Rating: 
Summary: Bad writing, bad facts - waste of time
Review: This book is just as bad as Nimitz Class, the author's previous. Pages and pages of boring dialogue full of foul and obscene language - seemingly a Brit's weird attempt of writing "typical American". If even I discover so many "facts" to be wrong, there must be many more errors. For example, a "Super Cobra" helicopter will NEVER have 16 seats - it's an attack helo! SEALs are not at all trained to be actors and make-up artists. The list goes on... Don't even get me started on the plot and it's believability. This is bad writing!
Rating: 
Summary: French reader giving his opinion
Review: I haven't finished reading the book (in English) and I already think it's a very interesting book, the plot seems plausible to me but I didn't know admirals sweared that much (I don't have any problems with it but is it realistic?)
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been a great read but ended up pretty cheesy.
Review: Kilo Class should have been a fun read but was bogged down by black-and-white characters, ludicrous 'coincidences,' and dialog reminiscent of the bad-guy-who-gives-away-the-entire-plot-to-the-good-guy-just-before-he-escapes.The book was set up very well -- a truly believeable threat to the good old USA. But it quickly lost all of its realism to the point where I didn't care who 'won.' *sigh* Off to find another author. I don't think I could sit through another one of these.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read--creatively, yet realistically written!
Review: i thought this book was a great story of stuff that could actually happen. Although i have to admit some of it (just a little) seemed a little unlikely. But the plot is great and it is overall a great book for any reader looking for an exciting book. Thumbs up to Robinson
Rating: 
Summary: For Americans patriots only
Review: I was repelled by the idea that a democracy, such as the USA could launch ruthless attacks against another country to prevent a potential (not established) threat. Imagine cops starting to kill people because they are potentially dangerous: "You own a gun? Therefore you want to kill somebody. Therefore, I must shoot you down before you even think about it!" That would be revolting, isn't it? The book is fun to read but the underlying idea is basically wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Robinson is an American patriot
Review: As a person who helped Chang Kai Shek's troops battle those of Mao Tse-Tung after WWII, I have long been fascinated with the Chinese experiment. Using a curious mixture of military and political dictatoship combined with many of the principles of free market economy, China is actually achieving its goals - that of world domination by military means. Robinson gets right to the core of this in his prescient narrative of conversations at the highest level of Chinese authority. Fortunately, the year is only 2003. At the present rate, by 2010, the Chinese will have achieved its goal, military blackmail of the entire world. Makes you think.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of potential; little punch
Review: Kilo Class starts off with action and excitment but, in the end, delivers little of either. Biggest let down is the lack of danger the good ole USA heros ever encounger. Kilo Class portrays the US military as untouchable, which leaves no room for suspense once you catch on. Too predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but drags too much
Review: This is the first time that I have read anything by Robinson, and I was somewhat disapointed. It took a long time for the story to get going, and once it did, it seemed like the Russians never had a chance. Never the less, Robinson delivers the unexpected with his flashy, showy style. Robinson could have easily made the book a hundred pages shorter by eliminating the over-elaborate charachter descriptions, and several useless plot oversights. When this book is good, its good. Nevermind the complaints about the accuracy of the history, only people with far too much free time on thier hands will notice or care. Overall, the book is good, but could be better.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful read, expert detail, some characters too perfect
Review: I would say that Patrick Robinson is honing his writing craft well. The book was a page turner hard to put down. Admiral Woodward's expertise in naval matters (especially submarines) coupled with Robinson's writing capabilities has a synergy that allows highly imaginative tales to approach believability. There was a proper balance of subplots along with the main plot. It is detracting to read stories that have 4 or 5 substantial plots running simoultaneously. So, having one or two subplots - like family situations of the the main characters is acceptable. To me, having more than this has always been difficult to pull off. Criticism 1 - the superiors of the main characters (President, CNO) are too agreeable on highly sensitive matters of national security. I believe that there would be much more resistance to "black operations" from up top than is indicated here. Things are perhaps a liitle too convenient. Criticism 2 - The characters are too perfect. I suppose heroes and the like should be tall, trim, dark, and bigger than life (Bill Baldridge, Boomer Dunning) but some imperfections here and there would be interesting. This goes for the females as well. Its great to imagine all the wives/girlfriends being of "model" quality but there should be a touch more balance in their physical and emotional character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes military thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading but maybe not worth keeping
Review: Although (or perhaps because) I had not read many techno-thrillers, I enjoyed Nimitz Class enough to get its sequel as well. In this type of book, I do not demand profound characterizations or memorable dialogue; although of course they would be good to have, and that the second book shows little improvement here is disappointing, because I rather want Robinson to be a worthy novelist. It is more disturbing to find that he has also failed with some of the technical details which relatively naive readers like me depend upon the author to present authoritatively. Even I was left wondering whether a nuclear lab thousands of miles from its home country could be built and sustained (including transport of personnel and all food and other supplies) only by a couple of small submarines shuttling back and forth. Didn't this strike anyone else as implausible?
| 
