Armageddon at Defcon 1 [Hardcover]

Teretha G. Houston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

The countdown to earth's total destruction has begun! For the first time in history, the land of the free and the home of the brave explodes to Defcon 1, at which America itself is under attack. Who would dare bomb the most powerful country in the world--repeatedly? Thomas Leggett must find the answer fast, before thermonuclear war blasts the planet into Armageddon. Before he can save the world, he must save himself. He is running for his life from the same country he is trying to save. America's friends and foes all over the world have their nuclear weapons armed and their fingers on the launch buttons. People all over the world hold what could be their last breath and brace themselves for Armageddon.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"It's a thrill ride that starts on the first page and doesn't stop until the last!" "More action packed than a big budget action movie!" "Unique twists and thrilling surprises!"

From the Back Cover

On October 26, 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a radar station in the New Jersey picked up what appeared to be the first strike of nuclear war-a Russian missile, streaking toward America's eastern seaboard. As it turned out, it was one of America's own Titan missiles, launched from Florida during a routine test. The United States had less than ten minutes to decide whether to retaliate against Russia.

On November 9, 1979, a training drill at NORAD, which simulated a Russian nuclear attack, was mistaken for an actual nuclear strike. Because of that grave mistake, B52 bombers with nuclear payloads prepared to retaliate. NORAD had only three minutes to disprove what appeared on its computer system as a full-scale Russian nuclear attack.

On January 25, 1995, Russians mistook a scientific research rocket launched from Norway as one of America's submarine missiles. The Russians executed all of the standard operating procedures to launch nuclear weapons against the United States except the final one-the launch itself. Russia came within four minutes of lunching nuclear missiles at the Untied States.

In Armageddon At Defcon 1, time runs out!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Tyger Publishing Company (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966448103
• ISBN-13: 978-0966448108
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,385,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read from cover to cover., October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Armageddon at Defcon 1 (Hardcover)

I loved this book. I read it from cover to cover without putting it down. Definitely something new and different. But I wonder whether the author revealed too much about our national defense.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The concept? Great. The book? Bleh., October 15, 1999

By 

Andrew Niese ([e-mail]) (Port Edwards, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armageddon at Defcon 1 (Hardcover)

Like I said, the plot in its simplest form was a good idea, but it was implemented pretty poorly. Armageddon at Defcon 1 may be an OK read for people who don't demand thoughtful and refined writing. This novel would have been more interesting had it been written by Tom Clancy. Armageddon at Defcon 1 would have made a good movie, or an even better comic book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WRITING AND STORY TELLING, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Armageddon at Defcon 1 (Hardcover)

It is hard to believe that such an incredible book could garner anything but positive accolades. I think the author is one of the most creative and demiurgic writers to come along in a long time. She writes in the style of all celebrated writers.

Some may not like the use of metaphors, similes, personification, or other figures of speech. Where would Shakespeare's writing be without metaphors? So, in the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet, "I will speak daggers," or in my case, I will write daggers. Shakespeare's words echo down through the ages like one of his most famous metaphors, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

Stephen King's use of figurative language is one reason his writing will never grow old. In The Stand he wrote, "Dreams are the psyche's way of taking a good dump every now and then. And that people who don't dream-or don't dream in a way they can often remember when they wake up-are mentally constipated."

John Grisham wrote in A Time To Kill, "He had a huge monument of a nose that was very long and very pointed and served as a throne for his black-rimmed, octagon-shaped reading glasses." He could have simply written that he had a long nose. How boring that would have been.

When Teretha Houston wrote about the Pentagon's emergency procedures during a nuclear threat. She wrote, "The procedures were a lot like the instructions flight attendants give in case of an emergency. In both cases, only the newcomers and the paranoid pay attention. And in neither case would the instructions save your life during an emergency anyway." That is absolutely brilliant.

Her figurative writing skills began with the very first paragraph. "The twinkling jewels of the night sparkled high in the crystalline sky above the South Atlantic Ocean. The pale yellow moon shimmered off the ocean's dark, sedated surface between Brazil and Angola. The sky had no end, and the ocean had no beginning. They both became one in the black, seamless, endless night." Reading that sent chills up and down my spine. Again, that is absolutely brilliant. I would like to meet a fourth grader who can write like that.

I do not know whether authors read these comments or pay attention to them if the do. Whatever you do, Ms. Houston, do not change your writing style.