Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335950 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.32" h x 4.22" w x 6.86" l, .51 pounds
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 1 pages

From Library Journal
In this all-too-predictable tale, a reconfigured B-52 bomber and its doughty crew try to prevent a war between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Dastardly politicians and greedy military careerists attempt to thwart our friends in the skies, but, aided by hawkish President Martindale, strike-warfare expert Patrick McLanahan and his buddies put their prototype aircraft through its paces while flirting with their own capture or destruction. Unfortunately, Brown here fails to live up to the thought-provoking substance of his previous books, notably Shadows of Steel (LJ 6/15/96). The major characters from those earlier works reappear (accompanied by turgid recapitulations of past escapes) and seize the opportunity to weigh in on the side of the good guys. Despite battle scenes and lots of shouted dialog, the pace is leaden and the characterizations dull. Only for comprehensive Brown or aviation-fiction collections.
-?Elsa Pendleton, Boeing Information Svcs., Inc., China Lake, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
The People's Republic of China chooses tactical nuclear weapons and strategic scheming to overrun Taiwan and take complete control of Southeast Asia. Part of the ploy includes bombing some of their own ships. Along the way, several military installations, air fields, ships, and even a United States aircraft carrier are vaporized. The only thing that can stop this swath of destruction is a hybrid B-52 bomber and its renegade crew. Reader Edward Lewis's lack of vocal warmth seems to fit right in. His delivery is crisp, with good pace and tempo. However, he works way too hard at the voices of the principal characters. T.J.M. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
The Old Dog (an airplane, as Brown regulars know) learns yet more new tricks in Brown's latest technothriller. The EB-52 Megafortresses (improved descendants of the Old Dog) are about to be scrapped, the rest of the U.S. heavy bomber force radically downsized. Then the Chinese seriously try to conquer Taiwan, and President Martindale wants to defend it equally seriously, despite U.S. military weakness, interservice rivalry, and political opposition. Led by Brad Elliott and Patrick McLanahan, the reunited Old Dog crew flies one official mission against the Chinese--and then is faced with arrest for exceeding orders. The next mission--unofficial--becomes justly compared with the exploits of the Flying Tigers of World War II and precipitates a decisive U.S. bomber counteroffensive that defeats the Chinese. Longer on well-handled action and hardware than on characterization (virtually all the navy personnel in it are caricatures), the yarn is another consistent page-turner from Brown, anyway, and won't disappoint his numerous readers. Roland Green