Terminal Run [Paperback]

Michael DiMercurio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Terminal Run: The final stage in the flight of a submarine torpedo as it increases speed to reach attack velocity.

Terminal Run: The new techno-thriller featuring the dramatic, final undersea showdown between Admiral Michael Pacino and his most hated nemesis, Alexi Novskoyy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The characters-and there are plenty of them-in the latest techno-thriller by former submarine officer DiMercurio (Voyage of the Devilfish) share a love of the mechanical, and readers had better, too, if they want to make it through the book's many pages of technical jargon. The USS Snarc is a robotic American combat submarine under siege by an unseen enemy, and only former Navy admiral Michael Pacino, a recurring character in DiMercurio's novels, may be able to save it. While Pacino's son, Anthony, struggles for survival in a sub at the bottom of the ocean, Michael sets out to regain control of the Snarc and bring down an old nemesis. DiMercurio convolutes his story with details that only military personnel and history buffs could appreciate; for example, he spends several pages describing basic military maneuvers and actually enters the mind of a torpedo en route to its target. Yet when it comes to simple narrative details, such as describing a person's appearance, DiMercurio often comes up short. To his credit, however, he populates this offering with several sympathetic protagonists and high-ranking female officers, and augments his many high-tech underwater battles with vivid flashbacks, steamy sex scenes and even flourishes of wit.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451410467
• ISBN-13: 978-0451410467
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Submarine Technology, February 23, 2003

By 

John Fish - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terminal Run (Paperback)

It is refreshing to read a book on submarine technology where the author is intimately familiar with existing methods, procedures and technologies. Demecurio certainly is, and he uses to the best advantage. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes tales of submerged warfare.
John Fish
Institute for Marine Acoustics

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars one of the worst!, November 7, 2003

By 

Gary McLaughlin (Raymond, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terminal Run (Paperback)

I have read all of this author's work to date, this is by far the worst! I suppose if you'd never been aboard a submarine, and/or were a Women's Rights Advocate, or a techno geek you might like it, but...

Within a few pages we are introduced to "power women", SEALS, Officers aboard submarines, etc., even carrier based air squadron commanders. The hero here, son of the previous hero, is Patch Jr., a midshipman at Annapolis. Within a few minutes of reporting aboard a submarine at New London, he is given the "con" (as in command of the ship) to get her underway by pulling a daredevil driving stunt...this would never, ever happen. Within a few days of being at sea, he is sleeping with the engineering officer (a great argument against women on submarines)...and the techno stuff gets so confusing eventually you simply want to give up trying to follow any of the concurrent plots.

This one is a waste of time, effort and brain cells!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Pacinos, better than one!, November 2, 2002

By 

T. Schmid - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terminal Run (Paperback)

I am a big fan of this series, and Mr. DiMercurio has not failed to keep me hooked with his latest installment. "Terminal Run" is a highly character driven and action packed novel that doesn't let you go until the last page. The twist that he throws at the end is unpredictable, and innovative for a book of this genre.

There are a few authors, like John Sandford with his "Prey" novels, that can keep continuing characters, and the situations that they face, fresh and unique to the prior books in their series. Mr. DiMercurio is one of those who able to accomplish this difficult task. His main characters age and have careers that are realistic. They are also not omnipotent and without flaws.

He is also able to tweak your imagination with the potential capabilities of future military hardware. The hardware is not perfect, and goes through a real-world evolutionary growth process. It truly makes you wonder what equipment the Navy is carrying on our new Seawolf class and upcoming Virginia class submarines.

My only disappointment in reading "Terminal Run" is that I have to wait for his next installment. As with all of this novels, this book is a stand alone. There are brief mentions to storylines in his previous books, but they are not spoilers. Once you give this book a read, you will find yourself ordering the prior six books in this series.