Review: A good read, with room to improve.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2012
Enjoyed the book!  Bought it on a guess, and I lucked out. This is my first review, but since I used the reviews to choose this book I thought I would add my thoughts. There are many mentions of Tom Clancy in the reviews. While I see the similarities, the global scope of Red Storm Rising, or the depth of information in Hunt for Red October show that while this is a good book, the author isn't at the Clancy level yet. But there is much promise.I have read hundreds of novels of this genre, and the overall effort was a solid 3/5. I often wonder if someof the reviewers are fake, because they all give 5 stars. Shouldn't 5 stars be for Hemmingway or Tolstoy?Anyways, I agree with some other reviews that some editing is in order.The plot goes along fluidly, although the ending seemed rushed. Maybe a more in depth portrayal of the finishing moves of US forces?Technically, a nice mix of current and future weapons.A few brief negatives:- Aircraft on the US side are F-16 or F-15's. The battle is in 2032 and the frontline US fighters were built in the 1970's? That would make the designs 70 years old. Did we loose all of the F22's and the new JSF's? I understand there was an underlying theme about the US taking a lower place in the world military pecking order, but if we can build airborne and ground based lasers, I think we might have some airframes newer than a Ford Pinto.-Naval Forces submerged. The USN launches a few torpedoes from LA 688 class boats. Again, another weapons systems from the 1970's. The Seawolf and Virginia classes would be much more likely platforms in the 2030's.-Naval Forces afloat. I enjoyed the scenario of Chinese commandos using a fishing boat to conduct a missile attack on the 2 US carriers. However, a 90,000 ton warship won't sink from a missile hit, especially a missile that can be carried and concealed on a trawler. It's just unrealistic, and shows a lack of researchMany (most?) novels in this genre are so blatantly pro-US that the cliches overwhelm the reader. Dale Brown? The Carrier series? CLANCY?I find the author did a great job in presenting a world in which the US isn't number 1 at everything.Overall, well done. I look forward to other works fro this author.