Kilo Class

Rating:
Summary: Awful
Review: Simply one of the worst books I've ever read. The characters were all one-dimensional cardboard cutouts; the plot somehow managed to be both predictable and bizarre at the same time; there are a number of technical mistakes; and the writing is sophomoric. The most frustrating aspect of the book, however, was the fact that I found myself actively rooting for the Chinese and Russians b/c the actions taken by the U.S. in the book seem totally unjustified and, dare I say it, unamerican. Robinson has the U.S. kill hundreds of Chinese and Russian soldiers and civilians without any evidence of an immediate and direct threat. Also, if the Kilos are such a dangerous weapon, how is it that the U.S. is able to destroy six of them with relative ease? More to the point, if the U.S. can send commandos to blow them up in the middle of Russia, why can't they wait until the subs are actually in China and do the same thing there? Finally, the book was somewhat racist. The the chinese are frequently referred to as "chinamen," and one of the characters mentions that a minor character who happened to be black (the only black character in the book as far as I could tell) was "the most ambitious black man he'd ever met."

Rating:
Summary: Best of the best
Review: Tom Clancy, watch out, Patrick Robinson is on the rise. This is his second book in the series, the first being "Nimitz Class", and the following installments being "HMS Unseen", "USS Seawolf" and "The Shark Mutiny". Honestly, I can say it is one of the best, most entertaining novels I have ever read. Packed full of military goodness, but not enough to make you go damn bonkers (Clancy?), pure action-adventure adrenaline, and excellent characters and narrative, everybody should give "Kilo Class" a read-through. You quickly begin to love National Security Advisor Admiral Morgan for his spirit and vigorous way of handling things. He doesn't take any [stuff] is putting it mildly. However he's not all extreme, and actually had depth and character, most of which is explored in later books. The story involves the Chinese purchasing ultra-quiet Kilo Class submarines from the Russians. Admiral Morgan could not let this happen since they couldn't afford to be blocked out of the Taiwan Strait. It brings an issue brought forth time and time again in the news - the fact the China wants Taiwan as its own. Without saying too much, the effort involves a pulsepounding race underneath the Arctic Circle by the American submarine Captain Dunning, and a riviting undercover operation by a group of Navy SEALs deep in the heart of Russia. I have talked with people who are actually in the Navy who have read this book and they tell me it's as close to real-life global operations as it comes. (The next book in the series, "HMS Unseen", however is a little far fetched.) Apparently stuff like this actually happens. Of course we, the public, don't know about it. I enjoyed this book a lot better than any Tom Clancy novel just for the reason that it was a novel more based on story and not a behemoth textbook on military hardware with a story thrown in. "Kilo Class" is the perfect sit-down-and-read-straight-through novel. It makes you want to keep reading because it's so exciting and thorough. Great praise is due to Patrick Robinson.