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Pandora's Clock
A plane carrying a supervirus searches for a place to land in this “combination of The Hot Zone and Speed” by a New York Times–bestselling author (USA Today).
On a snowy road in a German forest, Ernest Helms sees a man trying to break into his car. After a scuffle, Helms escapes with only a cut on his hand. Hours later, he collapses aboard a flight from Frankfurt to New York. The pilot, Capt. James Holland, radios London to plan an emergency landing to save Helms—and then the nightmare begins.
Heathrow denies Holland permission to land: Helms has been stricken with an ultracontagious pathogen that threatens the entire planet. When Germany also refuses to let him land, Holland and his passengers are prisoners of the sky, caught between a deadly disease and a world that would rather shoot them down than risk contamination.
Written by a former aviator known as the master of mile-high suspense, this is a pulse-pounding thriller about infectious disease in the tradition of Outbreak and The Andromeda Strain. Threatened by hostile governments on the ground and disease in the sky, Captain Holland is in for the flight of his life.
On a snowy road in a German forest, Ernest Helms sees a man trying to break into his car. After a scuffle, Helms escapes with only a cut on his hand. Hours later, he collapses aboard a flight from Frankfurt to New York. The pilot, Capt. James Holland, radios London to plan an emergency landing to save Helms—and then the nightmare begins.
Heathrow denies Holland permission to land: Helms has been stricken with an ultracontagious pathogen that threatens the entire planet. When Germany also refuses to let him land, Holland and his passengers are prisoners of the sky, caught between a deadly disease and a world that would rather shoot them down than risk contamination.
Written by a former aviator known as the master of mile-high suspense, this is a pulse-pounding thriller about infectious disease in the tradition of Outbreak and The Andromeda Strain. Threatened by hostile governments on the ground and disease in the sky, Captain Holland is in for the flight of his life.
438 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1995
About the author
John J. Nance
72 books213 followersJohn J. Nance is an American pilot, aviation safety expert, and author. He served in the USAF during the Vietnam War and also as a Lt. Colonel in Operation Desert Storm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
April 20, 2019
What worse scenario is there than being on a flight in a Boeing 747, possibly exposed to an unknown killer virus which could wipe out civilization, and having no place to land? Doesn't get much worse than that.
In this thriller, an ill man boards Flight 66 and dies shortly thereafter of an apparent heart attack.....or is it a heart attack? During the Cold War, the Soviets had been experimenting with chemical warfare and found that this virus needed to be isolated forever as it threatened civilization and its kill rate was 100%. Somehow, a vial escapes notice and years later is accidentally opened. The results to those exposed to the virus are horrifying although it is still somewhat contained to only a few people. But if the gentleman who has just boarded Flight 66 in infected, the plane is a time bomb and no country will allow it to land. Now what? The CIA has a plan and not a very pleasant one and the involvement of their Director is suspect.
This book keeps you turning pages even though it is a bit of a potboiler (another reviewer used that term and it is appropriate). The ending is somewhat ambiguous since you can trust no one to tell the truth. That gives the book an even more frightening aspect. If you want a good thriller, pick up this gem!
In this thriller, an ill man boards Flight 66 and dies shortly thereafter of an apparent heart attack.....or is it a heart attack? During the Cold War, the Soviets had been experimenting with chemical warfare and found that this virus needed to be isolated forever as it threatened civilization and its kill rate was 100%. Somehow, a vial escapes notice and years later is accidentally opened. The results to those exposed to the virus are horrifying although it is still somewhat contained to only a few people. But if the gentleman who has just boarded Flight 66 in infected, the plane is a time bomb and no country will allow it to land. Now what? The CIA has a plan and not a very pleasant one and the involvement of their Director is suspect.
This book keeps you turning pages even though it is a bit of a potboiler (another reviewer used that term and it is appropriate). The ending is somewhat ambiguous since you can trust no one to tell the truth. That gives the book an even more frightening aspect. If you want a good thriller, pick up this gem!
April 30, 2020
Who else but me would think of reading a pandemic-threat novel in the middle of a pandemic? All I can say is that I had a rollicking good time with this airplane thriller.
March 23, 2008
Great thrill ride!
I saw the movie on TV before I read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it - it literally kept me on the edge of my seat all the way. So, when I stumbled upon the novel in a bookshop, I just had to buy it.
This book really makes you think: what if? There is a passenger on a plane with a contagious virus; no airport wants to let the plane land there, and some fighter plane is trying to shoot the passenger jet down. What to do?
Usually I find books of the type where you have many characters thrown into a calamity of sorts a bit boring. In many of this kind of book, the author would get carried away with the emotions of all the different characters and cause the pace of the story to become sluggish. This is fine if the book is not a thriller novel, but in a thriller the author must keep the pace up and actually increase it as the story progresses. Well, John J. Nance has masterfully succeeded in making this an excellent thriller by keeping the pace and suspense at very high levels. At the same time, he created engaging characters, but not too many of them, and did not focus too much on all their emotions, but just enough so that I could actually sense the fear and hopelessness amongst them.
This was a great thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, just as in the movie.
I saw the movie on TV before I read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it - it literally kept me on the edge of my seat all the way. So, when I stumbled upon the novel in a bookshop, I just had to buy it.
This book really makes you think: what if? There is a passenger on a plane with a contagious virus; no airport wants to let the plane land there, and some fighter plane is trying to shoot the passenger jet down. What to do?
Usually I find books of the type where you have many characters thrown into a calamity of sorts a bit boring. In many of this kind of book, the author would get carried away with the emotions of all the different characters and cause the pace of the story to become sluggish. This is fine if the book is not a thriller novel, but in a thriller the author must keep the pace up and actually increase it as the story progresses. Well, John J. Nance has masterfully succeeded in making this an excellent thriller by keeping the pace and suspense at very high levels. At the same time, he created engaging characters, but not too many of them, and did not focus too much on all their emotions, but just enough so that I could actually sense the fear and hopelessness amongst them.
This was a great thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, just as in the movie.
April 23, 2024
I read this book in high school and have been thinking about rereading it ever since 2020. It’s a fun enough action thriller that’s a bit Michael Crichton and a bit Robert Ludlum, but it’s not a great read in 2024.
As far as the virus goes, there’s the major plot hole of what about everyone else the professor interacted with between the forest and the plane. Airports are crowded places, so that alone leaves plenty of potentially infected people. Also, now with our greater understanding of viruses, the 100% death rate and relatively short incubation period makes this a much easier to control virus than Covid, especially with the implication that you have to be symptomatic to spread it.
This book is also so 90s. The women (of which there are only 2) are just accessories to the men they are helping and not a single man in this book can look at a woman without staring first at her breasts. The book also somehow vilifies both Eastern Europe and the Middle East simultaneously. And of course you’ve got rogue CIA officers and the valiant lower level employee saving the day. Also laughable that a terrorist attempt on 200 something people would garner the ire of the entire world. Finally, the book somehow managed to be a giant ad for Boeing 747s with basically every character mentioning how incredible of an aircraft it is multiple times.
This book was fine, but I definitely enjoyed it more the first time I read it.
As far as the virus goes, there’s the major plot hole of what about everyone else the professor interacted with between the forest and the plane. Airports are crowded places, so that alone leaves plenty of potentially infected people. Also, now with our greater understanding of viruses, the 100% death rate and relatively short incubation period makes this a much easier to control virus than Covid, especially with the implication that you have to be symptomatic to spread it.
This book is also so 90s. The women (of which there are only 2) are just accessories to the men they are helping and not a single man in this book can look at a woman without staring first at her breasts. The book also somehow vilifies both Eastern Europe and the Middle East simultaneously. And of course you’ve got rogue CIA officers and the valiant lower level employee saving the day. Also laughable that a terrorist attempt on 200 something people would garner the ire of the entire world. Finally, the book somehow managed to be a giant ad for Boeing 747s with basically every character mentioning how incredible of an aircraft it is multiple times.
This book was fine, but I definitely enjoyed it more the first time I read it.
November 4, 2016
What should have been a routine international airline flight turns into a media event when it's revealed that the passengers of Quantum Flight 66 may have been exposed to a deadly omega virus, similar to Ebola. Professor Helms boards Flight 66 coughing and generally feeling ill. When he suffers an apparent heart attack mid-flight, Captain James Holland, requests an emergency landing in London. To his alarm and confusion, his request is denied. The captain and his copilot soon realize that no country will let them land. Before long, the CIA gets involved, and the director believes the best way out of the situation is to have the plane destroyed by an infamous terrorist group.
I thought the possibility of a doomsday virus being carried on a commercial airline flight was an interesting premise. The book moved along fairly quickly and built up tension until the CIA characters started getting involved. The book feels a bit dated since it was originally written in 1995 and so many things have changed, especially in airline travel. Still, it was enjoyable enough and I will definitely check out other books by this author.
I thought the possibility of a doomsday virus being carried on a commercial airline flight was an interesting premise. The book moved along fairly quickly and built up tension until the CIA characters started getting involved. The book feels a bit dated since it was originally written in 1995 and so many things have changed, especially in airline travel. Still, it was enjoyable enough and I will definitely check out other books by this author.
June 19, 2011
If you love aviation thrillers, this one is for you. When a sick passenger might be infected by a strain on board a Boenig 747, it causes chaos across the world. With one sick passenger, there's worries about it might be a dread virus, affecting everyone it touches by air. And that causes James Holland, pilot of Quantum 66, concerns, when he's denied to land on other countries from Iceland to Spain. Meanwhile, someone from the CIA has a hatched plan to shoot down the plane, blaming Aqbah, a terrorist organization, when it's up to one Russian pilot to take him down. With love in the air between some passengers on board, it's nothing by chaos on those on board and on ground, esp. when Rusty Sanders discovers the plot and tries to foil their plans, when the plane is shot down, looking for a plane of safety, when the virus hasn't affected everyone.. or did they? A great read for everyone to enjoy!
September 25, 2019
First Reading Review:
Plane takes off, someone on it has an infectious disease. No one will let the plane land. This stuff is intense. The whole of the book takes place on an airplane, and involves many countries and airspace regulations. If you ever fly on airplanes, and you have a tendency to get worried about stuff like getting trapped in the sky, then don't read this. It's very realistic. Nance is a master aviator, and a very good writer. He will make you believe you should never set foot on a plane again. Just stop, Mr. Nance. Please. Really.
When's your next book out?
Second Reading Review
Same as the first. But I had forgotten so much of the other stuff that went on. The espionage, the sabotage, the betrayals, the SkyDrama... There was so much more to this story than I remember. Boy, Mr. Nance sure does like having engines go out in his books. I finished it this time in I think three sittings. It kept me glued. Well done, sir.
Plane takes off, someone on it has an infectious disease. No one will let the plane land. This stuff is intense. The whole of the book takes place on an airplane, and involves many countries and airspace regulations. If you ever fly on airplanes, and you have a tendency to get worried about stuff like getting trapped in the sky, then don't read this. It's very realistic. Nance is a master aviator, and a very good writer. He will make you believe you should never set foot on a plane again. Just stop, Mr. Nance. Please. Really.
When's your next book out?
Second Reading Review
Same as the first. But I had forgotten so much of the other stuff that went on. The espionage, the sabotage, the betrayals, the SkyDrama... There was so much more to this story than I remember. Boy, Mr. Nance sure does like having engines go out in his books. I finished it this time in I think three sittings. It kept me glued. Well done, sir.
September 28, 2017
This one is a real page turner! I was up way past my bedtime to read it. Just telling myself, one more chapter, and then I would say, ok - just one more! LOL
A really excellent thriller that primarily takes place on an airplane that may be carrying a level four pathogen that could destroy ninety percent of the American people if it gets out! Terrifying to think about but what a ride!!
By the way, there is a first rate tv mini-series of this book, starring Richard Dean Anderson, who plays Captain James Holland. I just wish I could see it again. Neither Netflix or the library has it and I can't afford to buy it outright!
A really excellent thriller that primarily takes place on an airplane that may be carrying a level four pathogen that could destroy ninety percent of the American people if it gets out! Terrifying to think about but what a ride!!
By the way, there is a first rate tv mini-series of this book, starring Richard Dean Anderson, who plays Captain James Holland. I just wish I could see it again. Neither Netflix or the library has it and I can't afford to buy it outright!
September 25, 2023
Książka dobrze napisana lecz osobiście nie przypadła mi do gustu.
Początek oraz zakończenie książki miały największy potencjał.
Z mojego badawczego punktu widzenia połowa książki to zbędne rozmowy niekompetentnych ludzi należących do rządu.
Brakowało również większego wzglądu na sytuację w jakiej znajdowali się pasażerowie.
Jur to debil.
Początek oraz zakończenie książki miały największy potencjał.
Z mojego badawczego punktu widzenia połowa książki to zbędne rozmowy niekompetentnych ludzi należących do rządu.
Brakowało również większego wzglądu na sytuację w jakiej znajdowali się pasażerowie.
Jur to debil.
March 31, 2022
This was a fun listen, narrated by the author, and a quick listen as well. I can't recall now what exactly it was because I tend to not retain a lot of details, but there was something in here that reminded me so specifically of 9-11 it was uncanny, but this was in fact written prior to that event. Very entertaining.
April 6, 2023
This book takes place in different places around the world. It will take you from place to place with different points of view. Very well written to give you an imagery of everything.
April 18, 2011
This tale takes place mainly on a 757-400 originally flying from Germany to the United States. When the German government realizes that a passenger on that plane may have been exposed to a level four (deadly) pathogen; they will do anything to bring the plane back to their own soil so that the world will not know what they have inadvertently unleasehed. Once that the German government is told exactly what was uleasehed, a deadly pathogen with a 100% infecion rate and an 80% kill rate, they even shun the aircraft and the 205+ people on board.
The problem seems to be that while no country wants this ship to land on their soil; those in the aircraft must wait out a 48 hour time perio to assure the world they were not affected. An aircraft must have fuel to keep flying, how will they get refueled, especially when a CIA oprative has ordered a kill on the aircraft? An absolute page turner.
The problem seems to be that while no country wants this ship to land on their soil; those in the aircraft must wait out a 48 hour time perio to assure the world they were not affected. An aircraft must have fuel to keep flying, how will they get refueled, especially when a CIA oprative has ordered a kill on the aircraft? An absolute page turner.
August 24, 2009
I liked the plot and I liked the whole beginning of the book quite a bit. I think this could have been a killer tale if about 200 pages of repetitious material was removed. Sadly, the characters were far too hollow for a book of this length.
Despite my low review, I think Nance has potential and I'm going to assume that this just isn't his best work.
Despite my low review, I think Nance has potential and I'm going to assume that this just isn't his best work.
November 26, 2009
I didn't like it very much.During the first part, the author spent so many pages talking about the disease, and repeats the same story over and over again, it's hard to keep reading. It gets a little bit better after that . He uses the word "nodding" a thousand times, it's very annoying
August 5, 2009
Interesting book as someone put it they figured it would be like Snakes on a Plane and Andromeda Strain...
June 27, 2011
Good pot boiler aviation thriller by Nance; the first of his novels that I read, and I've enjoyed it each time I've gone back to it.
July 15, 2010
One of my all-time favorite books. I can read it over and over without getting bored.
May 21, 2020
Well, I read this one in one sitting in one day if that tells you anything. Fantastic! There were eerily similar parallels to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a little disarming to read about a fictional pandemic while living through a real one. The initial pandemic assessment was basically what we're living through right now (a really contagious form of the flu that affects sick and elderly, necessitating closures that could impact economies around the world). It ended up being more dramatic (a military virus so deadly that everyone was afraid to use it), but still similar for comfort!
The epilogue was scary, too! I'm used to those being a nice conclusion of a story, and while that was true for some aspects of the story, it wasn't true for the virus itself. In a nutshell, the potentially-infected passengers were released from quarantine after 3 days believing they weren't infected. Well, it turns out they were infected with a mutated form of the virus that wasn't as lethal, and then they went home to infect other people. Had the virus been just as lethal with a longer incubation period, they would've killed a good chunk of North America. And even as it is, they've infected people with this new virus that could mutate at any time back into something lethal. So the author posits the folks should've been left in quarantine longer to ensure that the virus was wiped out and not passed on to others. Living through the COVID pandemic where we're trying to minimize spread is a very interesting parallel.
I continue to love the details Nance weaves into his work, and I like the evolution of the pilot's decision making process throughout the book. One of the things that was interesting to read was how passengers interacted with the captain and the cockpit. Since this was published in 1995, passengers just came up to the cockpit and could even sit inside! In this post-9/11 world, that's just crazy to me. The rogue CIA aspect was interesting, too (and infuriating that he wasn't caught!).
I absolutely recommend folks read this any time, but it's especially interesting reading right now!
The epilogue was scary, too! I'm used to those being a nice conclusion of a story, and while that was true for some aspects of the story, it wasn't true for the virus itself. In a nutshell, the potentially-infected passengers were released from quarantine after 3 days believing they weren't infected. Well, it turns out they were infected with a mutated form of the virus that wasn't as lethal, and then they went home to infect other people. Had the virus been just as lethal with a longer incubation period, they would've killed a good chunk of North America. And even as it is, they've infected people with this new virus that could mutate at any time back into something lethal. So the author posits the folks should've been left in quarantine longer to ensure that the virus was wiped out and not passed on to others. Living through the COVID pandemic where we're trying to minimize spread is a very interesting parallel.
I continue to love the details Nance weaves into his work, and I like the evolution of the pilot's decision making process throughout the book. One of the things that was interesting to read was how passengers interacted with the captain and the cockpit. Since this was published in 1995, passengers just came up to the cockpit and could even sit inside! In this post-9/11 world, that's just crazy to me. The rogue CIA aspect was interesting, too (and infuriating that he wasn't caught!).
I absolutely recommend folks read this any time, but it's especially interesting reading right now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
I swapped this book in my university library, drawn in by the alluring promise of its premise and I was pleasantly surprised. I would recommend you to read this book if you are interested in the consequences of a doomsday virus
A man who is allegedly infected with a doomsday virus enters a Boeing 747 that flies from Frankfurt to the US with 245 passengers. Tragedy strikes mid-air as the man has a sudden heart attack. Flight66 is mysteriously denied access to any landing side. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and even the United States, all refuse to grant the aircraft permission to touch down, setting the stage for an unprecedented nightmare.
Within the pages of this gripping novel, the terrifying consequences of a doomsday virus are unveiled. The storyline delves not only into the challenges posed by the contagion but also probes the intricate realm of politics. The credibility of the doomsday scenario is heightened in light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
"The choice is between two extremes: one, is it safer to refuel and keep flying while trying to evade the rest of the world, or two, is it wiser to stay uninvited on someone’s airport and let the resulting international incident spin an unbreakable web of control around us?"
The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives, allowing readers a window into the minds of those affected and the choices that they have to make. Sympathy intertwines with frustration as the captains of the Flight 66 find themselves trapped in an excruciating limbo, unable to land at any safe harbor. The different airports that must abide by the regulations are also covered. Against this backdrop, the origins of the virus emerge. Additionally, the narrative follows the trajectory of the US government, the CIA, and a Russian attacker, unfurling a captivating sub-story fraught with betrayal and intrigue.
"We’re the mouse, and God only knows how many cats are out there hunting for us."
The only thing that keeps me from giving this book 5 stars, is that the air battles were a bit too detailed for me.
A man who is allegedly infected with a doomsday virus enters a Boeing 747 that flies from Frankfurt to the US with 245 passengers. Tragedy strikes mid-air as the man has a sudden heart attack. Flight66 is mysteriously denied access to any landing side. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and even the United States, all refuse to grant the aircraft permission to touch down, setting the stage for an unprecedented nightmare.
Within the pages of this gripping novel, the terrifying consequences of a doomsday virus are unveiled. The storyline delves not only into the challenges posed by the contagion but also probes the intricate realm of politics. The credibility of the doomsday scenario is heightened in light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
"The choice is between two extremes: one, is it safer to refuel and keep flying while trying to evade the rest of the world, or two, is it wiser to stay uninvited on someone’s airport and let the resulting international incident spin an unbreakable web of control around us?"
The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives, allowing readers a window into the minds of those affected and the choices that they have to make. Sympathy intertwines with frustration as the captains of the Flight 66 find themselves trapped in an excruciating limbo, unable to land at any safe harbor. The different airports that must abide by the regulations are also covered. Against this backdrop, the origins of the virus emerge. Additionally, the narrative follows the trajectory of the US government, the CIA, and a Russian attacker, unfurling a captivating sub-story fraught with betrayal and intrigue.
"We’re the mouse, and God only knows how many cats are out there hunting for us."
The only thing that keeps me from giving this book 5 stars, is that the air battles were a bit too detailed for me.
July 27, 2019
Pandora's Clock is a book I've had in my to-be-read bookcase for several years. Any time I finish one book I always check that bookcase to select my next book to read.
Once again I pulled out Pandora's Clock and this time I decided to read one or two chapters so that I could decide if I would rather donate it to our local library book sale. The cover made me think the book was a military thriller and I don't usually enjoy those.
Well, I was surprised, the book is a thriller on a 747-400 airplane carrying hundreds of passengers who have been exposed to a deadly illness. (Don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, that information is given away on the book's back cover.)
I loved the book. The thrilling part is how the pilot attempts to land the plane anywhere in the world. The 747-400 has been declared a threat to the whole world and governments are willing to do anything to keep him from landing.
Many nations are involved in denying the plane entry into their airspace and are willing to shoot him down if necessary. The book is exciting and well written.
After reading Pandora's Clock I discovered, on my list of books I've already read, that I've previously read another book by John J. Nance and I listed it as being Very Good.
Now I've gone online and purchased another of Nance's books.
Once again I pulled out Pandora's Clock and this time I decided to read one or two chapters so that I could decide if I would rather donate it to our local library book sale. The cover made me think the book was a military thriller and I don't usually enjoy those.
Well, I was surprised, the book is a thriller on a 747-400 airplane carrying hundreds of passengers who have been exposed to a deadly illness. (Don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, that information is given away on the book's back cover.)
I loved the book. The thrilling part is how the pilot attempts to land the plane anywhere in the world. The 747-400 has been declared a threat to the whole world and governments are willing to do anything to keep him from landing.
Many nations are involved in denying the plane entry into their airspace and are willing to shoot him down if necessary. The book is exciting and well written.
After reading Pandora's Clock I discovered, on my list of books I've already read, that I've previously read another book by John J. Nance and I listed it as being Very Good.
Now I've gone online and purchased another of Nance's books.
May 15, 2020
I've read two other of John Nance's books, and being an Air Force veteran and aviation buff myself, I decided to pick this one up this spring. Little did I realize that this thriller had to do with the threat of a viral pandemic until I got into it. The irony was NOT lost on me, I assure you, as the COVID-19 news was constantly being updated on the media as I was reading it!
Nance is a master of bringing the technical side of aviation into any one of several plausible thrillers. In fact, a layperson or an aviation enthusiast are both likely to enjoy his stories. But THIS one appealed to me from the medical standpoint as well, having been in the medical profession for 44 years.
The plot involves a commercial jetliner that inadvertently picks up a passenger who allegedly contracted a "doomsday" virus from a covert military laboratory. The plane cannot land anywhere, and time is ticking away before the crew and passengers risk contracting the nearly fatal plague.
The plane's captain is faced with some brutal choices, and despite some hair-raising odds, never gives up believing he has the ability to save his passengers.
A real page turner, and certainly a welcome diversion from the "real world, real time" events going on during this spring of 2020!
Nance is a master of bringing the technical side of aviation into any one of several plausible thrillers. In fact, a layperson or an aviation enthusiast are both likely to enjoy his stories. But THIS one appealed to me from the medical standpoint as well, having been in the medical profession for 44 years.
The plot involves a commercial jetliner that inadvertently picks up a passenger who allegedly contracted a "doomsday" virus from a covert military laboratory. The plane cannot land anywhere, and time is ticking away before the crew and passengers risk contracting the nearly fatal plague.
The plane's captain is faced with some brutal choices, and despite some hair-raising odds, never gives up believing he has the ability to save his passengers.
A real page turner, and certainly a welcome diversion from the "real world, real time" events going on during this spring of 2020!
August 20, 2017
James Holland is captain of flight 66 leaving Frankfurt for the United States two days before Christmas. On this flight he has a "check captain", sort of like an efficiency expert for pilots, Dick Robb (who has always lived up to his name). A day or two earlier, Ernst Helms was cut when a thief broke his car window in an attempt to steal it. Shortly after boarding, Dr. Helms develops an apparent heart attack and dies. Captain Holland gets clearance from the nearest airport, London, to land. Before they can do so, they are re-routed back to Germany because the doctor had been infected by an unknown strain of virus through the contact he had with the "thief" who was, in reality, an escaped technician from a secret research facility. Working with the U. S. Government and the airline, they are advised their possibly contaminated 200+ passengers are banned from German airspace and are to land in the Netherlands where a quarantine station will be set up.. Almost there, they are again turned away. In between the stories about the characters - both main and supporting - is government intrigue involving plots by the CIA and mid-East terror groups. It is an absorbing tale.
August 12, 2021
Well, this isn't a book I would recommend to many at current times, when reality is as if not scarier than fiction. That being said, my rating is not related to that.
Yes, it's an interesting and somewhat frightening thriller and as the cover says not a book to be read on a plane. My rating has to do with some of the technical and aviation situations in it. As the daughter of a transatlantic pilot and instructor, there are things that don't add up such as the instructor bring the co-pilot at the same time, plus others I won't share trying not to spoil the book.
It is a great page turner, one of those books you don't want to put down.
Something else that bothered me is that the authors gives us some backs story on some of the passengers and then seems to forget all about them. There were some plot lines left unfinished. I'm not saying I wanted to know everything about the more than 240 people on board, but if you give a character some attention at the beginning you shouldn't just not say anything when finishing the book.
Yes, it's an interesting and somewhat frightening thriller and as the cover says not a book to be read on a plane. My rating has to do with some of the technical and aviation situations in it. As the daughter of a transatlantic pilot and instructor, there are things that don't add up such as the instructor bring the co-pilot at the same time, plus others I won't share trying not to spoil the book.
It is a great page turner, one of those books you don't want to put down.
Something else that bothered me is that the authors gives us some backs story on some of the passengers and then seems to forget all about them. There were some plot lines left unfinished. I'm not saying I wanted to know everything about the more than 240 people on board, but if you give a character some attention at the beginning you shouldn't just not say anything when finishing the book.
November 13, 2022
A vacationing professor is seemingly exposed to a lethal strain of "influenza" in Germany, dying later on a flight to the U.S., full of holiday travelers. Was it a heart attack, as first thought, or the deadly virus after all? Is everyone aboard exposed as well? And how deadly is this virus, really? With the rumor mill going full-tilt and worldwide, the entire world has soon heard of this doomsday flight that could potentially signal the end of humanity. No country wants to let the plane land, and before long, conspiracy theories become real, and the pilot is facing the biggest challenge of his life.
This is definitely a page turner; once you get into the story, you might not want to do anything else but finish it.
This is definitely a page turner; once you get into the story, you might not want to do anything else but finish it.
November 17, 2017
My mom recommended I read this book because she watched the tv mini series years ago. I didn’t think I would like it because our favorite genres differ. I was so wrong!
I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster the entire time! Each page was thrilling and kept me wanting more. I felt like I was a passenger on the plane and experiencing all the dangerous excitement firsthand. The author’s description of all the chaos was impeccable.
My favorite part was ending. I suspected a turn in events and I was right. Pilots and combat pilots share an unspoken respect for one another.
I highly recommend this book! It’s now shelved as an absolute favorite!
I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster the entire time! Each page was thrilling and kept me wanting more. I felt like I was a passenger on the plane and experiencing all the dangerous excitement firsthand. The author’s description of all the chaos was impeccable.
My favorite part was ending. I suspected a turn in events and I was right. Pilots and combat pilots share an unspoken respect for one another.
I highly recommend this book! It’s now shelved as an absolute favorite!
April 3, 2019
Let me preface my remarks by first saying it has been a few years since I read my last John Nance book. But even though this book is 24 years old , it will keep you mesmerized !
Captain James Holland is attempting to return from Europe to New York with a 747 filled to capacity when strange things start to happen . A Professor Ernest Helms is ready to fly home from Bavaria , when he discovers someone trying break into his car. He chases the thief away and starts to feel like he is having a heart attack. He needs to get to the airport quickly and get to the States. But is it a heart attack , it may be a flu attack ? or maybe he was exposed to a dangerous unknown virus??
Helms makes it to Holland's plane and now the adventure begins. Holland is commanded NOT to fly back to the U.S. and he also suddenly finds that no one will let him land in their country. What type of dangerous 'bug' have the passengers been exposed to ??
Hold tight because this is going to be one exciting ride. Nance doesn't let you go for one minute!
Enjoy ' Pandora's Clock ' !!
Captain James Holland is attempting to return from Europe to New York with a 747 filled to capacity when strange things start to happen . A Professor Ernest Helms is ready to fly home from Bavaria , when he discovers someone trying break into his car. He chases the thief away and starts to feel like he is having a heart attack. He needs to get to the airport quickly and get to the States. But is it a heart attack , it may be a flu attack ? or maybe he was exposed to a dangerous unknown virus??
Helms makes it to Holland's plane and now the adventure begins. Holland is commanded NOT to fly back to the U.S. and he also suddenly finds that no one will let him land in their country. What type of dangerous 'bug' have the passengers been exposed to ??
Hold tight because this is going to be one exciting ride. Nance doesn't let you go for one minute!
Enjoy ' Pandora's Clock ' !!
August 11, 2020
A Fast-Paced Thriller That Delivers
There's a lot going on in this novel, as we follow a 747 flying from place to place that may be full of passengers infected with a deadly virus, a paid assassin hired to shoot them down, and the CIA folks in DC trying to keep that from happening. The book jumps from story to story and keeps all the different plots moving along at a breakneck pace. The author really seems to know his stuff, especially in the area of planes and flying, and he creates credible (if somewhat stock) characters to populate the novel. It's perfect for the beach or (ironically) a long airline flight.
There's a lot going on in this novel, as we follow a 747 flying from place to place that may be full of passengers infected with a deadly virus, a paid assassin hired to shoot them down, and the CIA folks in DC trying to keep that from happening. The book jumps from story to story and keeps all the different plots moving along at a breakneck pace. The author really seems to know his stuff, especially in the area of planes and flying, and he creates credible (if somewhat stock) characters to populate the novel. It's perfect for the beach or (ironically) a long airline flight.
July 11, 2023
A Great Ride…
I’ve always enjoyed this authors ability to make the impossible plausible and the unbelievable plainly believable. This book was written 4 years before Covid. I would love to see a sequel, knowing now what we know and have learned since 2020. What he got 100% correct was the government’s willingness to do anything, including murder Americans, if they thought it was for “the good of humanity”. And just like in 2020, most of what they believed was proven wrong. An excellent read I highly recommend. I will continue to go back to this author until I have read every one of his works-I have no higher praise I can give!
I’ve always enjoyed this authors ability to make the impossible plausible and the unbelievable plainly believable. This book was written 4 years before Covid. I would love to see a sequel, knowing now what we know and have learned since 2020. What he got 100% correct was the government’s willingness to do anything, including murder Americans, if they thought it was for “the good of humanity”. And just like in 2020, most of what they believed was proven wrong. An excellent read I highly recommend. I will continue to go back to this author until I have read every one of his works-I have no higher praise I can give!
February 10, 2018
I couldn't put it down but had to break occasionally -- to breathe. A riveting thriller that follows a bio threat, a seemingly-doomed group aboard an airliner, a shadowy political plot, and a few brave individuals who refused to yield to suspicious government orders and pursuing attackers.
"...what it came down to was an impossible duel between unequal adversaries. Sometimes when the hunted refuses to die, the overconfident hunter loses his life." Or, does he?
"...what it came down to was an impossible duel between unequal adversaries. Sometimes when the hunted refuses to die, the overconfident hunter loses his life." Or, does he?
April 2, 2020
I liked this book better than I expected. It is fast-paced, as one would expect from a thriller, but it also has interesting characters. It has some interesting twists and the kind of suspense that makes it hard to put down. I had put the book on hold before the coronavirus hit and found it somewhat ironic when it arrived with its plot of a deadly virus aboard an airplane. I was not at all surprised when I read that Mr. Nance is a former pilot.
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