Customer Reviews

China Sea

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

David Poyer is a master story teller and in China Sea he continues his saga of Dan Lenson in much the same fashion as C.S. Forester with his Hornblower series and Patrick O'Brian and his Jack Aubrey works but with a modern twist. His storm scene descriptions are real and to this sailor who has sailed through several typhoons in small naval vessels as well as his own small sailboat, the power of the sea comes crashing through. For ten years my wife and sailed the waters of the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea and the western Pacific. The attacks by pirates are real, we having been through two ourselves and have had friends and acquaintences injured and killed, their possessions stolen, boats stripped or sunk. Poyer describes the village life in the Philippines as it is today on the some 1700 inhabited islands of that archepelago, islands so remote the people draw their water from wells or are forced to get it by banca from a larger island; where electricity is unknown or is supplied by a small generator. The tension of a small, nearly mutinous crew and the doubts and uncertainties of Dan Lenson learning command leadership is brilliantly laid out. I can't wait for Poyer's next story of the greening of LCDR Dan Lenson.

I become rather annoyed when the professional reviewers emphasize the accuracy of David Poyer's Navy expertise and descriptions. As someone who knows next to nothing about the Navy or seamanship or whatever, Poyer has nevertheless caught my attention as a masterful writer, a challenging thinker, and an insightful explorer of leadership within the context of human nature.

Poyer has always been an artistically admirable writer. If you've already read China Sea, return to Prologue 3 on page 11. As horrible as what it describes is, Poyer's prose is gorgeous, reminiscent of what made me pay special attention to him in another of his novels, As the Wolf Loves Winter. Poyer proves even in this small passage that he can consistently hit the artistic mark that Thomas Harris set in Silence of the Lambs.

Poyer's series hero, Dan Lenson, has evolved from a relatively innocent follower to a seasoned, wise, yet renegade leader. He struggles always to be faithful to his own commanders, yet his sense of loyalty and commitment brings him face to face, again and again, with the vagaries of human frailty. He is the adherent to the black-and-white code of Navy tradition that forever proves inadequate to contain the ambitions and passions of human leaders. And yet even as Lenson suffers professionally, he prevails in his belief that there is absolute truth somewhere out there.

The only character I can think of in another modern novel series who has been as exquisitely treated as Poyer's Dan Lenson is in the Lawrence Block series, Matt Scudder. Lenson's experiences and the effect they have on the ongoing development of his character are razor-sharp in every novel. Lenson feels like an old friend from whom I've heard many intimate thoughts, and he seems to be as complex and alive as any person I've ever known.

So many of Poyer's professional reviews focus on the realism of the Navy experience he describes, but what I am fascinated by is the realism of the human heart in the reality of leadership and command that Poyer portrays with such excellence.

Keep it up, David! I figure I'm going to retire right along with Lenson!

I was swept away into the adventure of the China Sea, living vicariously every exciting moment in Poyer's latest (and great) book. I'll never live such adventure so I'm terribly grateful to Poyer for allowing me to participate, if only on the printed page.

I did notice that the book's flap copy did a disservice to Poyer when they referred to his "star-crossed" career. I'm sure they meant it as a compliment (like "star-studded") but star-crossed actually means "destined to an unhappy fate, sure to end up in misfortune." Check out the dictionary when you write flap copy, publisher! Because David Poyer is definitely star studded and his books are going to be around for a long, long time.

This is a great READ! After a middling disappointment with Poyer's last novel, TOMAHAWK, I had the opportunity to write to him and explain why I had trouble with the premise behind the plot in that book. He had dropped me a note and told me he was sorry I didn't like it and hoped I would like CHINA SEA better. Well, I'm here to say that I did and I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SAY SO!

In CHINA SEA, both David Poyer as author and LCDR Dan Lenson are back in top form. The time is 1990 and Dan Lenson is ordered to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to relieve the CO of a Knox Class frigate, the USS GADDIS. The current skipper is an alcoholic and almost out of control and the ship is scheduled for decommissioning and transfer to the Pakistani Navy. Early in the book, Poyer describes in detail the problems of the handover and the lack of skill of the Pakistani captain. In one particular incident, he describes a small lube oil fire that sends the Pakistani engine room crew for the lifeboats. Their officers are not far behind. A small skeleton crew of Americans fights the fire, puts it out and waits for the return of the ship's new owners. Reading Poyer's description of the Pakistani captain's shiphandling skills is humorous and painful at the same time. There are several incidents that will make former USN readers cringe when they read them and make the same reader glad that competent seafarers like Lenson are aboard to help.

Approximately 1/4 of the way through this story, Poyer introduces a nice little twist. It coincides with the arrival of the former USN frigate in its new homeport in Pakistan. Lenson and the MTT (military transition team) receive orders that the transfer has been cancelled and the USA is again taking custody of the ship. Lenson receives verbal orders from the naval attache in Islamabad to take possession of the ship and steam for Singapore. There are problems, though. He has too small a crew, no money and no ammunition for the 5 inch gun or the 20 mm and 40mm guns that the Pakistanis had installed. He steams out of port nonetheless. In Singapore he picks up some bottom of the barrel replacements but still not quite a full ships's company. He also gets a naval reserve officer sent to the Far East for his annual training. Also a LCDR, he will prove his worth because of his intelligence background and the fact that while on active duty, he was a comptent surface warfare officer.

There is another stroke of genius in Poyer's writing that adds a complication to the novel's plot and Dan Lenson's life as the CO of "GADDIS." There is a serial killer aboard. It seems that everywhere the ship goes, it leaves horribly mangled dead women behind it. How Lenson solves this mystery adds immeasureably to the overall success of the entire book and I think readers will ponder long after they've finished Lenson's final resolution when the murderer is identified.

Along the way, GADDIS becomes part of a multi-national task force designed to ferret out and destroy pirates in the oceans between Singapore and the Chinese island of Hainan. The TNTF for "tiny nations task force" is composed of elements of the Singaporean, Indonesian, Malaysian and Phillipine Navies. Each nation contributes a ship and some are more capable than others. Poyer does an outstanding job of describing the difficulties of managing such an ad hoc force, especially one that is hampered by dissimilar capabilities, equipment and communications. While the GADDIS packs most of the combat punch of this force, Lenson must constantly keep an eye on his fuel gauges and remember that he is seriously lacking in ammunition for his main battery.

Poyer doesn't miss a trick and reminds the reader that the sea is a dangerous and unforgiving place. He also introduces typoons into the equation. The reader knows with this book that being the commanding officer of a naval ship sent in harm's way is much more demanding a job than anyone can ever begin to imagine. Poyer's description of Lenson's thought processes and the pressures he must deal with are masterful. This book becomes and remains a page turner from the time that Lenson reassumes command of the ship in Pakistan.

As Lenson and GADDIS deal with their various "minor" problems, major ones begin to surface. The crew of GADDIS is one that is thrown together and the enlisted personnel are not the cream of the crop. Lenson has a very small wardroom and an executive officer that he cannot count on. He must still also find out who among his crew is the killer. There are several false starts in his investigation before the culprit is finally revealed. While I realized where he was taking the investigation, I did not at first suspect who the author reveals. I think Poyer did a fine job of concealing that identity until the last moment.

This is sea story, a lesson in international power politics and a murder mystery all wrapped up in a tight and tidy package. There are good characters and bad ones. What I liked is that while Dan Lenson is not a perfect person, he never loses his moral compass. He is a better officer and person than he gives himself credit for and that is what makes reading about him so enjoyable.

After having read this book, I must say that I owe David Poyer an apology. In my review of TOMAHAWK here at Amazon, I told readers that I thought that novel should probably be Lenson's last outing. After reading CHINA SEA, I can honestly say that I hope to see several more installments in the continuing saga of DAN LENSON, USN.

Thank you Mr. Poyer for a most enjoyable read. I hope you'll keep Dan Lenson around for more adventures at sea.

Fair winds and following seas.

While not may favorite of David Poyer's Navy novels (The Circle still holds that distinction), this book is a worthy addition to the series and a must read for anyone who follows the series. If you even remotely enjoyed any of David Poyer's previous books, you will love this one.

David Poyer continues to deliver sea stories that have realism, believability, and foundation in fact, yet completely engage the reader in multiple, concurrent high seas dramas with events twisting and turning every which way! This pre-Gulf War novel kept me on the edge!

China Sea continues to refine and enhance the image and character of LCDR Dan Lenson. He is junior for this command, but appropriate, given the story line. Dan is stretched to his personal limits and demonstrates unswerving dedication to duty and following orders. Even though the 'orders' were unclear to begin with Dan quarterbacked a difficult mission under unusual circumstances. I can't wait for Dan's role to be played out in the Gulf War!

Dave Poyer does it again - a complex and devious yarn full of gripping incident and detail. Once again, the Chinese are the "bad guys" (does anyone else find it a bit alarming that all the thrillers are going down this path?) but the focus is really on the incredibly stressful situation of a modern-day "privateer", or maybe a "black project" set in a naval context. A bizarre side-plot involves an especially nasty serial killer.

My only quibble is that for the first half of the book, one is hit every so often with extraordinarily overblown similes and metaphors. Most unusual for Poyer. "The sun, red and swollen as a blood-filled condom..." Ouch! But they disappear as the story moves along. It's a great read, with a suitably cynical approach concerning those who pull the levers of power. After all, Dan Lenson's task would have been a lot easier if he had been told up front, privately "You will operate anonymously, not under the US flag - and if need be, we will deny that you exist" - but no, they made him figure that out for himself, at much greater risk to the mission.

David Poyer writes wonderful books and the tradition continues with China Sea. Imagine hero Dan Lenson on his first command battling a part Pakistani crew who have their own way of doing things including primitive gunnery drills in an age of Tomahawk cruise missile strikes. There is also a murderer on board Lensons Knox class destroyer. Some people might think that this makes the American Navy look bad but there usually has to be a subplot in stories about warships and its better than the phantom crapper subplot in Flight of the Intruder. The showdown with a Chinese warship near the disputed Spratley Islands shows that Poyer is a master of relating geopolitical events. I highly recommend all of Poyers other books as well.

I first got interested in sea stories from reading Patrick O'Brien's series. Poyer's hero, Dan Lenson, is likewise a thinking person's sailor. He is also something of a maverick, at one time considering resigning over the destruction a weapon like the Tomahawk missile could cause. Lenson has watched his superiors intently to learn from their decisions and later to consider whether he would have decided the same. He doubts himself at times. Here he finally has a temporary command fitted to his maverick tendencies and testing all he has learned over the years. Of course we have the obligatory sea battle, and Lenson finally discovers he has a taste for command after all. Strongly recommended, as are all Poyer's books.

Our emotionally buffeted series hero, Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lenson, USN, has excruciating dificulties here. It's like the author thought up the most impossible set of conditions at sea he could imagine, and then put poor Dan smack in the middle to swim or sink forevermore: a new captain with vague orders, an antiquated stripped ship, weak engines, contentious officers, fearful allies, a terrible typhoon, a demoralized and grossly understrength crew, and one of them probably a ghoulish serial murderer (a vicious twist on the sailor's "girl in every port"). Poyer neatly accomplishes this with a ship destined for an allied navy and sailed by a mixed and incompetent if-allah-wills-it transfer crew. Dan's been in tough places before in his career of five earlier novels, but this is perhaps the most current and future one, since it involves the Spratley Islands that are a potential flash point in Southeast Asia today. This is an astonishing novel of ship command in a vacuum of orders (like detached frigate captains back in the age of fighting sail, before radio). All depends on the character of the captain, and here is Lenson, an uptight, stubborn, moral officer in his first command. He must fight everything, the navy, its traditions, his crew, his reputation, and his own doubts. Poyer's occasional flights of nature description seem incongruous but are tinged with the hard menace that runs throughout this powerful story. The extraordinary tension in this masterful sea story will keep you on the edge of your seat.