After countless years of fighting - of pitting sophisticated technology against the primitive surface dwelling people who seemed to possess supernatural powers - the Federation was still no nearer to ending the battle with the Mutes. But then a lone flier was hauled into one of its underground bunkers - a man whose very existence was a challenge to the all-pervading wisdom of the first family. A man whose destiny would determine the future for both the Federation and the Mutes.

The Amtrak Wars: First Family is the second Book in the Amtrak Wars and follows Steve Brickman, Cadillac, Clearwater and Roz through the incredibly complex webs of deceit and corruption Tilley has managed to weave together in this series.

I was pretty high in my praise of the first book and I have to say, that praise is just as applicable for this book as well. Tilley has managed to set the scene for some very thick political intrigue and his handling of the action sequences within the book (and there is plenty of those as well!) is flawless.

This book (indeed the entire series) does not come across as a book written in the eighties (which it is) but comes across as one of the most spellbinding and fresh explorations of the future earth as it could be. If you enjoy Science Fiction and haven't read this series, you are missing out. Fantastic.