Prepared for Rage: A Novel (Hardcover)

by Dana Stabenow (Author) "I feel like I'm in a third-world country," Parker said, breaking a silence that had endured the entire distance from the Iwo Jima, moored at..." (more)
Key Phrases: far enemy, unknown freighter, bridge wing, Coast Guard, Arabian Knight, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The action of Edgar-winner Stabenow's stellar second venture into thriller territory, in contrast to 2006's Blindfold Game, which was set largely in the frozen waters off Alaska, centers on the warm seas of the Florida coast near the Kennedy Space Center, where the latest space shuttle launch is to take place. Stabenow harnesses the strands of her story with consummate skill: the passion that propels a rogue terrorist on a crusade to strike a blow that will shatter American pride; the efforts of U.S. intelligence to thwart a bewildering array of foes; the rising careers of Capt. Cal T. Schuyler, the golden boy of the U.S. Coast Guard, and astronaut Kenai Munro, whose life ambition is realized when she's named to the shuttle crew. Stabenow proves equally adept at portraying the workings of a cutter, the complexities of a shuttle mission or the machinations of a terrorist. The result is entertainment and suspense of a high order. (Feb.)
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Review
Brutal tribal injustice motivates a Western-educated Pakistani to compete with Osama bin Laden as a terror theorist, targeting America's space shuttle.An incendiary string of U.S. policy failures fuels this frightening, tightly written thriller by Stabenow (A Deeper Sleep, 2007, etc.). Akil, the Muslim villain at the story's heart, is no Islamic fundamentalist. He is, rather, a smallish man with a very big grudge against the American enablers of Pakistan's corrupt government. Akil firmly believes that the refusal of Western-backed authorities to rein in tribal leaders was responsible for the revenge killing of his beloved sister. That's sufficient motivation for him to enlist with the forces of bin Laden's great rival Musab al-Zarqawi, proving himself so loyal and effective as a terrorist that he becomes Zarqawi's No. 2 man. When the Americans kill his mentor, Akil elects to operate independently, taking as his nom de guerre Isa, Arabic for Jesus. Using skills acquired in years as an employee of Western banks, he keeps Zarqawi's fortune out of bin Laden's hands, using it to build a cadre he will wield personally in his quest to humiliate America. The space shuttle that is his target counts among its crew members Kenai Munro, a sexy and smart Alaskan aviator whose parents will watch the launch from a Coast Guard cutter captained by Kenai's equally capable lover, Cal Schuyler. Akil is able to elude both the Americans and bin Laden's lieutenants, who are under orders to render him ineffective. When Akil starts to make errors, dedicated CIA officer Patrick Chisum begins to pick up his scent, and the Coast Guard is very much on the job.Taut and alarming. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312369735
• ISBN-13: 978-0312369736
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #462,475 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars AN AWARD CALIBER VOICE PERFORMANCE, February 28, 2008

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Prepared for Rage: A Novel (Audio CD)

Well remembered for her readings of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, voice performer Lorelei King gives a stellar rendering of this action packed suspense thriller by Dana Stabenow. As narrative tension increases King keeps her voice at a steady pace, which tends to make what appears to be an impending disaster all the more terrifying. She deftly segues from character to character never giving in to distracting vocal techniques.

Edgar winning author Stabenow has moved from her Alaskan settings to a kinder climate- the sunny waters of the Caribbean just off the Florida coast. Nearby is the Kennedy Space Center and it is here where the next space shuttle mission is to take place. What makes this launch unique is that it is the target of an amoral Pakistani terrorist, Akil Vihari, who hopes to hit America where it hurts the most.

Amidst the efforts to track down Vilhari there is, of course, a love interest. We hear astronaut Kenai Munro describe her impression of Captain Schuyler: "His eyes were very blue. Sailor's eyes. She thought he might be blond, but like every other male crew member she'd seen he'd shaved his head almost down to the scalp in preparation for sea showers on patrol and it was hard to tell. Come to think of it, he didn't look anything at all like Robert Redford. Robert Redford was a troll by comparison."

It's pretty clear where that's going and we can easily surmise what the outcome of the hunt for terrorists will be. However, it's quite a trip getting there as excitement abounds and surprises wait at every turn. Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another cliff hanger from Stabenow!, February 9, 2008

By	K. Souza "h20doglover" (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stabenow takes threads from real life headlines and masterfully weaves them into a solid spellbinding fabric that is realistic and a terrific read. This one is very hard to put down, from the first chapter which is very emotionally disturbing to the exciting and still rather disturbing conclusion. The character development is rewarding to the reader while moving the plot forward to its final scenes.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not an Alaskan mystery-it's international intrigue!, February 6, 2008

By	K. Laubenstein (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is written and researched so well, with scenarios out of actual headlines, that for some the book is just *too real* and the fine line between fiction and nonfiction becomes blurred when the tension builds and builds and you can't put it down. It makes your heart pound and your hands grow clammy, but you keep on reading. The characters come alive and before you're through the book, you'd swear you'd known these people before in your REAL life and not through a novel. Dana posted her blog from her two months on the US Coast Guard Cutter last spring, where she was learning, living, and researching for PREPARED. If anything, it's too real, and, as several other reviewers mentioned, the first chapter is brutal... and you just can't reading. I pre-ordered this early from Amazon and, for those who actually read the book, it gets a five stars!!!