Customer Reviews

Final Run

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

 

 

After the minor slump his previous series seemed to hit with regards to plot, pacing and dialogue, retired U.S. Navy Captain David "Igor" Meadows has hit his stride with this first in a series of Cold War submarine service novels.

Jumping back and forth between the beginnings of the Soviet Navy's nuclear power program and the end of the U.S. Navy's diesel submarines, he has brought together his previous writing experience and talent to make his characters real and believable, as only a talented veteran can. He is beginning to nibble at the very real world of covert intelligence gathering accomplished during the Cold War by both sides as they exploited subsurface technology gains as well as the rapid expansion of surface and airborne intelligence collection during the period, a time that eventually saw large numbers of casualties and danger as each side sought to gain "one up" on the other. Excellent pacing, crisp dialogue and plotting made this a fast paced and fun new addition to "MIL-LIT."

Best evidence of Meadow's maturing talent is that after finishing this one, I can't wait to read his next installment.

This is the first in David Meadows new SUBMARINE ACTION SERIES and what a terrific first it is at that! I'm such a fan!

I took this book on vacation with me and I'm so happy that I did. The action is fast and the suspense kept me content and busy. Reading this book was the high-light of my vacation. My only regret was that while sun-bathing beside the Las Vegas pool at the hotel I was staying at (every now and again) I would forget to turn and well as you might imagine BOY did I get sun-burnt Ouch! That aside...FINAL RUN is a wonderful story that all action lovers will really enjoy! Take my word for it you do not want to miss reading this one! This story is AMAZING!!!

The Cold War is being fought on every front including under the seas. The year is 1956 a year of transition for the U.S. Navy and advanced nuclear technologically is leading the fight of a lifetime!

The action is fast, the dialogue is thrilling, and the plot is a real nail-chewer!

I'd give this book more than "5" STARS if that were an option!

A MUST READ TO BE SURE!

As all Yanks might expect, this is no contest. But the story as written is a cliff-hanger to the bitter end! BRAVO ZULU! This author must truly understand the life of the old men who wear a dolphin.

I found Mr. Meadows last series fairly unrealistic (a giant floating "dock" acres large held up by four ships at each corner). This one however looks like a great new series of an often overlooked chapter in US/USSR history. Good characters, interesting mission, good insight into both the US and Soviet Navies. Kept me reading.

I do agree with another reviewer, it was confusing at the end, where was the fire, forward or aft? I decided to just give up trying to figure it out and enjoyed the ending.

I got this book on a lark but was surprised how good it was. Vivid characters, good story line will keep you up well past bedtime just to see what will happen next.

David Meadows here has penned a compelling submarine novel, accompanied by incredible detail on subs and on the Soviet Union submarine establishment. Two subs -- one an old diesel and the other a Soviet nuclear boat -- sail to their destiny. The ending is not surprising, but you keep reading anyhow, because the characters are so well drawn. Meadows grinds out action-packed prose, most of the time. But sometimes he gets a little too pedantic. But the man knows how to take a simple plot and give it enough twists and turns to keep the reader attentive. This is my first Meadows book, but I'll read more.

The Soviets have built their first nuclear submarine at their secret base across the Kola Bay from Severmorsk, where their Northern Fleet Headquarters is located. The boat has been launched into the bay for sea trails and there is a considerable amount of pressure on the captain and his crew to successfully perform all of the assigned exercises to ensure that the boat and its nuclear reactor are ready for full deployment in the larger Soviet submarine fleet. The project is under the tightest security, and the bay is patrolled by Soviet destroyers that are also participants in the exercises.

The Americans are hungry for information about the Soviet nuclear submarine program and send a diesel powered submarine to the northern Barents Ocean to secretly make its way into the Kola Bay and take photographs of the Soviet installations and grab air samples to determine the ambient level of radiation. Upon successfully completing its mission, the American submarine is then to leave the area with all haste and return to its home port.

I felt the author constructed an interesting story and executed it with tons of detailed submarine jargon, realistic action scenes and intriguing characters. The captains of the Soviet boat and the American boat are put to the ultimate test with a complex array of unforeseen problems to solve.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the submarine warfare games of the Cold War.

I had such high hopes for this book after reading the preface, two old school captains playing cat and mouse under the ocean. I love that stuff. Unfortunately there was absolutely none of that and the pre-drama was far from nail biting. All the action takes place in the final 10 pages of the book but honestly nothing happens.

If you are looking for a good sub yarn stick with Joe Buff! Interestingly Joe Buff commented on this book, but from his comment I am not sure he ever read the book. Another good read is Torpedo by Jeff Edwards.

This book has a good plot, however the author gets into the intricate operation of a boat that he knows absolutely nothing about. He has not bothered to even learn the physical makeup of a fleet type U S submarine
let alone how one was operated. He could have at least had an old smoke
boat sailor proof read it before it went to press. He can't even make up his mind if there was a fire in the forward torpedo room or after torpedo room of the K2 (whale), It changed with each page. My advice to Mr. Meadows is ignorance can be cured by education and enlightenment but stupid is uncurable, so don't write another submarine novel.