Phantom Orbit

A Thriller

By: David Ignatius

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

A subtle and masterful novel from a prescient voice on the cutting edge of spy literature.

David Ignatius is known for his uncanny ability, in novel after novel, to predict the next great national security headline. In Phantom Orbit, he presents a story both searing and topical, with stakes as far-reaching as outer space. It follows Ivan Volkov, a Russian student in Beijing, who discovers an unsolved puzzle in the writings of the seventeenth-century astronomer Johannes Kepler. He takes the puzzle to a senior scientist in the Chinese space program and declares his intention to solve it. Volkov returns to Moscow and continues his secret work.

The puzzle holds untold consequences for space warfare. The years pass, and they are not kind to Volkov. After the loss of his son, a prosecutor who’d been too tough on corruption, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Volkov makes the fraught decision to contact the CIA.

He writes: Satellites are your enemies, especially your own. Hidden codes can make time stop and turn north into south. If you are smart, you will find me. With this timely novel, Ignatius addresses our moment of renewed interest in space exploration amid geopolitical tumult.

Phantom Orbit brims with the author’s vital insights and casts Volkov as the man who, at the risk of his life, may be able to stop the Doomsday clock.

©2024 David Ignatius (P)2024 Recorded Books

A wonderful writing and narrating achievement couldn't stop listening

This is the best story I've read or listened to in a long time it's reassuring to we still have such an amazing author. To go along with the story the narration and sound quality is excellent it could not be narrated any better he is perfect for these characters.

Fantastic. Perfect self contained story ripped right from real life.

Loved this, and impressed with David's writing style. So glad I gave this a try.

Recognize this as the warning that it is

If we are lucky enough to survive long enough, I believe we may have to recategorize much of this book as nonfiction. The next world war will be fought in space, and it has already started.

could have been great

cant stand long involved flashbacks. this book is mostly flashbacks, a technique which a lot of espionage authors use now. writing ability and narration were superb, wish the book was not mostly flashbacks,bi skipped 3/4 of this book when i realized what was going on.

A fun read, and thought provoking

A fun jaunt through government, technology and espionage. Worth a read/listen. This is my first David Ignatius book... Will definitely explore more.

Realism

It was an interesting exercise of trying to educate the masses about what goes on behind closed doors and high walls.

Slow

Lots of back story. This was like two chapters of a true Clancy novel stretched out to a whole book.

Future History

Very many verified details made the listen tedious in the beginning. The motivation for future actions too complete.

the details of the people involved

I was on the edge of my chair till the last chapter. the intriguing nature and detail fell away to a very well used narrative of spy espionage. double agents
did not stand up to the rest of the story well

Ignatius’ best yet. I couldn’t put it down.

Fast paced, very current, and technically accurate.

There’s nothing to dislike.

I’ll be anxiously awaiting David’s next thriller.