Power Curve [Mass Market Paperback]

Richard Herman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

In a tight presidential race, Madeline O'Keith Turner's inclusion on her party's ticket had been a stroke of political genius - handily winning her running mate the White House and herself the distinct honor of becoming the first woman vice-president in America's history. A shrewd, savvy, effective and popular politician, she is more than qualified to chair the Senate and to act as her nation's good-will ambassador. But now fate has intervened. The sudden death of the sitting President has left Maddy Turner in a position that no one ever truthfully expected: behind the desk in the Oval Office and holding the reins of power. As the new Chief Executive, President Turner faces a slew of challenges and treacheries from her very first day in office. She is confronted by an uncooperative group of "old guard" Washington insiders who would dearly love to see her fail. Even her own Chief of Staff secretly doubts her ability to lead. And, worst of all, she has precious little time to master the subtleties of governmental gamesmanship - because a crisis is brewing halfway around the world that could have devastating global repercussions. The Chinese are engaging in a massive military build-up and brazenly reaching out into the East China Sea - the first step in an act of naked aggression designed to destroy Japan's position as a Pacific power. A situation that would severely test the abilities of even the most seasoned world leader could be a disaster for Maddy Turner and her nation. And a single false step could result in the untried President's impeachment...or nuclear war. But President Turner has a staunch ally within her own inner circle: General Robert Bender, her National Security Advisor.An ex-Thunderbird pilot, his loyality to his Commander-in-Chief is unwavering, but the skills that made him an outstanding military leader are rejected in the corridors of power. As the Chinese and Japanese fleets clash in the biggest naval engagement since World War Two, the Gen

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Public libraries should expect requests for this title, which may catapult Herman (Dark Wing, LJ 5/1/94) from the military/technothriller genre into the best-sellers category. In 2001, a female vice president is in the Oval Office after the president's unexpected death. Intent on tax reform and untried at foreign affairs, President Turner is thrust into an international crisis when China threatens Japan near an American military base. At home are political foes, some very near, determined to bring her down. Herman's White House episodes, political intrigue, military base action, and international negotiations crackle with tension and credibility. This novel shows the dominant role psychology plays in both domestic and foreign affairs. For most popular collections.?Rebecca Sturm Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib, Highland Heights
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In the very near future, Vice President Madeline O'Keith Turner is sworn in as the first woman president of the U.S. A crisis with China demands immediate attention. Her predecessor had sanctioned the Chinese accession of Taiwan; following this sellout, South Korea signed a pact with China that puts Japan in jeopardy. As Chinese and Japanese troops mobilize, U.S. forces stationed on Okinawa must make a show of force. Highly suspicious of the military, President Turner slashes the defense budget by 30 percent yet realizes that decisive actions are required, especially in her position as the nation's first female commander-in-chief. For counsel she depends on former Thunderbird pilot General Robert Bender, who understands the structure of the armed services, and on Patrick Shaw, her power-hungry chief of staff, who recklessly leaks Oval Office secrets to the press. Antiwar demonstrations, plane crashes, nuclear weapons, hostage situations, and behind-the-scenes political backstabbing layer this complex thriller, which echoes current events as Beijing flexes its muscles on the world stage. Jennifer Henderson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Avon (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380787865
• ISBN-13: 978-0380787869
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,169,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars doesn't live up to its potential, July 24, 1999

By 

Randolph Marcus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Curve (Hardcover)

Herman starts off with a promising theme: the first woman president, torn between her emotions and realpolitik. The author does well by the emotions but poorly on the realpolitik. He has China acting contrary to its historical behavior and in ways that are simply counterproductive to its own national interests. Herman also fails to understand our treaty obligations with Japan. His characterization of US-Japanese ties are way off the mark. I know this is a book of fiction but the genre of international intrigue requires some basis of fact.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Woman Prez Tries To Figure It Out, March 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Power Curve (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book because I wanted a great political thriller. The characters, particularly the Chief of Staff (Shaw) and the National Security Advisor (Bender), were wonderfully crafted--brilliant and human at the same time. The author could've made the President a trifle tougher (geez, she's always uncomfortable in a room full of men). There was too much focus on military operations and the concomitant jargon--bore me some more (and I'm an ex-Airborne troop). Still, an excellent few hours of entertainment.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Page Turning and Gripping Political Thriller, June 8, 2000

By 

P. Connors "Colonialpara" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Curve (Mass Market Paperback)

In the near future, the United States gets its first female President. She is Madeline O'Keith Turner and she gets to the White House as a result of the death of her male predecessor (who turns out to be a traitor and betrayer of allies). Maddy Turner is a widow with two young children with her when she becomes President. Her mother, a retird hair stylist, who is full of every day wisdom is also part of the cast. Early in her Presidency, Maddy finds out that her running mate, his Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor sold out Taiwan to the Communists on the mainland. Despite the fact that the reunification is basically a peaceful one, the imperial designs of the Red Chinese are blatantly presented to the inexperienced President and her advisers. It is how this new leader of the Free World handles them, while fighting off internal intrigue in the Cabinet, the Congress and the Senate that makes this novel such an interesting study in domestic and international power politics.

The author, Richard Herman, has written several other well constructed political and military thrillers. He gets better with each outing. In POWER CURVE introduces a new character, Lt Gen Robert Bender, a career Air Force officer who has to play the tenuous game of balancing the needs of a new and inexperienced woman President with the obligations he has to his military superiors. To Robert Bender, loyalty, honor and integrity are the watchwords by which he lives his life. Herman does an outstanding job of defining this officer, his sense of mission, his loyalty to the nation and the Constitution. The author also provides the reader with the political and military villains needed to keep the narrative tightly focused. The Chinese leadership is shown to be imperialistic, opportunistic and totally commited to achieving their ends, which are total domination of the ocean areas around mainland China.

After Taiwan is returned to mainland control via the nefarious machinations of several American politicians, the Chinese think that Maddy Turner will be a pushover. In the beginning of the story, she does appear that way. What Herman does however, is provide her with a team of people who she can turn to and rely on. Key among them is Lt Gen Bender, who must handle his military/political responsibilities while dealing with the death of his only child, a daughter who just happens to be a "wizzo" in the back seat of an F-15E Strike Eagle. She graduated from the Air Force Academy like her dad and followed him into fighters and she died too young. She is just part of what this man of honor and courage must deal with while trying to prevent nuclear war between China and Japan.

Herman writes very well about military people. He also has a knack for writing about the sleazy side of politics and the gamesmanship that goes on in domestic and international politics. I started this book on June 7th and finished on June 8th. It held me that tightly.

This is one of those books that can also be used as a moral allegory. I met people in this novel that could be part of the government in Washington right now. And although I do not agree with Maddy Turner's knee-jerk dislike for the military or her unwise decision to cut the defense budget 30% in two years, by the end of the novel, I must admit (grudgingly) that I had come to respect her. ......................

While Maddy Turner despairs of ever having to use military force and is hesitant to the point of total inaction, ...................

After reading POWER CURVE, I also realized that much of the story line could happen. Just look at recent headlines re: China and Taiwan independence. Look at how the Chinese rattled their sabers. If you want to read a plausible scenario for just what is possible in East Asia, then read POWER CURVE by Richard Herman. It gave me hours of reading pleasure and another reminder that power is an incredibly addictive drug. END