Joint Task Force #4: Africa [Paperback]

David E. Meadows (Author)

Book Description

Series: Joint Task Force | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

When a reconnaissance plane from Amphibious Force Two is hit by a missile in war-torn West Africa, four men are forced to bail out into the middle of a jungle bloodbath--and the hunt is on for the American prey.

Editorial Reviews

Review

When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other. (W.E.B. Griffin) David Meadows is the real thing. (Stephen Coonts)

About the Author

David E. Meadows is an active duty Navy Captain and the author of several military thriller novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425201473
• ISBN-13: 978-0425201473
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Igor is right on the money" says an ex-spook, March 10, 2005

By 

Al Jusoos (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joint Task Force #4: Africa (Paperback)

David Meadows was known as Igor to his shipmates. After 37 years of service to this nation he's now a full time author. AS an ex-spook who knew the fliers, lived with the spooks and heard all the sea stories, he's right on the money.

He gets better every book, every page, every paragraph. Read him for the characters, the plots and the dialogue. Know that Chief Razi is out there somewhere *hey, CTRC Carter, it might be you?*

Most of all, buy the damned books and treat yourself to a great reading experience.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AFRICA TOMORROW IN A SUPER-CHARGED TALE, April 16, 2005

By 

Bonnie Toews "Heart Tugs ... at the crossroad... (Newcastle, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joint Task Force #4: Africa (Paperback)

It's fascinating to read a military adventure set in future Africa because most American authors rely on the Middle East or Asia for their terror/thriller plots. What's even more fascinating is David Meadows' insight into his African and Muslim characters. The ruthless forces of the African National Army could be the rebels in today's Congo or the radicals in Darfus. What Meadows so brilliantly brings to light is the psyche and experience that gives birth to their horrific disrespect for life and their desperate desire for power. In the tragedies and evil plaguing today, we all share a part in their evolution because of our apathy to the genocides occurring worldwide. What the author presents in this novel is the ultimate consequence to ignoring Africa's cry for help, and the Americans in particular will reap what they sow. Set against this historical backdrop of possibilities, Meadows portrays the heroism of those least known: reconnaissance crews. These are not sexy Seals or Navy fighter pilots that populate most military thrillers. His characters represent the backbone of your "ordinary," "average," even mundane, grunts of the corps, who in the performance of their duties make up the dedicated service that protects and defends everything the United States believes in and represents: a world free of tyranny. And in doing their duty risk their lives every day without hesitation. That's Meadow's mission in his goal to entertain the reader: to remind the world that ordinary people transform into extraordinary heroes under crisis. "Africa" also wraps up Meadows' series on the JOINT TASK FORCE.

In a new Naval-Marine TV series based on Meadows' novels, Gene Hackman fits the role of cigar-smoking Admiral Dick Holman, and placing the setting of these series in the future on the African continent would at last bring Americans to a greater understanding of this neglected and ignored connection to its own history of African-Americans. Just as JAG brings the issues of today's war on terrorism to the forefront as well as gives American forces a platform to air their experiences and concerns, Meadows' vision can educate as well as entertain what may face America in ten short years from now. It's reality in a fictional format and ideal for TV audiences.

(...) This is Class-A writing at its nerve-wracking best. You've written another hit, Capt. Meadows. What are you going to do for an encore? I'm really looking forward to your next series.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars pass on this yawner, April 5, 2005

By 

Bo Carras (Southwest Asia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joint Task Force #4: Africa (Paperback)

This is just another "male comic book." my buds and me had a good laugh over some of Meadows' claims to "insider knowledge" he makes in the story. He also uses a lot of technical jargon and technical descriptions in place of solid action plotting and dialog that has a real ring to it instead of words that sound like they came off any dozen action flicks. The plot and action scenes are what make or break a book of this type but five guys who are real-life versions of the characters in the story flung the book at the wall before they finished the first twenty pages. Come on, warrior brother, you can do better than this, (even if you have to make it all up). In the meantime I suggest readers get hold of a copy of Strike Force Baghdad by Mark K. Roberts, a much better book all around.