Deep Black (Deep Black 1) [Paperback]

Stephen Coonts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2004 | Series: Deep Black 1

When the National Security Agency intercepts and decodes an obscure email message indicating a severe threat to the US, the American President considers his options. No Navy task force can solve this problem; it's too complicated for Delta Force and too delicate for the Marines. A B-2 bomber will only make things worse. What if, he asks the NSA Director, the same technology that made the interception possible could be used as an offensive weapon? What if the NSA turned from crypto-spy to crypto-warrior? Armed with satellites, ships, planes, and an array of sophisticated hardware, the NSA proves as competent at covert action as it is at spying. With members of all services working closely with the agency, there is no place on earth it can't reach. Success leads to a permanent NSA Group that acts directly for the NSA Director. But the high-wire nature of its missions and the secretive, ego-driven culture of the agency mean disaster always looms nearby...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Coonts knows how to write and build suspense...this is the mark of a natural storyteller."
--The New York Times Book Review

"The master of the techno thriller." -Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Inside Flap

New York Times Bestselling Author of America

Stephen Coonts'
Deep Black

A covert operations team must crack a deadly conspiracy--
as our way of life hangs in the balance...

Created by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice

Written by Jim DeFelice

"[Coonts] is a natural storyteller [with] a rare gift."
-USA Today

Praise for the novels of Stephen Coonts

SAUCER
"A comic, feel-good SF adventure . . . [delivers] optimistic messages about humanity's ability to meet future challenges." -Kirkus Reviews

"Tough to put down." -Publishers Weekly

AMERICA
"The master of the techno-thriller spins a bone-chilling worst-case scenario involving international spies, military heroics, conniving politicians, devious agencies, a hijacked nuclear sub, lethal computer hackers, currency speculators, maniac moguls and greedy mercenaries that rivals Clancy for fiction-as-realism and Cussler for spirited action... [Coonts] never lets up with heart-racing jet/missile combat, suspenseful submarine maneuvers and doomsday scenarios that feel only too real, providing real food for thought in his dramatization of the missile-shield debate."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fans of Coonts and his hero Grafton will love it. Great fun."-Library Journal

"Coonts's action and the techno-talk are as gripping as ever."-Kirkus Reviews

"Thrilling roller-coaster action. Give a hearty welcome back to Adm. Jake Grafton."
-The Philadelphia Inquirer

HONG KONG
"The author gives us superior suspense with a great cast of made-up characters...But the best thing about this book is Coonts's scenario for turning China into a democracy."
--Liz Smith, The New York Post

"A high-octane blend of techno-wizardry [and] ultraviolence...[Coonts] skillfully captures the postmodern flavor of Hong Kong, where a cell phone is as apt as an AK-47 to be a revolutionary weapon."-USA Today

"Entertaining...intriguing."-Booklist

"Will be enjoyed by Coonts's many fans...Coonts has perfected the art of the high-tech adventure story."-Library Journal

"Coonts does a remarkable job of capturing the mood of clashing cultures in Hong Kong."
-Publishers Weekly

"Filled with action, intrigue, and humanity."-San Jose Mercury News
--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Orion Paperbacks (June 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752859013
• ISBN-13: 978-0752859019
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,299,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Non-Grafton tale short on thrills & chills - why co-author??, May 19, 2003

By 

Gerald M. Bull "Jerry Bull" (Fairview, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deep Black (Stephen Coonts' Deep Black, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

It's beginning to look like Stephen Coonts doesn't know where to take his career now that the Jake Grafton series has been pretty well tapped out. From his first book ("The Intruders") through "America", we've watched Grafton grow from a young naval fighter pilot to an Admiral, providing suspense and thrills certainly on a par with Clancy's Jack Ryan (except in much fewer words!), with possibly a little more spin on politics (e. g. "Cuba" and "Hong Kong") and a little less focus on the glamour of technology.

In "Deep Black", in which Coonts collaborates with co-author Jim DeFelice (himself with a half dozen or so books to his credit), we find a tale about National Security/CIA intrigue fostered by a possible coup in Russia. Our leading characters, Charlie Dean, a ex-Marine sniper, and Lia DeFrancesca, a former Delta Force trooper, spend most of the book deep in Russia ferreting out various evidence of mischief by the bad guys. Activities there alternate with command and control vignettes back at the "Art Room", some sort of conglomerate spy oversight agency. [Perhaps we know now how the co-authors divided their assignments.] At any rate, all are out to control world politics before the Russian President becomes an assassination victim, with most of the suspense leading up to the moment of truth re that event.

While the story was mildly entertaining at times, we thought the plot and writing skills on display were a departure from what we expect of Coonts. In particular the gender and sexual tension generated (or not) between the leads Charlie and Lia were barely beyond adolescent. Much of the technology used by the operatives, such as ear-embedded communications with an agency half-way 'round the globe, remote controlled drone fighters, and many other sensing and locating devices, were rather far-fetched, detracting from the credibility of the plot. It doesn't seem to us Coonts did his fan club any favor with this novel - perhaps it was just to keep his name out there while he gets ready to publish his next hardback? Our advice: wait!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine literature it's not, but not the worst read either, November 21, 2003

By 

A. Neilll (Goochland, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deep Black (Stephen Coonts' Deep Black, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I compare this series favorably with the "Tom Clancy" Op Center series... granted that is not sayng very much.

I am not sure who actually wrote this book, but would not be surprised if it were ghost written... In general I sort of liked the characters at least by the end of the book. A light, enjoyable read if read in the spirit in which it was written, although I admit the first time I tried to read it, I put it down after the first few paragraphs. In this genre, I have suffered through far worse, this actually was ok.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, August 6, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Deep Black (Stephen Coonts' Deep Black, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a complex and engaging thriller that weaves several different stories and plots together for a surprise payoff at the end. I especially liked Tommy Karr, a kind of fun-loving good ol' boy for modern times.