Of Ice And Steel: A Cataclysmic International Conflict ... (ISBN 0977143120)

Fascinating read:
"War is the science of destruction." - John S.C. Abbott Part Hunt for Red October, part Forever Young, Of Ice and Steel by D. Clayton Meadows asks an improbable but powerful question: What would happen if a World War II U-boat and crew was frozen for 60 years and suddenly woke up to a new world? Meadows served on a submarine himself for 20 years so his knowledge of naval operations is vast. At times it may go over the head of the average reader, but it is still a thrilling tale. The story opens towards the end of World War II in 1944. The U-761 is battered and bruised after 6 missions. The Captain is not aware that there is a secret cargo on board. Faced with the knowledge that German is losing the war and the evident idea that they are all going to die at sea, the secret is revealed. The Forever Project is put in place and the U-761 is frozen in time in the Arctic Ocean. Fast forward 44 years to 2008, when a madman executes a coupe in Russia. The new regime wants to see the Communists back in power. The whole world is on edge. An American satellite discovers something lurking in the Arctic Ocean. They presume it is a Russian warhead poised to destroy, in spite of the assurances that Russia isn't looking to take over the world--just their Motherland. A U.S. sub is sent to discover if this craft is a friend or foe. Little do they know it is the U-761. When told what they found, the President said quietly, "Admiral, if I didn't know you personally, I'd say you've lost your mind." What would happen if a World War II U-boat woke up to a new world and is still operating under the assumption that they are still at war with Britain and America? Read Of Ice And Steel and find out. There is a complicated cast of characters and military jargon galore. It takes about half the book to lay the plot, but after that you will find yourself turning the pages in anticipation. Will the U-761 start World War III? How will NATO respond? I didn't want to stop reading--I had to know how it ended. This book would make a really good movie. Armchair Interviews says: It is a fascinating read even for someone who doesn't find military or science fiction their normal cup of tea.

Quite good:
Interesting, well written work. I'd place it somewhere between Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler (more toward Clancy). Certainly well worth the reader's time. Clearly Mr. Meadows, having served on submarines, knows what he is talking about from a technical point of view. However, he doesn't get bogged down in this, and also does a very good job with both the geopolitical aspects of the novel, as well as the characterizations. All in all, an enjoyable read.

OF ICe and Steel:
WHile I think the idea behind the book was well thought thru, I did think that the author was not served well by the publisher and the editor. First there were significnat grammatical and wpelling errors that were ot caught, and trust me if I found them they were easy to spot. I gave up the count at 20 errors. THe orther area where the author was given a disservice by his publisher involved story editing. The plot often became bogged down trying to be all things to all people. The book would have been much better if the plot had been thinned out. Rather than having the German U-boat show up in the midst of a conflict between Russia and NATO, tossing in a whale escorting job (and I still cant figure out where the whaler went) , having a renegade Russiona group over throwing the Russina goventmanet and having than a coup later in the book. the whole thing came to be a mad jumble. At one point a characheter made a comment about being stuck in a bad novel, I would agree.

NUB Gives a Big Thumbs Up:
A NUB is a non-essential body or not yet qualified submariner. As a civilian with a bit of knowledge about the Submarine Force and life aboard, and not alot of left brain, I was pleased that Submariner Meadows made it easy for me to read through OF ICE AND STEEL's technical info. I'm an addictive reader when I get hold of a really great book. Could barely put down Meadows' thriller book, all the while caught up in the suspense of whether one of the submarines would go down with crew aboard. Submariners generally list Das Boot, Run Silent/Run Deep, The Hunt for Red October and Down Periscope are among favorite movies. However, they're awaiting a new, modern submarine film. OF ICE AND STEEL has a terrific chance of being this movie, even if Russia might be replaced with China.

Exciting:
This was a most fascinating adventure story I have read in a while now. The only gig I give it, is that the Author does not explain any of the naval terms he uses. Example, "THE WATER FALL" in describing sonar. Only after I went on the Web and looked up some Submarines, did I see "THE WATER FALL", and being in electronics all my life, it was only then that I understood the term. There are many other terms that I am not able to understand. The book is worth reading and passing on to someone else to enjoy. Gene ARS W6EAJ