Rating: 
Summary: The End of an Era
Review: Well, it's the end of an era, similar to the death of Adm. James Greer in Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger. A controversial event involving foriegners has compromised and corrupted the President. When the USS Seawolf was captured by the Chinese with the President's only son on board, he only wanted Linus back. Adm. Arnold Morgan, his NSA, tried to get him back, and eventually did, with Canton naval yard ending up like Chernobyl thanks to a Paveway LGB, the SEALs, and an F/A-18 Hornet. However, the president wanted no harm to come to Linus. He blocked a court martial of his sons involvment in the capture of Seawolf, although it was Linus who got the crew caught. So, when he did that, Morgan resigned, and so did the CNO and CINCPAC. The CO of Seawolf ended up commiting suicide, and the CO's father, a retired Admiral, ended up writing a book on the incident.
Rating:
Summary: Action, Action, Action
Review: It is not WAR AND PEACE, but it certainly has the WAR part down. If you want a truly "believable" story, then I would suggest the non-fiction section. The story makes a lot of assumptions and has the right things happen at the right time, but it is action packed and it keeps you turning the page. A great summer/airplane read. The ending was a bit of a downer, but that never happens in real life, right.....
Rating: 
Summary: VERY Disappointing -- Patrick Robinson is losing his touch
Review: Let me be clear: I am a fan of Patrick Robinson. Nimitz Class and HMS Unseen were wonderful novels.Unfortunately, USS Seawolf does NOT even come close to his previous quality of novels. First, characters are overly simplistic and, to a large extent, needlessly racist. The author's constant derogatory remarks regarding the Chinese was EXTREMELY offensive and did not serve the story. Second, the ending was awful. The story did nothing to allude to the sudden abrupt change in character. Third, the book was highly predictable (with the noted exception of the ending, which did not follow any sense of logic). Overall, this was a disappointment. If you have not read his previous books, spend your money on those instead, and forget all about USS Seawolf.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly written novel, but wrong premise (sub)
Review: This book by Robinson is brilliantly written. Robinson is a gifted writer and really deserves a Pulitzer Prize for this piece. I certainly hope it becomes a number one best seller, which I am sure that it will. He captures human events like a great writer. He describes the "Shark Tank" of Washington very well. The racial slurs are very painful to me, as I am married to an oriental lady. However, there are many racists, and unfortunately in government. Admiral Morgan's behavior in not only this book, but also the last three, is reprehensible with his racial slurs and locker room manners. I wouldn't be surprised if he represents a segment of government. Many books and films about the military fail to show the extreme hatred generated by combat, which Morgan no doubt exhibits. Ironically, I would be very embarrassed to give this book to my Chinese friends to read, as it really hits them hard. Of course the Chinese in the book were not always flattering toward the Americans, but they couldn't compare with Morgan. An author, who accurately portrays a character, such as Morgan, often is accused of acquiesce. I think it is appropriate to quote Mohandas Gandhi, "It has always been a mystery to me how people can be honored at the humiliation of their fellow beings." I can't say the book is excellent, because excellent implies there cannot be any improvement. The real down fall of the book is that by 2005-2006 the Seawolf will not be the latest attack submarine of the U.S. Navy. The new attack submarine will be the U.S.S. Virginia class boat THAT IS DESIGNED FOR SHALLOW COASTAL WATERS. The Virginia class will use a digital video camera that has higher resolution than the human eye in the periscope - that's right, the Virginia will not have a periscope. It will have computing power greater than the 65 Los Angeles and Seawolf class subs combined. It will be modular constructed - with each sub constructed with different modules customized for each mission. It will also be designed to carry Navy Seals and an advanced mini sub. The Seawolf is a deep-water sub that is designed to combat Soviet subs and can dive deeper and is faster than the Virginia Class, and break through the polar ice cap, which the Virginia is incapable. However, those advantages are no longer as important in the post-Cold War era. This is where the book falls short - lack of technical research. Robinson got it right about the waters being shallow, but he had the boys in the wrong sub. The Virginia is scheduled for launching in 2004, before the 2005-2006 time frame of the book. It is no secret - it has been on the front cover of popular magazines and is all over the web. It would have completely changed the story in the book. The critical mistake make by Clarke with the periscope wouldn't have happened in the Virginia. However, regardless of the weapon system, none of them are idiot-proof, which is exactly what Clarke was, an idiot. A very well done job Patrick!
Rating: 
Summary: A big Disappointment
Review: The book has good pace and narrative drive. The only problem is that the charactors of the XO and the President are totally out of wack. The big secret regarding the XO is completely unbelivable as is the crew's ignorance of his true identity. De facto President Morgan rants and raves so much it is irritating. I enjoyed his previous work but when a plot hole is as big as this is annoying. As others have said, the characterizations are cardboard and Robinson editorializes too much.
Rating: 
Summary: U.S.S. Seawolf
Review: This book gives Clancy a run for his money; Robinson knows what he's talking about, but doesn't bore you with facts. He's got an engrossing and convincing plotline, memorable and believable characters, and a suprise ending which I never saw coming.
Rating:
Summary: Kaboom! Explosive text!
Review: This was without a doubt my favorite P.Robinson text. The characters, plot development and conclusion left me craving another Robinson title. I am now on my third text written by Robinson and will hunt the rest of the titles down until I've read and own hardcover's of all of his titles! Buy this book! Trent Stillman
Rating:
Summary: Clancy LITE
Review: When I sit down to read a Tom Clancy book, I know I'm (usually) going to get a good plot with lots of supporting detail. This book had the plot without getting mired down in all the technical gore. Usually I like detail, but in this case it kept the reading fast-paced and exciting. Politics and military action are combined in a good balance throughout. The ending (last 20 pages or so) seemed to be extra and unnecessary. Torture scenes in the middle had me squirming. The writer also seems to have his own political agenda that he conveyed through his characters... could have done a better job veiling that. Despite some flaws, I still read it anxiously... well worth the time for Clancy fans.
Rating:
Summary: Profoundly disappointed
Review: I am an avid reader of military novels both fact and fiction and found this book to be a poor representation of basic naval strategies, protocals, and practices. This book contained every stereo type and cliche imaginable. The author did not do his research to present a plot line which was believable or coherent. The use and practices of the US special forces made them appear as pyrotecnic street thugs that like to blow things up, instead of the most percise and lethal troops our nation has. The ending was the most disjointed nonsense imaginable not to mention that our commander and chief was portraied as a self serving whimp! First and last book I'll read from this author.
Rating:
Summary: A masterful tale of the Clarke Administration's final days..
Review: Wow. This is all that needs to be said. I am simply amazed by his originality and imagination when it comes to the fourth book focusing on the Navy under the administration of John Clarke. The plot is simple and realistic. The suspense is razor-sharp. The characters are excellent. This is perfection of fiction! Building on current events occuring at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Robinson masterfully weaves a tale of Chinese theft representing a threat to our shores in the form of a XIA III, a SSBM "boomer" that the Chinese claim is capable of hitting Los Angeles from its dockyard. Every event in the book prompted a reaction or outburst from me. When XO Clarke went nosing around the towed array sonar, I was screaming "No! YOU IDIOT! DON'T DO IT!" at the book. Only well-written books can prompt such a reaction from me. I was resigned to the Seawolf's fate, as the men in the book were. The pulse-pounding writing describing the Special Forces operation used to rescue the crew amazed me, even for Robinson. The actions of the President disgusted me, and the tragedy occuring at the end of the book saddened me. Only a few writers have ever provoked such an emotional response from me. Robinson has now become one of those few.
| 
