The Sixth Fleet

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Summary: The Sixth Fleet
Review: Excelent work! Having flown with the author in the area of the story makes it even more intresting reading

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Summary: The Sixth Fleet - Military Techno Thriller
Review: The author has offered a realistic scenario of a potential hotspot in the Mediterranean. Without a doubt one of the most accurate portrayal of military technology I have ever read. Can't wait for the author's next book.

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Summary: Action packed thriller
Review: A great book, lots of action. Looking forward to the next book in the series. David did a lot of research and knows what he is talking about. Looking forward to the movie!

Rating:
Summary: The Sixth Fleet
Review: The Sixth Fleet is an excellent book. It has great descriptions and great story telling by the author. It shows what can happen to the U.S. and its military if we do not maintain a strong military posture through the world. It give the you a feel for the interworking of the U.S. Military including the good and the not so good. David E. Meadows has been there and has done that, he has been stationed at the Pentagon, and Joint Chiefs of Staff and knows the interworking of the Beltway, this has translated well into this great story. If you only read one novel this year, I most strongly recommend "The Sixth Fleet."

Rating:
Summary: Military Techno Thriller - The Sixth Fleet
Review: David Meadows has captured a realistic scenario that keeps the reader riveted. His accuracy is uncanny, after completing this book our legislators should be called upon to read this and take a look at the present situation in the world. I eagerly look forward to his next book.

Rating:
Summary: The Sixth Fleet
Review: Once I opened the book, just couldn't put it down! Well written, factual, hard hitting and definitely holds your interest. Can't wait to read the next in this series. Well done to the author and to Amazon.com. Keep up the good work!

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Summary: Great Book!
Review: An exciting and realistic tale of combat in the 21st century. This is one of the best books I've read about modern naval operations this decade. You can tell that the author has 'been there.' A well written, fast read; one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. Hope he writes more soon!

Rating:
Summary: Good story, but be warned that you have to buy the sequels
Review: There are several positive things to say about "The Sixth Fleet" by David E. Meadows. The story is quite exciting and the combat scenes seem to be realistic. Especially the descriptions of how men react under attack have an authentic quality about them, and this makes the book enjoyable to read.

That said, I do have three major problems with "The Sixth Fleet".

First problem: The story is not complete. I was aware that "The Sixth Fleet" was the start of a series of books, but I didn't realize that the story in this book ends abruptly in the middle of the build-up to a major conflict, so you have to buy the next book in the series or be left dangling with everything unresolved.

The fact that the story is incomplete means that many of the characters in the book make their appearance and are described in detail and prepare to take part in the story - and then are not mentioned again! What happens with SEAL Captain Duncan James and his side-kick and their newly acquired female cohort? What will happen to the President of Algeria? Why does the author give us detailed descriptions of how the U.S. President reacts to the initial attacks by the enemy, but not to the more serious later attacks? Hopefully, all of these characters return in volume two, but their fragmentary appearances in this book are very unsatisfying.

OK, perhaps you're willing to buy the next book in the series, and maybe even like the fact that the story is big enough and complicated enough that it needs several volumes. If so, please ignore the previous two paragraphs.

Second problem: The entire story is based on a "what if" scenario set in the indeterminate future. The premise is that American military might has been seriously diminished due to budget cut-backs in the USA, and at the same time Europe has become USA-antagonistic.

The fact that the story is based on this "what if" scenario makes the book less appealing for me. For one thing, I don't think that the proposed scenario is very likely to occur, and anyway, even if it does occur someday, I'd prefer a story that is based on something resembling here-and-now reality.

Also, putting the story in the future results in weird situations like this: "I will be the most powerful man in the Arab world, Colonel Alqahiray said to himself. And even more worshiped than old Saddam, who still manages to hold on to power at his age." (pg. 18)

Third problem: The author has no knowledge of modern data-based communications systems, etc. This implies that he should have gotten some expert help when writing the parts of the story that involve these systems. Instead, he resorted to techno-babble, assuming that the readers were just as poorly informed as him. This works for most readers, but for those of us who know the difference between techno-babble and creative extrapolation / modification of real technologies it leaves the impression that the author just couldn't be bothered doing the right thing.

For example, the author claims that GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites are in geo-stationary orbit (they aren't). He also implies that tampering with the GPS satellites so that GPS receivers show incorrect coordinates would not result in an almost immediate global alert about the problem. There is also confusion between the public telephone / telefax system and computer-based messaging systems. Descriptions of how computer viruses work are completely crazy, etc., etc.

On one level this can be brushed off as nit-picking. Who cares if the author's descriptions of data communications are accurate or not? But the problem is one of credibility. I've caught the author faking some aspects of the story, so then I have to wonder if he's also faking the descriptions of naval combat scenes and aerial dogfights?

So even though Mr. Meadows left me curious (and frustrated) with his cliff-hanger ending of "The Sixth Fleet", I'm not planning on buying the next book, despite the positive aspects of this book.

Rennie Petersen

Rating:
Summary: Good story, but be warned that you have to buy the sequels
Review: There are several positive things to say about "The Sixth Fleet" by David E. Meadows. The story is quite exciting and the combat scenes seem to be realistic. Especially the descriptions of how men react under attack have an authentic quality about them, and this makes the book enjoyable to read.

That said, I do have three major problems with "The Sixth Fleet".

First problem: The story is not complete. I was aware that "The Sixth Fleet" was the start of a series of books, but I didn't realize that the story in this book ends abruptly in the middle of the build-up to a major conflict, so you have to buy the next book in the series or be left dangling with everything unresolved.

The fact that the story is incomplete means that many of the characters in the book make their appearance and are described in detail and prepare to take part in the story - and then are not mentioned again! What happens with SEAL Captain Duncan James and his side-kick and their newly acquired female cohort? What will happen to the President of Algeria? Why does the author give us detailed descriptions of how the U.S. President reacts to the initial attacks by the enemy, but not to the more serious later attacks? Hopefully, all of these characters return in volume two, but their fragmentary appearances in this book are very unsatisfying.

OK, perhaps you're willing to buy the next book in the series, and maybe even like the fact that the story is big enough and complicated enough that it needs several volumes. If so, please ignore the previous two paragraphs.

Second problem: The entire story is based on a "what if" scenario set in the indeterminate future. The premise is that American military might has been seriously diminished due to budget cut-backs in the USA, and at the same time Europe has become USA-antagonistic.

The fact that the story is based on this "what if" scenario makes the book less appealing for me. For one thing, I don't think that the proposed scenario is very likely to occur, and anyway, even if it does occur someday, I'd prefer a story that is based on something resembling here-and-now reality.

Also, putting the story in the future results in weird situations like this: "I will be the most powerful man in the Arab world, Colonel Alqahiray said to himself. And even more worshiped than old Saddam, who still manages to hold on to power at his age." (pg. 18)

Third problem: The author has no knowledge of modern data-based communications systems, etc. This implies that he should have gotten some expert help when writing the parts of the story that involve these systems. Instead, he resorted to techno-babble, assuming that the readers were just as poorly informed as him. This works for most readers, but for those of us who know the difference between techno-babble and creative extrapolation / modification of real technologies it leaves the impression that the author just couldn't be bothered doing the right thing.

For example, the author claims that GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites are in geo-stationary orbit (they aren't). He also implies that tampering with the GPS satellites so that GPS receivers show incorrect coordinates would not result in an almost immediate global alert about the problem. There is also confusion between the public telephone / telefax system and computer-based messaging systems. Descriptions of how computer viruses work are completely crazy, etc., etc.

On one level this can be brushed off as nit-picking. Who cares if the author's descriptions of data communications are accurate or not? But the problem is one of credibility. I've caught the author faking some aspects of the story, so then I have to wonder if he's also faking the descriptions of naval combat scenes and aerial dogfights?

So even though Mr. Meadows left me curious (and frustrated) with his cliff-hanger ending of "The Sixth Fleet", I'm not planning on buying the next book, despite the positive aspects of this book.

Rennie Petersen

Rating:
Summary: 'A solid, entertaining story"
Review: This series definitely has potential. I'd really like to see more of the SEAL trio -- James, Beau & H.J. With James getting crapped on, Beau the wise-cracker and H.J. trying to prove herself as a lady SEAL, a lot of interesting things could happen. The plot to rid the Med of American influence was pretty good, especially since it's carried out by one sharp, evil Libyan colonel. A very good adversary for the U.S. to face. Some of the best scenes involved the Algerian revolution, especially with the loyalists trying to get the President out of the country while encountering all sorts of hairy situations. I really enjoyed the battle scenes at the end. Very fast-paced and well done. Looking forward to the rest of the Sixth Fleet books.