Omar Bennett
When Diplomacy Fails is a science fiction novel by Michael Z. Williamson, a retired military veteran of the U.S. Army and Air Force. The story is set in the future and features Ripple Creek Security, a team of high-tech mercenaries led by Alex Marlow, who are tasked with protecting an obnoxious and highly-placed government minister, Joy Herman Highland, from numerous enemies who want her dead. With a mix of gun battles, kidnappings, and explosions, the novel offers a thrilling and fast-paced read, delving into the challenges of safeguarding a controversial political figure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Book Title | When Diplomacy Fails |
| Author | Michael Z. Williamson |
| Co-author | David Doersch |
| Series | Freehold Universe |
| Book Number in Series | 7 |
| Main Character | Alex Marlow |
| Security Detail | Ripple Creek Security |
| Client | World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland |
| Client's Profession | Bureaucrat with aspirations for elected office |
| Enemies | Religious and political factions, some within the UN |
| Setting | Off-planet |
| Genre | Science fiction, thriller, military |
| Tone | Fast-paced, action-packed |
| Plot | Security detail protecting a client they dislike |
| Author's Military Experience | 25 years in U.S. Army and Air Force |
| Author's Other Works | The Hero, Better to Beg Forgiveness, Do Unto Others |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security return to protect World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland
- The many enemies of Highland and their resources
- The challenge of protecting Highland due to her aide's publicity of her every move
- The action-packed nature of the book, including gun battles and a kidnapping
- The book's place in the Freehold Universe series and its connections to previous novels
Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security return to protect World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland
In Michael Z. Williamson's *When Diplomacy Fails*, Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security return to protect World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland, a highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations for elected office. This time, they really don't like their principal, but that doesn't change their job: to keep her alive.
Marlow and his team are high-tech, near-future mercenaries and the best personal security detail in the business. They are hired to protect Highland, an obnoxious world government minister, from the scores of enemies who want her dead—and in the worst possible way.
Highland's assistant wants to publicize her every movement and action for her boss's pending campaign, which is a nightmare for good security. With a person of this status, it's not a case of someone wanting her dead. The only question is: how many people want her dead, and what are they bringing to the fight?
Ripple Creek Security must be cautious. Their enemies have resources, funding, and political cover. But they also need to worry. They're going to get in each other's way, and Ripple Creek has no qualms about seeing their own explosions on galactic news. In fact, they kind of enjoy it.
Getting Paid for Political Campaign Work: A Guide
You may want to see also
The many enemies of Highland and their resources
In "When Diplomacy Fails" by Michael Z. Williamson, the many enemies of Highland are numerous and varied. World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland, a highly placed bureaucrat with aspirations to elected office, has a multitude of adversaries who want her dead. These enemies are both external and internal, ranging from political and religious factions on the planet Mtali to members of her own party.
The religious factions on Mtali pose a significant threat to Highland's safety, as they all seem to desire her death. This is further exacerbated by Highland's assistant, who insists on publicizing her every move, making her an easy target. The aide's actions are driven by their boss's pending campaign, which creates a conflict between security needs and political aspirations.
In addition to the external threats, Highland also faces enemies from within. Factions within the UN view her as a threat to their preferred candidate in the upcoming election. These internal enemies possess substantial resources, funding, and political cover, making them a formidable challenge for Ripple Creek Security, the team tasked with protecting Highland.
Ripple Creek Security, a group of high-tech near-future mercenaries, must navigate this complex landscape of enemies to ensure Highland's safety. Despite their dislike for their principal, they are determined to protect her from the myriad threats that emerge from various factions and individuals.
Diplomacy's Effective Strategies: Secrets to Success
You may want to see also
The challenge of protecting Highland due to her aide's publicity of her every move
In Michael Z. Williamson's "When Diplomacy Fails", the challenge of protecting World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland is exacerbated by her aide's publicity of her every move. As the highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations for elected office embarks on a diplomatic tour on a troubled planet, her assistant insists on broadcasting her actions and whereabouts for an upcoming campaign. This poses a significant security risk, as it essentially paints a target on Highland, making the job of her protection detail, Ripple Creek Security, that much harder.
Ripple Creek Security, led by Alex Marlow, is a team of high-tech, near-future mercenaries specializing in bodyguard work. They are tasked with safeguarding Highland, who is described as obnoxious and challenging to protect due to her willful and headstrong nature. The team must navigate a complex web of enemies, including political and religious factions, some of whom belong to the UN and view Highland as a threat to their candidate in the upcoming election.
The publicity generated by Highland's aide, while detrimental to her security, is not the only challenge faced by Ripple Creek Security. The team also grapples with their own dislike for their principal, as they find her unlikeable and disagreeable. Despite this, they are professionals and remain committed to their duty of keeping her alive. This includes protecting her from her own political party members, some of whom also wish to see her dead.
The dynamic between the protection team and their client creates an interesting narrative layer, as the operatives are depicted as the opposite of politically correct, contrasting with Highland's political ambitions. The story unfolds against a backdrop of non-stop action, including gun battles and kidnappings, as Ripple Creek Security utilizes their expertise and resources to safeguard Highland from the myriad threats that emerge from all directions.
The challenge of protecting Highland, due in part to her aide's publicity of her every move, sets the stage for a fast-paced and compelling narrative within Williamson's Freehold Universe. "When Diplomacy Fails" explores the complexities of security detail in a political landscape, where the lines between friends and foes are blurred, and the stakes are a matter of life and death.
Enhancing Diplomacy in Medieval Dynasty: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The action-packed nature of the book, including gun battles and a kidnapping
In 'When Diplomacy Fails' by Michael Z. Williamson, the action begins with the Ripple Creek Security team, led by Alex Marlow, being hired to protect a politician, Joy Herman Highland, who they dislike. This is the third book about the Ripple Creek Security team and the seventh book set in the Freehold Universe.
The team's job is made difficult by the fact that their client is a highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations for elected office, who has many enemies that want her dead. The situation is further complicated by the client's assistant, who insists on publicizing her every move for her boss's pending campaign, making her an easy target.
The book is packed with action, including gun battles and a kidnapping. The Ripple Creek Security team has to navigate a treacherous landscape filled with enemies from various factions, both external and internal, who are well-resourced and funded. The team has no qualms about using explosions to take out their enemies and often enjoys doing so.
The book is described as a "fast-paced, compulsive read" and a "page-turner" by some readers, with one mentioning that the action is "nonstop". The off-planet setting and the dynamic between the Ripple Creek operatives and their politically-correct client also add to the intrigue of the story.
Blocking Political Texts: iPhone Users Reclaim Peace
You may want to see also
The book's place in the Freehold Universe series and its connections to previous novels
'When Diplomacy Fails' is the seventh book in Michael Z. Williamson's Freehold Universe series. It is the third book about Ripple Creek Security, a military contractor that specializes in guarding sites and protecting people. The novel follows Alex Marlow and his Ripple Creek Security team as they are hired to protect a politician, World Bureau Minister Joy Herman Highland, from multiple assassination attempts. Highland is described as an obnoxious and highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations to elected office. The team faces challenges due to Highland's assistant, who wants to publicize every movement and action for his boss's pending campaign, compromising their security. The enemies are described as having resources, funding, and political cover, which creates a complex and dangerous situation for the team to navigate.
The novel is known for its high-tech, near-future setting and features gun battles, explosions, and nonstop action. It explores themes of politics, religion, and security in a world where the Ripple Creek Security team must navigate a web of enemies and challenges to keep their client alive.
Williamson's military expertise, gained from his 25 years of service in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, adds a layer of authenticity to the novel. His experience as a competitive shooter and consultant on military matters, weapons, and disaster preparedness brings a unique perspective to the story.
'When Diplomacy Fails' builds upon the world established in previous novels set in the Freehold Universe, including 'Freehold', 'Better to Beg Forgiveness', and 'Do Unto Others'. It expands upon the adventures of the Ripple Creek Security team, introducing new challenges and exploring the complexities of protecting a controversial political figure. The novel sets the stage for future political twists and explosive action, suggesting that it serves as a transitional book in the series, paving the way for new developments in subsequent novels.
Unveiling the Secrets of Ideological PACs
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
In 'When Diplomacy Fails', Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security's best personal security detail must protect an obnoxious world government minister, Joy Herman Highland, from her many enemies who want her dead.
No, it is the 7th book set in the Freehold Universe. Some of the other books in the series include "Freehold", "Better to Beg Forgiveness", and "Do Unto Others".
'When Diplomacy Fails' is a science fiction novel with military themes. It is also described as a thriller and an action-packed book.
Michael Z. Williamson is a retired military veteran, having served 25 years in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Desert Fox. Williamson is also a state-ranked competitive shooter in combat rifle and combat pistol.
