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Rating: 
Summary: Now this is a Sea Story!
Review: It was called the Cold War, but it occasionally turned hot in the sometimes deadly hide-and-seek played by American and Soviet submarines. "Crazy Ivan" offers a true, riveting, you-can-smell-the-fear account of courageous submarine espionage told from the gritty perspective of an enlisted man. It is the gripping first-person story of W. Craig Reed, a decorated submariner, espionage photographer, and Navy diver. The author was assisted by his father, William Reed, a retired Naval Intelligence officer who also is a Cold War veteran. W. C. Reed makes complex technical details easy to read and understand. One doesn't have to be an ex-submariner to comprehend this sea story. Fans of thrillers and history shouldn't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Now this is a Sea Story!
Review: It was called the Cold War, but it occasionally turned hot in the sometimes deadly hide-and-seek played by American and Soviet submarines. "Crazy Ivan" offers a true, riveting, you-can-smell-the-fear account of courageous submarine espionage told from the gritty perspective of an enlisted man. It is the gripping first-person story of W. Craig Reed, a decorated submariner, espionage photographer, and Navy diver. The author was assisted by his father, William Reed, a retired Naval Intelligence officer who also is a Cold War veteran. W. C. Reed makes complex technical details easy to read and understand. One doesn't have to be an ex-submariner to comprehend this sea story. Fans of thrillers and history shouldn't miss it.
Rating: 
Summary: Been there, done that
Review: Often times authors attempt to create characters over a period of time for the reader to identify with and Clancy's "Ryan" is a perfect example of such an effort. But, what if you were the "character" and you were able to literally "listen in" and/or peek inside the personal diary of someone who actually lived this life? Bill Reed's, aka "Boatman", Crazy Ivan is a great read and one where I felt more in synch with because this story did represent some real world experiences this individual found himself involved. Even the sheer fact of enlisting was more by accident then deliberate and to tell these stories in such a context to real-world events was fascinating. I found myself wondering what else is happening, even today, that for most part many of us will never know. I give thanks more and more each day to those who serve in the armed forces for our country and Reed's book here illustrates how many of us take their actions for granted. I would have rated this a 5 star if the book had been longer....
Rating:
Summary: Ah, the memories!
Review: The Crazy Ivan concept and story line are communicated effectively. The introduction accurately informs readers of the biographical nature of the story. The author's writing style is very effectively communicated. The factual nature of writing lends great authenticity to what is being told. With regard to mechanics, this is one of the best books I've had the privilege of reading. The author has a very good command of the English language, grammar and spelling. As a retired Navy Master Chief (1973) I found this story quite fascinating and very factual. Early on when the author describes an incident with a wharf rat and his 45, I was taken back to a similar embarrassing incident in 1956 while standing PO of the watch aboard ship in Pearl. From that point on, the book just became more and more interesting. Another bit of nostalgia involves the USS Parche to which the author was ordered in 1980. The original USS Parche was a Navy Reserve training submarine located in Alameda, CA during the late 50s and early 60s. The skipper at that time was a good friend, an academy football player and now retired Admiral. Enough reminiscing, I really enjoyed Crazy Ivan.
Rating: 
Summary: Crazy Ivan - Not even a good read
Review: There are so many errors in this book, 1000 words are not enough. At times I wondered if the author had even been on a submarine. It appears to me as if the author took a lot of information from various sources and attempted to put himself in the middle of the action.
Rating: 
Summary: Crazy Ivan, Lazy Writer
Review: This is an exasperating book. Author Craig Reed gives the reader just enough details to keep him on the hook, then glosses over other incidents and examples from his career that would have made this book a much bettter read. Rather than tell the whole story, he cuts seeminly at random from anecdote to anecdote. Towards the end of the book, Reed has left the Navy after an "incident" he was "inadvertently drawn into, which resulted in Captain's mast [discipline]...one that I was eventually cleared of." Well, what happened, Craig? First you've left the Navy, and one chapter later, you're back in, on a better boat, on another spy mission -- what happened in the interim? It's this sort of material that would have given the reader a better look at Navy life, instead of one painted with broad brush strokes. For a more balanced and far more readable look at submarine life, I recommend Andrew Karam's "Rig Ship for Ultra-Quiet." Reed may be a brave and patriotic Navy diver, but he still could have benefited from a better editor.
Rating:
Summary: Crazy Ivan, Lazy Writer
Review: This is an exasperating book. Author Craig Reed gives the reader just enough details to keep him on the hook, then glosses over other incidents and examples from his career that would have made this book a much bettter read. Rather than tell the whole story, he cuts seeminly at random from anecdote to anecdote. Towards the end of the book, Reed has left the Navy after an "incident" he was "inadvertently drawn into, which resulted in Captain's mast [discipline]...one that I was eventually cleared of." Well, what happened, Craig? First you've left the Navy, and one chapter later, you're back in, on a better boat, on another spy mission -- what happened in the interim? It's this sort of material that would have given the reader a better look at Navy life, instead of one painted with broad brush strokes. For a more balanced and far more readable look at submarine life, I recommend Andrew Karam's "Rig Ship for Ultra-Quiet." Reed may be a brave and patriotic Navy diver, but he still could have benefited from a better editor.
Rating:
Summary: Crazy Ivan
Review: Today, I was privileged to read 15 pages of CRAZY IVAN. BTW, before I get started - ONLY ENLISTED PEOPLE TOOK OATH OF SILENCE. OFFICERS DID NOT!OKAY! Publishers are responsible for a book release containing everything specified in a book. Try writing a book before you spit all over your fellow fighting man. In my opinion what I've read is important to history. This nation, as well as others, have a need to know! THIRTEEN DAYS is good book, but NOW I understand the delays of JFK in Cuban Missile Crises. My brother was in the USAFSS and there's a chance he participated in NSG,London, and Karamursel 1960. Sign your name and where you're from if you are going to BADMOUTH what happened as PURE HISTORY, and WHY you are alive to do it,jellyfish!Shame on you for degrading these two fine gentlemen, who do NOT MAKE MUCH MONEY writing books. The Authors don't get many pennies, it's the Literary Consultants and Agents, like me, who do, if they work hard enough. Better do your research before thinking with your feet -- and remember to take off your socks. Thank God this isn't the Civil War -- why with negativity like some of you have written -- well, I'd never have known I'm related to Robert E. Lee -- and me, a northerner.
Father and son -- Reed and Reed, I commend you with a JOB WELL DONE. Now get those photos in there and you'll be fine. Trish (Noland) Schiesser.
Rating: 
Summary: too hard to swallow
Review: W. Craig Reed needs to be veted out. I question many of the "facts" he speaks of. A submarine SCUBA diver getting closed circuit training, going along on a gas dive, riding in an SDV...come on! No Master Diver on his worst day would allow any of that to happen. His submarine details are marginal at best...it's STS! And, it's periscope photography school!
The book's a fair read as a fictional adventure, but ask any real Navy diver and he or she will say BS!
STS1 (SS/DV) 1982-95
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