The Last Sword Maker (Course of Empire Series, 1) - Hardcover

''Nelson's intriguing scientific predictions and distinctive near-future setting make this sure to please speculative fiction readers as well as thriller fans.'' --Publishers Weekly

''THE LAST SWORD MAKER is a techno-thriller that will make you nostalgic for the days when we only had to worry about nuclear annihilation, an all too plausible examination of how emerging technologies could be weaponized to horrible ends. I don't recommend reading this one right before bedtime -- unless you are prepared to stay up very, very late to finish it. '' --Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author of ROCK PAPER TIGER and GO-BETWEEN.

''The next big thing in warfare is small -- so small you can't see it at all. The Last Sword Maker imagines a superpower competition at the collision point of nanocomputing, programmable viruses and weaponized biohacking. At stake, control over the life and death of virtually every person on the planet, at a level granular enough to make a nuclear weapon look laughably crude in comparison. Set in the not-too-distant future, the result is a head-spinning sci-fi-infused military thriller, with China and the United States putting everything they have into developing the perfect weapon, no matter the cost.'' --Francisco Toro, columnist, Washington Post

''The danger is unique, and the treachery vast, in this rapid-paced adventure that delivers in equal doses of amazing, yet possible. An intriguing tale that will leave you thinking.'' --Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Malta Exchange

''Brian Nelson has written a compelling thriller. Set in the near future, the story finds China and the US immersed in a race to weaponize nanotechnology that recalls the intensity of the Manhattan Project and, later, the near panic in the West when Sputnik revealed the Soviets were ahead of the US in the space race. Nelson's riveting narrative captures the drama of great power competition and the price the military men and scientists are forced to pay to contend with a determined and unscrupulous enemy. This is a terrific debut.'' --Patrick Duddy, Duke University, former US Ambassador to Venezuela

''An amazing read. The Last Sword Maker has everything: a riveting story, fascinating characters, cutting-edge technology, and, of course, romance. Great!'' --Moisés Naím, New York Times bestselling author

''A terrifying vision of future warfare in the vein of Tom Clancy's and Michael Crichton's novels ... A powerhouse near-future thriller with explosive action and exciting science.'' --Foreword Reviews