    Reviews for Sting of the Drone

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    • 4/5
      I thought that this book was very good. It gave good insight into how the drone program may function (hypothetically) and had enough action and plot twists to make it a fun read. The book has realistic scenarios between drone pilots, terrorists, etc. and it does not seem much of a stretch to believe these things go on in reality. I would definitely read more of Mr. Clarke's books and this was a good one!
    • 5/5
      Fast paced, all-too-real fight against terrorism. Very relevant.This book threw me into the thick of the drama at the very beginning. A high velocity thriller with all the technology anyone could hope for, especially if they don't like someone! This is the world of Drones. I had no idea there were so many sizes, types, outfitted, unarmed drones nor how connected they were to space. If we thought our skies were getting crowded, just imagine this mostly-invisible and sometimes disguised fleet flying around from almost all countries, zipping around all our regular aircraft. Talk about an eye-opener!These usually silent assassins are directed by an elite group of select pilots who actually "fly" the drones from thousands of miles away. This is their story. The action is not completely non-stop, often it is a wait, assess, check and double-check for innocent non-targets--possibility of "collateral damage" in range--to determine whether action will be taken. What I like, action aside, is the stories presented throughout the book, the personal backgrounds, the lives they lead outside of work. The personalities and back-stories possibly based on real people and events although the book is fictional.But wait! The book takes a turn-around and it becomes even closer to non-fiction as the terrorists learn from their losses and change their tactics. Now we see the world tipping on it's axis as collateral damage piles up, many victims children. This book is adrenaline full-steam and keeps on escalating. Richard A. Clarke knows what he's writing about. A well-written book of our times. Adventure, terror, a high-tech thriller at it's best.
    • 3/5
      This was an OK read, not wonderful, but OK. I think that Mr. Clarke's forte is not story telling; it seemed to me he was just trying to show how much he knows about "inside" stuff and drones in particular. But I appreciated the ARC copy just the same and wish I could have raved about the book. But I can't.
    • 3/5
      Sting of the Drone offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of modern drone warfare with a depth of knowledge that couldn't come from any other author. The plot is interesting and realistic and touches on the fears of real Americans in a way that makes for an exciting read.However, characterization is poor which can detract from the story when things are supposed to get personal, which they do frequently in the story. I also felt that Clarke's writing style could use some work. Dialogue was predictable and repetitive so it almost felt like a TV transcript where they have to spell everything out for inattentive viewers. The action sequences alternated between thrilling and muddled and it seems like Clarke loses track of his characters at times.Overall, an exciting and interesting story, but nothing in the way of literature.
    • 3/5
      Fiction with the feel of reality is what Richard A. Clarke delivers with Sting of the Drone. His pre-author background is all about government service, including stints in Security and Counter-Terrorism, so his plot and character development seem to have a ring of truth pretty closely intertwined with his imagination.The plot of this fast moving thriller presents the US federal government, multiple agencies and acronyms abounding, as the good guys working to decide who they are justified in "taking out," with the remote controlled drones which make up the most effective arsenal of weapons ever. The drones can see, record, even sense tunnels between buildings, not to mention direct devastating bombs into the places where the bad guys have gathered. To be targeted, the bad guys mist rise to the level of being an actual threat to American lives, but sometimes the validity of the threat is vigorously second-guessed by the politicians with the authority to nix the drone program if it becomes a drag on their next election chances. The agencies represented in the Kill Committee don't always agree either.But that is not the worst of the worries of the pilots who operate the drones from thousands of miles from the front lines of the War on Terror. What if the bad guys decide to fight back? In this case one of the Pakistanis, not actually a member of any of the Al Quada-derivative groups, realizes that the plan to take out bus and train stations in Europe can be modified and moved to the USA. At the same time a westernized Afghan has had a very effective business set up moving drugs into Europe, but redirects his interests when his father is killed by an American drone. He decides to use his Ukrainian hacker team to find out more about the drones and the people who operate them. Both are hired by the Qazzani group, a Pakistani crime cartel, to work this daring plan.Hackers are a dangerous and devious bunch, but the good news is the good guys have one on their side too. The battle quickly proves dangerous and deadly to both sides, and the "players" don't always know who the enemy is or where he is coming from.Lots of technology utilized in this thriller, and I am trusting that it is all very real. A fast and enjoyable read...check it out!
    • 3/5
      This book was OK. It seems like Clarke was more interested in impressing you both with his knowledge of the drone program and the machines' capabilities. But as a story, it wasn't very cohesive as a thriller or mystery. We get to see the process that's gone through to approve a kill (repeatedly), and we get to see successes and failures of the program. Few of the characters are fleshed out at all, and the technology used to locate and capture/kill bad guys (either via drone or otherwise) seemed pretty over the top.
    • 4/5
      Terrifying, fascinating and completely enjoyable. It could happen (maybe it already IS happening). We're smarter than the bad guys but the bad guys have the money to buy the brains they lack. Love the technology of the drones and appreciate that it was explained in a way that a non-military, non-techie can understand it. Highly recommend.
    • 2/5
      This is a very detailed book about the process of drones however I feel the story drags and at time gets lost in the details.
    • 4/5
      Sting of the Drone is a captivating read and a real thought provoking book. While reading it, I found myself wondering if certain parts were real or fiction. Richard Clarke, having served in a very powerful position for three Presidential administrations, sends the reader on an excellent adventure. I love military fiction, but this book feels like it takes the fiction out and drives the truth right into your gut. Thank you Library Thing.
    • 4/5
      I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. First off I must say that when I picked it up I was drawn into a great action-packed work. The storyline is woven around the use of unmanned flying aircraft by the US government ( drones). The author creates an intriguing tale of the government program and the use of the drones to kill potential terrorists. It is a cautionary tale that explores both sides of the issue.I really enjoyed the book and was surprised ( and horrified) to note at the end of the book that the US really has drones in place and has for many years. The author was involved in getting them implemented for use. It makes me wonder how much of the book is actually fiction. Truly a recommended read.
    • 5/5
      Sting of the Drone by Richard A. Clarke is a very good novel revolving around the controversy of the U.S. drone program to kill terrorists abroad. The story talks about the enemies/terrorists we make overseas when we accidentally kill someone as collateral damage. It also discusses the impacts on the pilots of remotely piloting drones from Nevada and then going home to a normal life every night. It also discusses the foreign/national policy impacts of the drone use. Around all of these issues, Richard Clarke has written a very good novel involving a new terror attack on the U.S. The terrorists have combined with drug cartels to carry out the attack. The lead person involved in the U.S. attack is a Canadian who is participating for revenge purposes after a drone attack killed his father. A number of the potential terrorists are U.S. citizens that are Muslim with family ties to the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa where the terrorists are strong.
    • 4/5
      Drone warfare is a powerful weapon in the 21st century. We news reports that note a terrorist in this or that country has been killed in a drone attack. The Sting of the Drone is a fictional story of Richard A. Clarke that shows the sophistication of drone warfare, as well as the possibilities of the tables being turned, where the intended of targets of drone warfare begin to fight back.Clarke served in national security under several presidents and understands the sophistication of drones and their applications, as well as the personalities and stresses of those involved in drone warfare, both on the military and policy sides of the conflict. He weaves all of this together in an exciting chess match as the US military deals with terrorism in ways that are very plausible in our day. I found this to be an engaging story that always kept me on the edge of my seat.
    • 4/5
      I received a physical Advance Readers’ Edition of this book for free on LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.Implementing new technology, especially that of a controversial nature, can be very tricky. People often do not understand the whole picture when they form opinions and make decisions about the technology. Even if those in power understand the whole picture, the “best” or “right” thing to do is not necessarily an easy, clear-cut decision, particularly when ethics are a factor. Plus, any decision can still have consequences that are difficult or impossible to predict. This book does an excellent job of portraying these dilemmas in a storyline that is believable, heart-gripping, and thought-provoking.
    • 4/5
      You don't hear much about the government's drone program until some terrorist cell is cleaned up or another such action is accomplished successfully. This book, written by someone that has obviously been privy to what goes on behind the scenes, will give you quite a bit of thought provoking information, wrapped in a fast moving plot. The idea of the people behind the drones hunting down terrorists being hunted themselves is entirely plausible in today's world. The amount of misinformation spread on both sides and it's effect has eye-opening consequences! I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick read , realistic, and engaging.
    • 5/5
      Best thriller of the decade so far. Very personal heartfelt look at the social consequences of implementing a new warfighting technique, in this case Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (or more commonly known as Armed Drones). It is the author's firsthand knowledge of the programs implementing these technologies that make this such an interesting read. While the writing may not be as exciting as The Hunt for Red October it comes darn close. A more accurate comparison to Tom Clancy's classic first work would be to say that this book makes an offensive weapon system understandable by forcing us to grapple with the issues and people surrounding the deployment of it. Highly recommended for all those who have ever dabbled with the techno thriller genre. Further recommended for anyone seeking to understand why The deployment of armed drones has made America so unpopular.
    • 4/5
      For anyone who does not study forms of literary analysis, “biographical criticism” is the study of an author’s life and the ways in which his or her subjective, personal experiences are infused and exhibited in the writings that he or she produces. Physical impediments, cognitive abnormalities, social restrictions, individualistic ideologies, or uncommon communal encounters can all serve as the basis for the literary scholar to analyze and assess the author’s book; biographical critics are interested in determining how the idiosyncratic elements of the writer’s life are manifested in the book that he or she has written.I generally do not apply the tenets of biographical criticism to fictional novels because I am of the belief that a good author should be able to separate himself from the material that he produces so that a universe is created which bears little resemblance to the author’s own, subjective experiences; the way that I look at it, if I wanted to learn about the writer’s own thoughts and perspectives, I would simply read his or her autobiography. There are some instances, however, where an author’s subjective experiences cannot be separated from the fictitious characters and literary environments that he creates. A writer who bases his literary creation on aspects of life that he is familiar with will, undoubtedly, find it impossible to completely remove himself and his own, personal philosophical outlooks from the book that he has generated. In order to adequately review Richard A. Clarke’s “Sting of the Drone”, it would be impossible not to rely on biographical criticism when assessing both the novel’s merits and its flaws. Clarke was the National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism for both the Clinton and Bush administration from 1998 until 2003, where he worked closely with governmental officials to thwart terrorist attacks from being executed on American soil. Clarke’s professional background provides him with an emic (inside) perspective of the controversial foreign policy regarding the use of unmanned drones that can hone in, and destroy, selected targets from thousands of miles away. One would presume, given his extensive career as a political advisor to a number of U.S. Presidents in the last twenty years, that Clarke’s ideologies pertaining to foreign policies would be inherently “pro-American”. He held a position of power during the war on terrorism and he admits that he has “some personal responsibility for the use of drones against terrorists” (293). “Sting of the Drone” could very easily have been a former political advisor’s attempt to create a fictitious world which highlights the dangers of foreign terrorist groups who aim to inflict damage and retribution on innocent American people. The book could have become a form of political propaganda, marketed to the ignorant masses of readers, who would have digested the rhetoric imparted to them by a former political advisor, by promoting the benefits of unmanned drones in areas where anti-American ideologies are rampant. Surprisingly, however, this is not the case.Clarke emphasizes the immorality and dangers associated with the American drone program by giving voice to the other side; the motives of the “terrorists” in the novel are not irrational and delusional, but instead are strangely understandable and hauntingly poignant. The book emphasizes the unpredictability of the drone program; on both sides of the fight, drones cause violence, death, mayhem, chaos, and fear, and Clarke does not shy away from the United States’ prominent role in creating an environment in the Middle East which promotes distrust and hatred against Americans for the role that their country has in bringing mayhem to the regions of the east as a result of the use of unmanned drones. The reader is given insight into the mindset of a group of people who seek political retaliation and familial retribution against the country which has brought death to their region and caused innocent men, women, and children to die as a direct result of the implementation of aircrafts of anarchy in the war on terror. If Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler had written “Sting of the Drone”, I would commend them for providing such an all-encompassed look at the use of drones in a region that is filled with terrified, innocent civilians; it is not every day that an American author is able to elevate himself above the nationalist ideologies of his own country. Yet Clarke’s role as the former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism makes it impossible not to acknowledge the tremendous stance that Clarke takes in the book. An American political advisor who was partially responsible for the implementation of the drone system in the Middle East has written a book that condemns the use of unmanned aircrafts. In essence, the novel asks the reader “How would you feel if robotic machines piloted by men thousands of miles away were flying the skies of your country?” Clarke seems to struggle with the ethical responsibility that he has in terms of the use of unmanned drones, and he invites the reader to appreciate the effects that these machines have on people who live in a consistent state of turbulence and fear. “Sting of the Drone” is by no means a perfect novel. Unlike some others who have reviewed the novel, I found the book to be severely lacking in terms of character development. There are a large number of characters introduced, most of which have a semi-important role at some point in the story, but none of these characters offer any relatable qualities. The backgrounds and emotional workings of nearly all of the characters are devoid of any real depth or detail, and I found it very difficult to pinpoint any one protagonist (or even antagonist) that could not be construed as paper-thin. This central flaw of the novel, however, cannot be emphasized too greatly; Clarke is a former political advisor who was likely accustomed to remaining emotionally detached from his peers as he partook in political advisements and recommendations for the Clinton and Bush administrations. Clarke’s lack of any real emotional depth and insight into any of his characters may be a result of his political vocation as an advisor, relying on facts and data and less on emotions and feelings. I have to commend Richard A. Clarke for writing a novel that offers real insight into an issue that will had tremendous ramifications in American foreign affairs for years to come. Basing his book on policies that he himself is familiar with, Clarke has managed to provide to the everyday reader an inside look into the ethical and moral complexities associated with the drone program. Had “Sting of the Drone” been written by anyone else, I would have said it was an average read and given it 3/5 in terms of a rating. Yet Clarke seems to have written this novel as a kind of repentance for his role in implementing unmanned robotic aircrafts. It is clear that he grapples with the ramifications and consequences that the drones have produced in the Middle East, and he seems to be suggesting that, as a former advisor who had a partial role in implementing these devices of destruction, perhaps it would be prudent to consider all sides of the debate and attempt to understand what it must be like for the average Pakistani and Afghani citizen whose life is in the hands of faceless men thousands of miles away. “Sting of the drone” serves as a type of metaphor not just for the physical dangers associated with their use, but also for the ethical and moral pricks which affect those in the West who support the use of these instruments without ever considering the effects that they have on the people that they unintentionally target.4/5
    • 4/5
      For readers curious about the drone program, Clarke provides a good insider's view.The drones have been so successful that there is a meeting with the head of the Qazzani Cartel. They deal with heroine, weapons, gold and electronics. The leader wants a strike back against the drones after a member of his family was killed in a drone attack.They plan a two fold attack, set off bombs in key US cities and attack drone pilots and intelligence people who run the program. The attack is due to happen around Christmas.Clarke details the success of the drone program but also the difficulty in dealing with the innocent people killed by the drones. When the terrorists set up a drone to attack what they think is a terrorist hideout, they fill it with children and make it look as if the drones attacked an orphanage.Washington interferes and politicians want more say in picking suitable targets. The people running the drone program think that these politicians forget what 9-11 was like. The drones are the best thing we have for stopping terrorism but the leaders feel they should have continued freedom.Clarke also gives us a view of drone pilots and the thoughts they have after a strike, good and bad.There is a good suspense build up as we get closer to Christmas and see the terrorists at work in setting up their plan. Will they be discovered in time? We must read this dandy story to find out.
    • 5/5
      Richard Clarke worked in the White House for over a decade as National Coordinator for Security and Counter-Terriorism. To me, that makes him a very credible author to write about acts of terrorism and the USA defending themselves. In fact, this book is so frighteningly real that it pulls you in and you can absolutely imagine that the storyline could be real and could even be based on fact.I found the book to have some great characters. I liked Ray Bowman (and his romantic links with a senior female character) and I particularly liked Dugout and his techie/hacker role in resolving the plot. I was slightly dismayed that so many of the key characters did not survive as I thought this one novel would be a good starting point for a whole series - but maybe that is still a possibility? I would definitely read another one!
    • 5/5
      "Sting of the Drone" (SD) is a terrific novel, a 5-star story from start to finish. This isn't your standard action thriller about a 6'5" hero with guns blazing, out to save the world. Rather, SD offers a brisk plot, well paced, with lots of tension, tons of stuff you didn't know about drones and a more than adequate cast of characters. In a nutshell, SD is about terrorist efforts to defuse the US drone program by initiating a two prong attack against the drone program and US citizens. Simultaneously, efforts are initiated to detonate a numer of bombs in key US city subways and to destroy the drone program by taking down a number of drones and by assassinating key drone personnel.The story begins with a US drone attack on a fancy hotel in Vienna, Austria of all places. The reader gets to eavesdrop on a secret meeting of the Kill Committee representing government and intelligence agency high levels as they debate the pros and cons of a "go-ahead". It is this attack that leads a terrorist organization to take the offensive against the drone program in the hope of getting the US out of all Muslim countries and moving the US to shut the program down. Following are a number of drone missions during which terrorists counter with their own drones as well as with some technological surprises of their own.Throughout SD, the US rationale for the program is well articulated, countered, debated, applauded and decried - by a Congressional panel. The terrorists have some successes of their own and some key US personnel are killed, but then the US unleashes a few secret weapons of our own, including a hacker by the name of "Dugout". This is a somewhat rare thriller novel that does not have a protagonist, unless one is willing to accept drone as such.I recommend the book highly and I look forward to subsequent drone novels from author Richard Clarke. Well done !
    • 4/5
      Richard Clarke's suspense novel ties together threads of cybercrime, terrorism, and technology. His story begins in Afghanistan and moves west as his characters deal with the use of armed unmanned aircraft and the repercussions. Clarke's plot is a bit thin but is well-paced and is a good, quick beach or airport read.Characters are not well-developed and consist of an almost entirely male cast but the story covers a lot of ground. In particular, Clarke does a good job of highlighting the mental challenges facing drone operators, the tensions between government and intelligence units, and the ethical gray areas in using drones for quasi-military policing.The book's real strength for me was it's believable scenario that pulled in Ukrainian hackers and Afghani narco terrorists on the one hand and a mixture of US military and cyber warriors on the other. This mixture of technology and people kept the story anchored in reality and made it more engaging.Despite Clarke's former life as a Presidential advisor, the book mostly avoided patriotic chest thumping or preaching. In particular, the latter would have been excusable given the author's role as a drone advocate, explained in an afterword. His treatment of the real-world tensions of money, religion, security and government were well-balanced.I prefer Clarke's non-fiction but this is a good book to buy or share and public libraries will want to have a copy available for their readers.[based on an advance review copy]