Attack of the Seawolf [Paperback]

Michael DiMercurio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994

When the U.S.S. Tampa falls into the hands of the Chinese during a covert mission and the submarine and its crew are held hostage, Captain Michael ""Patch"" Pacino and his state-of-the-art sub, the Seawolf, must rescue them. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the near future posited by this convincing techno-thriller, China has collapsed into civil war. The U.S. nuclear sub Tampa , sent into the Gulf of Chilhi to collect intelligence, is discovered and captured by the communists. The Navy's newest submarine, the Sea wolf , embarks with a crack SEAL team for a rescue mission captained by Michael Pacino, who lost his last ship in last year's Voyage of the Devilfish . Now Pacino takes the Seawolf on a high-tech cutting-out expedition in the best tradition of 18th-century naval warfare. DiMercurio's characters are generally one-dimensional and his plot development owes a good deal to the presence of bad guys obliging enough to make the right mistakes at the right time. But his account of the Tampa 's recapture by a SEAL boarding party enlivens the novel's middle section, and he offers nail-biting excitement in the climactic scene of the Seawolf , alone, taking on Red China's entire northern fleet. The author knows how to provide the necessary descriptions of modern submarine technology without obstructing his story line. A summer must for techno-thriller fans.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-A naval adventure set in the immediate future. The U.S. government sends the nuclear submarine Tampa into the Gulf of Chilhi to gather intelligence on the progress of a civil war taking place in China. When it is captured by communist forces, Captain Michael Pacino is persuaded to come out of retirement to lead a SEAL team and the crew of the Navy's newest submarine, the Seawolf, to free it. Readers who enjoy Tom Clancy's books will relish DiMercurio's detailed descriptions of the subs, aircraft, and weaponry employed by the Chinese and Americans. The scenes in which the vessel is recaptured and escapes into international waters are vivid and exciting, as are those detailing the Seawolf's narrow escape at the end of the book. While the Chinese make a lot of convenient mistakes, and the characters are not particularly well developed, YAs will enjoy this book for its suspenseful action and scientific detail.
Patricia Noonan, Prince William Library System, Woodbridge, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451180518
• ISBN-13: 978-0451180513
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a thriller! A MUST READ FOR KIDS, December 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Attack of the Seawolf (Paperback)

The book, Attack of the Seawolf, by Michael DiMercurio is an astounding action-packed thriller that will blow you away. In the book the main characters are Michael Pacino, Sean Murphy, and Tien-Tse Mien. Michael is a very smart and cautious person who can turn into a vicious hunter in the heat of battle. Both Sean and Michael are like real United States submarine captains. In the beginning Michael is unsure of himself and by the end becomes a confident, couragous fighter and captain. Michael is the rescuer of Sean's boat and Tien-Tse Mien is the evil Chinese interrogator who wants information and the hi-tech sub.

The setting is at several different places including Michael's boat, the U.S.S. Seawolf, Sean's boat, the U.S.S. Tampa, Xingang Piers, and the ships of the Chinese Northern Fleet. U.S.S. Seawolf is the main setting where the author vividly describes the boat and submarine life by saying, "the air was filled with the smell of diesel oil, lubrication oil,

cooking grease, cigarette smoke,and sweat"and by later stating that there was also raw sewage. In describing the settings the author gives you the feelings of suspense, excitement and anxiety.

A basic overview of the story is that a submarine (Sean's) is sent to Bo Hai Bay to spy on the Chinese and is caught. Then the Seawolf is sent to rescue it before its too late. There is plenty of tension between the two American subs and the Chinese even though they never saw or heard each other. Each side is anxious to get rid of the other but at the same time is scared, cautious, and nervous. The climax is very thrilling when the two sides clash and resolution unfolds. In the end all conflicts are resolved, both internal and external. Michael's internal conflict is that he needs to go to sea more and command his own boat. The external conflict is obviously the one between the Chinese and the American subs. The ending was believable in my opinion and fit the story perfectly. I would not changed the ending in any way.

My favorite part of the book is when one if the last ships of the Chinese fleet sinks,it's name is the Shoagan. The author describes it as, "the missile hit the carrier and exploded into a one-hundred meter mushroom cloud of flame and shrapnel"and later on, "somewhere far below an explosion rumbled through the bowels of the dead ship, first a sharp roar then settling down.....". This is my favorite part because it is a great triumph for the Seawolf and the author gives a great description of it.

One of the themes I discovered was that you shouldn't keep yourself from doing something you like. For example,this quote describes Michael after he'skept himself from the sea: "I've seen what happens to you when you're not at sea, you haven't been the same since-". Another theme is that you have to make wise and good decisions when you have major responsibility and pressures. This applies to the world because business people and officials make important decisions. Also, personal decisions can affect those you care for, such as family.

The author's style is excellent. The story is a narrative. Third person omniscient is the point of view. You can learn about Michael (the author) through his style. The tone is a very serious and calm. Michael uses plenty of submarine warfare terms that lots of people wouldn't understand, so the words are pretty advanced. His vocabulary,vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and figurative language make the book excellent. The way he wrote this book is so interesting and suspenseful,it will glue you to the pages. This book is a definite page turner, but I only recommend this book to people who like the Navy or the military.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book. DiMercurio is the Tom Clancy of sub warfare., November 9, 1999

By 

Jay Taylor (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attack of the Seawolf (Paperback)

From a former navy person, this is an excellent book that does not make you wait for a climax. The final 275 pages ARE the climax. Tense naval action, a daring submarine / Seal Team rescue and high tech weaponry had me reading well into the night. Nail-biting action.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular and suspenseful! Put down your pen Clancy!, August 18, 1999

By 

Mr N Forbes-warren "author of RESURGENCE and ... (Newport, South Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Attack of the Seawolf (Paperback)

The USS Tampa, an improved Los Angeles-class attack aub is captured by Chinese naval forces. The crew are being held prisoner, what can the US Goverment and military do? The answer is here . . . recall ongoing character Michael Pacino and his superior Admiral Donchez into action on a rescue mission! And as the latest sub USS SEAWOLF closes in for the kill and a SEAL team is deployed to rescue the TAMPA crew, you're in for a treat! The naval battle scenes between US and Chinese forces are well written, the SEAL team incursion is well researched and matches the accuracy of Bob Mayer(with a little bit of artistic licence here and there but who cares?) and true-life SAS stories with its descriptions of equipment used, and the submarine scenes, as ever with DiMercurio's books are so well written that even if you've never been in the Navy you will feel you're in the thick of the action. Why isn't this a movie?! To coin a phrase! And finally, after having read all of DiMercurio's splendid novels now, I can safely say that this one is one of his best. The climax as well is not hurried, it is spread out over more than one chapter and well-paced, thrilling and effective. More so that some novels where the ending is too quick after a great build-up. THis has the great build-up as well!