Rating: 
Summary: Leadership demands decisions.
Review: "Black Hawk Down [the movie] and our government's commitment to hunt down terrorist groups and destroy them has brought the suffering and oppression in Somalia to our attention once again. Somalia was in our cross hairs in the 90's. Now, because of 9/11 and the terrorist's need for a new home base, Somalia will be on our military radar again, soon. Mark Bowden's brilliant book, "Black Hawk Down" establishes the bar for other books dealing with military action in Somalia. Owen West's story of the hellacious problems that US military men encounter doesn't quite reach the bar that Mark Bowden set. West builds the central charter of Lieutenant Galvin Kelly by flipping back and forth from Somalia to Lt. Kelly's childhood in the USA. One chapter you are with the LT. in Somalia looking into the faces of the suffering and famished. Then next chapter you are reliving Galvin Kelly's childhood, adolescence or college years; back and forth. This ocellation causes the focus and momentum of the story line to crippled. Thus, the first hundred pages of "Sharkman Six" F.T.E. (fail to engage) me. However, about 100 pages into the book the pace picks up, the story stays in Mogadishu and the action engages both the enemy and my attention. Leadership demands decisions; decisions that will cause the Lieutenant and the reader to struggle with dilemmas and moral issues. Complex compromises will be made and great warriors will sacrifice their military career and lives. The climax and battle scene is absorbing and intense. Strongly recommended.
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Summary: Boy meets girl on camera
Review: (...) Sharkman Six is an entertaining and intelligent examination of the symbiotic relationship between the military and the media in modern warfare.
The novel's protagonist, Lieutenant Gavin Kelly, a third generation marine, is a conflicted hero trying to live up to his grandfather's heroism and live down his father's cowardice. The book is set during humanitarian aid operations in Somalia in the 1990's. It begins with a secret nighttime amphibious assault on Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. As the troops reach the beach they are greeted by a robust media contingent.
Amid the chaos of the landing a local press bodyguard is killed by a marine thus creating the central tension of the novel: how to operate a military both dependent on the media for publicity and resentful of the scrutiny that comes with attention.
The marines must survive in an environment that is lawless and violent. They resist continual provocation and wrestle with complex moral dilemmas such as, should we act or should we just stand here and listen to that woman being raped? Often attempts to help the innocent result in deadly reprisals from warlords against those same innocents. A series of events triggered by the marine presence turns operation 'Restore Hope' into a classic right of passage story (cowardly boy to heroic man).
West's language, like that of Irish writer Roddy Doyle, is so testosterone charged that it sometimes crosses the line from highly entertaining to tedious. None-the-less this book provides a fascinating look into the tense world of international military coalitions and the role of a superpower in the modern world. Most interesting of all is the interdependence of the media and the military. Four stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great and Realistic Read
Review: Anyone interested in a realistic, timely, and intelligent book will enjoy Sharkman Six. In our current situation and the way the world is, this book becomes even more important. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Marine Corps books ever
Review: Having served in Somalia during Restore Hope I was immediately intrigued after reading the dust cover. Fortunately, the rest of the book exceeded my expectations. West did a fine job of developing the characters while not drudging on too much about it. The plot twists dealing with the main characters family history was almost as suspenseful as the rest of the book. I also enjoyed the way West shows the reader the psyche of the Marine Corps. West's writing style makes the book a very easy read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who either served in the Corps or is interested in books about the Corps. Semper Fi!!
Rating: 
Summary: Really REALLY good book. Semper Fi!
Review: I must say I was very surprised by this book. It's actually an action book, but it's wrapped in fast realistic dialogue and it's pretty smart. I really got into the fact that the LT has doubts and relies on the SgtMaj for advice. Also that there were no real heroes except one Sgt who was flawed. I never served in Somalia but was in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have to say this nails an infantry (West's is recon) platoon right on. Semper Fi Marine!
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Summary: Wonderful Story...well written.
Review: I was very impressed by West's Four Days to Veracruz but this one may be even better. Subtle yet cutting account of modern war. Wow! This is so different from other military fiction my hat (cover) is off to Mr. West
Rating: 
Summary: Morality tale, yes...reality tale? Sorry...
Review: I will not fault Mr. West for the lousy editing in the book. And the 'morality tale' basis is pretty well carried out. But it just isn't real enough to be compared to others like Jim Webb's and such. The glowing reviews on the dustcover were not borne out by the content. (And should anyone wonder about my credibility, I have also been a Marine platoon commander, company commander and even a battalion commander for a short while. Always infantry and reconnaissance with the occasional tasking to support SF and SEALS.) So read the book for what it is...a political discussion. But don't take it as gospel.
Rating:
Summary: Sharkman Six--great realistic novel
Review: I'm unsure of the reasoning behind the claim to a lack of reality by other reviewers. I served as a Marine in Somalia, and this represents my experience much more than does Blackhawk Down (which I also enjoyed!) Owen West has hit the nail on the head, and supplies us with entertainment as well as a look at the qualities that the Corps holds most dear.
Rating:
Summary: Great read if you are into modern military fiction
Review: No slowdown. West keeps the story moving with action and an involved plot. If you liked Blackhawk Down, you will enjoy this fictional account of Marines' involvement in Somalia.
Rating:
Summary: Not your average military shoot 'em up novel
Review: Owen West's Sharkman Six follows a Marine platoon commander during his team's participation in America's ill-fated Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. What's intended to be a simple humanitarian mission starts bad, and gets worse. From Lieutenant Kelly's surreal arrival on the beach in Somalia--with US network news crews in attendance--to the stunning finish, this story alternates between scenes of heartbreaking violence, black humor and poignant flashbacks. It's also a lesson on how military forces should NOT be employed. More than a simple techno-thriller, this book is a wonderful character study of a man already questioning his own abilities who has those abilities tested to the fullest.
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