Customer Reviews

Balance of Power: A Novel

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

James W. Huston has garnered a bunch of fans with his debut novel. Along with Rush Limbaugh and the thousands of others who have read this interesting story of a constitutional crisis between a dovish President as Commander in Chief and a hawkish Speaker of the House, I found myself liking this book.

Huston does some interesting things with his characters. His fictional President, like the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has no military experience. His Speaker of the House, unlike his real life model, Newt Gingrich, is a former naval officer who saw combat in Vietnam as a brown water sailor in the navy's riverine forces. As a veteran, I found both the President and the Speaker unlikable. The President was an un- realistic idealist and the Speaker a jingoistic opportunist. Mr. Huston did a good job of developing both of these figures well enough to make me dislike them and in that, I felt he did a creditable job.

Perhaps the most valuable lessons learned from this book, especially to the unitiated, were the descriptions of the workings of the various branches of the federal government. Despite the fact that the book is a novel, I think it could be used as a primer on federalism for high school students. If used at the college level, I would recommend that it be used in political science courses covering both the Presidency and the Congress.

Mr. Huston's credentials as an F-14 NFO and Intelligence Officer shines through. His training as a lawyer shines through as well when he discusses the various constitutional issues that develop as a result of his plot. I would like to correct some of the other critics who wrote here on a point of fact. Mr. Huston was not an F-14 pilot. The dust jacket points out that he was an F-14 NFO (Naval Flight Officer). That's the Guy In Back. Remember Goose in TOP GUN? Needless to say, while he may not have actually flown them, he was trained to fight in them and that background lends him a credibility not available with other authors.

Mr. Huston, like a lot of lawyers has taken to writing and I think his debut novel was a fine first effort. I look forward to his next effort because this one reminds me of the early Tom Clancy. I just hope that he doesn't run out of steam (or plausible story lines) like Tom Clancy seems to have done of late. While Mr. Clancy seems to have invented the techno-thriller as a genre, there have been many who followed his example and provided the reading public with hours of reading entertainment.

I wish Mr. Huston good fortune in his writing career. He may well be Tom Clancy's heir in the political-military thriller arena.

What if the President of the United States is unwilling to use the military to protect U.S. citizens, and defend the nation 's rights and ideals from attack? What if Congress used a hidden clause in the Constitution to authorize military action without the President's approval? That's the spectacular theme of Balance Of Power, the thrilling debut novel from James W. Huston.

For me, Balance Of Power's unique blend of the fascinating world of today's military technology with the intricacies of high-octane politics and legal maneuvering, makes it a new kind of intellectually-challenging, can't-put-it-down thriller. If you like military/political/adventure thrillers, you won't want to miss this book! It's like Tom Clancy and Stephen Coonts meet John Grisham on Patrick O'Brian's high seas. Balance Of Power's only flaw, albeit a minor one, is that it does not develop well enough the character of the bad guy, George Washington.

Huston has the potential to be a new master in this genre. I can't wait to read The Price Of Power,the sequel to Balance Of Power, to see if Huston can deliver a solid "one-two punch." Look over your shoulders Clancy, Coonts and Grisham-- there's a new player in town!

Written like this really happened and Huston was there... I found myself reading well in the the night despite having to wake early. This book will draw you in.

Mr. Huston did a great job with this one. I read 'Flash Point' and liked it equally as much. Though being a pilot myself may bias me slightly, I believe anyone who reads this book will enjoy it. The pace is fast and it gets your heart pounding. I highly recommend it.

Excellent work Mr. Huston. I think the Intelligence community could use your insight these days. be well.

Truly fantastic political and military thriller, one of my favorite works of fiction I have read the last few years. Author James W. Huston, drawing skillfully both upon his military background as an F-14 fighter pilot in the US Navy and his legal background as a lawyer, has crafted a tightly woven yarn about terrorism in the South Pacific - Indonesia to be exact - and what the President and the US Congress do about it.

When terrorists capture the US flagged merchant ship Pacific Flyer, kill most of the crew, kidnap the captain, and then booby-trap the ship to kill potential rescuers, the world is stunned. Though the world expects President Manchester (a fictional president who serves after the President Clinton of this novel's timeline), to react, he does not order a military strike, instead announcing he is against continuing the "cycle of violence" and that while he will order a carrier battle fleet to help find the terrorist's island hideout, will not act militarily, instead seeing it as an internal Indonesian police matter.

Many are outraged as his reaction, none more so than Speaker of the House John Stanbridge. Furous over what he sees as a failure to act and accusing the President of pacifism, he tries to get around the President's orders regarding the terrorists, hidden on a foritified island which the battle group centered around the carrier USS Constitution under Admrial Billings locates.

Brash and brilliant aide to Standbridge, Jim Dillon, comes up with a little known provision in the US Constituion in Article I, Secton 8, relating to the power of the Congress to issues Letters of Marque and Reprisal. Researching it, he finds that the power was formerly used to grant legal authority to armed merchantmen in times of war, authorizing private ships to act as war ships. Instead, with Standbrige's support, it is proposed, voted on, and passed, the Letter instead issued to the Constitution battle group!

I won't comment much more on the course of the novel, other than to say it is great political thriller to see the constitutional crisis that comes to embroil all three branches of the federal government, and the struggle of Congress and the President to get the battle group to act how they see fit. It is also a great military thriller, to see a US carrier battle group, with fighters, attack craft, helicopters, and Marines operating against terrorists, a true joy to read particularly in the wake of the tragic and horrid attacks of September 11, 2001.

Highly recommend this work to all fans of military fiction, technothrillers, political thrillers, and fans of Tom Clancy. Pay close attention to the events in the novel, as there is truly excellent follow up in the riveting sequel, The Price of Power.

A most excellent political/military thriller! When terrorists sieze a U.S. cargo ship and slaughter its crew, the President vows not to continue the "cycle of violence" and calls for no retaliation. This enrages the Speaker of the House, who wants hit back at the terrorist. His top aide, Jim Dillon, finds a section of the Constitution that would let the Congress do just that without the President's approval. Very fast-paced and dramatic story. Tough to put down. The political and legal manovuering was very compelling. Very easy to follow. Good character development. Loved how Dillon saw his idea through to the end by going out to the South Pacific for the climax. The strain this whole situation puts on his relationship with his friend Molly (who's a legal advisor to the Prez) was good. Loved the dilemma the Letter of Marque and Reprisal put the military in. Very interesting to see how they handled it. Drama never stops. Every 5 or 6 pages some new development comes out that heightens the story. A wonderful debut for Mr. Huston.

This book is outstanding for a first novel. Huston does a great job making you turn pages. I think this book is definitely Tom Clancy material. However I enjoyed it more than Clancy because its more fast paced. Also, unlike Clancy who uses alot of technical jargon that kind of bores you, Huston keeps everything simple by explaining the different military terms for us non-military types. I can't wait to read the sequel "The Price of Power" once it comes out in paperback. Does anyone know when that might be?

Ever read a law review article? Pretty dry and boring stuff. But here, James Huston takes what could be a stuffy topic and wraps it around an action/political thriller story. The result is wonderful.

An American freighter is hijacked by terrorists who proceed to execute the crew members and take the captain hostage. President Manchester(a suspected pacifist) chooses to do nothing about it. As one could imagine, many are aghast at this, including the President's political nemesis, Speaker of the House Stanbridge. It appears there is little hope until Jim Dillon, a lawyer on Stanbridge's staff, discovers a dormant power in the US Constitution known as The Letter of Marque and Reprisal that gives Congress the power to direct military (or at least Naval) forces into action.

Things get complicated after this. After Congress passes the Letter, the President initiates legal action. Also, its uncertain whether the Admiral commanding the Task Force will honor the Letter. For those and more questions, I direct you to read the book!

The legal analysis is overall very good. Some critics note the Letter of Marque and Rerisal provision is just another enhancement to the President's war making capability. This is not correct. There is nothing in the Constitution directly tying the Executive to this power. Traditionally, Presidents did sign these Letters but Huston shows that tradition does not trump the Consitution. He deals crippling blows to other arguments against the Letter too.

The action is also excellent. We get to see the full power of a carrier task force unfold before our eyes. Everything from Special Ops and Marine assaults to air attacks. Huston's naval background only enhances this aspect of the novel.

An excellent work. For the thinking person who enjoys red hot action, you could do worse!

Most probably I am the only one in Malaysia who have read his book and lived within 300 miles of his battle zone. I was given this book by an American friend (personally autographed by James himself) which I did not complete reading last year. The latest East Timor Crisis made me frantically finish the reading in one day. If by any chance US gets involved in East Timor, I know what it is going to be like.

This was a fantastic book for the military/techno thriller crowd (of whcih I am one). James Huston's first book is a blockbuster and I have ordered the next two - I admit it I'm hooked. President Manchester is a dead ringer for a certain former president, who has been "former" for far too short a time. In any case there are certainly quite a few parallels - enough to get you cheering on the Admiral and the Speaker of the House. Anyone who like action and adventure, mixed with a liberal (no not that kind of "liberal") does of political intregue couldn't do better than this book. It's obvious that Jim lived the life of a naval aviator. His insights to life aboard the fictional Nimitz class carrier "Constitution" proves that along with his inflight descriptions. Great book - great story. Can't wait till I get the next two. Ordered them from my friends at Amazon yesterday!

Very good story (followed by The Price Of Power). Wanted a book for my long flight and wasn't sure which one I would take. Then I found those 2 books from Huston and I was kept to my seat while reading BOTH of them in a row.

Very fascinating to have a story where the power does not necessarily reside with the Presidency.

You will just keep reading and get the next Huston book.