Customer Reviews

Sea Fighter

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked the book even though it ws a slower read than his first 2 novels.I liked his Dedication and had to check where exactly the bismarck archipelago is .I think he should have said the south Pacific.The book while full of interesting toys,devices and ideas which I hope some of the people in Navy R& D( like the use of navalized Hell-fire missiles on ships for a small,cheaper takeout device than having to launch a Harpoon missile are good.I believe they ae now arming the Naval anti-submarine helicopters that deploy with the ships that carry Helos with them already. My only concern is that the dialogue is much like a Tom Swift Jr.book from my childhood.Also,I noticed spots where the dialogue just was not believable.I doubt that an O-5 (Full commander) would say when asked about the skill of his demolition men to an O-6 Female officer that "they could blow off Your bra without touching your skin". This is not belieavable dialogue when you are saying this to your commanding officer.I liked him having an enemy who was not a totally evil type but a complicated guy who I could almost root for. I thought this was more interesting than most books of this genre with absolutely malevloent opponents.I hope to continue reading Mr.Cobb.I like his reference to lines from Kipling who I am sure is his favorite poet "the savage wars of Peace".Interesting that Kipling could comment on this almost 100 years about the "thin red Line of heroes" who put down revolts from the Sudan to Peking.Mr.Cobb tries to teach in his books and I appreciate this especially for those who do not read the same naval magazines as he does.I would like to know more about this man .His Bio that he belongs to the Naval institute and the Navy leaque means almost nothing.Maybe he wishes to remain mysterious and really is in naval weapons development up in Puget sound or China Lake.I enjoyed the book ,it was an interesting read for the ideas but some of the dialogue I think needs some work.I also liked him working in the use of the phrase "Iron Men and Wooden ships"and his comments on it.Finally his opinion on why there is so much strife in Africa with country boundaries drawn up by long since gone european governments makes a lot of sense.The book taught as well as entertained even if I felt I was reading a teenager's adventure novel at times.But I am sure I will not wait till his next book comes out in Paperback but will immediately buy a hardcover edition as soon as I see his next book in print.

This is the 3rd time I have tried to write this review. I hope it works this time! This is a big change from the story types in the first two books in this series. Mr. Cobb still comes up with a believable situation, with elements of real newstype events. I have already reread this book several times. It is a little slow getting started, but a good read. The acknowledgements to the littoral "brown" navy and the restrictions mandated by a UN "peace" mission have a ring of truth and realism to them. I look forward to the next book in this series!

This is a change from the first two books in this series. The story vividly brings out the tensions of UN "peacekeeping" mission constraints. It pays tribute to the traditions of the "brown water" navy of Vietnam. I do recommend this for entertaining reading! I look forward to the next book in this series!

I was excited when this book came out in paperback because I enjoyed reading about the USS Cunningham and it's able crew in the previous books. So I was at least mildly disapointed at first to find out that Amanda would not be aboard "the Duke" for this trip.

But I was highly satisfied with this story of brown water naval operations with a near future technological twist. This thriller had plenty of action and and plot twists, more than enough to keep me turning the pages.

Cobb took a chance on separating Amanda from her old ship and most of her supporting cast, but I think his calculated gamble paid off well. The new characters are welcome, though I have to agree with the previous reviewer who would like to see more action for the professional sailors and soldiers in the enlisted ranks. Still, this didn't detract from what I thought was a strong read.

I've read all of the Amanda Garret series and look forward to many more. In some ways, they remind me of David Weber's Honor Harrington series, but set in the near future. The technology Mr. Cobb describes already exists or is on the drawing board, but I'm not sure if the Navy ever considered putting it together the way he does. If not, they should. His work is a blueprint to the future of naval operations and naval special warfare.

More importantly, however, Mr. Cobb's characters are exciting, vibrant, and believable. You rapidly grow to care about them, to be concerned for them, and to mourn their loss. There is none of the battlefield bravado seen in some thrillers.

Only one problem mars this otherwise exceptional work: Mr. Cobb needs to spend a bit more time researching minor details. For example, the proper way to carry a M1911A1 is Condition 1, which he describes but calls Condition 3 (which is a wholly different thing). A minor point, which only "gun nuts" would pick up on, but which serves as a slightly irritating flaw in an otherwise near-perfect work.

A superb examble of the techno-military thriller. It will not dissapoint any of the multitude of James H. Cobb's fans. I can not wait for the next book in the series. My only dissapointment is that the Navy is not deploying any Sea Fighters or any Cunningham's class ships in the real world yet.

I got this book on a Thursday and finished it on Saturday. The characters increase in depth with each book and the stories get better each time. If you like military fiction but are tired of the tried and true, then read Sea Fighter. When you are done go back and read Sea Strike and Chooses of the Slain. You will not be disappointed.

Camped on shore while the Cunningham under goes repair from the battle damaged gathered in "Sea Strike," Amanda Garret is given a new and dangerous challenge. The Ivory Coast of Africa is on fire once again as a man with a vision for the future takes matters into his own hands. He is a man who wants to help the people of Africa but he at the same time wants to do so through the conquest of multiple countries. The UN decides to step in to do something about it. America's answer to that call is the Sea Fighters and Amanda Garrett. Away from the terrifying fire power of her destroyer Garrett has to depend on new and untested weapon systems and the learning curve just turned deadly. Mr. Cobb's third Amanda Garrett Novel is a Smashing Success!!!

In this third Amanda Garrett novel, Mr Cobb has improved on an already very good series. Garrett leaves the confines of her ship and leads a UN Force (with limited resources) that is trying to stabalize and protect bits of Africa from an intelligent and wily African dictator. This is strong on both characterisation and action. I was pleased that Garrett's boyfriend was not much involved as it helped avoid all the clingy lovey stuff. The introduction of fighting hovercrafts was certainly different and the use of them plus a small corps of marines in a tactical game of chess was very absorbing. I read this on the back of the latest Patrick Robinson and it was like a breath of fresh air. This was not well publicized over here in the UK, but I am very glad I kept looking. When's the next one Mr Cobb?

This book takes Amanda Garret in a new direction, and it is a fine way to go. The book is believable, the plot works, the characters are human and we can sympathize with them. As far as one reviewer's complaint about the dialoge reference demolitions, that's the way those guys talk. Their commanders do put up with it since they are a small and highly skilled group. Go out and spend the money on this book, you won't be dissapointed.

And for an extra treat, e-mail Mr. Cobb at the address he puts in the book. Unlike Mr. Clancy, Cobb still answers his e-mails and evidently personally (one teeny little misspelling, ah well).

I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent read and hits all the right buttons.