With Hostile Intent
Several years after the Gulf War, Commander Sam "Killer" DeLancey, navy fighter pilot and self-centered hotshot, shoots down an Iraqi plane that has wandered into the no-fly zone bordering Saudi Arabia and Iraq and ignites an international incident that results in even more dangerous dogfights. DeLancey's hotheaded heroics are balanced by the cool calm of Commander "Brick" Maxwell, whose rivalry with DeLancey is based on his knowledge of DeLancey's cowardice during the Gulf War. With two tough-as-nails female fighter pilots, a possible Iraqi spy, various love triangles and aerial fight scenes that are more thrilling than a back-to-back showing of Top Gun and Iron Eagle, this red-hot piece of military fiction is certain to keep readers riveted. Like most books in this genre, the weakest parts are the love scenes, which are cliched ("Killer DeLancey made love... like he flew fighters. Fast, furious, without preliminaries.") but mercifully brief. What this book adds to the genre is an intelligent subplot addressing issues related to the presence of women in the formerly all-male fighter club. Gandt (Fly Low, Fly Fast) weaves in subtle but intelligent observations on harassment and chain-of-command issues while crafting some of the most suspenseful battle scenes in recent military fiction. (Oct. 9)Forecast: Ex-fighter pilot Gandt has written military nonfiction titles, and his fans will undoubtedly pick up this testosterone-drenched fiction debut.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.