Just finished Sunstroke by David Kagan and found it to be the finest science thriller I've ever read, more frightening and educational than anything written by Michael Crichton. Sunstroke's subject matter is about the world we live in, right now. It just has to be made into a blockbuster movie.

In the book scientists deploy a huge satellite to collect the sun's rays and beam them down to earth in the form of high-intensity microwaves to generate lots of electricity. Supposed to free us from Mid-East oil. Everything goes great for awhile, until the satellite is apparently sabotaged by the oil cartel, causing it to go crazy and roast an entire family into crispy critters. Then the thing speeds off looking for other victims, like entire cities. TV and newspaper reporters trying to cover the story are herded into something like a concentration camp to maintain secrecy while the scientists hopefully try to find out how to stop the satellite from wiping out life on our planet. But time is running out. An unlikely hero emerges, but is up against impossible odds and will probably end up getting fried. Don't want to give away the scary thought-provoking ending, but wow, it's a killer! ( )