Sting of the Drone, by Richard A. Clarke

Throughout the 1990s, as various terroristic threats from around the world came to the attention of the White House, at least one military advisor called for the use of drones for intelligence gathering and deployment of missiles.  Richard A. Clarke served under three administrations, and was constantly rebuffed in his efforts to get the use of drones approved.  Opportunities arose to strike known terrorists, including Bin Laden.  The White House, DOD, and CIA all opposed the use of drones--until September 12, 2001, when Predators were deployed against al Qaeda.  Within weeks, the use of drones to kill terrorist became common practice.

In Sting of the Drone, Clarke draws on his background in the military, intelligence, and government to paint a realistic picture of the use of drones, and tell the story of what might happen if the targets of drone warfare go on the offensive.  Told from the perspective of the pilots who remotely fly the drones, the bureaucratic decision makers who call the kills, and the terrorists on the receiving end of the attacks,  Sting of the Drone presents what may be the future of warfare.  Indeed it is already part of the present.

In this novel, Clarke's perspective can easily be read as fully pro-drone.  Through his characters, he points out the benefits of drone warfare, chiefly that the pilots are not in danger of being shot down.  In addition, using surveillance drones, a much clearer picture of the targets can be assembled before deciding on strike.  The drones are also more maneuverable and more cost effective, since they don't have to be designed to carry a pilot along for the ride.

Clarke's story-telling is similarly efficient, without a lot of dead weight.  The dialogue and action are crisp, moving along briskly, so that you don't want to put the book down.  At times, however, that crispness did lead to some choppiness as he shifted scenes or characters.  His descriptions of the drone program and the technology involved was very believable, and the interactions of the military, government, and intelligence communities have the feel of someone who has been there.

Sting of the Drone, while primarily a military action novel, does give a broad view of the use of drones, raising some of the ethical and technological difficulties of using drones.  Clarke informs and argues, but does so without veering of the direction of the story.  Sting of the Drone is a thrill ride of a book.

Thanks to St. Martin's press for the complimentary advance review copy!