Rating: 
Summary: A Great Read But An Implausible Outcome - Well Written!
Review: This book is a wonderfully written book. It avoids the techno-jargon of the Tom Clancy books and focuses on the personalities behind the equipment and how they might respond in the absurdity of war. He creates vividly chaotic battle scenes that stupify the combatants.
My biggest objection is that the ending is so anti-climactic. After dramatic, but costly initial successes, the Soviet Forces are caught off guard by a dazzling and powerful American counterattack out of CENTAG that most strategists agree would have to happen. The men are only coming to grips with the possibility of defeat when the surprise ending is sprung on the reader.
This ending is not plausible because the US forces would never cease fire after taking minimal losses to come within 12 kilometers of cutting off a large Soviet Force at the Weser. Politically West Germany would not have crumbled when it had only yielded perhaps 25-30% of it's territory on the heels of a successful counterattack with some 8 fresh American & British divisions arriving soon as an operational reserve.
I highly doubt the American, British & French would allow the unilateral surrender of German Forces with the tide turning decidedly in their favor.
I do agree with the inherent weaknesses of NATO as a political unit. I agree that the Europeans would resort to their "see no evil" mentality and therefore allow themselves to be caught thoroughly off-guard by a Soviet onslaught. NATO's survival would hinge on the ability to establish a credible front within NORTHAG. If that failed to materialize there would be little CENTAG could do alone to stop the siezure of Germany north of the Harz Mountains. That being said, I still believe the British and Americans would carry on the fight even if the West Germans gave up.
The Soviet Union never had the economic capability to support a war lasting longer than 30 days in Western Europe. The US, UK, and other NATO partners would have the means to outlast the Soviets in terms logistics and air power.
This acknowlegement on the part of the Soviets is why they never invaded West Germany...
Rating:
Summary: This book makes the former Soviet army seem actually human
Review: This is actually a great book of how a war fought in the 1980's in Europe would happen. The troop movements and weapons are all real. All in all, this is a very serious and realistic scenario for a war being fought in the 1980's.
Rating:
Summary: This book was an excellent view on a possible World War III
Review: This is probably the best novel I have ever read. I have been interested in military history for quite some time, and I was wondered what would have happened if the Soviets flooded across the East - West German border with their huge numbers of armor and infantry. This great novel gave me a version of how this might have turned out.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Subject, Implausible Ending
Review: When I first got this book in the early 90s, I was an Army ROTC cadet. I had serious reservations about the book then. Not because I thought it was a bad book. No. It seemed decent enough. It was the fact the Bad Guys win! Just couldnt handle it. I eventually got over my prejudices and read it through. Glad I did as its a great story.
Peters gives us a picture of the Soviet Army much different than the mindless horde of barbarians we are used to. He humanizes them. We see an Army filled with competent leaders and brave soldiers who are not necessarily inclined to spout off Marxist rhetoric. We also see incompetants and cowards too. I actually found myself sympathizing with the Soviet soldiers! Peters also reveals that Soviet fighting doctrine may not have been so wrong. Just different. With Peters' military intelligence background, his portrayals carry lots of weight.
While I now dont mind the author writing an outcome where the Red Army prevails, I dont necessarily agree with how he gets there. The Soviet attack on NATO is primarily focused on attacking Northern West Germany defended by Dutch, Belgian and British forces Peters believe to be weak. Ultimately the victory comes from psychological warfare. In particular, the USSR releases a tape showing what is supposed to be a West German city (its really an accurate make up of one) utterly destroyed that frightens the West German government into a cease fire. Also, they send paratroopers into the UK/Dutch/Belgian zones to commit atrocities which causes these NATO forces to expend time in mop up operations. Given the German/Russian historical record, I dont think this is enough to get the Germans to sue for peace and the Dutch, Belgian and UK military are certainly smart enough to not fall for the paratroop diversion.
Despite this, Peters makes a compelling case for the fighting prowess of the Red Army. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Clancy like romp at the world war scenario...
Review: When I first picked up this book I thought I might try my luck once more and NOT find something nearer to Clancy's Red Storm Rising, but, indeed, I found it just as disappointing. Considering the intended audience, the premise of depicting a third world war from a Russian context will probably not draw much popularity but from the least jingoistic techno-thriller fan (if there are any to be had).If you adore Tom Clancy or revel in Larry Bond or Harold Coyle, this story should captivate your attention. Considering strictly the qualities I think the genre's hard core fans merit I give it a four star rating.
Rating:
Summary: and I thought RED STORM RISING was good!
Review: wow. This book was absolutely amazing. I read it in four days (but only an hour or two a day!). Its all russians, which is cool. Its got every concievable character- tankers, infantryman, artilleryman, supplyers, generals, KGB officers, MiG pilots, Air-Assault Paratroopers, Reconnaissance Tankers, Engineers, Air defence troopers, and (of course) your local neighborhood political officer! ( but there are a couple who are actually good soldiers, and do their duty.). Its a great book, and a must have for anyone who likes the military or action. One definite plus is that it doesn't get into all of the technology details. The author simply says "tank" not a specific type-like Tom Clancy loves to do. Just read it, you won't be wasting your time, and it might just give you a whole new perspective on modern war!
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