Phantom Orbit

A Thriller

By: David Ignatius

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

A subtle and masterful novel from a prescient voice on the cutting edge of spy literature.

David Ignatius is known for his uncanny ability, in novel after novel, to predict the next great national security headline. In Phantom Orbit, he presents a story both searing and topical, with stakes as far-reaching as outer space. It follows Ivan Volkov, a Russian student in Beijing, who discovers an unsolved puzzle in the writings of the seventeenth-century astronomer Johannes Kepler. He takes the puzzle to a senior scientist in the Chinese space program and declares his intention to solve it. Volkov returns to Moscow and continues his secret work. The puzzle holds untold consequences for space warfare.

The years pass, and they are not kind to Volkov. After the loss of his son, a prosecutor who’d been too tough on corruption, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Volkov makes the fraught decision to contact the CIA. He writes: Satellites are your enemies, especially your own. … Hidden codes can make time stop and turn north into south. … If you are smart, you will find me.

With this timely novel, Ignatius addresses our moment of renewed interest in space exploration amid geopolitical tumult. Phantom Orbit brims with the author’s vital insights and casts Volkov as the man who, at the risk of his life, may be able to stop the Doomsday clock.

©2024 David Ignatius (P)2024 Recorded Books

Space Junk

What is Mickey Way (the candy bar)? In all condor, one probably should read this book rather than speed listen because some Amazon customer’s are noted.

interesting

that ending....didn't see that coming. spooky boys and girls doing spooky things. Worth the credit.

Great story arc

80 percent fascinating setup and 20 percent riveting payoff. 20th century human history meets 21st century technological brinksmanship

great science with spies story

this story by David Ignatius is a contemporary story, not an updated cold war theme. much enjoyed.

Not what I was expecting…

It was just ok. I was expecting a more technology-forward story that had elements of modern spacepower issues. This was not that, and focused primarily on a few tangential characters to the story I wanted to be told. The narrator did a fine job, but I almost gave up halfway through as it turned the corner into a standard 1980s spy novel, and not in a good way.

Slow

Lots of back story. This was like two chapters of a true Clancy novel stretched out to a whole book.

A fun read, and thought provoking

A fun jaunt through government, technology and espionage. Worth a read/listen. This is my first David Ignatius book... Will definitely explore more.

Realism

It was an interesting exercise of trying to educate the masses about what goes on behind closed doors and high walls.

The great volume of technical knowledge is most salient feature of the story.

We were impressed with author’s ability to unite scientific knowledge, political intrigue and current events into a compelling story. However, the ending needs more work because it leaves you without good closure.

Good performance in reading.

Had some current events, just lacked rising to a climax for me. That said, still good book.