U.S.S. Seawolf (2000 original; edició 2001)

USS Seawolf by all means is a very specific military (Navy) action-thriller that catered to that very reader(ship) group. As the title suggests, it's about submarines. It's narrated by a Brit and that significantly detracts from the overall enjoyment. Plot and strategy are believable, but the solutions are entirely Navy...it's almost like the other services don't exist or the author did not research them enough to add into the story. I guess I ought to get over that predilection because Robinson is a Brit. That said, he portrays the US President in a vindictive and trite way. The story is very enjoyable if you can get over the Brit narrator and the single service perspective. ( )

2/12/2010

Really enjoyed this book; at first I was a little worried the Ben Adnam from the prior book was the mysterious Linus Clarke character who seemed nervous and lacking in fortitude, however thankfully it is later revealed who Linus Clarke is and it isn't BA.

This plot is believable, nicely paced and has a great action filled climax before winding down to end on a sorrowful note.

It's nice to read a book involving the US Navy where they aren't portrayed as superheroes, I felt this book did a good job of accurately describing the balance of power, ambitions and abilities of the US & China.

Highly enjoyed. ( )

Another entry in Robinson's 'Admiral Morgan saves the free world again' canon. The US tries to find out about a nasty Chinese submarine, the US sub gets caught through the incompetence of its executive officer who just happens to be the son of the President, the crew are rescued by gallant SEALs and the sub blown up before the chinks can get to its secrets. There's a coda about court martials which is pretty far-fetched. The plot is simple, tension maintained fairly well. Lots of swearing, food, racism and more swearing; and military acronyms. Pointless guest apperance by the SAS. All in all, a middling book. ( )