Black Order: A Sigma Force Novel

Written by James Rollins

Narrated by Grover Gardner

In this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins, Sigma Force races to crack ultimate mystery of the origin of life—a quest that will save mankind . . . or destroy it

In Copenhagen, a suspicious bookstore fire propels Commander Gray Pierce on a relentless hunt across four continents – and into a terrifying mystery surrounding horrific experiments once performed in a now-abandoned laboratory buried in a hollowed-out mountain in Poland.

In the mountains of Nepal, in a remote monastery, Buddhist monks inexplicably turn to cannibalism and torture – while Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force, begins to show signs of the same baffling, mind-destroying malady…and Lisa Cummings, a dedicated American doctor, becomes the target of a brutal, clandestine assassin.

Now only Gray Pierce and Sigma Force can save a world suddenly in terrible jeopardy. Because a new order is on the rise – an annihilating nightmare growing at the heart of the greatest mystery of all: the origin of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 27, 2006
• ISBN: 9780061228896

James Rollins

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers that have been translated into more than forty languages. His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the “top crowd pleasers” (New York Times) and one of the “hottest summer reads” (People magazine). In each novel, acclaimed for its originality, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets—and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight. He lives in the Sierra Nevada.

Reviews for Black Order

[hawkinsfamily · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Black Order by James Rollins is a SIGMA story. It is well written adventure / mystery. It is a very nice read.

[dools46 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good book, but a drawn out ending

[fingerpost_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three seemingly unrelated plots converge in this novel of secret science conspiracy. One hero is tracking Darwin's family bible, which someone is willing to kill to get. Two more are fighting for their life in a secret Nazi base hidden in the Himilayan Mountains. A third is convinced there is a monster loose in the wilds of South Africa. All three converge neatly in a fantastical story of Nazi science, thought lost after the War, which is actually being carried on to this day in secret locations.

[chuckt12345 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Was ok,, how many times does someone have to be shot at by professional assassins to be actually killed. Over the top on the shooting scenes and characters were rather aggrevating.

[suetu_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've been reading James Rollins since his very first novel. I look forward to each one with anticipation months ahead of its publication. (Thank God he's prolific!) Truthfully, I like some of them better than others. This latest, The Black Order, is an unequivocal slam dunk. I loved everything about it from start to finish. One thing Rollins has done right is bring back Painter Crowe in a more significant roll. I've had a warm spot for him since Sandstorm. And in his second outing, I feel that I know Gray Pierce better than I did. How wonderful that these individuals have become like friends and I see their characters deepen and grow from book to book. He introduces a new character in this book that has become a favorite. I really hope we get to see her again! But the best thing about The Black Order is the plot. I couldn't turn pages fast enough! I plowed through the book in two days and was then sad it was over. What a thrill ride! The novel is complex enough that I can't do it justice trying to sum it up in a paragraph. There were several different intertwined stories spanning the globe, from Asia to Europe to Africa to America. Rollins ties in Nazi science projects dating back to WWII to South African mythological beasts. And even though there were Nazi bad guys, this book has a lot of shades of gray and things aren't necessarily what they seem at first glance. As always, there was fascinating, cutting-edge science. Each book has some bit of factual science that literally makes my jaw drop, and I think: I have to learn more about that! This one was no exception, but there were also major philosophical aspects to the story. Really, it's a book that has everything--non-stop action, terrific characters, a little romance, a little humor, some good scares, and a lot to make you think. I can't recommend it highly enough!

[van_stef_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The first book of James Rollins that I read. I got hooked. It's very twisted and suspenseful. Awesome read

[virginiagill · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Few things excite me as much as discovering an as yet unread Sigma Force novel and this one did not disappoint. Whether you are a long time Rollins fan or have yet to step onto his roller coaster you won't regret picking up this book. I have it on my "read again soon" shelf.

[oldbookswine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another thriller that keeps you guessing until the last sentence. Sigma Force faces new enemies that the same timeless focus of controlling the world. Travelling from Poland, to Copenhagen to South Africa Sigma connects the dots to once again save the world. Great read for the beach.

[daniexj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The head of the SIGMA Force in a loin cloth in Nepal. It's definitely a unique way to start a story. This is the third book in the SIGMA Force series about the DARPA super secret commando agents.This time there are two (and eventually three) stories going on at once. That made it a little hard to get into at first, since there were some characters that just appeared with no context. Still they were interesting stories. One was set in a South African wildlife preserve, another in a Nepalese Mountain (one that isn't named Everest), and one in Copenhagen.Once the story got going though and connections started to be made between the disparate stories the novel got much more interesting.And like the previous two novels in the series a lot of the history stuff and the science stuff was done well and most definitely fun to read (here and there even more fun to read than the plot).It wasn't quite as much of a thriller as I've read, a bit more like a mystery with a bit of suspense. But, it was a mostly interesting mystery as well.All in all a good book in an interesting series. Not a have to read, but more of a, 'if you have the time you should definitely read', read.

[drneutron_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As with all Rollins Sigma Force novels, Black Order mixes thriller action with science just over the border of what's real. As a physicist, I liked the touch of science involved. Just don't take it too seriously - this is definitely finction. Rollins includes an afterward with his sources - turns out I had already read one of them, Himmler's Crusade, that talks about Nazi activities in the Himalayas during the 1930s. That one's highly recommended too.Many of the characters here are carried over from previous Sigma Force books, and it's fun to see how things go with the continuing characters. Someone new to the series can read this book out of order without missing much, but reading the previous books will add a little richness. The plot is Rollins' usual tight, action-packed story. If you like this sort of book (and I do!) this will be a satisfying read.

[gttexas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As usual Sigma Force is great! This time our "ancient secret" goes back to Nazi scientists and genetic experiments. A mile a minute thriller as usual

[mswallack_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rollins has settled in quite nicely with his Sigma Force novels. For lack of a better comparison, I would put them in the same category as Clive Cussler or Jack Du Brul's novels. Black Order was another fun read.

[adam.currey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bookshops, rare books, Tibetan monasteries, Nazi experiments, quantum physics, and of course plenty of action and bad guys - this book covers a lot of ground. fast-paced enough to keep me interested, complex enough to keep me thinking. If you're a fan of Scott Mariani or WIll Adams, you'll probably like this one too.This was my first James Rollins book, and I suspect it won't be my last.

[joclare · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really love James Rollin's books. I love how he takes a historical tidbit of information and connects it to a slice of science, mixes it all together with a lot of adventure and a dash of romance and voilà!; I'm ready for an enjoyable read~I also love how he points out the facts and the fiction at the end of his stories; more than once I have gotten lost on the internet satisfying my curiosity regarding the history/science he calls to attention there.I think he does a great job with his protagonists, I find most to be really interesting and fleshed out. Sigma Force is a recurring theme in many of his stories and it adds another layer of interest for me, taking the adventure to the next level.Rollin's novels are every bit as enjoyable to me as a big screen summer blockbuster; think I'll go get some popcorn~

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As is the case of most of the Sigma stories, there is a great deal of action which always provides an entertaining story. History buffs will love the background information. I feel that Rollins books are a bit too long but they just keep you reading regardless. The only problem I have with the writing is that at some critical point in a segment of the story....the story shifts to another segment which is a bit confusing. Overall I have to say the characters were fascinating and Rollins has given his readers another top of the line book.

[deep220_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With Black Order, Rollins once again proves that he has a force to be reckoned with in Sigma. Black Order follows two members of Sigma to the from the frozen mountain tops to the southern part of Africa, and just about everywhere in between. As to be expected with all James Rollins novels there will be a lot of action, fast hold on to your buts action. What I loved about this individual novel was the very interesting plot involving Nazi secrets whisked away at the end of World War II (any of you that have read my previous reviews, you know I love Indiana Jones, so you can see a common theme....). As all of James Rollins books highly recommended, a definite re-read.

[pking36330-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Standard Rollins; if you like his books you'll like this one.

[jarratt_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Considering it took me a month to read, that should tell you something: I wasn't driven to finish. The science was convoluted, the pacing rather slow, and the characters weren't all that likable. This is the 2nd, and last, Rollins book I plan to read. I felt the same about the other one (Map of Bones). After seeing that many people who read Matthew Reilly liked Rollins' work, I was excited to try him. But since I didn't like either book, I'll not attempt reading him again.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was great to be back with the Sigma Force again. Gray Pierce in is Copenhagen with a suspicious bookstore fire. He is involved is a terrifying mystery surrounding horrific experiments performed in a now-abandoned laboratory in the mountains in Poland. Painter Crowe and Lisa Cummings are in a remote monastery in the mountains of Nepal where Buddhist monks are turning to cannibalism and torture. The Sigma team start to piece together and come to the conclusion about the Nazis' experiments that were going on during the war dealing with evolution and the origin of life. They must now save the world from a new order that is on the rise.I liked all the information that we were given in regards to what the Nazis were up to. Never heard or read anything as in depth as this book. James Rollins has given us a mixture of science and heart pumping action and adventure where in some place you need to suspend your beliefs. All in all, it is a riveting edge-of-your seat read that will keep the pages turning quickly. I now look forward to the next Sigma Force book and I would highly recommend this book to those who love scientific adventure reads.

[harpua_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Here is my first real good read of the year. I'm no stranger to James Rollins and I've enjoyed his books in the past. I've picked up most of his novels and they are awaiting me to pick them up. Since I don't like to read the same author back to back, my trek through his Sigma Force novels is slowly progressing, but that is no indication of how much I enjoy them. Rollins has a way to suck you into the story without you realizing. His stories bring enough fantasy in, but when that mixes with his historical aspects, the fantasy almost seems like it could really be true. It is always fun to read the author's notes at the end to see what was fact and what was fiction and I'm often surprised. Great book, great series, great author. Recommend highly!

[mjz86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Nice fast pace. I like to describe it as Indiana Jones on steroids. Historical facts are awesome...

[smg6hgrayson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's interesting how one fiction book can explain almost everything about Die Glocke.

[jrbaker149 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first James Rollins book I've read, and I'm very impressed. I didn't realize it was part of a series either, until I found the rest online. He does an excellent job of developing the characters and not assuming you've read the earlier books in the series. The level of technical detail here and the arguments made are very deep and thought provoking. Rollins drew me in held my attention from beginning to end. This is perfect for a movie; even Rollins' writing style lends itself very easily to adaptation. I can't wait to read the others in the series!

[chalcedon_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At the start of Rollins's inventive eighth Sigma Force novel, a secret experiment is smuggled out of Berlin in the waning days of WWII. While the Americans have been working on the atomic bomb, the Nazis were delving into the paradoxical tenets of quantum mechanics. In the present day, descendants of Heinrich Himmler are trying to create a new race of Aryan supermen. Last seen in 2005's Map of Bones, Painter Crowe and Grayson Pierce, employees of Sigma Force, a secret arm of the U.S. military, venture to the brink of death to puzzle out mysteries that encompass the theories of evolution, intelligent design, and the physical and spiritual nature of love and God. It's a tall order, but every time the author appears to have stretched too far, he saves the read by throwing in a fascinating scientific or historical fact, plus a scene of heart-pumping action. This is Cussler and Ludlum territory with a dash of Dan Brown, sure to please devotees of any of these authors.

[schpenke · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While the book moved along rather well I really couldn't find myself caring one way or another about any of the main characters. The book mostly just played off of testosterone which is perfectly fine in bits it becomes tiresome when it encompasses the entire length of the book. The ending is also absolute rubbish.

[ashleyludwig · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

James Rollins takes you on a wild ride from start to finish. Once you get immersed in Sigma Force it's an easy read. For readers with little time on their hands, the chapters are quick and easy to pick up where you left off. Sorry to see it end, but knowing the Judas Strain is next on my list made it easier to bear!

[lustyrebel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The third book in James Rollins Sigma Force series was an improvement over book two but still, ultimately, underwhelming.The plot, involving Nazi scientists, secret research in hidden lairs, plays out like one of the more fantastic James Bond movies which dazzle with special effects but are soon forgotten.The pacing between action and exposition is better handled and so flows better but the characters are limited. Despite this being either the second or third outing for some of these characters they still felt one dimensional and I found it difficult to emphasise with any of them. For me, one of the main characters, Fiona; starts irritating, becomes grating and ends up annoying.For the most part they felt like placeholders merely acting to move the story onwards.However, for thrillers of this type, I can forgive a lot if I feel the resolution was reached in a satisfactory manner. For Black Order though, the resolution came down to faith and prayer. Which for a story about evolution, genetics and quantum theory was basically a cop-out.