From Publishers Weekly
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you, as shown in this above-average movie tie-in, the conclusion to Stirling's T2 trilogy (after Rising Storm and Infiltrator). Judgment Day, when the sentient computer Skynet begins using its control of the U.S. military to exterminate the human race, comes at last. In an effort to save humanity, Sarah Connor and her son and savior-in-training, John, alert their allies among the world's militaries, intelligence agencies and general populace. Serving Skynet are eco-terrorists called Luddites, who round up survivors, confine them in concentration camps and expose them to biological weapons. As the first Terminator movie foretells, the humans gain the upper hand, prompting Skynet to resort to time travel to try to kill Sarah and establish its own existence. Faithful to his source material, Stirling (Conquistador; The Peshawar Lancers) gives the book a cinematic feel and structure, with quick jumps between action scenes and large skips in time and space, not to mention robots with Austrian accents. Unfortunately, the logical gaps in the film premise continue to dog his work, and the character development and relationships are obviously predetermined. Readers who enjoyed the movies will like the added material. Newcomers had best start with the films before tackling the books.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Stirling's third essay into the Terminator universe isn't as tightly constructed as its predecessors, but then, it covers much more territory, from immediately after the conclusion of T2: Infiltrator (2001) to the moment when John Connor sends his father back in time to defeat the original Terminator and beget him! In between these moments, enough years pass for Skynet to take over every computer in sight and cause not one but two nuclear wars as well as unleashing Luddite militias, death camps, and increasingly sophisticated weaponry on humanity. The resistance holds its own, with help from Sarah and John Connor and Dieter von Rossbach, not to mention John's grandparents, Captain Dennis Reese and nurse Mary Shea, and Stirling proves as adept as ever with action scenes. And those are scenes in a grim battle for survival, and they give this book a substantially darker tone than those of its predecessors. Not that that will turn away any readers, especially during this summer of the third Terminator movie. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

The Machines are awake -- and aware ...

There is no destiny but the one we have created ...

There is no turning back -- the future war is now.


Download Description
The future is now. Skynet is sentient, and the first Hunter-Killer and T-90 Terminator units are operational. Humanity faces extinction. But one man, guided by the very Terminator once sent to kill him, has been preparing for this future: John Connor. The battle is engaged. S.M. Stirling's final T2 volume. Begun with T2: Infiltrator and continuing in T2: Rising Storm - all available from PerfectBound.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"The future war is now. Hiding out in Alaska, Sarah and John Connor, along with excounterterrorist agent, Dieter von Rossbach, are playing a waiting game - trying to live their lives but ever watchful of Cyberdyne Corporation and the possibility of Skynet, the artificial intelligence network destined to destroy the world as we know it. They've fought for years to prevent this, and now, believing that John's love, Wendy, sacrificed herself to successfully prevent Skynet from becoming sentient, they think humanity may finally have a chance to survive." "Then the United States government announces that all military and communications systems will be placed under the command of a brand-new, extremely powerful Artificial Intelligence named Skynet, effective immediately." "Racing desperately to alert their allies, the Connors discover that Wendy's sacrifice was in vain - far from being harmless, Skynet is active, sentient, and ready to terminate the human nuisance once and for all. Engineered by the relentless Al, the apocalypse of Judgment Day turns cities into deathtraps and releases mass destruction across the globe." "In the nuclear winter that follows, our world changes forever. Cities become deathtraps of disease and famine patrolled by implacable machines, the first Hunter-Killer and T-90 Terminator units begin to exterminate their human prey, and all human life faces a desperate battle for survival against a seemingly unstoppable enemy." But there is still one rallying cry of hope, one man who will step to the forefront of the long fight to keep humanity from extinction: John Connor.

SYNOPSIS

The future is now. Skynet is sentient, and the first Hunter-Killer and T-90 Terminator units are operational. Humanity faces extinction. But one man, guided by the very Terminator once sent to kill him, has been preparing for this future: John Connor. The battle is engaged. S.M. Stirling's final T2 volume.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you, as shown in this above-average movie tie-in, the conclusion to Stirling's T2 trilogy (after Rising Storm and Infiltrator). Judgment Day, when the sentient computer Skynet begins using its control of the U.S. military to exterminate the human race, comes at last. In an effort to save humanity, Sarah Connor and her son and savior-in-training, John, alert their allies among the world's militaries, intelligence agencies and general populace. Serving Skynet are eco-terrorists called Luddites, who round up survivors, confine them in concentration camps and expose them to biological weapons. As the first Terminator movie foretells, the humans gain the upper hand, prompting Skynet to resort to time travel to try to kill Sarah and establish its own existence. Faithful to his source material, Stirling (Conquistador; The Peshawar Lancers) gives the book a cinematic feel and structure, with quick jumps between action scenes and large skips in time and space, not to mention robots with Austrian accents. Unfortunately, the logical gaps in the film premise continue to dog his work, and the character development and relationships are obviously predetermined. Readers who enjoyed the movies will like the added material. Newcomers had best start with the films before tackling the books. (June 17) Forecast: Publication has been moved up to take advantage of the summer release of T3: Rise of the Machines. Female fans, however, may be disappointed to find that Sarah Connor plays a diminishing role here. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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