Customer Reviews

Armageddon at Defcon 1

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Detailed sources of information, facts combined with third eye vision kept me on the seat from the moment I opened the book until, the hard covered ending. Never a dull moment, pictured verbal details, leaves this book to grow into an Award Movie Production. This author is very vivid within her detailed description in every categorization. Makes one think,just how we walk in ignorance during the last second of our lives, and not know who /what Govern. heads are given the power to end so many lives without even a mire thought, and how many special people give their lives for people around the world, for their safty, and not be recognized for their giving of their own lives. Indeed this book is more than a fiction, the facts are causing one to open their minds, eyes and hearts.

I thank the author for enlightening me on a terrifying problem that the government is doing its best to cover up. And I thank the author for not bogging down the story with unnecessary military terms that most of us would not understand. I do not have a military background, but I found it easy to understand the military procedures and nuclear weapons. Maybe this book should be classified as a horror novel. It was truly frightening. If there was ever a fiction book that I hope never comes true, it is this one. That is why I am sending the book to my senator.

Reading the previous reviews for this book overcame my initial reservations at paying full price for this book. To my disappointment, the reviews did not accurately portray this books worth. While I found that the idea behind the story is a good one, I found the level of technical development lacking. While not everyone writes to the level of detail that Tom Clancy has made famous, authors writing in this arena should at least strive to research their subject matter and provide at least some technical background. I understand this is a work of fiction. I cannot understand however the use of terms such as "The President of the CIA". This is just one of many silly statements found in the book that could have been better portrayed. Was this book edited before it went to print?? I believe a good editor could have caught many of the writing problems in this book. Overall, I think it was a story with great potential that was sold short by a lack of development.

I predict Hollywood is going to snap this one up. I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick read. There were no dull points. Even when there wasn't a major event occurring, there was one looming. In the middle of all the action were some great characters. I fell in love with some of them and felt every emotion that they felt. The plot was well structured. I have never written a review about any book before, but I felt compelled to write one about this book.

An outstanding book. It should come with the warning "Take your heart medicine first." It is an intense thriller that simply does not stop. I was hooked from page one and couldn't put it down until the end.

This was quite possibly the most poorly-written book I've ever read. In addition to the numerous typos, the style of writing was simplistic, redundant, and cliched. The reviewer who said this would make a good comic book was spot-on.

from the minute i started reading "ARMAGEDDON AT DEFCON 1", i couldn't stop myself, much less put it down. I turned each page in anxious anticipation of the next page. Ms Houston reached out and pulled me into her story and did not release me until the final word. her description of characters and events was outstanding. reading this book was like watching a movie.