THE FURNACE
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"In the 25th century, mankind
has spread throughout the solar system and beyond, living in an age of nanotechnology and convenient
interstellar travel. Human nature,
though, remains dark and vindictive
̶ horrific crimes are
still committed, requiring investigation by the military police of an
all-encompassing authoritarian government ... there are some interesting
concepts here, particularly as the narrative shifts from a
‘locked-room’ mystery to a Crichtonesque
thriller ... Questions concerning technological advancement, moral
authority and the concept of life itself are raised as Tanner realizes that
his discoveries on SOLEX may threaten all of humanity." -
KIRKUS |
"The Furnace is beautifully written and well edited ... definitely
a page turner. Timothy Johnston is a gifted writer and has created a suspense-filled, SF mystery thriller with a little romance at the edge
...The opening will grab you and hold you to the finish. Yes, I can recommend The
Furnace." |
"The Furnace ... is well-written
and engaging with believable characters and a logical, if surprising plot-line
... The bottom line is that this is a well-crafted piece of work. The story
is unique and enjoyable, the writing is excellent, and the research and
effort to make this future world come together was outstanding. This is a really good book, and I
heartily recommend it." |
"As a reader who is typically
bored and impatient with science-fiction, I was absolutely blown away by The
Furnace ... non-stop suspense until the novel's end ... (Johnston is) an exemplary novelist ... Seasoned mystery readers will be
pleased with and challenged by The Furnace ... If you enjoy the
science-fiction genre, then definitely read The Furnace ... If you're a fan
of suspense and detective novels, you may also enjoy The Furnace - I bet you
won't figure out the mystery." |
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“ ‘The Furnace’ is a science fiction
novel blended with locked-room murder mystery following ace investigator Kyle
Tanner as he seeks to find the murderer in SOLEX One, a station that hovers
near the sun. Tracking a killer who leaves no clues to his motivations and
purpose, what Kyle finds something that may be murder on a much grander
scale. ‘The Furnace’ is a riveting read that will prove hard to put down.” |
“I was entranced
by the mystery, the characters, and the believable science. I love
locked-room mysteries ... The suspense was intense and
Tanner’s frustration at the elusive answers was palpable ... I was
pleasantly surprised by how everything wrapped up and I greatly enjoyed
‘The Furnace’. It’s a wonderful blend of mystery
and hard science. I found it to be a refreshingly different from
some of the science fiction I’ve read and I could see it easily
translated onto the big screen!” |
“The Furnace is an intense locked-room murder mystery that is
definitely a page turner. The
story is very well written ... never a dull moment ... always moving forward
and surprising ... All of the characters are well-developed and the story is
written well with many turns of events that keep a reader constantly worried
for Lieutenant Tanner’s life.
Timothy S. Johnston definitely keeps a reader’s attention with
this mystery/thriller plus it has a little romance on the side. I would highly recommend this
book to anyone into upbeat mystery/thriller stories. This book is a great read and is
definitely not one to be missed.
I will be looking forward to more great stories from Timothy S.
Johnston. Highly recommended.” |
“The Furnace is an enjoyable, fantastic science
fiction book. A great sci-fi locked station mystery ... highly
recommended ... The suspense will keep you guessing as the story
unfolds. A refreshing science
fiction tale brought to life with good pace by author Timothy S. Johnston.
The characters are interesting and the setting, a bit claustrophobic, brings
a bit of terror to the story.” -
TrekWeb |
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THE FURNACE --- Scary
and Gripping ... An enthralling Sci-Fi
thriller ... It is a case of Agatha Christie meets Isaac Asimov with added Crichton for
flavouring. Timothy has taken the
well known theme of a locked room detective novel, and carried it to a total
extreme, the actors in this story are in a physical situation that allows
absolutely no escape ... Timothy has created a cast of characters who are
convincing as individual people ... and a main character, the detective, who
is ... wracked with guilt over an event that he sees as his fault ... and who
struggles with what appears to be a completely intractable crime, without any
sort of leads. In passing I would
be intrigued to read any books that he might yet write ... So if you enjoy
reading detective novels, thrillers and Sci-Fi, then this is definitely a
book for you to buy and enjoy. |
“Johnston understands how to
truly craft a story, making each one a compelling and tense read. Fans of Michael Crichton or James
Patterson will
certainly love Timothy S. Johnston.” |
"... fun ... enjoyable ...
plenty of action ... entertaining ..." -
SF Site |
“In The Furnace Timothy S Johnston has developed a compelling plot merging science and sleuthing that is accessible to non
traditional sci-fi readers ... Homicide Investigator Lieutenant Kyle Tanner
is a well developed hero with an endearing never say die attitude with all
the odds stacked against him ... I was thoroughly
entertained by this
novel ... the writing is tight and the story compelling.” |
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"(His) dialogue and exposition has a snap and impetus that
makes me want to read more." (THE
SEAFORT SAGA) |
“THE FURNACE ... manages to perfectly
capture the feeling of dread and paranoia of THE THING but in a much richer
and multilayered plot fabric.” |
“Great tension, powerful characterization, and gripping action ... The Furnace is an old-style locked-room mystery,
updated as horror SF. Completely original and compelling. A must-read.” -
Ardath Mayhar, SF Author of sixty novels including
THE WORLD ENDS IN HICKORY HOLLOW |
“This is a great science
fiction locked station mystery ... The key to the exciting thriller is the
futuristic world of Timothy S. Johnston ... feels real whether it is the tunnels of Mercury or an
isolated energy gathering station.
Tanner is terrific as a caring yet kick butt protagonist. With a delightful late twist, readers
will appreciate this early twenty-fifth century whodunit and why.” |
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“This book begins with a BANG!
The narrative hook works big-time … Not only is Timothy S. Johnston a
fine storyteller, he manages to make the science in his books both accurate
and interesting, which is a quality often lacking in science fiction. In The
Furnace he has created a fascinating and dangerous context, a station
perilously near a sun, possessing an interesting mix of crew members and a
strong protagonist. The principal plot element is one of vital importance,
which justifies a decision to die in order to resolve the situation. The
writing is clean, tense, and compelling. The story
is one that involves the reader with immediacy and impact. Kyle Tanner finds
himself faced with a mounting series of deaths and the gradual discovery of a
danger that may involve the entire human race. This is a book of great
tension, powerful characterization, and gripping action. Great
action, excellent writing, and solid internalizations … the entire
story moves like a skyrocket … a gripping, unusual, and involving
story.” Full review
by Ardath Mayhar,
author of THE WORLD ENDS IN HICKORY HOLLOW |
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A Q&A about THE FURNACE with Timothy S. Johnston
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Timothy
S. Johnston is represented by Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists, Ltd.