The Last Odyssey: A Sigma Force Novel
Released On: Mar 24, 2020

To save the world and our future, Sigma Force must embark on a dangerous odyssey into an ancient past whose horrors are all too present in this page-turning thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins that combines cutting-edge science, historical mystery, mythology, and pulse-pounding action.

For eons, the city of Troy—whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad—was believed to be a myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands. If Troy was real, how much of Homer’s twin tales of gods and monsters, curses, and miracles—The Iliad and The Odyssey—could also be true and awaiting discovery?

In the frozen tundra of Greenland, a group of modern-day researchers stumbles on a shocking find: a medieval ship buried a half-mile below the ice. The ship’s hold contains a collection of even older artifacts—tools of war—dating back to the Bronze Age. Inside the captain’s cabin is a magnificent treasure that is as priceless as it is miraculous: a clockwork gold map embedded with an intricate silver astrolabe. The mechanism was crafted by a group of Muslim inventors—the Banū Mūsā brothers—considered by many to be the Da Vincis of the Arab world—brilliant scientists who inspired Leonardo’s own work.

Once activated, the moving map traces the path of Odysseus’s famous ship as it sailed away from Troy. But the route detours as the map opens to reveal a fiery river leading to a hidden realm underneath the Mediterranean Sea. It is the subterranean world of Tartarus, the Greek name for Hell. In mythology, Tartarus was where the wicked were punished and the monstrous Titans of old, imprisoned.

When word of Tartarus spreads—and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there—tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors. The phantasmagoric horrors found in Homer’s tales are all too real—and could be unleashed upon the world. Whoever possesses them can use their awesome power to control the future of humanity.

Now, Sigma Force must go where humans fear to tread. To prevent a tyrant from igniting a global war, they must cross the very gates of Hell.

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Critical Acclaim

  • “Sigma Force roars back into action...Rollins is a master of the genre, able to sweep us up and carry us along until he brings the story to a riveting conclusion.”

    David Pitt, BOOKLIST (Reader Review)
  • “Rollins…marries nail-biting action with a highly imaginative premise…This is a thoughtful, nonstop thrill ride that’s an exemplar of an escapist page-turner." *Starred Review*

    Publishers Weekly (Reader Review)
  • “Rollins takes his readers to hell…spins an entertaining thriller.”

    Kirkus Reviews (Reader Review)

FAQ

  • Q. As this is the 15th novel in this series. Does a new reader have to have read the earlier books?
    A. Not at all. I tailor each story so a new reader could jump into the series at any point. In fact, on ... Read More
  • Q. What’s this latest Sigma thriller about?
    A. The story starts when a group of researchers stumble upon a shocking find: a centuries-old medieval ... Read More
  • Q. From the title, it sounds like this novel is connected to Homer’s Odyssey.
    A. Definitely. The novel is my attempt to expose the dark truths hidden in our mythologies. For eons, t ... Read More
  • Q. It sounds like a daunting task. How did you go about researching such an epic tale?
    A. To accomplish this, I did extensive research. I traveled from the melting glaciers in Iceland to anc ... Read More
  • Q. THE LAST ODYSSEY also opens with a prologue from the point of view of Leonardo da Vinci. Whatdoes he have to do with this story?
    A. During my research, I discovered a tantalizing connection between Leonardo da Vinci and a school of ... Read More
  • Q. During all of your research for this book, what surprised you the most?
    A. I think what surprised me was how much we underestimate the technology of ancient peoples. I hada ch ... Read More
  • Q. Your book also touches upon apocalyptic cults. What did you learn about such groups?
    A. During my research for this book, I became fascinated by all the ways various cultures view the end ... Read More
  • Q. Before we finish, I also understand, you are active in your support of American veterans, evenearning the Silver Bullet Award for charitable work from the International Thriller Writers.Could you tell us a little bit about your efforts with veterans?
    A. Sure. My support for veterans first came about after I participated in a USO tour of authors to Iraq ... Read More
  • Q. Lastly, what are you working on now?
    A. I have an anthology of short stories coming out next September, which includes a brand-new hundred-p ... Read More

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