Customer Reviews

Constant Bearing - Decreasing Range: A Makeover for Sailor Sam

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4 star:		(2)
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The title of this debut novel by Skip Vogel--and in particular its subtitle, "A Tale of Naval Intrigue,"--will recommend it to readers of military fiction of the Tom Clancy variety, though this novel does not (as Clancy's do) involve warfare or espionage or high-action thrills. Instead, Constant Bearing focuses on one particular aircraft carrier, the fictional U.S.S. Union, which has been re-commissioned in 1976, the year in which the novel is set. In their attempts to achieve an "E" rating--that is, Excellent--for the carrier, the crew is confronted with several obstacles, in the form of an NIS investigation over drugs and counterfeit money found on board; a dead man found in the women's bathroom; a missing crewmember (who apparently has jumped ship); and social experimentation (involving, just as an example, women in the military), which in the view of "old salts" like Captain Yorel, are jeopardizing the U.S. Navy's ability to function in its role as a navy.

The dangers of social experimentation is, indeed, the primary theme of this novel; and the attempts of the "old salts" to resist it to the end, in spite of every obstacle and the inexorable march of time and change, is what drives the plot.

And yet this quite remarkable novel will have an appeal not just to those cultish fans of its subgenre, but indeed to anyone who is interested in good, old-fashioned storytelling. Vogel displays remarkable skill in handling and developing, at a nicely slow and yet page-turning pace, a diversity of plot elements and characters. Nothing, however small, gets pushed aside by his discerning pen and everything, even the most seemingly unimportant stroke of description, is treated with care.

Such a strength is especially important in a novel which involves a career and a setting with its own culture and lingo; Vogel is able to explain Navy terms and locales with a specificity that makes them accessible to anyone, and he is able to do so precisely because of his ability to explain the matter at hand and still deftly move a plot forward. Vogel's storytelling skills shine particularly brightly in his ability to handle character. In the same way that no smallest detail escapes his attention, every character, however minor, is treated with equal care. It is important to point this out because very few writers have managed to achieve it; among contemporary writers, only a John Irving, or a Stephen King, or a Kurt Vonnegut, can accomplish such a task.

At the end, however, Constant Bearing proves to be a very finely wrought tale of the politics, and the equipment and the men who make up the U.S. Navy.

Run, do not walk, to get your hands on Skip Vogel's amazing new novel; "CONSTANT BEARING - DECREASING RANGE." A twenty year veteran of the United States Navy, Vogel gives the reader an insider's view of the sights and scenes of the United States military aboard a major combatant of the Fleet. This powerful novel is a close scrutiny of National Defense that can become sorely compromised by flawed public policy. Focusing on one of the most relevant, urgent issues in our Country today, Vogel tells a painful, yet emotional story; one that the reader will not soon forget.

James D. Pfannenstiel
Captain, USN (ret)

In a sea of mediocre books, Skip Vogels Constant Bearing, Decreasing Range stands out as a must read for humor, adventure and drama. His writing style creates a phenominal read. Ordinary men on an aircraft carrier are subjected to untried social experimentation in the name of political correctness for social change. The drama portrayed will stir feelings in every man who has ever served his country. Anyone who reads this book will be moved or incited by this story. Has a GREAT ending!!!!!

After reading Skip Vogel's "Constant Bearing..." my response was WOW! AWESOME!! The story, set in a fictional aircraft carrier, USS Union, was personal, incisive, redemptive, cathartic, historical, prophetic, visionary and accurate to the smallest details of normal routines in the lives of sailors aboard a Navy vessel in the 1970's. The storyline and message will speak to every person who wore the U.S. military uniform in that era, a time of radical change and turbulence. Vogel is able to capture and speak to a plethora of human emotions, couched within a context of humor, human conflict, compassion, intrigue, decepton, trust and viewing the human spirit at its worst and its best. The novel comes to a dramatic conclusion when each of the principle characters is able to exorcize personal demons which have plagued each one in separate ways from their days sailing in the USS UNION. Tears will come to the reader's eyes when experiencing the powerful resolution of wounds being healed. Greater tears will come when realizing that the basic theme of the story, the collision course between Public Policy and National Defense was not resolved, neither then nor now.

Walter D. Volz, Captain, USNR (ret)

As a retired naval officer who had a tour on an aircraft carrier I found Skip Vogel's book, Constant Bearing-Decreasing Range an outstanding read. I was caught up in the story in the first few pages and had trouble putting it down until I could finish it. Skip Vogel has a wonderful writing style and is very accurate in his descriptions of life in a carrier during the 1970s. Do doubt this a reflection of personal experience but for anyone who just loves a great story this is a must read.

I highly recommend this book. It's written by a career Naval Officer and is very provocative.

I thought the author did a good job of portraying the life of some people in the Navy, and how enlistment practices affected them and affected the capibilities of the ship.

In full disclosure, I have to admit that I know the author, but I didn't know him as an author until I picked up this great book!

Skip has done a great job spinning a yarn that tells a great story that incorporates many of his experiences and beliefs, and the book delivers a message that should be stuck in the "in box", or make that the ear, of every legislator. The plot, subplots, and character development provide your read with a lot to keep this interesting from beginning to end. I also learned a lot about navy protocols and shipboard existence, and the glossary at the end of the book helped understand the terminology and the lingo of the "salts".

Thanks, Skip! God bless!

Social engineering almost always results in a collision of one kind or another primarily because the designers have no relationship at all with the implimentation. This book is a classic example of good intentions gone crazy.

Captain Vogel has done an excellent job explaining the profound impact that social / political decisions can make on our military's readiness. Constant Bearing-Decreasing Range is an enjoyable story that left me questioning positions that I had held for years. My only thought at the end of the book was "Wow".