Customer Reviews

Power Curve

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

 

 

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.

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.

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

If you like Dale Brown, you'll love this book. Contains the power struggles in Washington focused around the White House, Pentagon, and personalities. On the aviation side, a good read as well. If you like reading high tech espionage books with ample doses of power, intrigue and war, this book is for you. A perfect book to take along on a vacation. Others have commented that Herman wasn't factual with the aviation, the Washington power struggles, and I think he could have closed the story a little better. I don't know about you, but I read to relax, and this one was a fun read. I couldn't wait to get a few moments to take in another chapter or two. I loved it!

What a peace-nik. Not that that's all bad, but when you don't go to war, because you don't want your son to become a pilot in 15 years. Come on Dick?!? Richard Herman, a former pilot, was probably much better in a plane (I hope). This would've been a great story to sit around and hear him tell in a bar somewhere, but the book just made me want to slap the president. (ok, so I guess it is like real life) I would never recommend NOT reading a book, but if you've got a choice you may want to put this on the back burner for when you can't find anything else to read.

I liked the pacing of this book. Not too fast (which usually sacrifices details) and not too slow(which just drags with details). The one problem I have is that Maddy seems too emotional too often in this story. She tears up every time someone is killed, then when actually faced with a nuclear fight, toughens up pretty quickly. she quickly realizes who is who and is wraps up a little too quickly. I would still recommend this to anyone who likes political thrillers. Also try "Term Limits" by Vince Flynn.

This is the first Richard Herman novel I have read, and I was pleased with it's intelligence, and relevance to today's politics and culture. Human relationships, world affairs and the mlitary are portrayed with depth and subtlety. I've noticd all the reviews posted about Herman's books are posted by men. This might give the misleading-if prejudiced- impression that these books are "Wham Band- shoot-em-up" books. Not true. Everyone might enjoy- and benefit- from this book

Too much focus on the whitehouse and not enough of the men and women in the cocpit and on the flightline. I work flightline. And to me this was unrealistic.

I've read all of Herman's works and this is his best by far. I just hope his unique talent to predict the future (Warbirds was written about the invasion of Kuwait before it happened) doesn't come to pass as in this book. Chilling and hard to put down. Can't wait for the next one!

Not just a war and glory story; this should
appeal to many as a very interesting read;