Rating: Summary: Dangerously depicts Chinese as Nazi villans Review: The story is very interesting and describes a scenario of an alternate future. However, its depiction of Chinese as ruthless villans is racist at best. The monsterization of the enemy is irresponsible, and this kind of redneck thinking may become the cause of actual conflict between nations. This kind of book, being in the public subconscious, may do more to spark tension than create channnels of communication which will avert conflict. Smart readers will recall with clarity the atrocities that even the United States have committed. China, for all the bad rap it has gotten, has mostly been invaded, rather than being the invader. Chinese are gentle by nature, exploited over the centuries by opium traffikers and the like. Invasion conveniently leaves out this side of the coin.
Rating: Summary: Fun read, not much substance Review: I really enjoyed reading "Invasion": it has interesting characters, lots of action, and is generally well written. However, this is a book you really have to see for what it is, entertainment. The chances of China invading the US anytime before the year 3000 are slim and none. Harry goes to great lengths to contrive a geo-poltical system that allows this situation to occur, but it never really flys. That said, it doesn't matter, all his machinations are secondary to the wonderful descriptions of combat we get as a result. This book won't change the world, but it will entertain you.
Rating: Summary: english language the big loser Review: Not a bad read, provided you can suspend your disbelief for long enough to ignore the implausibility of the story. What was amazing was the tortured grammar and generally poor english throughout and the numerous typos and spelling mistakes. Don't publishers employ editors to read the book before they put it into print? The author should sack his publishers.
Rating: Summary: Prejudiced and Poorly Researched Review: Invasion does have a good plot and is quite exciting, and being fond of my homeland I found it satisfying to read of a future in which she has finally been able to climb up from poverty and hardship, even though it sounds rather unpragmatic for China to have achieved this by 2018 as the book insinuates through Han Wushi's age. However, I am equally infuriarated by Harry's description of the Chinese government; true, there is rivalry between rival groups, but hey, that happens every where, and he continuously displays the Chinese entirely as villains and aggressors whilst the West are completely the good guys. He never bothers to make mention of the fact how China was oppressed similarly in the nineteenth century, and that Chinese officials have more motives than mere desire for conquestand domination. More enraging is his saying that China's rulers have no true family affection for their relatives, and that every family outing and display of such affection is false. This is completely prejudiced and an insult to the integrity of China's elite. To say that China's ruling class are loveless and infidelous, faithless to their families is absurd.
Rating: Summary: Invasion Review: In itself Eric L Harry has created a masterpiece, genuinely crafted and thoroughly intriguing. Harry's novels focus on the protagonist and how they relate to the plot. Invasion in itself was filled with non-stop action, testing how fast you can read and turn the pages. However,I believe Harry has sacrificed reality for suspence and action, China's 60 million man army? It's 300 plane Supercarriers? 100 diseal subs "mysteriously" appearing out of nowhere to sink an American fleet? China taking over most of the world while Russia (which not one word of it was mentioned) the U.S. and Europe do everything in it's power to help them? It could have been possible if only he elaborated on the past instead of jumping head-first into an invasion of America. Usually in war novels we read about the weapons they used, well here Harry seemed to forget the United States Air Force ever existed. What the hell is an F-26, and in god's name what does it do? See what I mean, at least Tom Clancy knows how to explain about how they win the war rather than what they do to win it. In my opinion Harry paved a perfect path for a sequel, he should've released both at the same time, that way he wouldn't have let the reader wonder and then lose interest. Very mythical author, very strange and complex. Can't wait to hear about his next book, wonder if he'd correct his flaws?
Rating: Summary: Close but no cigar Review: I tore into this book while on holiday, expecting a rip-roaring thriller with a novel scenario and solid military plot. And while there was plenty of gritty, excellent action, the backdrop was more like a natty old piece of sacking than a slick piece of artistry. The scenario is barely plausible, with China somehow overcoming its inherent problems of poverty and political divisiveness to become a world superpower with more aircraft carriers than could fill most admirals' best wet dreams. And the Americans, Europeans and Russians stand idly by while it all happens. There is a passing reference to New Zealand being invaded, which I guess makes about as much strategic sense as China extending its logistical lines across India, Africa and Europe to invade the United States via the South-East coastline. The leadership of the US then does everything in its power to lose the war, and the whole fate of the nation ends up in the hands of the poor grunts defending America's honour from bunkers in North Carolina. As for the bizarre political entanglements that try to pass for intrigue... it's quite surreal at times. The story telling is first rate when it deals with the ground combat, but that never quite manages to eclipse the banality of the scenario. This would have been a far more intriguing and believable tale if China had marginalised the Europeans by blockade and political wrangling, and then targeted America's resources in a Pacific coast invasion while committing its subs and a couple of carrier groups to guard the east coast. Oh well, nevermind: Ignore the strategy and be absorbed by the life-and-death struggles of the infantry and special forces.
Rating: Summary: A great page turner, but misses on the last star Review: Fast paced, exciting and a good storyline. The battle scenes are harrowing, if a little "big picturish" for my liking. And this is the reason, in my opinion, it missed out on the full 5 stars. There was too much material for one novel here. It basically throws the reader in at the deep end, starting the story after China has conquered the Middle East, India and most of Europes armies and navies. As well as building a massive fleet of super carriers. I feel that this novel covered barely more than a snapshot of the entire conflict - a series of novels would have been more appropriate. Having said that, very well written and entertaining.
Rating: Summary: Unrealistic Review: Unrealistic, poorly researched, unbelievable charachters. For a purported "military expert", Harry knows incredibly little about the actual U.S> military.
Rating: Summary: Invasion Review: I just finished reading Invasion. The battlescenes and the human drama associated with war are good, this being the trademark of Mr. Harry. However, the geopolitical scenario is too-farfetched as if the US and the Russians would not lift a finger to stop an ambitious China before its too late. There is hardly a mention of the Russians here.Likewise, being a fan of technothrillers/military novels, it is implausible for the Chinese to easily master naval aviation (supercarriers etc). But then, thats why they call books like these as fiction.Mr. Harry, I have all your three books. They're good to pass the time and raises questions of what if... Keep up the good work and hope to see you new work soon.
Rating: Summary: Invasion Review: Eric Harry doesn't waste a lot of time introducing characters. He goes right to the action. And he doesn't stop until the last page. He also scares you a little with his realism. I especially like this book because during the invasion of the U.S. by China, he described a lot of places where I've visited. A great book, as were Protect and Defend, and Society of the Mind. We are anxiously awaiting your next book Eric.
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