Customer Reviews

Storming Heaven

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A demented arms dealer with a foreign name (Henri Cazaux) and a grudge against the US government accidentally hits upon a plan to unleash hell against it. Once brutalized by American soldiers, Cazaux now deals in weapons that will be used against all Americans. On the brink of capture, flying a cargo plan full of ammo, Cazaux accidentally bombs an airport. Realizing how defenseless airports and American cities are in general, and how much havoc he can raise when he wants to, Cazuax sets off on a terror campaign using airliners stocked with explosives to bomb airports. The government responds by stationing Patriot batteries around airports, but Cazaux finds a way past those as well. The only man who can end the reign of terror is Ian Hardcastle  the sort of strident, no-nonsense genius that drives all of author Dale Browns books. (Usually, the starring role is given to Brad Elliot of Flight of the Old Dog and its sequels). Hardcastles biggest obstacles arent left by the wily Frenchman, but by the government bureaucracy, the liberals and the week-kneed administration that reflects all that is evil of the Clinton administration. (Though I think Chains of Command was more overt...against the Clintons). Unfortunately, this has got to be one of Browns weakest books  though most of them fall into a pattern (geo-political crisis erupts just as some innovative USAF officers perfect a new secret weapon), this one just has random destruction. The only hint that the plot is proceeding anywhere is the ferocity of the attacks and the cover-art on my copy showing what looks like Air Force One on a direct course for Washington. Double-unfortunate is how this book will likely be resurrected over the next few weeks to cynically cash in on todays coordinated terror attacks. Nothing else in this book really deserves the attention  Cazaux is as typical a demented villain as Brown can create while his followers are suitably mercenary in their motives. When it looks like the plot after a massive climax near the end  will dust itself off and begin anew, the supporting cast of villains take matters into their own hands, as if theyve had enough of this book. Benefit from their experience, and read something else. For massive slam-bang Dale Brown, read Fatal Terrain (sorry, havent read Warrior Class yet).

I like thrillers but this novel lacks a key element, namely a hero. The ruthless international terrorist villian has no strong adversary representing the forces of goodness and light. Maybe that's why the baddie gets away with so much mayhem. And there's way too much "tower talk" here - this will no doubt please the fighter pilot wannabes who find endless air-to-ground-to-air lingo an acceptable substitute for real suspense writing. I agree that the action is exciting but let's be honest, great literature this isn't.

With Tom Clancy and Larry Bond as the 'a-list' of military thriller writers, Dale Brown is firmly at the top of the 'b-list', producing a book a year of solid, entertaining action. His ability to tell a rattling good tale balance out his deficiencies as a writer, and although elements of his books seem to be closer to 'JAG' than 'Red Storm Rising', they are at the very least extremely entertaining. 'Storming Heaven' is a good example. It has a hissable villain, a cast of fighter-jet pilots who appear to have stepped from 'Top Gun', and a series of explosive, airliner-related disasters which have the sick fascination of a car crash. Loosely-connected to some of his other books (particularly 'Chains of Command'), this falls apart on any intellectual level, and the continual calls for tighter airport security seem to be Oprah Winfrey-style 'talking points' for television interviews, but provided that you don't expect high art, it's exciting reading.

Be prepared to have plenty of time to read before you pick this up & start reading, as you won't be able to put it down. One of Brown's best works so far. It brings the reader right into the action and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. "STORMING HEAVEN" Will make you think twice before 'hanging around' an airport! It was especially tense for me as I live in the area where the first part of "STORMING HEAVEN" takes place, and I know the area well. Even without that connection, "STORMING HEAVEN" is a must-read for all who enjoy Dale Brown's books and those like him who write about aviation and the all of the excitement which surround it. Bravo!

This was the first Dale Brown book that I read, and I was rather hesitant to read it at all. Once I started it, there was no turning back; I finished it the next day and lost about seven hours of sleep.

At the end of the opening chapter of the book, Henri Cazuax, a psycopathic terrorist who believes he is the servant of Satan, has destroyed three airports, and killed or injured hundreds of people. The ending was no dissapointment, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out.

I like Dale Brown and his work but this book is not good. There are way too many holes in the book. The way the bad guys are able to escape the inept government at every turn is aggravating. Also, midway through the book, the main terrorist discovers that he is the sword of Satan from a tarot reading women. What is that whole section book about? Totally out of place in military thriller. The story is interesting, but the book didn't flow like most of Dale Brown's book and the many holes insult the reader's intelligence. Overall I give 2 stars because of the interesting story, but not one of Dale Brown's best works.

This was truly an exciting book. After Admiral Hardcastle warns the world about America's lack of guards against terrorism,the bad dreams. A psycho terrorist begins tearing up the heartland. After tearing up The Los Angeles airport by dropping explosives the terror begins. This terrorist pulls teooroist actions all over the country. The American authorities have their hands full. It takes the final pages of this book before the forces can finally subdue the force of evil. This is without question a page turner. Be sure to read it. You will not be dissapointed.Thanks to this book I am now a Dale Brown fan.

Much, much better than 10, a million would be more like it! Henri Cazaux, what an evil, twisted man. With his associates, who he disposes of at will throughout the story when he`s had all he can with them, he wipes out hundreds of people at major airports, abuses a female astrologer who seems to have conviced him he worships the dark side and then decides to prompt Tom Clancy`s brain so he can nick the climax for `Debt of Honour`! (Ooops, shouldn`t try to give clues but this book does it much better!). The President and First Lady are obviously Bill and Hilary Clinton in disguise, whilst the director of the FBI, Lani Wilkes, is just as loathable character as Cazaux with her softly softly, do-gooder tactics which somehow contribute to the deaths at the airports with her meddling ways. Admiral Ian Hardcastle, however, is a kickass action artist who will not hesitate to use force to obliterate Cazaux and his cronies! The action is swift, relentless, the airborne sequences are realistic and generally although security on the ground at airports the world over can be tight, especially in major UK airports, the story is frighteningly plausible, to be filed under `this could happen!` Well done Dale Brown!

I thought it was so far out of possible that I did not finish reading it. I would not reccomend it to anyone.

I think this is the best Dale Brown novel yet. The way he uses his knowledge of the military world is astounding. I only wish he could write novels like these faster, because I can't get enough.