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Summary: Sharkman Six--great realistic novel
Review: I'm unsure of the reasoning behind the claim to a lack of reality by other reviewers. I served as a Marine in Somalia, and this represents my experience much more than does Blackhawk Down (which I also enjoyed!) Owen West has hit the nail on the head, and supplies us with entertainment as well as a look at the qualities that the Corps holds most dear.
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Summary: How Recon Marines Fight
Review: Marine Recon are the special of the special troops, only they would never use the word special. We hear little about them, except how skilled they are. This author obviously knows them as one of their leaders. Since he has been up at 28,000 feet, he may be traveling to a far land even as we read his book. It's quite a tale he tells, about a savage land where there are no rules for the other side and too many rules holding back the recon Marines. When they are finally turned loose, it's not an even fight. The combat is real, the dialogue fresh and salty. You know you are listening to young Marines, with their own slang, their own way of carrying on Marine traditions. The tone has an edge to it. Humor and pathos, eventually tradgedy, intermingle. You laugh out loud at what those Marines do when given an inch, and then you see them go the final mile for each other, without a second thought. And you think, could I do that in that situation? And the answer is no, but I'm glad Marines can do it.
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Summary: Mogadishu meets Oakland...
Review: Mr. West's debut novel begins with some very engaging depictions of men going into battle. Well, not battle exactly, but a dangerous situation--namely Mogadishu in late 1992, at the beginning of "Operation Restore Hope." West's hero, Lt. Gavin Kelly, is the leader of an elite unit of Marines. He served in the Gulf War the year before but still considers himself a rookie. He is unsure of his leadership abilities, and the unusual nature of this mission--one of those "operations other than war--doesn't boost his confidence. In "SHARKMAN SIX" we get a rare glimpse of the many kinds of situations when leaders of men at arms must make some tough decisions. While Lt. Kelly is the ranking officer in his unit, he is less experienced, in some cases younger and even physically smaller than those under his command. To complicate matters further, the Marines he's supposed to be in charge of include some very independent, headstrong individuals, one of whom does something at the outset of the mission that may jeopardize the rest of Kelly's service. As the Somalia mission draws out for weeks and months, Kelly and his men find themselves in an increasingly ridiculous position, witnessing brutality all around them but hamstrung by their rules of engagement. Tension mounts, and the story seems to be coming to a head. But "SHARKMAN SIX" reminds me of what somebody once said about Oakland: you get there, and there's no there there. The careful buildup of events, the painstaking characterization of Kelly, all fall away in the rush for the chaotic battle sequence seemingly written for Hollywood. This is followed by an ending that manages to tie together all the loose ends much too neatly. On top of it all, West imposes a character conflict ("hero comes to grips with his troubled relationship with his father") that is neither subtle nor necessary. The conclusion may be disappointing but West's novel is still worth reading. His insights into the human mind and the difficulties of command will stay with you long after you've forgotten the more contrived and silly aspects of the plot.
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Summary: Great read if you are into modern military fiction
Review: No slowdown. West keeps the story moving with action and an involved plot. If you liked Blackhawk Down, you will enjoy this fictional account of Marines' involvement in Somalia.
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Summary: Sharkman Six
Review: Owen West does an excellent job in describing the challenges and confusion Marines faced in the missions of the early 90's. He also does a terrific job in giving the average person insight into the minds of young Marines. This is an excellent book!
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Summary: Adventure Seeking Readers meet Owen West
Review: Owen West possesses a talent to draw in readers at beginning of Shark Man Six and never let go! The action and suspense is riveting and the reality of the content is unsurpassed by even the most popular novelists of similar books. The adventures of Gavin Kelly in a realistic military situation are compelling. The book makes one think about the operations and struggles the military faces when confronting controversial circumstances involving other nations. West naturally uses his marine background and eco-challenge experiences to tie together a well-bound novel appropriate for adventure seeking readers.
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Summary: The Real Story....
Review: Owen West really captures the intensity of a serious situation. I found the book easy to follow as well. Most writers can't achieve this sort of writing. Owen has shown his talent in this area. I look forward to more books from this author.
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Summary: Not your average military shoot 'em up novel
Review: Owen West's Sharkman Six follows a Marine platoon commander during his team's participation in America's ill-fated Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. What's intended to be a simple humanitarian mission starts bad, and gets worse. From Lieutenant Kelly's surreal arrival on the beach in Somalia--with US network news crews in attendance--to the stunning finish, this story alternates between scenes of heartbreaking violence, black humor and poignant flashbacks. It's also a lesson on how military forces should NOT be employed. More than a simple techno-thriller, this book is a wonderful character study of a man already questioning his own abilities who has those abilities tested to the fullest.
Rating:
Summary: Not your average military shoot 'em up novel
Review: Owen West's Sharkman Six follows a Marine platoon commander during his team's participation in America's ill-fated Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. What's intended to be a simple humanitarian mission starts bad, and gets worse. From Lieutenant Kelly's surreal arrival on the beach in Somalia--with US network news crews in attendance--to the stunning finish, this story alternates between scenes of heartbreaking violence, black humor and poignant flashbacks. It's also a lesson on how military forces should NOT be employed. More than a simple techno-thriller, this book is a wonderful character study of a man already questioning his own abilities who has those abilities tested to the fullest.
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Summary: Owen West writes a winner. Read this novel!
Review: Sharkman Six, by former Marine Corps officer Owen West, is a fine new novel that I recommend enthusiastically! This is an action-adventure morality tale of military and political history and current events (yes, it is all of that). Military folks will enjoy it, but so will people who want to know more about how things "go down in the heat of the moment", as will those of you who wonder what it's like to be in a war, or in a humanitarian relief effort, or inside the head of a very conflicted protagonist... or even all of those simultaneously. West describes a fictional Marine Recon platoon's action in Somalia during late-1992 and early-1993. In real life, "Operation Restore Hope" was one of noble intentions that is thought by many to have been taken on by the wrong people in the wrong manner, and it had some disastrous results. Sending trained warriors--the best in the world--to feed the starving who were then getting robbed and murdered by their own people for the handouts just received... and handcuffing the would-be saviors with Rules of Engagement that often prevented the military from protecting the famine victims and even themselves... It happened. It may again. This novel shows us what it must be like to experience it. It makes us think about why it happened and how to do it right the next time... or to avoid it entirely. West's debut novel is a home run!
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