Rating: 
Summary: The new STANDARD for all future Sub techno-thrillers
Review: I've been a long-time fan of Mr. Hagberg and I've been patiently waiting for him to give us another fast-paced submarine thriller, mostly because he just does them so well, and my patience has finally paid off with the grand slam 'By Dawn's Early Light'. Although not bogged down with a virtual encyclopedia of unnecessary techno-babble which you can find in basically all of Clancy's novels, this story is told on several different fronts -- and believe me it M-O-V-E-S. Things begin in the Bay of Bengal when a scientific research ship spots a submarine firing a green light towards space. Unfortunately spotting this suddenly makes them an endangered species as the sub immediately opens fire on them killing all aboard but one, who is taken hostage to Pakistan. This green light turns out to be a sophisticated laser which knocks out the optics in an American Jupiter Satellite -- the third such incident, forcing the military to accept one cold hard fact: this was NOT an accident. What is happening in that part of the world that someone doesn't want to be seen? At the same time a small group of Navy SEALs have infiltrated a test ground inside Pakistan, where they witness first hand the test-firing of their newest little toy: a city busting thermonuclear explosion. Suddenly the tiny fuse which threatens to detonate all of the middle east becomes even shorter still. Also we learn of a well-placed spy in the highest levels of the American Military who seems to be indiscriminately selling off VERY valuable info to the highest bidder, who at the moment seems to be Pakistan. Before long the group of SEALs are betrayed and captured and eventually tortured in unspeakable ways. The Navy's newest, quietest and deadliest sub, the Seawolf is called back on assignment even before it truly begins to assist in a mission to rescue the captured SEALs, and while the Shuttle is in orbit preparing to repair the Jupiter Satellite, run cover and stop the rogue submarine from causing further damage. One thing the Pakistani's do NOT know is that among the captured SEALs is the Presidents own brother. Nothing is held back in the attempt to rescue the soldiers -- but that nasty spy is handing over critical information which makes any kind of a rescue a virtual death sentence on the SEALs. All the while the Pakistani's are planning on deploying their new Hydrogen bombs on their Indian neighbors thus throwing a match into the powder-keg that is the middle east. The relations between India & Pakistan have never been all that good, but lately they get along about as good as Israel and the rest of the Arab world. All either of them are looking for is an excuse to do something drastic, and with the threat of thermonuclear destruction, India just might be frightened enough to jump the gun with a perilous atomic first strike on Pakistan. The United States cannot allow this to happen, but de-fusing this situation is neither simple, nor even necessarily possible due to the current situation in the region. Let's just say that despite the relatively short length, Hagberg gives us a fantastic tale of WHAT IF -- one that I fervently hope does NOT come to pass. The end of the story leaves us hanging in several areas least of which is WHO is this spy in our military? We NEVER find out -- which I have to admit WAS frustrating, but on the upside, it certainly provides us with the knowledge that Hagberg will be penning a sequel here in the not-too-distant future -- or at least I HOPE SO. Quite possibly Hagbergs most all-out entertaining novel to date, 'By Dawn's Early Light' is seriously one of the best Sub techno-thrillers out there today and VERY MUCH worth the time and money.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for submarine action fans
Review: This ranks right up there with Patrick Robinson's "Kilo Class" & "HMS Unseen" for thrilling submarine action. The characters are easy to cheer for, and believe. Hagberg has done his homework on the technology and its use, and has put together a tale that's impossible to to take a break from. I want more like this. 5 Stars!
Rating: 
Summary: Top Notch Hagberg
Review: This was a most enjoyable read. Lot's of quick paced excitement. Four man CIA team on a mission to get information on a nuclear test end up being captured by Pakistani's. Navy Seal team attempts to rescue them. US submarine Seawolf has much excitement as it prevails over North Korean and Chinese craft. The only thing missing was the capture of the enemy spy who was highly placed in the U.S. government and kept tipping them off to the above mentioned plans.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmm..
Review: Well, I should start out by pointing out that I'm Pakistani, so this book kinda wound me the wrong way. It's pretty much in the pattern of techno-thrillers of this sort, with Yankee pluck and firepower prevailing over the evil hordes.. whichever hordes they may be. In this case, not only is there Pakistan, but also forces from Iran, the DPRK and China get thrown into the meat grinder.. and a few renegade Russians to round things off, heck. As always, the villains are motivated by the urge to destroy and kill women and civilians with no regard for life, while there is much self-righteous dialogue betwixt the heroes on just how-darn-*bad* the bad guys are. The conference by the Pakistani High Command ('Lets throw a hydrogen bomb here.. and here.. and here... and, oooo, how about here!')only makes any sort of sense if you've decided that these characters are lunatics, plain and simple. Little in this book convinces me of any research into Pakistan by the author, apart from putting in the right name of the current President, Musharraf. Interestingly, though the use of Musharrafs name implies a very 'now' setting for the book, none of the other Pakistani high command or leadership are current. Then again, hardly any of the supposedly Pakistani names sound.. well, Pakistani. Adding to what one could consider basic research issues, he identifies Pakistans CCC as being at Chaklala, rather than Rawalpindi. Oh, and Mr Hagberg... you may be interested in knowing that in Pakistan, unlike the US, the Rangers are paramilitary, border-patrol type units - the Special Forces are the Special Services Group (SSG). It's almost amusing to read about the 'elite Pakistani Rangers' with night vision goggles, black Special-Force uniforms etc. Little niggles like that abound. And to think, this is while Pakistan is a US ally! I shudder to think of what Mr Hagberg has written of countries that are actually US enemies!
| 
