Ultimatum [Paperback]

R. J. Pineiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1995

When Saddam Hussein acquires nuclear missiles from a former Soviet republic and points them at Tel Aviv and Tehran, foreign relations crumble, and President Clinton is forced to retaliate as American planes are shot down. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though not usually the darling of the techno-thriller set (his clone is dissed mightily in Dale Brown's upcoming Storming Heaven, for example), Bill Clinton should be dancing in the Oval Office when he hears about this first hardcover novel from Pineiro (Siege of Lightning). Time and again, the Chief Executive is shown acting sensibly, decisively and with prayer in his heart as he works to prevent the resumption of the Mother of All Wars, this time around against a Saddam Hussein equipped with nuclear weapons acquired from a disintegrated Soviet Union. Aiding Clinton are a canny CIA operative, several talented and independent-minded pilots and a number of courageous Kurdish guerrillas, all engaging in an exciting and plausible series of skirmishes, dogfights and chases against Saddam's forces. Just enough sex and romance, plus lots of flying and shooting but not too much techno-jargon, make this a crowd-pleasing yarn. To his credit, Pineiro doesn't play down the ugly consequences of combat: the accidents, the wounds, the fears are tellingly laid out. In addition, the cast is not only multiracial but includes women of courage and conscience-a nice bonus in what adds up to a first-rate contribution to the genre.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Skirmishes between Iraqi and U.S. fighter planes may provoke Saddam Hussein into using his newly developed nuclear weapons. The warheads are being assembled at a laboratory disguised as a dairy plant. The only group standing in the way are some Kurdish terrorists, a Mossad agent, and a U.S. pilot who is shot down over western Iraq. This novel vividly depicts the slaughter of Iraq's populace and Saddam Hussein's megalomaniacal vision. On the American side, the cunning strategy of a CIA agent and an Air Force colonel help save the day. Ultimately, the book has it all: current defense technology, well-crafted characters (e.g., Bill Clinton is portrayed as a savvy and human president), and an action-packed plot. Move over Tom Clancy, there is a new kid on the block. For most fiction collections.
Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812524004
• ISBN-13: 978-0812524000
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,221,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent military thriller, February 25, 2003

By 

D. A. Dodd (Huntsville, AL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimatum (Paperback)

"Ultimatum" was R.J. Pineiro's second published techno-thriller. Unlike his more recent novels that deal with the computer/high tech industry, this novel is a military thriller that takes place soon after Desert Storm. Saddam Hussein has nuclear missiles and is readying them for deployment against neighboring countries and U.S. troops stationed in the area.

The central figure, Lt. Kevin Dalton, is a fighter pilot in-training who nearly is stripped of his ability to fly due to the direct disobedience of orders. However, the CG makes an exception and gives Dalton another chance. Dalton doesn't make the best of his second chance and is soon on the run from the Iraqis. He meets a Mossad agent named Khalela and soon they join forces to locate where Hussein is producing his weapons. What ensues is a non-stop, action-filled search that concludes with a resounding climax. The door is left open for a sequel and Pineiro took advantage of that with his next novel entitled "Retribution".

While a departure from the them of his later novels, "Ultimatum" is a highly entertaining read and most of the statements regarding military weaponry, planes, etc. seem fairly accurate. If you enjoy military thrillers with little fluff, I recommend giving "Ultimatum" a read. If you find this one enjoyable, read the sequel although it's more of a spy thriller than military thriller.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first book I've read by him and I LOVED IT!!!, February 21, 2001

By 

"carazyangel" (Bangkok, Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimatum (Paperback)

WOW!!! Even though I am only in eigth grade,that's what came into my mind after I finished this book. It is a really great book and if you like war and action books, read this one. It also has a touch of romance in it between the two really MAIN characters, Leutenent Dalton and Kahlela. Touching too. Trust me. You'll like it. It's AWESOME!

2.0 out of 5 stars Getting it all wrong in the Middle East, June 13, 2011

By 

Captain John "JRB" (Edmonds, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimatum (Paperback)

Interesting, though somewhat implausible storyline (read the other reviews for details). Believability is stretched to the extreme as a small band of misfits incapable of following orders or carrying out missions somehow manages to go "Downtown" and destroy Iraq's fledgling nuclear arsenal and avert Middle East Armageddon. While Bill Clinton may rejoice in being portrayed as a keen, level-headed and sometimes brilliant Commander-in-Chief, one has to wonder how the U.S. military must feel about its personnel being depicted as incompetents. Three botched rescue missions (even the last one, in which Lt. Dalton is finally dragged aboard a helicopter, had a body count) and F-14s, Apaches, Thunderbolts and an F-117 falling out of the sky like so many targets at a carnival shooting gallery doesn't exactly paint a glowing portrait of allied air power. The Village People would have fared better. Unfortunately, Pinero's tome follows the same worn-out script we've seen thousands of times: the hero (heroes or heroines, if you like) stumbles his way through one misadventure after another, always miscalculating until . . . poof! After 400 pages he finally gets it right and saves the day.