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Barracuda Final Bearing

Barracuda Final Bearing

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $6.29
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 0 stars
Summary: "Barracuda Final Bearing" -- the most intense novel yet.
Review: "Barracuda: Final Bearing" was the most intense of all my novels, both in writing and rereading. Pacino is now in command of the Unified Submarine Command and faced with a no-win mission against a superbly armed and motivated adversary. The reader will be at the center of the action, from the conn standing periscope watch to the admiral's stateroom. Don't miss this one. Read this one first, and if you like it, please read "Phoenix Sub Zero," "Attack of the Seawolf," and "Voyage of the Devilfish." I promise you won't be disappointed. And coming soon, "Piranha: Firing Point" will be published -- and "Piranha" is not to be missed...And please visit USSDevilfish.com to see coming developments and news.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Threat Vector
Review: After reading "Attack of Seawolf", I found myself hooked on DiMercurio and have since read all his books. The stories though fiction, have an air of reality that keeps you from wanting to put the book down. "Threat Vector" was no different. And, with the end left in limbo, I cannot wait for his next book. As someone who doesn't read very often, DiMercurio has definitely got me, hook, line and sinker.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Threat Vector
Review: After reading "Attack of Seawolf", I found myself hooked on DiMercurio and have since read all his books. The stories though fiction, have an air of reality that keeps you from wanting to put the book down. "Threat Vector" was no different. And, with the end left in limbo, I cannot wait for his next book. As someone who doesn't read very often, DiMercurio has definitely got me, hook, line and sinker.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Who else hates the U.S.?
Review: Besides the Japanese sub commander? Boy, he really had it in for us. Reminds me of the hatred of some fundamentalist Muslims toward the U.S.

But hey, how about those computer-controlled subs of the Japanese? Pretty good idea? There were a lot of good ideas here, and much to learn for novices like me. The story line does jump around a lot, making it a little hard to keep up with who's who in the sub world, but I've read much worse. For the most part, this author keeps things together, at least by segregating the crews by their respective subs.

One thing that bothered me, and also scared me, was how much further advanced the Japanese subs were than ours. And, that considered, why would Pacino literally sacrifice most of his sub force, and some carriers, knowing that the Japanese could deflect our torpedoes and even take a few hits without going down? That part seemed a little far-fetched.

I really liked the idea of a female president. It seems like a gimmick now but it's coming, and the sooner the better. Diximus.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bad science ultimately takes the teeth out of Barracuda.
Review: DiMercurio's Barracuda attempts to follow in the vein of Clancy and Bond but poor research and improbable science ultimately sink his ship.

An attempted naval blockade of Japan by the U.S. provides the backdrop for this high tech novel of sub vs. sub combat. For a techno-thriller to be truely effective, however, it must combine excitement with accurate technical details and it is in this last area things go badly awry. When attacked by dogs, an infiltrator uses a nerve gas, "... active only on animals, not humans..." to kill them in mid jump. Fast acting indeed. Also, since when did humans stop being animals? To eliminate some hostile nuclear weapons, the Japanese contaminate them with a plutonium "glue". Yes, as stated in the book, plutonium has one of the smallest lethal doses of any substance. But this is for lingering death. This wouldn't prevent someone from launching the missiles and facing the consequences. Ten fifty foot solid fuel rockets are taken from a moth-balled R&D program, attached to a submarine in days, and of course, not only work perfectly every time but save the day for the U.S. fleet. These rockets carry seven tons of "PlasticPac" high explosives capable of killing subs 2 miles from the blast, a somewhat greater distance than the nuclear depth charges of the 1950's could kill the less capable subs of that era. These are just some of the distracting technical details that mar this book. Without these faults the novel might rate a 6 at best being simplistic and without the tension or detail of an early Clancy novel

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Match bearings and fire, an excellent technical winner
Review: I've had many novels about subsurface combat and undersea naval warfare pass through my hands. Few have been as technically accurate and as true to the logic of naval strategy as this one. While some of the weapon systems are beyond modern technology, the fundamental thrust and parries of undersea warfare were a joy to behold. I especially enjoyed seeing the humour that abounds within the submarine community, but is often omitted in other novels, being represented. I will certainly seek out his other works to see if they hold true to the same rich characters and high technical content.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "Barracuda" Great Read
Review: If you like techno-thriller military stories, then this book would get you interested. Unfortunately after reading the last page, you feel like you wasted your time. Definately no Payne Harrison or Tom Clancy.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Good Story Idea, bad storyteller
Review: If you like techno-thriller military stories, then this book would get you interested. Unfortunately after reading the last page, you feel like you wasted your time. Definately no Payne Harrison or Tom Clancy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tops Clancy
Review: Loved this book! I like techo thrillers that are realistic, "hard" type sci fi, and Dimercurio's Barracuda Final Bearing is on target (almost a pun, but non intended). If you like Clancy you'll love this book...but what you'll like even better about DeMercurio over Clancy is this author is more economical with words, shoots cleanly at the goal of keeping you in page turning suspense as he thrills you (certainly thrilled me) with a simple but very real and frighteningly possible outcome. Clancy has gotten too wordy (for me) and forget those collaborative "Net Force" books. Not good, shame on you T.C. DeMurcurio seems to keep in mind - for the reader's benefit -what Clancy seems to have lost. Don't get me wrong, I still admire Clancy's plots and work; he's had some great, classic stuff. "Hunt for Red October" was perhaps one of the best submarine thrillers ever but see if you don't agree: I think DeMercurio might have surpassed Clancy's "Red October" classic on this one. Am now anxious to read this author's newest: "Threat Vector," about a cruise ship and a sub. Try this guy. You'll love the way he plots and writes. Funny Hollywood hasn't picked up a couple of these. In my opinion, they're "missing the boat," again: no pun intended. Barracuda Final Bearing would be an excellent movie if they can make it half as good as the book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tops Clancy
Review: Loved this book! I like techo thrillers that are realistic, "hard" type sci fi, and Dimercurio's Barracuda Final Bearing is on target (almost a pun, but non intended). If you like Clancy you'll love this book...but what you'll like even better about DeMercurio over Clancy is this author is more economical with words, shoots cleanly at the goal of keeping you in page turning suspense as he thrills you (certainly thrilled me) with a simple but very real and frighteningly possible outcome. Clancy has gotten too wordy (for me) and forget those collaborative "Net Force" books. Not good, shame on you T.C. DeMurcurio seems to keep in mind - for the reader's benefit -what Clancy seems to have lost. Don't get me wrong, I still admire Clancy's plots and work; he's had some great, classic stuff. "Hunt for Red October" was perhaps one of the best submarine thrillers ever but see if you don't agree: I think DeMercurio might have surpassed Clancy's "Red October" classic on this one. Am now anxious to read this author's newest: "Threat Vector," about a cruise ship and a sub. Try this guy. You'll love the way he plots and writes. Funny Hollywood hasn't picked up a couple of these. In my opinion, they're "missing the boat," again: no pun intended. Barracuda Final Bearing would be an excellent movie if they can make it half as good as the book.


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