The Silent Service: Virginia Class [Kindle Edition]

H. Jay Riker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The U.S.S. Virginia -- the first in the mosttechnologically advanced new class of U.S. attacksubmarines -- sets sail, even as the Navy'shigh-tech submarine program falls under attackfrom a Congress that believes it unneeded.But a threat no one anticipated is glidingsilently through dangerous waters. A rogueKilo-class submarine built by a shadowy andpowerful ally has become the latest weapon inal Qaeda's terrorist arsenal. The submarine'sbrutal strikes have created an explosivehostage situation in the Pacific ... and haveleft hundreds of people dead.

This new and stealthy terrorist threat must beeliminated before more innocent lives are lost.But the officers, crew, and Navy SEALsaboard the Virginia will face more than theyanticipated in the turbulent waters of theSouth China Sea -- as one untried Americansub races toward an explosive confrontationwith an old, cunning, and ruthless enemy.

About the Author

H. Jay Riker is the author of Avon's hugely successful Seals the Warrior Breed series.

Retired from the Navy, he has been writing fiction for nearly a decade. There are more than 800,000 of his books currently in print, and they have been highly praised for both their nail-biting action and their remarkable authenticity. Author home: Pennsylvania

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 395 KB
• Print Length: 436 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0060524383
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (March 17, 2009)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0010Y9RBS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,579 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story, October 13, 2007

By 

Jackie Tortorella - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Silent Service: Virginia Class (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read the whole series, and Virginia Class was a terrific book. I can't understand the two previous reviews of one star. One of them gave it a "one" because he didn't like it that Al-Queda was the terrorist group they were fighting. (Would it have been believable if they had been Norwegians?) The other reviewer gave it a 1 because he found it less than perfect in technical details. Assuming that the reviewer was correct and the author wrong, I still can't see why that is so important to someone, since it's a novel and not a technical manual.

This was a novel that took the series into present times with a Virginia Class submarine. The plot was believable and well executed, with the U.S. contending with the Chinese and Al-Qaeda who have joined together. The characterization was excellent as it is in all Riker's books. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next book in this series (I hope!).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining submarine yarn, January 23, 2009

By 

Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Silent Service: Virginia Class (Kindle Edition)

Just now I am into submarine yarns, and author H. Jay Riker seems to be a pretty good writer of this genre. This is the story of a submarine skipper conducting an anti-terrorism mission in the Western Pacific. More would be telling, but this is not a bad story, and the author's discussion of the merits of various types of submarines, and their various strengths and weaknesses, is quite interesting. It is definitely not just technobabble.

On the minus side, the author's characterizations are paper-thin, and none of the personalities in the novel are at all memorable. This is a story about submarines and war, not men. There was a pretty good opportunity here for a subplot involving the personal life of the Captain, but the author just did not appear to be interested in going there, and the novel does not go there. This was too bad.

A good sea story and I will try more of Mr. Riker's stories on my Kindle.

5.0 out of 5 stars Breezed right through this book, November 22, 2011

By 

T. Moore "Pave Low Leads" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Silent Service: Virginia Class (Mass Market Paperback)

I wish I had started with the Grayback Class and onward. Submarine warfare and the Seals always make for a quick read. It's nice to read submarine novels that are closer to the events that have taken place in the last 11 years. I think there is a tendency when reading submarine novels that in most cases, the story line is always going to keep you on your toes. The book is action packed, and meticulous about the rank and structure of those serving in the military. Plus I love the illustrations for the Silent Service series.