Fire Storm
GENRE
ACTION/POLITICAL THRILLER
Core Theme
TRUTH/LIES.
TIME PERIOD
1980s & '90s
COMPARABLE TITLES
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, WITHOUT REMORSE
CHARACTER LIST
JACK COPELAND: 30S. TOUGH, INTELLIGENT, DETERMINED, CAPABLE, COURAGEOUS..
ELISABETH: 30S. LOVER.
US PRESIDENT: 60S. BOSS.
VLADIMIR POPOV: 30S. ENEMY.
SERGEI GRIGORE: 30S. ENEMY.
HARTMAN: 50S. BOSS.
Logline
The inauguration of a joint space programme between the USA & Russia was heralded as the landmark in the advancement of space exploration. Russia had a different agenda and Special Forces Commander, Jack Copeland now seconded to the CIA was brought in to minimise and eliminate the threat.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Moscow, JSC Houston, Kazakhstan, Pentagon, CIA Langley, Tashkent Uzbekistan, Washington DC, Fort Mead Maryland, White Sands New Mexico, KSC Florida, ISS, White House, Naples Italy
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Shield Crest
Year Published: 2018
Starting Description
Story begins in Kazakhstan with the launch of the Proton rocket with US and Cosmonauts heading to the ISS in a first for space exploration.
Ending Description
The ISS was critically damaged by the rogue Russian agents from a ground based firing point and recovery began in earnest. The Russians were killed in the ground and air assault in New Mexico and the trail pointed back to a Russian Federation government official.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
1912505320
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending,Twist
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain
Main Character Details
Name: Jack Copeland
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Masculine,Decisive,Leader,Sexy,Patriotic,Confident,Skillful,Seductive
Additional Character Details
Name: Elisabeth Young
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Role: Sidekick
Key Traits: Charming,Aspiring,Confident,Educated,Sexy,Patriotic,Seductive
Additional Character Details
Name: Vladimir Popov
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Role: protagonist
Key Traits: Secretive,Villainous
Additional Character Details
Name: Sergei Grigorev
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Skillful,Patriotic,Desperate,Complex
Genre
ACTION, SUSPENSE, THRILLER, POLITICS, WAR
Brief
Jack Copeland is an agent under Scorpion working under the US Government. When Jack learns of the Joint Space program between the USA and Russia involving the International Space Station and its self-guided laser missiles, Jack smells danger and decides to investigate, gradually uncovering a sinister conspiracy that threatens the whole world.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: GOOD
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
FIRE STORM is a thrilling, propulsive read reminiscent of Tom Clancy’s many novels focused on espionage in the US government and political conspiracy. The writing is clear and fairly concise, and does what it needs to in order to immerse the reader in the experience. Immediately setting an epic stage by opening the book with a prologue which describes in detail the launching of the “space laboratory” of this new International Space Station, a Joint Space Program between the USA and Russia, the book features a particularly globe-spanning, epic tale of conspiracy at the highest levels. Such high stakes help to push the story forward as Agent Jack Copeland digs ever deeper into just what is really going on. Full of twists and turns, the result is a fun read.
Possible Drawbacks
FIRE STORM suffers from many problems common to many books published these days, namely errors of presentation, such as typos, poor formatting, and an overall lack of editing. There are lots of areas in here which could have been condensed or cut altogether in service of a more tight, focused story that would race ahead as its plot winds tighter toward the climax. The dialogue can be long-winded and overly explanatory, often a little too on-the-nose in terms of illustrating what the characters are feeling or thinking. Though the story is well told, it is a story we have seen a thousand times over in various forms, and Copeland is just like every other “Jack Surname” protagonist we’ve seen before in this genre (Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, Jack Bauer, etc.). There is no fresh twist on the material.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES HEAVILY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
There isn’t really a hook other than this is a story about global conspiracy among powerful nations and people and the man to investigate and fight for the rest of us. Fans of Tom Clancy adaptations will enjoy an adaptation of this.
Fanbase Potential
It would be on part with the fanbase of Tom Clancy adaptations.
Awards Potential
No, because the awards community tends to ignore action films.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, WITHOUT REMORSE
What’s New About the Story
There is little original about it but it is a well-done story in the style of contemporary political thrillers/action films. It could be made more unique by vastly deepening its characters, particularly protagonist Jack Copeland. How can Jack become a character we have never seen in films like this? How can his relationships deepen this film? Is there another perspective that could help to tell this story in a fresh way?
Lead Characters
Jack Copeland is the quintessential action-movie protagonist: Tough, laconic, darkly witty, courageous, impulsive, and highly capable. Elisabeth is a little side-lined but she contrasts well with Jack when she’s around, and is a smart, capable woman herself.
Uniqueness of Story
No, it needs to become more unique and less similar to Tom Clancy stories, with something powerful of its own to say about the world/life, before it can be called a rare gem.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Streaming TV Series: Network, Cable, Limited Run / Mini-Series
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
It could use some editing—both in terms of story and presentation—as well as more complex characters and a more original plot.
Tips for Improvement
A draft focused more deeply on character and relationships, with something more unique to say about the world, could potentially become considered.
Brief
When Jack Copeland, an agent under the US Government’s specialized task force Scorpion, suspects foul play among the new Joint Space Program between the USA and Russia and the self-guided missile system they share, he decides to investigate, uncovering a sinister conspiracy that threatens the whole world.
What We Liked
FIRE STORM is a thrilling, propulsive read reminiscent of Tom Clancy’s many novels focused on espionage in the US government and political conspiracy. With clear, concise writing, the story propels the reader into a fast-paced suspenseful thrill-ride into the murky waters of powerful nations always a moment from war, and global conspiracy.
Fans of the many highly successful Tom Clancy adaptations, such as Amazon’s recent WITHOUT REMORSE, will find much to love about the twisty, complex plot as tough, ultra-capable special agent Jack Copeland digs ever deeper for the truth, letting nothing stand in his way.
Film: Film is the ideal medium for adaptation of FIRE STORM as the well-structured novel follows classic three-act structure in a manner that would help provide a framework for a feature-length screenplay, including a propulsive act one which sets the stakes and story world, and a powerful climax which pays off the clever, winding plot. Striking a fine balance between action, suspense, and some light drama, a feature film adaptation of this novel could become a real hit with the right money and talent behind it.
TV: As TV series are so popular now, an adaptation of FIRE STORM for the “small” screen may be exactly the right idea. The story certainly provides more than enough threads for subplots and characters to spin more from, while the shadowy figures lurking in the background of this story—some of the most powerful people in the world—provide much potential for the same. Jack Copeland, like 24’s Jack Bauer or Amazon’s eponymous Jack Ryan, is the ideal character to bounce multiple seasons off of as he fights against enemies new and old in his attempts to keep this world ticking on as it is.
Key points:
1) Fast-paced and propulsive.
2) A well-told story in the vein of many Tom Clancy adaptations.
3) Balances action, suspense and drama to great effect.
4) Full of twists and turns.
5) Strong franchise potential.
Synopsis
JACK COPELAND (30s) is an agent under Scorpion working for the US Government. His girlfriend, ELISABETH, works for CNN as a reporter. They are at the peak of their love life, but everything changes when Elizabeth gets posted for a job in Russia. Jack uses this as an opportunity to step out of retirement and makes a call to the US PRESIDENT, who officially welcomes him back into Scorpion. Jack soon receives news of the Joint Space Program and the astronauts who will be tasked with taking the International Space Station (ISS) to space, where it will be used as a platform to seek new worlds and neutralize any incoming threats like asteroids. The ISS is self-contained with laser-guided missile-defense systems and life-support facilities. Therefore, it can sustain life for a prolonged period. The Joint Space Program is an association between the US and Russian Federation.
Although the ISS is a valid technological advancement, Jack is worried that a US laser in space will be seen by other countries as a threat, causing them to create missiles and lasers as a means of neutralizing the ISS. Jack is also concerned that, if the ISS falls into the wrong hands, it may be used to instigate war in different regions of the world.
Lastly, he is concerned about the two Russian mission specialists, VLADIMIR POPOV and SERGEI GRIGOREV, who he thinks would sabotage the mission as a way to honor their country. However, the Nasa Director, HARTMAN, and the US president are both confident in the mission and urge Jack that measures were placed to ensure that all the astronauts were fit for the job and the mission would advance without a hitch (Ross, 2018). Jack is skeptical and insists that he should investigate the astronauts and ensure that nothing was missed.
Meanwhile, Elisabeth is followed as she moves from the US into Russia. She is concerned, but her worries are put to rest when she stops seeing a grey SUV following her. She becomes more relaxed after two CIA operatives are tasked
with ensuring her safety at all times. Under Jack’s request, Elisabeth interviews the wives of the two Russian astronauts to get information on whether they planned to compromise the space mission. She also tries to contact GENERAL IGOR SYROMOKOV. However, she is unable to secure a meeting with him, denied permission by the Kremlin. Elisabeth eventually meets with Syromokov discreetly, who informs her that he has sensitive information about the ISS. He states that he will only share the information if he can defect to the United States.
In the White Sands Missile Range, a security supervisor, MIKE REYNOLDS, was concerned about the nature of two guests. DIAZ and RAMIREZ claimed that they were the guests of BRADLEY HERNANDEZ, an equipment specialist missile engineer. However, Bradley had not provided any notification to request the two guests, which was rather suspicious. He allowed the two guests to enter the facility but remained quiet about their visit. Later, a janitor informs Mike that Bradley had been snooping around in the office earlier than was allowed. He seemed to have been looking for restricted information in a paper from the US State Department. This paper was flagged as TOP SECRET. Mike became more curious about what Bradley and his two friends were up to and decided to observe them.
Having saved the day, Jack is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by the US president, who calls Jack a true hero. Jack tells the president he’s taking Elisabeth to Italy.