I've just finished reading Empire by Orson Scott Card. Even though it’s found in the sci-fi section at your local bookstore, it reads more like a techno-thriller. But don’t let that turn you away. It tells the tale of a soldier's soldier tasked by the Pentagon to come up with the ultimate terrorist plot, but finding too late that his plan will be used against him and his government.I enjoyed the story immensely and was very impressed with the way Card foretells a possible future. Empire was written in 2005 and yet he describes today's political terrain as if he were writing it as we speak. The idea of a new civil war has been batted around before by authors but never with such insight in detail as the way Card has portrayed it. At the end of the book, Card gives a few pages to even more details of his view on how the political parties view each other and how each side demonizes the other without seeing their own faults.
The closest to sci-fi that this story comes is the machinery that the enemy uses against the United States government. Two-legged mechanical walkers and hover bikes combined with the vast underground complex where the enemy hides out is reminiscent of a James Bond novel. Complex plot twists and fun dialogue make this a great read. But don't take my word for it, grab a copy and see for yourself.
If you've read this book before, let me know what you think about it.
Orson Scott Card website
Empire wiki
