Customer Reviews

Check Six!

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm Bob Norris' son, and I've spent my life trekking around the countryside, watching my dad fly Tomcats, then Eagles, then Hornets, all the time knowing he was one of the best in the business. But he never told me he could write too! I gave up some valuable partying, I mean studying time to read his book, and let me tell you, it was time well spent. This book kept me up past 1 am on several consecutive nights, I just couldn't put it down. The unique storyline, exceptional characters, and hard-hitting action sequences had my imagination running wild. I felt like I knew the characters personally, from having grown up around their sources of inspiration. Don't worry folks, I'll be pressuring him to get the next book out ASAP. Way to go, dad.

I spent a career flying fighters for the U.S Navy and I assure you that "Check Six" is one of the few books I've read which actually gives the reader a true sense of what carrier life and naval aviation is like. "Check Six" puts you in the cockpit, in the Ready Room and on the carrier better than any novel of recent memory. Belongs on the shelf next to "Flight of the Intruder" as the only books truly depicting what it feels like to launch and recover on the pitching deck of a carrier. This is not some glamorized, hollywood version of flying fighters, this is a realistic portrayal written by someone whose been there. KUDOS to Bob "Banzai" Norris. When's the next book coming out?

I have to agree that the flying scenes in this book are great. I can even get past the whole "Tailhook" thing, but I have a major problem with the ending.

As some of the other reviewers have stated, the book just sort of peters out. There is a great build-up, likeable if slightly unbelieveable characters, and some terrific action. Then it all sort of fizzles out.

I won't give away the plot of the book (others have already done that), but it almost seems like the ending was either re-written for whatever reason, or rushed to print. It just does not satisfy the reader. Too much is left dangling, too much left unfinished.

I don't know, maybe this is just a lead-in to a sequel???

One of the best 'page turners' I've read. The author has you immersed in the story before you know it. The story line is good, the plot is believable (for the most part), and the action is non-stop. However, you're left with an ending that is inadequate, at best. I don't understand why someone would go to such lengths to develop a plot, and then leave the reader wondering 'what happened ?'.

Bob Norris, what a revelation. Check Six is a hyper read, if you enjoy a techno-thriller with a solid story line and characters with depth then with is your next read. From the start of the prologue to the very last page (which comes to soon!) you will be totally immersed in the confinement of Aircraft Carrier life. The Libyan situation is almost immaterial as the story line focuses on the survival of the Navy's first female Hornet pilots.

My only misgiving regarding this novel is that I wasn't content with knowing that justice might be served - I wanted to see those @#*@#!* pay for what they did!

Since I'm applying for colleges and other opportunities, I've been hunting around for information on the Navy. My father, a veteran pilot suggested I read Check Six. He swears it is the best account of naval aviation he has ever read. Thanks to Norris, I've decided to apply for a ROTC scolarship in the Navy. It is truly the most exciting book I have ever read. It actually puts you in the cockpit for the wildest ride of you life. Thanks Bob Norris!

Campbell, Brown, Clancey...now Bob Norris. For those of you interested in aviation, flying, the integration of women in military aviation, and just a darn good read, this book is for you. The characters were well developed, the story line excellent, and I had trouble putting it down! Anyone who has read books by the previous authors should add Bob's name to their list. I hope that he continues writing from his experiences. I wouldn't even mind a non-fiction work that shows what really happened to those who were implicated, yet innocent in the Tailhook scandal. There were hints of a story even there. Good luck Bob, I'll be looking for more titles!

Extremely entertaining. Bob Norris is as good as, if not better than the Richard Hermans, Dale Browns and Tom Clancy's of the world. The actions are so real. Readers will feel like they're right there in the action. It is also easy to understand and keep you interested all the time. You can't even find a boring sentence. IF YOU DON'T READ THIS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE MISSED!!! After you've read this, read FLY OFF.

Check Six is a truley realistic story of what the military does for a living. The characters (Randi, Jack, and "Hoser") are so like people that I knew during my 24 years in the US Air Force (even though they are Navy). Bob Norris ranks right up there with other techno-thriller military writes like Tom Clancey, Dale Brown, Stephen Coonts, and Richard Herman. I look forward to his next edition following Fly Off.

Bob Tichenor MSgt,Ret, USAF

Check Six by Bob Norris is a promising, though surprising start for a new military author. The story revolves around the introduction of women into the Navy's F-18 strike/fighter community, involving the routing out of a cabal of self-righteous officers determined to prevent a female presence in F-18's. Amazingly, this group is willing to kill to succeed. The unlikely hero is, of all things, a newspaper reporter, and even more surprising, this heroic reporter is the very same who "exposed" Tailhook. The story is well written and entertaining, once you get past the unlikely aspects of his plot and choice of heroes. For instance, The F-18 community is simply not that unusual, where it is likely that women would be fully accepted in F-14's but not F-18's. Further, a newspaper reporter, especially one involved in Tailhook, is unlikely to be the most honest and perceptive man on a carrier; even more unlikely to instantly become the close friend and cofidante of both nugget and veteran Naval Aviators as well as salty chiefs and sailors. It also appears that Mr. Norris has something of an agenda, clearly implying the view that women are superior pilots while avoiding any treatment of the problems inherent in women at sea in a combatant ship. A more balanced view would have been welcome, especially from an author who claims to have been a squadron commander. Good work, but annoying disconnects throughout the plot.