Another epic technothriller of redundant proportions. "Hawk" follows the adventures of Pat Maclanahan and the crew of the "Old Dog" in post-Soviet Europe. Brown's novels circulate through several geo-political hot-spots (China, Iran and former east-bloc states). Here, the accent is on the Baltic states, upon which former soviet Russia (not "former" enough for Brown's liking) seeks to reassert her power. Lithuanians trying to remake their country must stand alone against the might of the Russian military. Meanwhile, Russian hardliners inside of Lithuania hope to bring the former east-bloc state into the Russian fold - apparently by creating an extensive laboratory called Fisikous that designs and builds high-tech weapons, including a stealthy strike-fighter designed by the captured American Dave Lugar and patterned along the same technology as the EB-52. As Russian aggression becomes more overt, American forces bolster a coalition of Turkish and Lithuanian warplanes to turn back the tide.

This was a peculiarly messy Brown novel, adding to the problems you normally run up against in his books. For one thing - what's it even about? The specter of a powerful post-Soviet Russia using its military to rebuild its Soviet-era supremacy isn't a new idea for Brown (or one he'll abandon - witness "Warrior Class"). There is no central threat that must be eliminated by a certain deadline, so there's no tension or any sense that the story is building to a climax the way "Storming Heaven" did. We're supposed to root for the brave Lithuanians who quickly become the "Davids" in a high-tech David-and-Goliath story, but when their leader reveals that he's training an army of warriors patterned after Lithuania's medieval knights, you wonder how loopy "David" can be while remaining the favored underdog. The subplot about wicked ex-Soviets designing and building high-tech weaponry ready for battle is ludicrous. As a former air warrior himself, Brown must appreciate that you need more than fancy computers to actually turn out a prototype airplane - let alone one that can integrate a complex weapons and sensors suite and take the punishment of combat. Furthermore, with the Soviet position as unpopular in Lithuania as Brown can make it, it's impossible to reasonably imagine what good these Soviet wannabes can expect from their gleaming weaponry. (You figure that the pricetag of any one of Fiskous's aircraft, these Russian hardliners could arm thousands of Russian convicts with assault rifles and RPG's and airdrop them into Lithuania). Instead, as if on an episode of "Airwolf", the bad guys decide to cast caution to the wind, and duke it out against the heroes in the air. It's almost as if the researchers of Fisikous are in another book entirely - while Europe struggles to throw off the yoke of the new Russia, these guys sit around their labs arguing about aerodynamics and radar cross-section. Ofcourse, Brown doesn't let the plotting get too far along (when it does, he quickly summarizes everything) before fast-forwarding to the action - which in "Hawk" alternate between air warfare scenes and blatant Clinton bashing (whether you loved the Clinton years or loved to hate the Clintons themselves, and unless you're a rabid basher of Billary, you're likely to find Brown's barbs gratuitous at best and outright malicious at worst).

The story's biggest weakness is meant to be its surprise - Dave Lugar returns! Feared dead when left behind at the end of the original "Flight of the Old Dog", we now know that he was "rescued" by the Russians, who brainwashed him into turning over America's deepest military aviation secrets. Somehow passed to Fisikous, he's become the unwitting creative genius behind its stealthy fighter. Unfortunately, Lugar's story is only one of many details from other Brown books to make an appearance here. Brown obviously likes the idea that he's created a continuum of characters whose lives are wider than the covers of any one of his books. Unfortunately, the characters are so one-note (Brown prefers to summarize them in miniature dossiers rather than develop them as organic characters) that any attention paid to their adventures in other books seems out of place and distracting. This creates an odd paradox: you've had to have read any of the other books to appreciate the significance of the references Brown makes to them, but "Hawk" so follows the formula of those older books without bringing anything new to the reader, that Browns fans will have the least fun reading this one. We still have overly exhaustive explanations of how new weapons are based on what's tried and true of existing technology, Brown's pilots still exchange extended long dialog while flying their high-performance aircraft into battle, Brown's villains (liberals, Russians and US Naval officers) continue to annoy, and Brown himself treats his stories as an opportunity to demonstrate everything he knows about the military - even when the plot or the need to develop it in get in the way. Whether Brown's details are even correct is a subject I'll save for "true brothers". Grasp of details, however, is not the same thing as making those details flesh out the story or even the scenes in which all of that technology comes to bear. Though by the end of "Hawk" you'll know what a radar-warning receiver sounds like, or what an EW display looks like, the thrill of flying in combat is missing - Brown neglected to give his characters enough feeling to convey the rigors of being shot at while flying at 600 mph. This is one of Brown's weaker books - fans should opt instead for "Skymasters" or "Battle Born".

When I first read Night of the Hawk it was a tattered old version my dad owned. Now I've read it 6 times and everytime it is better. Night of the Hawk RULES!!!!!!!

After reading "Flight of the Old Dog" I had to read the sequel, and I was glad that I did. The first half of the book starts slowly and has all the background and political wrangling that you need to understand it. The second half is an almost non-stop action sequence that just keeps you turning the page. I read the second half of the book in just one afternoon/evening! It is very clever, in the way that there is always a new twist to the storyline, all the way through to the end! I will definitely go out and get another Dale Brown. Can anyone recommend one?

Hmm, I never realized that TSR killed off this line of acessories. As far as I know, it is no more than two years old, and it's still fully viable on the webs ( heck, even Amazon carries a large selection of all things Birthright!). Nevertheless, Birthright is a unique setting, and it can be easily enjoyed. This book is a very good work on the nature of priestcraft in the world where this campaign is set ( and if it IS killed off, I advise you to get it quickly - out of print products don't linger too long on this site). It is also a very good work of AD&D priestcraft in general, and although it isn't as likely to help players as it will help DMs, but take my word - this book will ease the life of DMs immensely (remember that player whose priest would constantly stop to cast healing spells on everyone? Well, this book will stop that overconfident character dead in his tracks...)

TSR's only misstep since its revitalization is cancellation of the Birthright line. This book details the religions and priests of Cerilia, and is a very good supplement. Why more people didn't get into Birthright and keep the line alive is a mystery to me.

The twelve authors interviewed for this book seem to have, with few exceptions, certain things in common:

1. None of them, with the exception of Garrison Keillor and, possibly, Water Wangerin are huge sellers. In fact, I had never heard of eight of the twelve writers in the book.

2. Although having some connection to the Christian faith, none of them are what you would call "conservative", "evangelical" or "fundamentalist".

3. None of the authors want to be pigeonholed as a "Christian author," or be exiled to the "Christian Bookstore" ghetto. Yet they run into the problem of being too religious for the secularists, and too secular for the religious.

Probably the best thing about this book is that it has turned my on to some authors that were previously unfamiliar to me. The downside of that is that the books mentioned that sound most appealing to me are out of print. This book never fails to be interesting, and althought there are recurring themes (the influence of Flannery O'Connor, etc.), there are some suprises along the way, such as seemingly mild-mannered Garrison Keillor's vitriolic attack on the GOP. One drawback is that some of these interviews are more than a decade old. Nevertheless, this book is a worthwhile purchase.

This excellent collection of interviews is a wonderful contribution to both the literary and Christian communities. Each of the twelve subjects deserves a greater audience within these two groups, and most of them discuss the difficulties of crossing the divide between them. For readers familiar with the subjects' work, this collection offers a much needed focus on the spiritual themes and influences of their fiction. For new readers, this collection is a perfect introduction to writers worth reading. If you enjoy this book and would like to continue along similar lines, try The Christ-Haunted Landscape:Faith and Doubt in Southern Fiction. This is a collection of interviews with contemporary Southern writers. Susan Ketchin (who is, coincidentally, the wife of Faith and Fiction subject Clyde Edgerton) is the interviewer/author.

Captivating, easy-to-read text accompanied by attractive, glossy photos. Would definitely recommend adding it to your reading collection on antiquity.

This book is absolutely fantastic! It's a great combination of pictures and text, facts about the eruption, the destruction, and what archaeologists have found so far.

This would be an excellent source for a school project, as it has tons on the life of the people of Pompeii, as well as archaeological findings. It's very informative, but not so much that the text is stuffy or boring.

This book has been fabulous for me as I plan to study Pompeii and Herculaneum after school.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in Roman History, natural disasters, and definitely archaeology. It would also be a great addition to any home library, as its fantastic pictures and illustrations make it a great look-through!

"Vikings: Raiders from the North" is a terrific introduction to the culture of the Viking peoples. It is part of Time-Life's Lost Civilizations series. This book goes beyond the stereotypical image we have of the Vikings as rampaging, looting, bellicose pirates to show us the richness of their society.

The book treats you to a brief history of the Viking world and the archaeology from Viking sites. This gives you a more balanced view, as we learn about the farms and crafts that were part of their world. Important parts of the book deal with Viking craftsmen such as ship builders, jewelry makers and wood carvers.

As with all Time-Life books, this one is richly illustrated with color photographs, maps and illustrations. These let you see the beauty and intricacy of Viking craftwork, from their beautiful boats to the delicate personal effects such as buttons, combs and brooches. The maps and diagrams of archaeological sites help you visual what the text is describing.

The book is devided into four sections that outline the rise of Viking culture in present day Scandinavia; the Viking quests for wealth and glory through continental Europe and the Near East; the Viking influence on the British Isles; and the Viking exploration and settlements on Iceland, Greenland and the New World. There are also supplemental sections on Viking ship building, the archaeology of York (Jorvik), the modern search for Vinland and Viking artwork.

The book tries to dispel some of the misconceptions and myths about Vikings (eg. Vikings never wore horned helmets) while it tries to give you an idea of the full range of Viking culture. Most people within the Viking culture were farmers, and their story is also told within this book.

All in all this is a good introduction to Vikings. If you want a fairly balanced account of Viking culture, I recommend this book. It is also quite a fast and enjoyable read.

I thought it was a very interesting and educatoinal book

This is a typical Dale Brown book - lots of high tech gadgets and lots of action. Not one of his better reads, but if you like Dale, you'll like this one.

In his third installment in the NUMA Files series, Clive Cussler delivers another exciting adventure packed with action, intrigue, and dangerous exploits.

Emanating from the Soviet Union, a mining and shipping tycoon has designs on overthrowing the current Soviet government believing himself to be the Tsar of Russia. To avoid the interference of the United States, he orchestrates a plan to create a massive disaster that would affect a large part of the U.S. eastern seaboard. On the continental shelf are pockets of a highly combustible compound known as methane hydrate or Fire Ice. Detonating this material would cause tidal waves sufficient enough to destroy major cities. Unbeknownst to NUMA officials and the American government alike, an even more insidious plan is in the works and time is fading fast to avert a catastrophic event that could have global implications.

Fire Ice is a fast paced and very entertaining read that will be sure to please Clive Cussler fans and anyone who enjoys a solid, well written adventure tale.

I'm always looking for books that will help me with the teaching aspect of coaching (which also happens to be the most important). The author has the right idea of focusing on breaking things down to the fundamentals, but does only a so-so job of explaining them. The coverage is inconsistent; sometimes explanations are very clear, other times you're left to fill in blanks. The same is true of information provided on why certain fundamentals are important and why the methodology offered is the correct approach.

The author does do a good job of explaining the order in which skills should be taught, and offers good insight into common misconceptions.

Drills is where this book really fails to deliver. Every coach is always looking for drills that are effective, straight-forwarded, and keep the players interested enough to actually learn something. The author does offer some useful drills, but the a large number focus on one minute skill and propose approaches about as exciting as watching grass grow. Could you really keep a team of 10 year olds interested in 10 minutes of proper wrist movement?

If you have some experience coaching, you can probably use this book to pull together aspects of different drills to create effective and fun drills for your players. But if you're new to coaching, don't let this be your "Bible" on how to run practices.

A final note, the illustrations and diagrams are very low quality. The stick-figure cartoons make the book look amateurish and provide no value.

The book has a tremendous amount of positive basketball knowledge. Many coaches get away from fundamentals and this book goes into detail on the benefits of breaking everything down to the bear essentials. A great compliment to this book is the video "48 Championship Basketball Drills" which has some outstanding creative shooting drills. Sid Goldstein should be hailed as "El Sid" on a good effort and worthy teaching tool.

As a coach of a 5th and 6th grade boys basketball team I found this book a tremendous teaching tool this season. Most of the children I coach have had little or no formal teaching in basketball previous to me. This books true value comes from being geared towards all skill levels. A coach at my level, straight through coaches of High school varsity teams, can find drills to introduce to their players.

Every year I've bought a new book on drills because I've never been completly happy with the previous years' purchase. I'm happy to say that next year, and for many more to come, I won't have to buy another.

This was truly an exciting book. After Admiral Hardcastle warns the world about America's lack of guards against terrorism,the bad dreams. A psycho terrorist begins tearing up the heartland. After tearing up The Los Angeles airport by dropping explosives the terror begins. This terrorist pulls teooroist actions all over the country. The American authorities have their hands full. It takes the final pages of this book before the forces can finally subdue the force of evil. This is without question a page turner. Be sure to read it. You will not be dissapointed.Thanks to this book I am now a Dale Brown fan.

Be prepared to have plenty of time to read before you pick this up & start reading, as you won't be able to put it down. One of Brown's best works so far. It brings the reader right into the action and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. "STORMING HEAVEN" Will make you think twice before 'hanging around' an airport! It was especially tense for me as I live in the area where the first part of "STORMING HEAVEN" takes place, and I know the area well. Even without that connection, "STORMING HEAVEN" is a must-read for all who enjoy Dale Brown's books and those like him who write about aviation and the all of the excitement which surround it. Bravo!

This was the first Dale Brown book that I read, and I was rather hesitant to read it at all. Once I started it, there was no turning back; I finished it the next day and lost about seven hours of sleep.

At the end of the opening chapter of the book, Henri Cazuax, a psycopathic terrorist who believes he is the servant of Satan, has destroyed three airports, and killed or injured hundreds of people. The ending was no dissapointment, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out.

Dale Brown serves up another "what-if" techno thriller. This time China and the Philippines go to war, dragging the US into the action' As Usual, it's up to Patrick McLanahan to develop a plan to stop the aggression. Another excellent thriller by Brown

China on the move in the Spratlys. An ineffectual president who wonders what to do next. An Air Force that is running out of assets. Nahhhh...never happen...

When the United States leaves the Philippines, war immediatly breaks out. Patrick McLanahan is called in to help the USA. He is to fly his brand new, B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber, over to the Philippines, to destory Chinese targets there. Like all of Dale Browns' books, this one is an excellent book. 5 out of 5 stars for sure. Go out and get this book and all of the Dale Brown books. Now start reading!

"Shadows of Steel" tells of a covert air war against the militant Iranian government and its latest military asset, the Aircraft Carrier Khomeni. (This is actually the Russian carrier Varyag which changes owners from time to time and reappears with different flags and names in different Brown books - I think it makes its last appearance in the next Brown book, "Chains of Command" under the banner of Red China). To combat the threat of an expansionist Iran, the United States borrows a few B-2 Bombers, arms them with some unconventional weapons and sends them into battle. Leading the charge is the now legendary Pat Mclanahan, Brown's somewhat mythic hero (he's becoming more like the sort of laconic hero Eastwood played in those spaghetti westerns - he first appears "flying" a B-2 simulator, but isn't introduced; nevertheless, his "get-it-done" attitude makes his identity clear from the start). On the homefront, opposition to the secret airwar coems from the expected cabal of indigenous american baddies - left wing politicos and jealous navy types who seethe at seeing the USAF grab the glory.

Other than that, we don't really have a particularly enlightening Dale Brown entry, and you can find more of whatever grabs you from his other books (more technobabble and tactical-aviation-speak from "Battle Born"; more large-scale combat from "Chains of Command", "Night of the Hawk" or "Sky Masters"; more air combat from "Day of the Cheetah".) Brown seems just to recycling his old stuff (evil regime gets too uppity; send in soem new hi-tech unit and weapons created just in time) and doesn't craft a very realistic story upon which to stick them. To give you an idea of how out of touch Brown is with the region in which he is focused on, consider the love interest here - a female Saudi soldier, in a country that doesn't even allow women the right to drive, or do much of anything. Yeah, that's perfectly plausible. Sick with those other books, but give this one a wave-off.

Dale Brown almost always writes gripping stuff. Shadows of Steel is no different. While Dale Brown certainly takes quite a few creative liberties and some of the scenarios in his books may seem far fetched, Shadows of Steel is generally realistic. Iran is the key country in this book, and Brown gives them the military might to hold all the power in the Persian Gulf. It's up to Brown's hero Patrick McLanahan to destroy the Iranian threat using America's finest, the B-2 Bomber.

The only real problem I had with the book was its cover. If you read Cyrillic and know your Russian navy, the aircraft carrier on the cover is the "Kiev". Brown's carrier in the book is the "Varyag", a totally different ship than the cover, and which was not completed and currently remains in dry dock in the Ukraine, rusting away indefinitely. Despite the incorrect cover, I praise Dale Brown for his originality in predicting the sale of the carrier to China, something which is very likely to happen.

Another good book by Dale Brown that every serious military techno-thriller enthusiast should have on their bookshelf. For people who don't like all the technical information that is critical in a book in this genre, stay away! Dale Brown puts all the technical information in his books for a reason, to make them realistic. People who get overwhelmed by these kinds of books shouldn't write negative reviews just because of that. If you don't like technical information, don't read techno-thrillers. But don't put down the author for authenticity. Still, serious fans will enjoy this book.

Gotta love it! Dale Brown's 9th novel, Shadows of Steel features a battle-scarred B-2A stealth bomber countering the threat of an Iranian aircraft carrier and an Iranian military coup. The novel did a tremendous job of conveying the dark fascination of carrying out precision strikes unseen by your enemy. In fact, the only complaint I could have was that in the dialogue everybody kept saying "B-2A", whereas it seems to me they would usually just say "B-2". But what do I know? Maybe the story relied a little bit too much on non-lethal weapons, and there was a minor innacuracy involving the maximum speed of the AIM-54C Phoenix missile, but these minor problems don't take much from the story. A must-read if you're a Dale Brown fan and a stealth bomber fan. Enjoy