Silver Tower [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Dale Brown (Author), Richard Allen (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2009

Iran has been invaded. And America responds in a grueling counterattack by air, by sea - and by a brave new technology that will redefine war. The most sophisticated laser defense system ever. It is called Silver Tower. And it will change the balance of world power forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This disappointing second novel by the author of Flight of the Old Dog begins with some intriguing political projections: four years from now, the space-based defense system known as "Star Wars" will have become a reality, the shuttle program will be back on track, and the U.S.S.R., poised to invade Iran and install a puppet regime, will encounter unexpected resistance from the United States by air, sea and outer space. Aboard the Armstrong space station, tenacious young scientist Ann Page is installing Skybolt, the laser system she's invented, and clashing with the station's gruff, charismatic commander, Jason Saint-Michael. When war brews 5000 miles below, the two are thrown together as the "Silver Tower" becomes both a weapon and a target. The stakes are high enough to generate a few tense high-tech dogfights, but Brown's plodding prose and stilted characters deaden the excitement, and the countless lengthy, jargon-laden descriptions of military hardware turn the story into a dull catalogue of futuristic gadgetry. 150,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; paperback rights to Berkley; Military Book Club and Literary Guild selections; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

$18.95. f Skating deftly along the fine line between science fiction and other genres, Brown imagines a military adventure set in 1992, which pits the Soviet Operation Feather to take over the Persian Gulf against an American fleet and an operational, laser-armed space station. In an enterprising twist of plot, the scientist testing the laser weaponry is the daughter of the captain whose ship is a Soviet target. As the two superpowers maneuver to hold the high ground miles above the earth and on terra firma, Brown encodes each scene with densely technical read-outs, making a rich feast for military hardware fans but slim pickings for less erudite readers. In this second novel, Brown demonstrates a clear vision of the modern military saga and the ability to fashion an exciting story from international aggression. Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Value Priced; Abridged edition (September 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441808124
• ISBN-13: 978-1441808127
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,467,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Former U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 21 action-adventure "techno-thriller" novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996), FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN, (1999), WARRIOR CLASS (2001), WINGS OF FIRE (2002), AIR BATTLE FORCE (2003), PLAN OF ATTACK (2004), ACT OF WAR (2005), EDGE OF BATTLE (2006), STRIKE FORCE (May 2007), SHADOW COMMAND (2008) ROGUE FORCES (2009), EXECUTIVE INTENT (2010) and A TIME FOR PATRIOTS (May 2011). Fourteen of his novels have been New York Times best-sellers. He is also the co-author of the best-selling DREAMLAND techno-thriller series and writer and technical consultant of the Act of War PC real-time strategy game published by Atari Interactive and the Megafortress PC flight simulator by Three-Sixty Pacific. Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 12 million copies.

Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon. Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course. He was also an Air Force instructor on aircrew life support and combat survival, evasion, resistance, and escape.

Dale supports a number of organizations to promote law enforcement, education, and literacy. He is a Life Member of the Air Force Association, U.S. Naval Institute, and National Rifle Association. He is a command pilot for Angel Flight West (www.angelflightwest.org), a group that donate their time, skills, and aircraft to fly medical patients free of charge. He is also a mission pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, flying a variety of missions in support of the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his Piper Aztec-E airplane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, scuba diving, and soccer. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SBR Analysis: Coulda been better . . ., April 24, 2001

By 

Andrew Czernicki "Living it up in Chicago" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silver Tower (Mass Market Paperback)

Silver Tower is a fast-paced book that depicts a war over the control of Iran. Set in 1992 (a bit dated, USSR was dead then), this book revolves around an American space station called Armstrong, but nicknamed Silver Tower because of it's anti-laser reflective armor. The problem is that Silver Tower has yet only begun to test it's weapons systems, and now the station commander wants the platform to use as a military surveillance station. He does not consider the consequences, as the Soviets will do anything to rid the skies of this battle station, which gives the Americans unmatched control of the region. Problem: For an air force officer (ret.), Brown seems to be biased heavily towards the Soviets. Not only are their missiles able to decimate an American carrier force (protected by two Ticonderoga-class AD cruisers!), but their planes and guns and bombs perform better. Even the language use (The American planes screeched, the Soviet planes roared with immeasurable fury and power) depicts a frail, weak American nation and a roaring, powerful, abusive, unstoppable, Union of Soviet Socailist Republics JUGGERNAUT! Besides that, this was a really good book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Techno Thriller, May 11, 2000

By 

Larry Eischen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Tower (Mass Market Paperback)

Silver Tower is excitement from page one. This tells the story of a US space station that must direct US forces during a Soviet invasion of Iran. Consequently, they find themselves the target of advanced Russian forces. Plus a rare female protagonist in a techno-thriller. Great work from a master of the genre.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for a first novel, June 7, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Birmingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Tower (Mass Market Paperback)

This one was actually written before Flight of the Old Dog, but was published after Old Dog came on the market. A very interesting sci-fi style plot here, which unfortunaltely lacks the realism of his other books. However, this is after all, fiction and the story moves along with all the fast pace of a Clive Cussler book! The space station ideas were well used. the American hypersonic plane was right out of a 1950s sci-fi B movie and the Russian space fighters were a feasible idea. A few inaccuracies - the Nighthawk is actually F-117, not F-19, but considering this was written in 1987 before they were properly used in combat one can let Dale Brown get away with that. As well as the space action scenes, which would look great in a big screen movie, the action on the ground is highly riveting as well. The Iranian sequences are particularly realistic you can feel you're there as airfields are blown to smithereens and foxholes are surrounded, Larry Bond style! Altogether, one worth a read, though Shadows of Steel and Sky Masters are the best!