Rating: 
Summary: Good - until the ending
Review: An entertaning book and nicely paced. Until the end that is. The last 100 pages or so are written as if the author got tired of working on the story and simply put a bunch of disjointed, action bites together so the book could be rushed to the publisher. I have read just about every "Grafton" book and this one is the most disappointing. Would not recommend it.`
Rating: 
Summary: COONTS AT THE TOP OF HIS TALENT
Review: As a mystery author with my first novel in its initial release, I admire Stephen Coonts and his work. In AMERICA, Coonts is working at the top of his talent. If you like plenty of action, a courageous lead, an ominous villian, some sexy women, and the continued existence of Western Civilization as we know it being on the line, you'll enjoy AMERICA too. U.S.S. America is the ultimate submarine. It vanishes in a hijacking on its maiden voyage, and Jake Grafton must find it. The book opens with satellite going missing, and that fact also plays into a plot that takes several unexpected twists and turns. This novel is also full of loads of technical scientific and engineering information, and it comes close to being the perfect techno-thriller.
Rating:
Summary: A Bang from the start!
Review: Ever since stumbling upon my first Steve Coonts book, I have always been eager for the next. When Hong Kong came out I bough it, and on the way home from the bookstore alone I had read three chapters.
Mr.Coonts continues his excellence in a story of a hijacked submarine. It is a bit strange to read now after the events of September, but still it is a good read. The action will make you want to do nothing but read untill you have read to the back flap. I highly recremend this novel to any serious military adventure readers!
Rating:
Summary: A great read.
Review: Grafton is back in this great adventure. Coonts wont let you down at all. I loved this book. It is as good as Undersiege. A truly great book. It's a great read. Loved every minute. A wonderful book. A fast-paced beginning, a wonderful middle and a great climax. Explosive to say the least.
Rating: 
Summary: A fantastic read
Review: I had a great time reading this book, I actually had trouble putting it down. My only complaint was the last couple of chapters; seemed like things really slowed down. I got the feeling Coonts was in a hurry to end this story.
Rating: 
Summary: More Ambitious
Review: I have not read all of this writer's work, however I did begin with his first, "Flight Of The Intruder", and have read the majority that have followed. There is no debate that Mr. Coonts has become better at his craft. This book has been atop the NYT Bestseller List for several weeks, not a place that pretenders achieve or remain at. In, "America", the Author has produced a more complex book with greater success than I have read previously. I enjoyed the book, however there were some tiresome issues.One of the technologies that are highlighted under the name of Flashlight also happens to be on the cover of a nationally distributed magazine at present. The article was fairly brief, but it did provide more detail about the technology than this book did. The Submarine Warfare aspects of the book were fairly well done, but "Red October" remains the standard. The sonar technology that was a key part of the subject boat was amazing, and was credibly portrayed. The manner by which the same boat became acquired caused me to have a hard time suspending disbelief. I just do not believe that type of incompetence would surround this vessel at launch. The following complaints are minor, however they do interrupt the flow of reading this tale. A thesaurus would help solve the repetition of words. I lost count of how many times, "it's toast", was used, but it and other words and short phrases needed to be edited. I also have trouble with names that are so bizarre they stop the reader in mid-sentence. Apollo Ice may be a great name for a professional wrestler, but it does not belong with Dr. in front of it. And when naming a German, using Kraut as the start of the last name is nothing other than weak, at worst it can be offensive, although I don't believe the Author meant to give offense at all. It may be a valid German name, but it reads as horribly contrived in a novel. The scope of the conspiracy was a bit of a stretch as well. Confining it to one of the events would have been workable; however laying all the complexity at one door was too much. In general the book felt as if it were rushed, and that would explain the repetitive language as well as some poor editing. I know this probably reads as if I really disliked the work. I do like the work of Mr. Coonts and he is one of the better practitioners of this genre writing at present. However I do believe it is fair to ask of him to be meticulous if his goal is to write detailed high tech thrillers. 3.5 Stars
Rating:
Summary: "America", by Stephen Coonts, deserves a different name.
Review: I have read, so far, one third of the book, and I have serious doubts, whether I'm going to make it to the end. The story has a good start, the plot is alluring, albeit improbable, but what's improbable in this date and age? What could and should have been a fast moving action, quagmires into never ending situations, involving characters with surprising, to say the least, names. Even the most dramatic and, yes, emotional situations are blotted with blattant inaccuracies that are the result, mostly, of poor research, or, when the research seems to have been good, of misinterpretation. I don't expect a tale fiction (but again, what's fiction nowadays) to be a model of technical accuracy, but still, e.g. "tweaking the [GPS] satellites's signals would fool the little black boxes". The little black boxes cannot be fooled, they will accurately reflect the tweaked signals, fooling the people who read or use those signals. One has to follow up on metaphores. I'm sorry if this review hurts some feelings, and I apologize if there are any typing errors. I wish the author success.
Rating:
Summary: good writing
Review: I like all Stephen Coonts' writings. It has adventure intrigue and holds one's interest all the way through. He is much like W. E. B. Griffin to me. That is a high compliment from me.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Force Yourself to Finish
Review: I really agree with everything the previous review wrote (Jon Davidson, August 8). It is rare that someone already wrote most of what I thought. The only difference is that I think the book is more in the range of 3 stars than 4. When I started reading this book, I had to check the copywrite date. I know I had seen and/or read the opening scene somewhere before, and more than once. A submarine is hi-jacked. That has been done a number of times before. Most recently in a movie about a German sub (U-571?) and earlier in a Steven Segal movie. And the action is always the same, shooting people coming up/down the ladder, trapping people in the hallway and capturing the crew in the bunks and mess. But, the book starts out strong as our hero (Jake Grafton from earlier Coonts books) plays detective and follows clues. The detective story is fairly strong. And there is a subplot with a burglar who turns into a spy that is very engaging. However, the detective story finally loses out when the sub starts launching missiles and causing catastrophic events. Ever since Tom Clancy nuked the Superbowl and blew up the Whitehouse, everyone has to go one better. Threat of disaster is no longer good enough. You have to have destroy something to show menace. The end really peters out, with the heroes and their wives on the Love Boat while America is being attacked. It is all handled like a light adventure, even after the wives are captured and about to be killed. What is even worse, is how Coonts tries to make the main Russian badguy and his partner as sympathetic, likeable characters. They have murdered tons of seamen and civilians, but you are supposed to like them because they took mercy on some other people. I am betting that they turn up in future books and eventually become good guys. In spite of the bad points, it is still interesting to read, especially in the beginning. It is certainly better than any of the latest Clancy books.
Rating:
Summary: Starts out strong but slowly loses its way
Review: I really agree with everything the previous review wrote (Jon Davidson, August 8). It is rare that someone already wrote most of what I thought. The only difference is that I think the book is more in the range of 3 stars than 4. When I started reading this book, I had to check the copywrite date. I know I had seen and/or read the opening scene somewhere before, and more than once. A submarine is hi-jacked. That has been done a number of times before. Most recently in a movie about a German sub (U-571?) and earlier in a Steven Segal movie. And the action is always the same, shooting people coming up/down the ladder, trapping people in the hallway and capturing the crew in the bunks and mess. But, the book starts out strong as our hero (Jake Grafton from earlier Coonts books) plays detective and follows clues. The detective story is fairly strong. And there is a subplot with a burglar who turns into a spy that is very engaging. However, the detective story finally loses out when the sub starts launching missiles and causing catastrophic events. Ever since Tom Clancy nuked the Superbowl and blew up the Whitehouse, everyone has to go one better. Threat of disaster is no longer good enough. You have to have destroy something to show menace. The end really peters out, with the heroes and their wives on the Love Boat while America is being attacked. It is all handled like a light adventure, even after the wives are captured and about to be killed. What is even worse, is how Coonts tries to make the main Russian badguy and his partner as sympathetic, likeable characters. They have murdered tons of seamen and civilians, but you are supposed to like them because they took mercy on some other people. I am betting that they turn up in future books and eventually become good guys. In spite of the bad points, it is still interesting to read, especially in the beginning. It is certainly better than any of the latest Clancy books.
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