Never
A Novel
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3.9 • 336 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
New York Times Bestseller
The new must-read epic from master storyteller Ken Follett: more than a thriller, it’s an action-packed, globe-spanning drama set in the present day.
“A compelling story, and only too realistic.” —Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary
“Every catastrophe begins with a little problem that doesn’t get fixed.” So says Pauline Green, president of the United States, in Follett’s nerve-racking drama of international tension.
A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert; a stolen US Army drone; an uninhabited Japanese island; and one country’s secret stash of deadly chemical poisons: all these play roles in a relentlessly escalating crisis.
Struggling to prevent the outbreak of world war are a young woman intelligence officer; a spy working undercover with jihadists; a brilliant Chinese spymaster; and Pauline herself, beleaguered by a populist rival for the next president election.
Never is an extraordinary novel, full of heroines and villains, false prophets and elite warriors, jaded politicians and opportunistic revolutionaries. It brims with cautionary wisdom for our times, and delivers a visceral, heart-pounding read that transports readers to the brink of the unimaginable.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In superstar novelist Ken Follett’s what-if political thriller, the world races toward Armageddon. U.S. President Pauline Green is facing a complex web of conflicts between the world’s superpowers, which could escalate into a nuclear war. Meanwhile, a young widow from conflict-ridden Chad tries to escape to Europe with her child. Follett treats these two very different women with a documentarian’s eye for detail and a war reporter’s unflinching gaze. From the political grandstanding to a terrorist drug ring, a sense of urgency runs throughout Follett’s near-future world, where an everyday action like checking your phone can trigger international calamity. Never is so exciting—and so plausible—you won’t want to look away.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this terrific international thriller from MWA Grand Master Follett (Eye of the Needle), President Pauline Green, a moderate Republican who's up for reelection, must contend for the nomination with far-right Sen. James Moore, whose macho talk appeals to many Republican voters. On the foreign policy front, Green wants to punish the Chinese for selling arms to terrorists, so she proposes a resolution against them in the United Nations. This is the first move in a political chess game between China and the U.S. that could lead to all-out war. At home, Green and her husband are having difficulties with their bright 14-year-old daughter, who's being disruptive in school. Meanwhile, in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, CIA officer Tamara Levit is running Abdul John Haddad, a 25-year-old cigarette vendor, as a spy on the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. These are just a few of the plotlines Follett lays out in detail and then slowly weaves together as the stakes and the suspense steadily rise. By the final pages all is made clear, and the shocked reader realizes that the story hasn't ended, it's just beginning. This is a powerful, commanding performance from one of the top writers in the genre.
Customer Reviews
Nuclear war
A grim reminder of what could be, and how complex situations can get. Well done by Follett. Interesting to note that. China has 300 nukes to America’s 3,000. A possible change of plot: since the nukes fired by the US hit North Korea and not China, the Chinese retaliation could have been to target a US ally rather than Honolulu. Like Canada. Wake up Justin.
Never
This book is so bad. 1/3 of the storyline has no affect on the outcome. The characters are so idiotic as to be laughable. In 30 seconds the American president decides to eradicate a Chinese aircraft carrier with Minimal thoughts to the repercussions. I feel like this book was written and marketed to 14-17yr old girls, not anyone with any knowledge of world history or events. But, of course, these days complete idiots do find their way into the White House.
Scary Read
An important read in these “interesting times.” In these years of populist politicians who truly do not understand the complexities of issues, Ken’s book is a real wake-up call.