Customer Reviews

Deep Sound Channel

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book, which is the author's first, offers both a vividly realistic look at how war might be fought at sea in the not-too-distant future, plus a tightly edited, fast-paced, exciting story that's often brutally violent, always action-packed and always full of suspense. The often highly technical prose displays a dazzling level of knowledge of submarines on the part of the author which actually makes the reader feel as though he is ON the submarine, but at the same time does not make the basic story line too hard to follow, which can be a risk with this kind of writing. Plus, Joe Buff provides a glossary which is extremely helpful. I now know a lot more about nuclear subs and about tactical nuclear war than I used to. Though I rarely read fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can hardly wait for Joe Buff's next one.

It's difficult to believe this is Joe Buff's first novel. Written with the maturity you'd expect from a much more seasoned author, Deep Sound Channel quickly grabs you and shows you one possible future on a US Navy nuclear submarine. In a near-future limited nuclear conflict between major powers, the author masterfully depicts the turmoil, pain, and dedication of submariners in a high stakes conflict between good and evil. His apparent knowledge of submarines lends believability to the ultra-complicated, and demanding world in which these remarkable people live and die to preserve a way of life. With enough action to hold the reader's interrest throughout, the author develops his characters to the point where the reader shares emotional highs and lows with them. A thoroughly satisfying novel that will engross action buffs looking for a good read.

As Tom Clancy, the great submarine novelist of the past decade, moves away from submarine epics into psychosocial melodramas involving matters of high state, a new novelist in his tradition has appeared and, like Clancy, done so with his first release. In "Deep Sound Channel" by Joe Buff, the author weaves an intricate yarn of undersea warfare, set in the not so distant future, that involves adversaries that will surprise the reader and not be apparent till later in the novel. Unlike the various other futuristic writers, the advanced technology described by this author exists already on the drawing boards. In terms of future weapons, sensors and tactics the book reads like a primer for the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in the 21st century. The author's greatest asset, though, represents his extensive knowledge of nuclear physics and acoustic propagation combined with detailed descriptions of how a nuclear submarine actually operates from the submariner's perspective. A remarkable achievement given the difficulty of the subject matter. I eagerly look forward to Joe Buff's next submarine novel.

Landlocked in Beverly Hills

I bought this book based on the recommendations on Amazon, and I was NOT disappointed.

This book really delivers the goods when it comes to action, tension, plot, and characterization. The tac nukes fly with frightening regularity. Buff manages to deliver a vision of near future warfare unlike any I have read, and let me tell you it is a scary one. By no means is this a low intensity regional conflict or a "limited war". This is about as all out as you can get without the ICBM's flying.

I was really impressed with Buff's writing and with the story. The characters were 3 dimensional and had believable motivation. I liken Mr. Buff's effort to Stephen Hunter's work, albeit in a bit of a different genre. Like Hunter, Buff takes pains to deliver detailed technical information without slowing down the story, and writes a tight action packed story.

I certainly look forward to reading Buff's next book, and I am pleased with finding another author I like.

This novel was loaned to me by my daughter and although I am not a literary critic, I am an avid reader. Deep Sound Channel is an exciting, thought-provoking and suspense filled book about Naval warfare of the future. Being unfamiliar with many of the naval terms, the glossary was not only necessary for me, but very much appreciated. Through this well-written novel, I obtained a great deal of knowledge about nuclear submarines and the navy as well. Even though the subject matter may suggest the novel appeals only to a male audience, I found it very appealing and interesting to me as a woman, especially with respect to the heroine.

Deep Sound Channel is written in such a manner that I felt I personally knew the characters involved. At times it was difficult to tell where the story ends and reality begins. I look forward to many more novels from Joe Buff.

In this intricately woven undersea-tale, Joe Buff has created a gripping story of a possible future conflict. Frightening believability is supplied by his technical research on current hardware and it's logical progession into future gadetry. The story line regarding the re-emergence of Germany as a dominating power in Europe, bent on reestablishing past levels of power and prestige on the world stage after the decline of the former US and Soviet Union "super-powers", is consistent with the rise and fall of other powerful nation-states over thousands of years of recorded history. Reinforced by an "Axis of Evil " partnership with like-minded South African Boer comrades seeking to relive their glory days of dominance over subject populations in their region, the new realities have forced the former super-powers into unaccustomed roles.
A badly weakened and disorganized America reacts slowly and with limited success to the surprise onslought of combined German-Boer forces. Russia is a "neutral", but supplying clandestine support to the new "AXIS", while the rest of the world waits to see who gains the upper hand before declaring any public support for either side! Joe's work in current national defense commentary for non-fiction outlets in military and public-policy circles lends additional credibility to the scenarios he paints in this novel.

The authentic operational proceedures and dialog between characters in military actions creates the feel of a transcript recorded on the scene by the author. This occasionally gets into a great deal of technical detail, obviously designed to help the reader follow the "decision cycle" and "brainstorming " needed to solve grave problems in a tense and critical situation. The relationships between characters, both official and unofficial, are well written and make the people worth caring about in the midst of all the technical wonder and battle excitement. The minor flaw of occasional technical overload in an otherwise outstanding first effort by Joe Buff, does not detract enough to mar a Five-Star rating !

Well this time the world has become even more
dangerous, if that's possible, in the latest
Joe Buff sequel "Tidal Rip." Tom Clancy eat
your heart out. This book is great! Buff
keeps getting better and better.

This time Jeffrey Fuller is outwitted by Ernst
Beck in some of the best tactical sequences I
have read in a long time. Beck has become
a multi-dimensional character who is torn between
duty and his own morality. Between his internal
conflicts as a man and his fight for survival against
the Challenger and Jeffrey Fuller this latest
book is terrific!

The battle between the kampfschwimmer and Felix Estabo
under the largest waterfall in the world is amazing.
The Seals may have to start training under waterfalls
after this book.

Buff gives us everything we have come to expect from
the continuing adventures of Jeffrey Fuller. New
weapons and equipment. A more evolved Fuller who
is moving up in the world and battle sequences that
are breathtaking.

I got my first glimpse into the facinating world of submarines (at least my first serious one) when I read Clancy's 'Hunt For Red October' back in the late 80's. I have been interested in sub novels ever since. The main problem is there are only a small number of good sub authors in print today. When I discovered Michael DiMercurio I found exactly what I was looking for. But again, these good authors can't produce a new novel as often as I finish them, therefore I kept looking. FINALLY!! I came across 'Joe Buff' and his amazing first novel, "Deep Sound Channel" and I am hooked all over again.

The near-future war between the Allies & the (new) Axis is a terribly frightening one...one in which nuclear weapons ARE being used -- too frequently. The USS Challenger is a ceramic-hulled Virginia Class SSN that is the next generation of super-quiet subs that can deliver incredible blows to the enemy. I found the main storyline quite interesting: Infiltrate an enemy biological weapons facility and turn it into nuclear dust, otherwise the outcome of the war just may turn in unwanted directions. The greatest strength that Buff has is his ability to make us feel like we are RIGHT THERE in the midst of the action in the CACC of the Challenger...sweating right along with the crew. Even coming upon the wreck of other subs can be hair raising. Joe Buff has quickly become one of the shining stars in the field of the submarine techno-thriller right along DiMercurio and Clancy (although Tom hasn't done an all-out sub novel since Red October).

If you enjoy a thrilling time inside the walls of a nuclear submarine, give yourself a gift and buy Joe Buff's books (also including: 'Thunder In The Deep' & 'Crush Depth') and sit back and relax (as best you can) and allow the theater of your mind to play out the tremendously fun adventure set within the pages of his books. Highly recommended.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my significant other. (The best part about giving books is that you can read them first yourself.) Recently I have been immersed in the Patrick O'Brien novels but successfully made the jump from 19th-century British Royal Navy vessels during wartime to the year 2011 and US nuclear submarines during wartime. Although nuclear submarine warfare is not my genre of choice, this book held my interest through sheer believability. The military situation and events Joe Buff describes are credible, as is the human interaction. Developing military events are suspenseful and exciting, not thrown in like the requisite car chases in action movies. Characters are distinguishable from each other without a lot of boring description. The female protagonist, Ilse, is not a bimbo nor a techie but a person with her own history and goals. A bonus is the multitude of fascinating details about operating a nuclear sub. If I ever get a chance to tour a submarine, I will expect it to look like the USS Challenger and will feel ready to volunteer to help with any task at hand. This book is a page turner although there is enough "reality" (in dialogue and narrative) to keep you glued to the page without skimming. And if you've ever wondered what it feels like to behave like a dolphin or a whale, you'll find out. I bought another copy to give as a gift to my SO's son-in-law.

"Deep Sound Channel" is perhaps comparable to "Hunt for Red October" in the same way this year's Yankees were comparable to the Mets. "Deep Sound Channel" far excels in technical finesse, energy, precision, imagination, style and, ummm, depth. In particular, its science is twice as plentiful, far more integral to the plot, and an order of magnitude more convincing: you cannot tell where fact leaves off and verisimilitude begins. It's got just as much suspense, and five times the action; perhaps twice the literacy and four times the character development. The glory of his language puts Buff in a league with the early Anne Rice; his economy with Hemingway; his realism with Dashiell Hammett; his elegance with Bill Buckley (the polemicist, not the wannabe Ian Fleming); his charm with Rex Stout.

I'm a professional writer. I've 5 bookcases of mystery, action, fantasy, you name it, harking back 50 years. I've always wanted to write one; I've got three false starts to my credit.

Joe lives next door. When I heard he was trying his hand at a first novel, I politely wished him good luck. Now I'm green with envy. When I meet him, honor compels me to salute and tug my forelock. Having Joe Buff for a neighbor keeps me humble.

--arsesq