S.S. Seawolf

Potential good plot, but unbeivable dialogue and full of ignorance. Why would anyone write a book about something they know so little about AND fail to do any decent research? Robinson claims he had help from Admiral Woodward. I simply can\’t believe that. Time after time Robinson shows his ignorance–he seems to think subs only outside source of info is periscope, that the Chinese don\’t have satellite ship surveillance, that two F/A-18s were ready \”in case it\’s engine didn\’t start.\” he doesn\’t even know that the Officer of the Deck is a job all the officers share, and isn\’t a position such as Naviagotor, Ops Officer, etc. I once threw a book about B-52s over the side of a sailboat in mid-ocean because the writer was so ill informed. I surely would have done the same with this book if it hadn\’t been a Kindle edition.

First, I cannot believe the author, for all the help he received from an Admiral, doesn\’t know the difference between a boat and a ship – a submarine is a BOAT! The story line held promise that was never delivered upon; the ending was weak and a slam again all Navy officers of any good sense. And how did the XO ever reach that point in his career? And how could he cave so easily to the enemy after being in the CIA for some years? What a weenie. This book was a huge disappointment, besmirching the name of the USS Seawolf and all it\’s fine crew – sans the XO. I\’m a child of a former commander of an earlier USS Seawolf (405).

I think it was John Le Carre who wrote that there is something unhealthy in a country fascinated by its special forces, and Admiral Morgan is the epitomy of this unhealth. With the geo-political ignorance and cultural insensitivity of a dyslexic amoeba, he constantly seeks military solutions to the errors of his military-industrial complex, and beware if you are not a white, Christian, Annapolis-ringed member of the Club. Having read all of Patrick Robinson\’s novels, from the excellent Nimitz Class to the thoroughly racist Kilo Class, I cannot say I like the direction his books are now taking. With a few token caustic remarks about media hacks and money-chasing lawyers, the book blunders from one improbable scenario to another, linked only by a few cardboard characters and the inevitable submarines. The crass ignorance and brutal behaviour of the Chinese, compared to the virtues of the Taiwanese, is highlighted, whilst forgetting that the original inhabitants of Taiwan, the Formosan aborigines were kicked out by those noble Chinese as they fled mainland China with their millions and gold. Technical epxerts will no doubt find some errors, in abbreviations and even the use of a pelagic sub for inshore work, while the torture scenes are so carefully written to avoid upsetting anyone, but lack realism. Betraying his European origin, there a few token Brits who are admired by the Club, and some SAS guys who accompany the SEALs on a mission, though it would have been more appropriate for the SBS, the naval version, to have gone along. Like in Tom Clancy\’s world, all the US weapon systems work perfectly, whilst everything Chinese is derided as copied or useless. The fearless submariners and warriors are all muscular, loyal, intelligent, hunks of manhood, going against the snivelling yellow peril. No wimpy management types or pugilistic womanisers of the Dick Marcinko world in this book, and even the single military-challenged officer seems to exist in one dimension, a long way from reality. This book will no doubt be popular with the red-necks in Oklahoma or Montana, or wherever they dress up in camouflage fatigues, and carry paint guns and M-16s; but it presents a sad polarised view of the world, and those tunnel-visoned military types who inhabit it. The Chinese are dishonoured by this myopic writing, whilst the plot, with its ultimately weak and involved President, is nothing more than excuse to quote weapon names and specs and arcane killing techniques. Even the twist in the tale at the end is out of place, but about the book\’s only redeeming feature. At least Tom Clancy writes a good book, but this is too racist, too single dimensional and not even a good story. The Honorable School Boy will be turning in his grave.

A little slow in the beginning as with most books but picks up preventing me from putting it down.

I bought the audio CD of this book and was disappointed that I received the abridged version. The description doesn\’t always make it clear what version you are getting and that\’s disappointing.

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