Richard Cox, Rift

Rift

Richard Cox

Ballantine, Aug 2004, $23.95, 258 pp.

ISBN: 0345462831

NeuroStar owner Rodrigo Batiste is planning to offer tele-transporation to the public after successful trials with dogs; though the braver witnesses note that the canines came out of the tests mentally confused. Needing a human guinea pig, Rodrigo selects boring company accountant Cameron Fisher, who was to be fired anyway. Over the concern of his religious fanatical spouse who worries that he could lose his soul, Cameron accepts the five million dollars in return to his transportation from Houston to Phoenix.

Less than an hour after Cameron entered the transmission booth in Houston, he arrives at the Phoenix office. Cameron and his best friend go to a strip joint where they meet dancer, Crystal, who knows more about the top secret project than Cameron does (don't ask Richard Cox don't tell). Cameron and Tom next go to a golf course, but two men follow and kill his pal. Cameron flees with the assassins in pursuit.

RIFT is an exciting fast-paced techno-thriller that keeps changing the theme of the tale starting with science fiction and ending in espionage with plenty of action along the way. Cameron is a terrific protagonist who does not quite know what the machine truly did to him, but will find out (along with surprised readers) before too long. The support cast is stereotyped whether they work for Neurostar, strip, or are killers yet between the reluctant hero and his exploits to live (loose definition) fans will enjoy this wild thriller.

Harriet Klausner