Solid, but not an exceptional thrillerThe strength of a Stephen Coonts novel is that he provides a thriller like Tom Clancy but not all of the techno-speak. Instead, he provides just enough to give the reader a taste but not enough to overwhelm.The weakness of Stephen Coonts is that Jake Grafton, likable as he is, makes Star Trek's Captain Kirk look like an underachiever. Grafton is everywhere in this book (like all of them). Who needs specialists, like Navy SEALs or an expert for a rocket launch? Instead, Jake Grafton is your man. Need someone to finagle a Russian spy? He's your man. How about someone to go on a raid, find a spy, fake an attack, go undercover to capture an international super-criminal? He's your man. And then, he gets to beat up the bad guy and pretty much save the world all by himself (and his faithful sidekick Toad Tarkington) - again.Beyond that, America is a perfectly readable and entertaining book. The premise is that America's newest submarine, the America has been stolen. America is remarkable in that it is the quietest submarine ever built and it has the most sensitive sonar of any sub as well. So, it cannot be found easily and it can easily see everyone who is searching for it. It also comes with a detachable mini-sub as well...Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
The setting takes place in a launch platform near the Cape Canaveral and a pier in Long Island. The conflicts are that a new antimissile defense system disappears after its launch, and the most advance nuclear submarines,USS America, is hijacked by a group of terrorist just as the submarine goes on patrol for the first time. Jake Grafton with the help of Toad Tarkington, Flap Le Beau and Tommy Carmellini must find who stole the nuclear submarine and see if there is a connection with the disappearance of the satellite. In my opinion I like the book, though I wouldn't change anything in the story. I would read the other books from this author. Other people would enjoy books filled with suspense and action, but some might not like it because it talks about advance military equipment that people might not understand. Though the book is kind of long, it is a good book for any advance readers looking for something to read.
What do You think about America (2002)?
This was just not Coonts' best Jake Grafton novel. It took a while to get going, and one question just get bugging me the whole while I was reading.In the dark recesses of time, I dated a Navy A-6 bombardier/navigator. When we went to see "Hunt for Red October," I asked him afterward whether the caterpillar drive would actually work. His response: "I wouldn't know; I'm a plane guy, not a sub guy."So, given that RAdm Jake Grafton is a "plane guy," why is this book about submarines? Why is he even on the USS America project? It makes no sense whatsoever.I'm not saying the book was poorly written; it was quite well-done once the momentum picked up. Nor am I saying that the adventure/espionage/intrigue is in any way lacking. I just couldn't get past "Jake Grafton is a plane guy, not a sub guy."
—Sharon
