Rating: 
Summary: Read a Game!
Review: Read a game? Yes! That's what Mr. Clancy wants the reader to
do in this book. He bases the work on the CD computer game,
patching together different scenarios to come up with a
novel. Be a part of SSN Cheyenne (that's the sub's name)and
start sinking submarines and ships single-handedly. If
Cheyenne were truly as effective as she is in the book-game,
then that justifies the budget cuts for the military.
You have one sub like her and you don't need any other!
In any case, if you like computer games and you're too lazy
to play one, read this book and "play" in your imagination
with no effort at all!
Rating: 
Summary: Fictional, Yet Realistic, Submarine Novel
Review: Just finished reading this book and can honestly say that it was an enjoyable and easy read.
China invades the Spratly Islands, a series of islands which several nations in the Pacific region have claimed, and the United States is drawn into the conflict when an American oil exploration rig is attacked and commandeered by the Chinese.
The book essentially follows the battles and actions of the crew - especially Captain Mackey - of the USS Cheyenne, a Los Angeles class nuclear submarine. The battles are fast-paced and the enemy is real, but it is definitely helpful if the reader has some knowledge and/or interest in warfare, specifically submarine warfare.
Obviously a work of fiction, but makes you really wonder how "make believe" this situation is in real life. I'm no naval/submarine expert, but would think that Cheyenne has a great deal of luck, even if the enemy is China and their relatively inferior navy.
Overall, a good read which I did enjoy. 4 stars out of 5
Rating: 
Summary: Rather disappointing
Review: A rather disappointing book from master writer Clancy, which resemples a "shoot-em up" game where all enemy submarines are easily killed by a US submarine, the USS "Cheyenne" in 15 unrealistic scenarios. The class 688I boat is able to sink more than 60 Chinese submarines with astonishing ease. Her torpedoes never fail while Chinese weapons always miss their target and fall victims to decoys or mulfanctions. Clancy would have made a better book if the Chinese were reacting defensively and didn't have such an outraging incompetence as to have a diesel electric submarine in a war zone with its snorckel not operating! I'm interested mainly in the tactics of underwater warfare and here Clancy gives only a few tips. a very one-sided and completely unrealistic fictional book where Americans do all the damage and Chinese play the role of the siting ducks.
Rating:
Summary: Best war story i have every read
Review: Tom Clancy says in the intro that this book is based on a computer game. This may explain why the book is so unrealistic in the fact that the Cheyenne is able to complete every mission without any hitches at all - it's like a computer game: you get 3 lives, after which you must press a button to get another 3 lives...While it might give you an insight into the various classes of submarines, it won't help your understanding of the Spratly Island conflict. Here's what the BBC has to say about the Spratly Islands: "War in the Spratlys ... would also put pressure on the US to intervene, as it has defence guarantees and treaties with a number of the claimants. It would be reluctant to do so.
In 1995 the US naval war college ran a series of computer war games simulating a conflict with China over the South China Sea. In every case Chinese forces won the day." So Tom Clancy's submarine wiping out the entire Chinese navy doesn't seem too realistic does it? Sorry Tom, only 1 star due to the lack of realism. If I wanted a shakedown on the different types of submarine available, I would have bought a guide to submarines rather than this poor excuse for a novel.
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