Bump
Posted on 05/10/2002 8:43:58 AM PDT by Jack Black
BOOK REVIEW: "Dragon's Fury: Volume 1 - Breath of Fire" by Jeff Head
"Breath of Fire" is an exciting novel of the near future that explores plausible what-if scenarios straight out of todays headlines. The book neatly combines the general categories of techno-thriller and political thriller into a fast paced and thought provoking story. The book is subtitled "A Series on the Coming Third World War" so you know the general plot line before begining.
I am a big fan of both techno thrillers and future war books and Head's first novel delivers the goods and is far more interesting and plausible than most of the other books that have taken on these topics recently. The story has several threads that overlap, and in doing so ties together the threats posed by the Islamic world, China and domestic issues into a scenario that is as frightening as it is realistic.
While I'm not an expert on military weapons systems it's pretty obvious the author is, and the short author's bio confirms this. Yet he has still managed to avoid the techno overkill that has marred the efforts of many Clancey influenced writers. This book is a story first and foremost, not an operating manual for the ZS9000 Destruction Unit. Still if you want some really interesting speculation on future weapons systems, particularly naval ones, it would be hard to beat this book.
The political scenarios are the heart of this book, and they are well thought out and fully capable of carrying the story forward into the future volumes of the series. Mr. Head has done an admirable job understanding the dynamics of a number of other nations and groups and paints a plausible scenario for how these forces could conceivably lead us to the unthinkable: World War 3.
The characters are particularly well drawn and I liked the fact that the enemies are treated in a fully interesting and sympathetic mannner, unlike many thrillers where the bad guys are only stick figures, and so fully evil you can neither sympathize with them nor even believe they could exist.
If your looking for a great techno thriller, or like international political intrigue "Dragon's Fury" is well worth the read. If you are fascinated by the topic of WWIII, as I am, then I believe you will enjoy this novel because it is just plain more realistic than most others in the genre.
Finally Jeff Head is a legendary freeper who has led many successful grass roots conservative movements, most recently the online petition to stop the effort to rewrite history of Sept. 11 with the firefighter statue. Supporting Jeff is a happy biproduct of buying a copy of this book.
I'm guessing another month or two to be finished the rough, with a completed length of about 375 pages.
Can't wait to buy it.
Give you an extra twenty for copy no. 1...
I am trying to maintian about a six month time period between novels (I always hate waiting a year or more myself). I'll be close this first time and hope to maintain that. Not easy to do while putting bread on the table and having 400+ page volumes.
Twain's excuse is a good one in that regard ... by default. I hope not to have to use that one for some very long time to come. Got Grand kids coming now and this Granmpa plans on hanging around as long as the good Lord will allow.
BUMP BTTT
Volume I was closer to 450.
After this one ... two down and three to go!
Glad to hear your making steady progress. Look forward to buying it and reading it.
I didn't mention in my review but the production of the book is very nice. I like the cover, font and stock. Nice job there too! Have a nice weekend and BUMP again for a great book.
As Merle (the Hag') would say ...
"I got to keep going ... I cain't slow down."
But it sure does catch up to me once in a while for sure.
Regards ... you'll have email sometime this weekend.
Bump
Beauty of a fight when you get to the ground.
Five hours or so out, we got up and started our in-flight rigging. Add main chute, ruck, reserve, rifle case, etc.
The legs eyes were getting big.
We told them, "When we open the doors, HANG ON! the pressure will suck you out. Make sure you BREATHE OUT, or your lungs will get sucked out your nose..."
I was laughing so hard, at the look on their faces, I fell out of the airplane.
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