My new espionage thriller Firewall – set in the world of the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell videogame series – is out next month and anticipation is high for the next prose adventure of covert agent Sam Fisher and the Fourth Echelon team.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Splinter Cell games, they’re a series of stealth-shooter action titles where players take on the role of a black ops specialist engaged in stopping advanced technological threats to global security. Endorsed by the titan of techno-thrillers himself, Tom Clancy, to date the Splinter Cell series encompasses seven videogames, three comics and seven (soon to be eight!) original novels. New games and an animated show on Netflix are also in the pipeline.
I’m pleased to say the advance reviews for Splinter Cell: Firewall have been uniformly positive – here’s a few choice quotes…
“One of my most awaited books for the upcoming year and even with such high expectations I was mesmerized with the stellar storytelling. It’s everything a top-notch action-packed novel should be.” – Kashif Hussain, Best Thriller Books
“Bestselling author James Swallow brings his vivid, cinematic writing style to new heights… The action is beautifully crafted in this, perhaps the best instalment ever, in the iconic Clancy universe of Splinter Cell. Firewall will leave you breathless!” – Andrews & Wilson, authors of the Tier One and Sons of Valor series
“This book had everything I love in a thriller… James Swallow has written a book Tom Clancy fans and newcomers alike will enjoy. I know I did.” – Jeremy Peers, Goodreads
“An awesome book! You can easily pick up this book and read it in one sitting. That’s how dangerously engaging the book is!” – Reading Tamishly
“Ardent fans are in for a treat since Swallow incorporates the game’s signature cinematic action… A must-read for anyone who has been waiting for a follow-up to Blacklist.” – Ankit Dhirasara, Visual Reviews
“Throw in a megalomaniac with a nefarious agenda, and uber soldiers with the latest tech and you have an explosive story with all the ingredients necessary to keep you rooting for the good guys.” – Netgalley
It’s been nine years since the release of the last Splinter Cell game Blacklist, and Peter Telep’s sequel novel Blacklist Aftermath – and long-time fans understandably have a lot of interest about where the series will go next. So, I gathered up some of the questions I’ve been getting recently via social media and I’ve answered what I can below…
Does this novel take place after the game Splinter Cell: Blacklist and the novel Splinter Cell: Blacklist Aftermath?
Yes. Firewall is set in 2015, two years after the events of Blacklist.
Is the “lethal assassin who returns from the dead” mentioned in the back cover text someone fans are familiar with from the earlier games, like Douglas Shetland or Tom Reed?
No. It’s an original character, an old enemy from Sam’s past.
Will there be a game based on the Firewall novel?
No. The novels are their own thing, they support the narrative of the games – but the games always come first.
Does this novel tie into the upcoming Netflix series?
Not directly, but the novel is written to be part of the same existing continuity as the Splinter Cell games, books, comics and animation.
Is the novel connected to the new remake of the original Splinter Cell game?
Same answer.
Is Sarah Fisher the central character of Splinter Cell: Firewall?
No. Sarah plays an important role in the novel, but she shares the spotlight with her father Sam, who has his own main thread in the story.
Is Sarah replacing Sam?
Not at all. Both Sam and Sarah are involved in the action throughout Firewall. Sam Fisher isn’t ready to hang up his tri-goggles just yet…
Why does Sarah join Fourth Echelon, and why does Sam allow it?
Sarah’s reasons for wanting to be part of Fourth Echelon and Sam’s reactions to that situation are a key part of the story; you’ll have to read the novel to find out more, but rest assured, these questions are fully addressed.
How can Sarah be in Fourth Echelon when she has no military training?
Fourth Echelon is an espionage agency, not a military organization, so it is free to recruit anyone from anywhere; and it’s never been a rule that Splinter Cell operatives only come from the armed forces – for example, Archer from Splinter Cell: Conviction was an NSA intelligence analyst before he became an operative, and other operatives in previous Splinter Cell novels have come from a variety of non-military backgrounds.
Which other Splinter Cell legacy characters appear in the novel?
You’ll see Anna Grímsdóttir, Andriy Kobin and Charlie Cole in main roles, and few other familiar faces will be mentioned.
Are there connections to any other Tom Clancy videogames in Firewall?
There are some “easter eggs” that reference elements from The Division, Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six.
How closely were Ubisoft involved in the development of Firewall?
I worked directly with Ubi’s Tom Clancy franchise writers and their content team to make sure everything in the novel syncs up with the current (and future) plans for Splinter Cell.
How familiar were you with the Splinter Cell franchise when you took on this project?
Very. I started with Sam Fisher’s adventures playing the original Splinter Cell on PC back in ‘03, and I’ve followed him through all the other games over the past two decades. I love tie-in fiction, so I’ve also read the novels and comics; and I even have the cool Blacklist wristwatch…
How do you feel about taking on this iconic character and franchise?
Excited! Working on a Splinter Cell project has been on my writer bucket list for a long while, and I’ve had a great time writing Firewall. I hope I’ve been able to do justice to Sam and craft a novel readers will find engaging.
When will the novel be available?
Splinter Cell: Firewall will be released by Aconyte Books worldwide as an eBook on March 1st, in paperback in the USA on March 15th, and in paperback in the UK on June 9th.
Why the long delay between the US and UK paperback releases?
You can blame that on ongoing pandemic-related shipping issues across the publishing industry.
Will there be an audiobook?
Yes. An audio version of Firewall will be released by Recorded Books on Audible and other platforms on March 1st.
Will the novel be translated into other languages?
Yes. Firewall will be released in German by CrossCult and in Russian by Hobby World. French and Italian editions are also in the works.
Will Aconyte Books be publishing more Splinter Cell fiction after Firewall?
That is the plan…
UPDATED! Click here to read the first three chapters of Splinter Cell: Firewall!
You can pre-order Splinter Cell: Firewall at these links from Amazon, Hive or via the Aconyte website.
