Iron Gate [Hardcover]

Richard Herman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 22, 1996

Learning that the Afrikaner resistance movement has discovered the secret of cold fusion, Colonel Matt Pontowski heads a United Nations mission in which he must decide between a hopeless attack and the destruction of a nation. 20,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The topical perils of a U.N. peacekeeping mission are plunked down in the middle of South Africa as USAF Col. Mat Pontowski, the dashing hero of Herman's previous books (Dark Wing, etc.), is once again pressed into his government's service. Helped by an Israeli scientist, a bunch of revanchist Afrikaners who pine for the salad days of apartheid are in possession of the secret of cold fusion, which means they're in possession of nukes. Civil War threatens South Africa, the U.N. sends in the blue helmets and the U.S. sends Matt and his Warthogs (A-10 aircraft). Matt, a man of action, has to get things done despite diplomatic dithering, UN impotence and all those damn bureaucrats and pesky journalists who get in his way. Herman helpfully reminds us of past events (the death of Matt's Israeli wife and the need to be an attentive father to his young son), and he plants the seeds for a new love (Sam the camera woman) and the sad demise of an old friend. The air combat scenes are exciting and vivid, but the story itself is predictable and the characters stock. The book succeeds on its own terms, however, as Herman wraps two eternal battles?good guys against bad guys, heroes against bumbling suits and brass?into a rousing, serial-style adventure.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (January 22, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684810700
• ISBN-13: 978-0684810706
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,210,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT & EXPLOSIVE ACTIONS !!!, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Iron Gate (Paperback)

This is an action-packed thriller for readers who like fast actions and war scenes. Unlike Tom Clancy, (who slow down the actions with too much tech-data), Richard Herman does not waste too much time to bring the readers right into the actions. The flow of the story is smooth and the writer keeps readers interested at all times. I would recommand reading Dark Wing before reading Iron Gate (although the story is not as smooth, it gives you more information about the main characters).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intense, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Iron Gate (Paperback)

Every bit as intense as the new WWII airwar novel I just read, "The Triumph and the Glory", and as action-packed as any of Clancy's best, "Iron Gate" is a super book, I was very impressed with it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Verrry verrry goood, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Iron Gate (Paperback)

Dale Brown and Tom Clancy are great, but Richard Herman is the best! His only equal is Stephen Coonts. The only problem I have with Herman is that he kills off his main characters (eg., Muddy Waters and Jack Locke). I am presently reading Iron Gate and cannot put it down. Keep up the good work Mr. Herman!