Cold Choices
Posted by Admin on November 8th, 2009 at 10:10pm
From Publishers Weekly
A nuclear submarine can be one of the more dangerous places to be trapped, as shown in this suspenseful follow-up to bestseller Bond’s Dangerous Ground. Capt. Aleksey Petrov has just taken command of Severodvinsk, the first nuclear sub to enter Russian service in years. His orders are to drive away any American subs observing Russian naval maneuvers in international waters. When a miscalculation leads to a collision with the USS Seawolf, the damaged Yanks c…
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3 Comments for Cold Choices
1. Philander | November 8th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Let me say up front you would be hard pressed to find someone who enjoys submarine thrillers more than I do…unfortunately finding one that is really well written is easier said than done. I’ve been fortunate to have discovered what seems to be the majority of authors who actually have some talent in this area…Larry Bond comes with a writing history that rivals pretty much anybody, beginning with his co-writing credit (according to Tom Clancy) on ‘Red Storm Rising’. Since then an impressive collection of military-themed novels have been produced, some great, some good and only a small number not worth mentioning…
Being the sub fan that I am, when ‘Dangerous Ground’ came out I picked it up rather quickly (I actually received an advance copy to be honest) and loved how it began…but as well told as it was, it simply grew slightly then entirely boring. I totally grew disinterested in the characters after about page 250, and it was sheer will that got me through the rest of the book. I was monumentally disappointed to say the least. Larry Bond had written some downright page-turners in his time, and was this a glimpse of what I could expect in the future? I am happy to say that the answer is NO.
‘Cold Choices’ has everything the prequel lacked–mainly an exciting and thrilling story that very seldom lets up. The title turned out to be amazingly fitting for just how difficult the job of sub commander really can be. What about the choices of a real-life submariner who (rarely) is involved in a mid-sea collision? Do they honor the decision from back home and leave immediately (or as quickly as the ship will allow), or do they stay and against direct orders do the RIGHT thing and stay and help, all the while risking the lives of every man on board? Cold Choices indeed.
One MAJOR prop to Larry for portraying almost frighteningly well what it feels like inside a submarine stuck underneath thousands of tons of cold water. It became almost difficult to breathe in a few parts (kudos again to Larry for the writing chops to pull that off) knowing just how dangerous the situation was, and yet keeping the tension high enough that you almost HAD to continue in order to find out what happens NEXT.
THANKS for making me glad I took a gamble on this one…it was WELL worth it. I look forward to more in the future. Congratulations.
2. Cain | November 9th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Having read and enjoyed several other novels by Bond, including his first book with a submarine theme, I quickly picked up Cold Choices. Although reading the book jacket tells you that two submarines collide, with the Russian sub sinking to the bottom, Bond does a solid job to set up the event. Character development with the officers and crew of both subs is solid and clearly provide depth as the story unfolds. The real action, however, starts after the collision, when Bond leads the reader through the excruciatingly difficult choices facing both sub commanders who have to deal with the situation at hand while also being mindful of the bigger picture of the broad geopolitical context. While perhaps not a page-turning thriller in the traditional sense, Bond nonetheless gets the reader turning the pages in rapid succession. All things considered, Cold Choices is a very compelling story and definitely better than Dangerous Ground.
3. Baina | November 9th, 2009 at 3:13 am
I must say that even though I am in the USAF, I do love a good submarine novel. I am a huge fan of Tom Clancy and got my first taste of Larry Bond in Red Storm Rising. Since then, I have read several of his books and enjoyed them all. Cold Choices is another fantastic book in a growing collection of great novels by Larry Bond. Jerry Mitchell is a very personable character that readers can easily identify with. Bond does a great job of creating and sustaining suspense throughout the novel, but also does a good job of including the quirky details that make the Navy great i.e. the Bluenose ceremony and that strange navy humor. Overall, it is a no brainer, this book is a must read.
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