The Taking of the King [Paperback]

Nelson Blish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2006

The USS Martin Luther King is the pride of the American navy. Faster than anything in the ocean, and capable of avoiding all detection, it is the ultimate weapon-and it is about to be stolen. A Russian operative has been secreted aboard the King. Armed with a powerful nerve agent, he will incapacitate the entire crew and deliver the submarine to his superiors.

Now, the only chance of stopping them rests with two isolated sailors- unarmed and trapped under the sea in their own ship-against an enemy trained to kill and win at all costs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Jove (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 051514052X
• ISBN-13: 978-0515140521
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,586,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nelson Adrian Blish was born in Parris Island, South Carolina. His father was a Marine and he was raised at duty stations on the east coast of the United States. He graduated from Colonial High School, Orlando, Florida, his father's penultimate duty station.

Captain Blish was commissioned as an ensign on graduation from of the US Naval Academy and received a master's degree in Systems Engineering from Michigan State University. On completion of Navy Nuclear Power School and Submarine School he reported to the missile submarine, USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN 617). As the Main Propulsion Assistant he supervised a division of 40 nuclear power trained machinist mates and also served as Diving Officer for the submarine.

After leaving active duty Captain Blish continued in the Naval Reserves and received a Juris Doctorate degree from Marshall Wythe, College of William & Mary. As a summer intern at NASA's Research Center at Langley he prepared patents on advanced airframe designs.

Captain Blish worked for Philip Morris and Cooper Industries as Patent Counsel and is currently Senior Patent Counsel, Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York. He is a Kodak Distinguished Inventor with over 25 patents.

Captain Blish has received a number of awards including the Navy Commendation Medal and the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Commercial Law. He is the author Ishmael's Son, published by The Glencannon Press, 2003, and The Taking of the King, published by Berkley Books, 2006. His third novel, Silent Terror, is being circulated to publishers and his fourth novel, Echoes of Silence, is nearing completion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book, July 27, 2006

By 

Margery Gootnick (Rochester NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Taking of the King (Paperback)

What a treat to have had the opportunity to read "The Taking of the King". It's the perfect summer reading for my week at Chautauqua- fast paced, adventurous, and it had me on the edged of my proch seat. I am very much looking forward to Blish's next novel. I'm not much of a television person (I prefer netflix) I'd love to see his work as a television series, or a movie. This book is equally as good as his first, "Ishmael's son." Look for more news with his name - my prophesy is that we will hear a lot about him in the future.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as Ishmael's Son!, July 18, 2006

By 

Phillip Tomasso III - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Taking of the King (Paperback)

I loved Blish's first novel, Ishmael's Son. So when I saw he hada new book out, The Taking of the King, I could not wait to read it. Though I love military stories, I was never a big fan of Tom Clancy novels--that author just rambles on and on for 8,000 pages. That's why I love Blish's writing. He knows how to write tight chapters full of action and mounting suspense. I thought the characters were well defined and engaging. The dialogue was crisp and not too military-mumbo-jumbo. What's more, the story grabbed my attention right from the beginning and would not let me wander until the explosive ending. I can't wait to see what Blish will release next!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Clancy lovers who don't want 600 pages, this is a bargain!, July 3, 2006

By 

Laura D. Hunt (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Taking of the King (Paperback)

This one is even better than Ismael's Son! It takes place just as the Cold War ends and political instability in the former Soviet states creates intrigue between Russia and Ukraine. Blish turns back the clock when the greatest concern for the U.S. was for state spies and saboteurs. (Read Ismael's Son for a Muslim terrorist plot!) Extraordinarily well-written, suspenseful, and demonstrates an intimate knowledge of life aboard a U. S. nuclear submarine. The KING is a "nuke" from a fictional sub class, but the basics of life aboard are the same. You'll be happy you've invested in this one--too bad it wasn't published in a hardcover edition!