Nimitz Class [Mass Market Paperback]

Patrick Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

The unthinkable has happened. The nuclear-powered Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier Thomas Jefferson, the most powerful warship in the world, home to a crew of 6,000 sailors and navy fliers, has been vaporized at sea in what appears to be a nuclear accident. The loss of life is devastating. It is the greatest peacetime disaster in U.S. history, and the shockwaves reverberate around the world.

Yet even as America grieves, Lt. Commander Bill Baldridge of Naval Intelligence, brother of one of the victims, begins to piece together reports that suggest something sinister lurks beneath the surface of this tragedy. A rogue submarine armed with a nuclear torpedo is on the loose, no one knows who commands it, who is on board or how it managed to reach striking range of the Thomas Jefferson. Worse yet, no one knows where it is now. Will it strike again? Baldridge will not rest until he brings his brother's killers to justice, and as one clue leads to another, the deadly chase is on.

Every technical detail in Nimitz Class has been authenticated by Admiral Sir John Woodward, the senior British task group commander in the Falklands War, to ensure that every naval maneuver, every harrowing plot twist could really happen. Chilling, compelling, completely authentic and supplemented with detailed maps and technical illustrations, this white-knuckle, read-through-the-night thriller heralds the astonishing debut of a new master of suspense.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At least one Amazon.com customer has found several errors of naval rank and military history in the first few pages of Patrick Robinson's blockbuster about a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier suddenly vaporized by a terrorist submarine. But if you're a plain, old-fashioned thrill seeker like me, you'll probably zip right past them as you try to keep up with the Tom Clancy-like explosion of technical trivia and plot twists. This is one of those books you pick up right after X-Files, planning to read for an hour before bed. Next thing you know it's 5 a.m., you've still got 50 pages to go--and you keep on reading. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA. Three seemingly unrelated happenings set the stage for drama. First, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, a young fisherman discovers the body of a drowned sailor. Second, underneath the surface of the Bosporus, a Russian diesel submarine secretly makes its way toward the Middle East to carry out a plan masterminded by Benjamin Adnam, an Israeli citizen. Third, the USS Thomas Jefferson, a powerful aircraft carrier manned by a complement of 6000 crew members, patrols the waters of the Indian Ocean. Suddenly, her blip vanishes from the radar screens of the other warships in her battle group. The ensuing investigation of her disappearance uncovers a sinister plot of brilliance and intrepid execution. The characters are lifelike and convincing, especially Lt. Commander Bill Baldridge, the Pentagon's primary sleuth looking into the mystery. He works closely with Admiral Sir Iain MacLean, a retired submarine flag officer of the Royal Navy. MacLean's family plays a secondary role in the story and his daughter provides the romantic element. Perhaps the most interesting person is Adnam, the villain whose machinations are the heart of the narrative. This suspense tale is written in a clear and compelling style and succeeds at creating and sustaining an aura of tension, surprise, and disbelief. The plot is reminiscent of Tom Clancy's popular thrillers; but, since it is less technical, it should appeal to an even wider audience.?Peggy Mooney, Pohick Public Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061096741
• ISBN-13: 978-0061096747
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Patrick Robinson is the co-author of the recent New York Times bestseller, "A Colossal Failure of Common Sense - the inside story of the collapse of Lehman Brothers."

Before that, he co-authored Lone Survivor for Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell which was #1 on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list for eight months in 2007.

Patrick is also the author of eleven international bestselling suspense thrillers, including To the Death, Nimitz Class, Hunter Killer, and Diamondhead, the first book in his brand new series.

He lives in Ireland and spends his summers in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining reading, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Nimitz Class (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book after reading Kilo Class. Enjoyed the characters that I already had known from the author's second book. It was slow at times just as Kilo class but think it would be an entertaining movie if the ending was "spiced" up (see next paragraph).

The ending was somewhat un-climactic which was disappointing. Since I read Kilo class first which had a dull ending, I was hoping Nimitz class would have had more "fireworks" in the end. However, it was an interesting twist at the end, that the antagonist got away leaving me wondering if Ben Adnam would appear again.

The book is entertaining because: the plot is interesting; the characters have thier own grit if you use your imagination a bit; and makes you wonder if something like this could really happen.

I do not think this is a five star book. However, the people who gave the disertations on why it should get one or zero stars seem to have too much time on their hands and probably read way to much (there is such a thing).

Patrick Robinson does deserve some credit for his efforts. Remember that this book is only fiction, takes place in the near possible future and should not have to be totally historically and militarily correct.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and exciting read!, July 29, 2005

By 

Rory Morty "Rory Morty" (Giessen, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nimitz Class (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was an excellent read. Undoubtedly the best of Robinson's works to date. He develops the story intelligently, carefully and with a lot of suspense, which contrasts somewhat with popular submarine novels from other authors, who tend to drown the story in techno-details and over-imaginative plots, and a lot of explosions! Through the story, we travel to some fascinating locations and meet well-developed and diverse characters. I particularly enjoyed the playful banter between Morgan and Rankin, although Morgan's is somewhat overdone in places. I heartily recommend this book to anybody What's more, the sequel, Kilo Class, is just as entertaining!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super story for submarine fans, May 17, 2006

By 

Dimitrios (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nimitz Class (Mass Market Paperback)

That was one of the best books I have read on modern submarine warfare and the story was also very good. The elimination of a US supercarrier by a single nuclear-tipped torpedo was presented in an exciting way, as was the hunting of the renegade submarine that followed. The episode of the British sub passing through the Bosporus Straights was absolutely marvellous and I wish Robinson had devoted some more pages to the hunting of the enemy sub, instead of discovering it by chance.