Rules of Engagement [Mass Market Paperback]

Joe Weber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1992

Tired of the red tape that keeps the military in check, Marine fighter pilot Brad Austin decides to break the rules and embark on a head-to-head confrontation with the Vietnamese flying ace ruling the skies. Reprint. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Weber's turgid military novel Marine Corps pilot Brad Austin's real enemies are not North Vietmanese fighters and missiles, but rather the "rules of engagement" established in Washington.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A Marine pilot chafes under Lyndon Johnson's politically calculated limitations of the Vietnam air war. The author of DEFCON ONE (1989) flies again. Marine fighter pilot Brad Austin, temporarily attached to a carrier-based Navy F-4 Phantom group, has shown himself to be one of the best young fliers in the country. An Annapolis graduate, the son and grandson of Navy admirals, Austin joined the Marines to set himself apart from any hint of family influence in his career. Influence has no place in the day-to-day air battles over Hanoi and Haiphong, where Austin's first-class flying skill is all that matters. The young Marine's growing resentment of the White House's micromanagement of the war without military advice is set aside temporarily for a brief encounter in Hawaii with the beautiful daughter of an antiwar physician. Then it's back to the war, where Austin at last goes outside the rules in order to shoot down the Vietnamese ace who has terrorized the skies for years. All the highly placed relatives in the world may not be enough to save Austin's career. Hampered by instructional-film-style dialogue, Boy Scout romance, and stock characters, this collection of midair adventures will be of interest primarily to retired fliers. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Jove (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515109908
• ISBN-13: 978-0515109900
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great action sequences, technical details, but..., April 10, 2002

By 

Mark J. Oehl "zelriptha" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Hardcover)

While the obvious knowledge and attention to detail given to the writing of "Rules of Engagement" is admirable, there were several patterns that lessened the enjoyment for the reader.

It's clear the author has ample experience with flying, Navy jargon, and the military life. His careful descriptions allow the reader an interesting glimpse at the day to day life on an aircraft carrier. At the same time, this precision and careful wordcraft enters into the dialog, with not nearly so positive a result. With declaratives like "The colonel is a nice guy, and we had a cordial chat.", the reader finds great difficulty empathizing with and believing in the characters in the book.

Similarly, the expected intimate discussions between the protagonist and his love interest come across as stilted, formal, and difficult to comprehend. While seeing things from a female perspective is technically beyond this reviewer's experience, it seems that the attitude and reactions of said amorous companion occasionally depart farther from reality than could be easily accepted. For example, it seems she (and perhaps the author) is more concerned about our hero's perception of her father than his attitude and intentions toward her.

The least disturbing of these oddities is the slight tendency the author has to telegraph impending disaster. While not tragic, and probably not universally noticable, this reviewer occasionally felt mild disappointment that the surprise had been blunted by some sort of narrative drift that foreshadowed the events.

All that being said, "Rules of Engagement" has many things that can captivate the reader. The combat descriptions are excellent and exciting, and the plot developments keep the story flowing. Also, while the writing tends to be politically heavy-handed, it is not hard to sympathize with the pilots who put their lives at risk for trivial or non-existent strategic gain.

If you find enjoyment in cleverly written dialog and deep character development, you might steer clear of this one. On the other hand, if you like detailed aerial combat descriptions and realistic narrative of Vietnam era tactical operations, you'll find much to enjoy in "Rules of Engagement".

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner !, September 25, 2001

By 

Thomas Richar "tomrichar" (Long Valley, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Mass Market Paperback)

I have now read all the Joe Weber novels but one (Honorable Enemies) which I start next. Rules of Engagement was just was well written as all his other books. Growing up in that era, for me, it was interesting to understand what was happening "behind the scenes" of the VietNam war. Great characters, great plots, and some interesting twists are all typical Joe Weber. Keep up the good work.

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent redux of FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER, November 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Mass Market Paperback)

As far as action goes, this was a good book. However, it is almost exactly like Stephen Coonts' FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER: a carrier pilot goes flying where he shouldn't during the Vietnam War after losing his second crewman, catches hell for it, and is barely saved by an act of Congress. The only differences are that with RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, he's a Marine fighter jock instead of a Navy attack driver, and it happens near the beginning of the war instead of the end.