The atom bomb. (pause). This simple phrase, on its own, brings with it both awe and fear. It immediately rouses interest at the same time as it repulses. The thought of another group having this item, to be used against people, is truly terrifying. It is this intimidating concept that drives Russick’s work, Beyond Marienburg. In it, we follow the adventures of a variety of characters, the main being a Polish scientist tracking down the great bomb during the Great War, WWII. Weisemann’s search is set in the backdrop of a raging war of unprecedented scale. Surrounded by the explosions and destruction of the war, he walks through a vast world of the deceitful, the powerful, and the insane in his quest to put a final end to this heart-stopping threat.

Russick uses the third person narrative to great effect in Beyond Marienburg. Throughout the work, he is both detailed and personal, giving us the environment and the characters with remarkable clarity. And the story is interesting, an alternate reality that has shown its head in more than a few works in the past. While it is his details that shine, at times the story can get mired down in unnecessary description that slows down the story.

Nonetheless, Russick has, in Beyond Marienburg, a detailed and interesting tale of espionage, science, and mystery. For lovers of the war, mystery buffs, and people curious about the atom bomb, Beyond Marienburg is a worthy read.

TB Koskie
T&R Reviews

Author Biography

Alan Russick

Currently retired, Alan Russick spent forty years in the energy industry as an investigator and as a programmer. He is an avid traveler and spends much of his time riding the railroads and enjoying America; he reckons to travel at least ten thousand miles each year. He lives in Marseilles, Illinois, with his wife, Carolyn. An active volunteer with a nearby school, he enjoys children, having raised seven of his own.