Customer Reviews

Sharkman Six

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

(...) Sharkman Six is an entertaining and intelligent examination of the symbiotic relationship between the military and the media in modern warfare.
The novels protagonist, Lieutenant Gavin Kelly, a third generation marine, is a conflicted hero trying to live up to his grandfathers heroism and live down his father's cowardice. The book is set during humanitarian aid operations in Somalia in the 1990's. It begins with a secret nighttime amphibious assault on Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. As the troops reach the beach they are greeted by a robust media contingent.
Amid the chaos of the landing a local press bodyguard is killed by a marine thus creating the central tension of the novel: how to operate a military both dependent on the media for publicity and resentful of the scrutiny that comes with attention.
The marines must survive in an environment that is lawless and violent. They resist continual provocation and wrestle with complex moral dilemmas such as, should we act or should we just stand here and listen to that woman being raped? Often attempts to help the innocent result in deadly reprisals from warlords against those same innocents. A series of events triggered by the marine presence turns operation 'Restore Hope' into a classic right of passage story (cowardly boy to heroic man).
West's language, like that of Irish writer Roddy Doyle, is so testosterone charged that it sometimes crosses the line from highly entertaining to tedious. None-the-less this book provides a fascinating look into the tense world of international military coalitions and the role of a superpower in the modern world. Most interesting of all is the interdependence of the media and the military. Four stars.

I'm unsure of the reasoning behind the claim to a lack of reality by other reviewers. I served as a Marine in Somalia, and this represents my experience much more than does Blackhawk Down (which I also enjoyed!) Owen West has hit the nail on the head, and supplies us with entertainment as well as a look at the qualities that the Corps holds most dear.

A mantra taught to aspiring writers is to write what you know. Former Marines Corps Captain Owen West has done just that in Sharkman Six. Part John Grisham and part Harvard Kennedy School of Government Case Study, Sharkman has a fast cadence, good wit and the combat is believable.

More than a coming of age story, the book is a metaphor for waging modern war. What foreign policy goals were the Marines sent to Somilia to accomplish? How is victory defined? Why limit the rules of engagement? That the military is perplexed by these questions is not all its fault; the civilian leadership, as West argues, has no answers either.

And it is to Sharkman's credit that its ending is not black and white, but like past experience, a shade of gray.

I never served over in Somalia so I will not even try to comment on the accuracy in that respect. Being a fiction novel however, not everything is going to be as it REALLY was. I can tell you this though. I read this book while I was stationed on Schwab with 3rd Recon Battalion and this book is right on in the Marine Corps aspect. The way they talk and interact and everything is great and very accurate. Everyone has their own life and issues and all the mannerisms are there. Owen West tells a good story here, so sit back, K-bar clutched tightly in your hand and enjoy the read. Semper Fi.

I'll spare you my opinion on the struggle the main character engages throughout the book, but suffice to say it keeps the book moving along at a basic pace with decent plot. What really had me interested was the realities of modern day warfare and how red tape interferes with every aspect of the Marines lives. It's a real interesting mix of Marine code of ethics, media intrusion, US politics, local customs, pop culture, all boiling over in different points in different forms. What history or the media tell us about modern U.S. wars (WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War and Somalia are all touched upon here) makes it too easy to pigeonhole what happened. I never thought anything tricky or tough happened in Somalia, especially compared to WWII, but I suppose that's the point of the book. I ended up with more respect for the Marines than I expected, and their world was one I was fascinated with because these guys are even younger than I am. Wow. I'd recommend this to any and all Marines and other military-- a great novel about what's going on in the field. Also, anyone into military thrillers will dig it-- so most men I suppose. This is not like those James Bond or series of ex-military action hero books-- everyone is flawed here.

No slowdown. West keeps the story moving with action and an involved plot. If you liked Blackhawk Down, you will enjoy this fictional account of Marines' involvement in Somalia.

Owen West's Sharkman Six follows a Marine platoon commander during his team's participation in America's ill-fated Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. What's intended to be a simple humanitarian mission starts bad, and gets worse.

From Lieutenant Kelly's surreal arrival on the beach in Somalia--with US network news crews in attendance--to the stunning finish, this story alternates between scenes of heartbreaking violence, black humor and poignant flashbacks. It's also a lesson on how military forces should NOT be employed.

More than a simple techno-thriller, this book is a wonderful character study of a man already questioning his own abilities who has those abilities tested to the fullest.

I could not put this book down! West gives readers a chance to see why we should be happy there are people like Gavin Kelly and Jake Armstrong guarding our country - mostly because the rest of us are wussies.

West's narrative is fast-paced and exciting with just the right amount of humor thrown in for effect. His characters are real people doing a job that none of us would ever want and somehow making the best of it.

Put this one on your list as a must read.

As a former marine grunt, I found the book to be realistic, genuine, and real. From the initial beach insertion to the firefight toward the end of book, I experienced a wide range of emotion from laugh, frustration, sadness, adrenaline rush, and rage. And it reminded me once again about the reality of combat faced by the guys on the ground who have to reach down, grab a hole and suck it up as best as humanly possible against the enemies, politics, media, chain of command, and their own fear of combat. This is a smart and intelligent book. I couldn't put it down and had to finish it. Thank you, Mr. Owens and Semper Fi.

Bravo. If your looking for some military action combined with page flipping suspense you have come to the right place. In the technical prose of Tom Clancy with a splash of Stephen Ambrose reality, Owen West does a superb job at nailing his first novel head on. Without the usual bravado, Mr. West shows the strengths and weaknesses of today's heroes. The author's own experiences, ...make this novel all so believible and interesting. I'm looking foward to his next book.