Rating: 
Summary: The Original Undersea Thriller
Review: This is the best example of WWII undersea adventure ever written. More compelling and believable than anything I have ever read, the writing takes the reader into the minds, souls, and terror of the crew of a submarine at war. You will come to understand them, the function of a conventional submarine and the perils and terrors of warfare.Predating the Tom Clancy novels and later offerings in this genre, Captain Beach fills each page with excitement, humanity and the apprehension of battle only a warrior can depict accurately. A must read for undersea warfare buffs, you will learn much about the tactics of current day submariners and glean where many of today's writers of this category of literature originated their styles and interest in undersea warfare. From beginning to climatic end, this is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Page turner!
Review: Upon reading this book, I found it impossible to igonore the cliches. Of course, this book set the standard, and I'm sure in 1967, this was cutting edge. I am reminded of a screening of Casablanca that a friend and I went to, where we started counting lines/situations that have since become cliches. We gave up at 14 as I recall, and that was only an hour into the movie. This book suffers the same problem, being too much imitated that once you've seen/read Das Boot, Ice Station Zebra, and Red October, it seems like old hat. Further, does anyone else find the romantic subplot stupid? Does anyone else find the rah rah attitudes grating? Okay, I've heard that real submariners are difficult people to get along with, but the characters seem so one-dimensional. I can't give this book the ringing endorsement given it by others, I'm afraid. Again, it may be the fact that it's been ripped off too many time, but when laid alongside other submarine books, it doesn't stack up for me. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt with 3 stars. My head wants to give it 2.
| 
