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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Rear Admiral Jake Grafton, who has appeared in eight previous Coonts novels (most recently Cuba and Hong Kong), returns in America, another techno-thriller from one of the genre's top practitioners. The first couple of pages recount the disappearance of SuperAegis, a satellite that's the cornerstone of a new American-European-Russian anti-missile defence system, on its first, much heralded trial. But Jake Grafton is only on that case for a few paragraphs before the stealth submarine USS America is hijacked on her maiden voyage. The sub quickly lives up to her reputation as the sneakiest undersea vessel in the world by seeming to vanish into the Atlantic. It takes a little while for Grafton to connect the dots between the two military blunders, by which time missiles fired from the America have devastated Washington, frying every electronic circuit in the city, and even burning the White House to the ground. Between looking for the rogue sub, searching for the satellite, and trying to get some answers about the team the CIA trained to steal a Russian sub (and then beached when the mission was cancelled), Grafton's got his hands full.
Stephen Coonts describes the submarine at the centre of the action so lavishly and lovingly that the USS America is much more real--and even more human--than any of his flesh-and-blood characters, including Grafton himself. The mysterious German financier who's at the bottom of it all doesn't get more than a walk-on; he's a cardboard villain, just like the brilliant female computer expert who sets up his crimes. But none of that matters if you like this kind of tale, which combines excitement and action with loads of information about computers, sonar, weapons systems, and stealth technology. America will surface quickly and take a commanding position on the summer bestseller lists. --Jane Adams, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Brand-new action thriller from the bestselling author of HONG KONG and FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
Stephen Coonts and I sprang from the same roots. Both former Vietnam era vets now writing Navy genre books. Although, he is much more sucessfull at this than I. For this reason I have truely enjoyed every Jake Grafton novel that I have read. His descriptions of our Navy, of its people and of its machines are beyond reproach. In this story spy sub USS America, I thought of the USS Jimmy Carter,the real spy sub, goes missing. Usually when a sub goes missing I think of Sontag's Blind Man's Bluff. The thing blew-up, it sank, people died. Not so. Jake learns that a group of CIA operators "spooks" may have swiped the sub. Their target is the White House. (Good choice. If you're trying to hit the broadside of a barn a huge white house would be an easy target. Dont' you think?)The Tomahawk cruise missle is designed to fly through a one meter window and is about 90% accurate on target. With a range of 1,500 miles, a Tomahawk lauched from Cuba would hit its mark. So the shot on the White House was not all that tough. Coonts is a relentless storyteller. If you liked Cuba or Hong Kong you will love this book as well. As a side note. I read a review that said,"...rivals Clancy for fiction-as-realism and Cussler for spirited action." I disagree. Stephen Coonts' writing and storytelling skills stands alone as one of the modern standards to which all genre writers should strive to achieve. Put this one on your must real list.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An excellent book, a lot of small plots and stories all coming together to make a fantastic story. I could hardly put it down, I even felt for the 'bad guys' at times. A great ending making you wish there were more books and films like that. If you like submarines, espionage, thrillers and fantasy, then this book is a must.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After going down the wrong road with his last book "Hong Kong", Coonts is back on track with this book. He returns his hero character Jake Grafton to familiar mainstream military territory with a good yarn about a stolen submarine and a lost satelite.
Coonts has made a good stab at blending together the many different elements of a good techno-thriller. He leans towards standard military hardware and computer wizardry storylines, wisely reducing the amount of James Bond spy antics and bungling politician stuff that ruined previous efforts. Overall he conjures up a good storyline which is both believeable and yet just a few years ahead of current technology.
The first 100 or so pages sets up the main plot quite nicely. A number of new characters as well as returning characters Toad and Carmellini move the story along at a good pace.
However the last 50 or so pages leading up to the conclusion of the book I found to be dissapointing. A number of decisions made by the lead characters defy explanation, the consequences and likely results of these can be seen a mile off. I kind of got the feeling that the author wasn't quite sure how to finish the book and cobbled together a rather rushed and unsatisfying end in as short a time as possible. I think that this the only weakness in coonts writing.
That said, I enjoyed this book, it was a good read, not to taxing. I would reccomend it as a good addition to anybodys techno-thriller library.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The story sinks when the action moves to a cruise ship
This time Stephen Coonts really let me down! I was getting ready to give "America" five stars until I hit the third-last chapter, at which point the action moves to a luxury cruise... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2004 by Rennie Petersen
The story sinks when the action moves to a cruise ship
This time Stephen Coonts really let me down! I was getting ready to give "America" five stars until I hit the third-last chapter, at which point the action moves to a luxury cruise... Read more
Published on 11 May 2004 by Rennie Petersen
More Ambitious
I have not read all of this writer's work, however I did begin with his first, "Flight Of The Intruder", and have read the majority that have followed. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2002 by taking a rest
Ideal for Ex navy personel
This is another excellent book by Coonts. A stolen submarine, who stole it? Keeps you in suspense until the end. Once started It was difficult to put down. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2001
very believable continuation of Jake Grafton's career`
I enjoyed the vast majority of this book. As the United States loses two vital items of military equipment, namely a satelitte and a submarine(! Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2001 by Mr. N. Tolson
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