Force 12

Rating:
Summary: Thayer Has Written Better
Review: FORCE 12 is a fairly exciting and thrilling story of a billionaire soft-ware magnate who creates a computerized sailboat and enters it in a gruelling and dangerous yacht race from San Francisco to Japan through the Bering Sea. He believes the publicity about the boat's software, which pilots the 155 foot Victory (which has a 30 foot beam and 75 ton keel) and replaces a 20 man crew, will increase revenue and sales in his other companies.

Initially the trip is flawless, but gradually accidents occur on the boat and sabotage is expected. Since there are several video cameras on the boat, every movement is witnessed by millions of viewers from around the world and the persona of a forceful man of wealth and power begins to disintegrate.

Besides a mystery, the highlights of the book are the descriptions of being in a boat at the mercy of the sea. It rivals THE PERFECT STORM for its descriptions of the waves and feelings of helplessness while caught in the power of the open ocean.

FORCE 12 is worth reading if you're a James Thayer fan but he's certainly written better. The plot was a little too unrealistic for me but the sailing scenes made it worth the time, especially if you enjoy seeing powerful men in hopeless situations brought down to earth.

Rating:
Summary: Slightly Soggy
Review: Pacific northwest software mogul Rex Wyman (wonder whom he's patterned after?) has created
the ultimate racing yacht. Humans are mearly along for the ride in this craft, which is completely
run by computer, from navigation to the working of the sails. In a bid to save his suddenly
floundering company, Rex organizes the ultimate yacht race across the Bering Sea, with the
hope that his amazing technological wonder will open new markets for his company. As
increasingly dangerous "accidents" begin to happen shortly after the starting line, the race
becomes one to stop Wyman from pulling an Ahab, and getting everyone aboard killed.

A good alternative title for this book could be "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sailing Gear."
The author is obviously fascinated by all things seaworthy, with descriptions of various types of
vessels bordering on obsessive. But there is an adventure/mystery described, as well, which he
does fairly well. The characters aren't new, but the action is worthy of a beach read.

Rating:
Summary: The first chapter is great however...
Review: The first chapter leads you to believe that there will be a relationship between the "victim-girl" and the pararescueman. The story turns out to be a science-fiction saga about machines versus man (or girl in this case). Not another word about the PJ-girl relationship until the very end....