Rating: 
Summary: A great first novel in the "Top Gun" tradition
Review: Robert Gandt's first fictional book is very good, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books about "Brick" Maxwell, the U.S. Navy pilot who is the hero of "With Hostile Intent". I'm a sucker for techno-thrillers that focus on naval aviation, and Robert Gandt does a great job of writing about life on an aircraft carrier and what it's like to be a pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet.The story takes place in the Middle East, with the U.S. Navy (and U.S. and British Air Forces) enforcing the "no fly zone" over southern Iraq. The year is 2000, 10 years after Desert Storm but before the Iraq war in 2003, so Saddam Hussein is still in power and playing the role of super bad guy. The major conflicts in "With Hostile Intent" are, however, not the ones between the U.S. and Iraqi forces. Instead, we have several members of the U.S. forces who are so egotistical and ruthless that they provide the greatest threat to the "good guys". (I don't know how realistic this is - for the sake of the U.S. Navy I would hope that people like that would be weeded out very early in their naval career.) One of the things I liked best about this book were the descriptions of aerial dogfights between the F/A-18 Hornets and MiG-29 Fulcrums. Sidewinders are flying, high G turns being done to evade missiles, chaff and flares being ejected and there's lots of excited chatter between the pilots. "Fox two!" "Bandit on your six!" "Splash one!" Great stuff for us armchair warriors! So why the lack of a fifth star? Mostly because the plot is a bit too contrived and thus not very plausible. In order to maximize the conflict between "Brick" Maxwell and "Killer" DeLancey it's necessary for Brick to refuse to reveal something he knows about Killer, but without a reasonable ground for this refusal. Then at the end of the book there's an even more contrived situation, which I'll refrain from talking about here. Also, the characterizations of the people in the book are rather "wooden", especially in the first part of the book.
Still, I'm definitely looking forward to following "Brick" Maxwell in his further adventures, as chronicled by Robert Gandt. Rennie Petersen
Rating:
Summary: A great first novel in the "Top Gun" tradition
Review: Robert Gandt's first fictional book is very good, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books about "Brick" Maxwell, the U.S. Navy pilot who is the hero of "With Hostile Intent". I'm a sucker for techno-thrillers that focus on naval aviation, and Robert Gandt does a great job of writing about life on an aircraft carrier and what it's like to be a pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet. The story takes place in the Middle East, with the U.S. Navy (and U.S. and British Air Forces) enforcing the "no fly zone" over southern Iraq. The year is 2000, 10 years after Desert Storm but before the Iraq war in 2003, so Saddam Hussein is still in power and playing the role of super bad guy. The major conflicts in "With Hostile Intent" are, however, not the ones between the U.S. and Iraqi forces. Instead, we have several members of the U.S. forces who are so egotistical and ruthless that they provide the greatest threat to the "good guys". (I don't know how realistic this is - for the sake of the U.S. Navy I would hope that people like that would be weeded out very early in their naval career.) One of the things I liked best about this book were the descriptions of aerial dogfights between the F/A-18 Hornets and MiG-29 Fulcrums. Sidewinders are flying, high G turns being done to evade missiles, chaff and flares being ejected and there's lots of excited chatter between the pilots. "Fox two!" "Bandit on your six!" "Splash one!" Great stuff for us armchair warriors! So why the lack of a fifth star? Mostly because the plot is a bit too contrived and thus not very plausible. In order to maximize the conflict between "Brick" Maxwell and "Killer" DeLancey it's necessary for Brick to refuse to reveal something he knows about Killer, but without a reasonable ground for this refusal. Then at the end of the book there's an even more contrived situation, which I'll refrain from talking about here. Also, the characterizations of the people in the book are rather "wooden", especially in the first part of the book.
Still, I'm definitely looking forward to following "Brick" Maxwell in his further adventures, as chronicled by Robert Gandt. Rennie Petersen
Rating: 
Summary: Be prepared to read this book all in one sitting
Review: Robert Gandt's new book "With Hostile Intent" is all I hoped it would be .. and more. It is definitely hard to put down. I found myself rereading passages after minor interruptions just to be sure I didn't miss anything. His characters are most believable and I felt as though I was there. If you are at all interested in aviation you will like this book. If recent events make you curious about what life is like for a fighter pilot, you must read this book. It is enlightening and entertaining.. enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Be prepared to read this book all in one sitting
Review: Robert Gandt's new book "With Hostile Intent" is all I hoped it would be .. and more. It is definitely hard to put down. I found myself rereading passages after minor interruptions just to be sure I didn't miss anything. His characters are most believable and I felt as though I was there. If you are at all interested in aviation you will like this book. If recent events make you curious about what life is like for a fighter pilot, you must read this book. It is enlightening and entertaining.. enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: this is the real Rules of Engagement
Review: The book is riveting - I couldn't put it down. It puts you in the cockpit of the most advanced war plane in the world. The book should come with a supply of Xanax due to the stress of the situations and aerial combat. Well written and very timely (seen the news lately??) I can't wait for more. . .
Rating:
Summary: ACTION PACKED!
Review: With the ease of a former fighter pilot and the style of a Hemmingway, Gandt takes his readers into the cockpit, across the forbidden land and, yes, even into the bedroom of the brave men and women who patrol the 33rd parallel. The book captures the very soul of aerial combat and is an absorbing read for anyone who treasures the excitement of aviation.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read! Highly recommended for all lovers of aviation!
Review: Wow! After reading all of Gandt's previous non-fiction works, I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was releasing a novel to complement his preceding books. This book is set aboard the United States Navy aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ronald Regan. Tensions are high after an Iraqi Mig-29 is splashed by an F/A-18E Super Hornet while approaching the no-fly zone. The Mig-29 pilot just happens to be the nephew of an infamous tyrannical leader......and the battle is just about to begin. Enter the lead character "Brick" Maxwell. Brick is privy to certain information about the engagement that the United States Government would rather remain unknown. His commanding officer, "Killer" Delancey is somewhat of a loose cannon when under pressure, and will do damn near anything to become the first "Ace" since Vietnam. Without ruining the rest of the book, lets just say that it is quite action packed, with great character development, and real-world fighter pilot tactics. Pilots and non-pilots alike will appreciate the exceptional authenticity that can only be provided by an experienced Pilot (30,000+ hours of flight time, 300+ carrier landings, trained F/A-18 pilot, aerobatic pilot, and retired Airline Captain) like Gandt. In the words of another reviewer, Gandt also happens to possess the "...pen of a poet". I absolutely can't wait to read the next "Brick" Maxwell adventure!
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