Written prior to both the 9-11 attacks and our subseqent wars in the middle east, this book is eerily reminiscent of real life. As the US government works to keep the world believing that first one, then two, and then three different high-speed airplanes have fallen because of anything but terrorist action, I can't help but think of TWA flight 800 over Long Island, or American Airlines flight 587 over Queens.

If Firebreak is like a Clancy novel, then Unseen is like a Ludlum novel. In Unseen, I enjoyed reading about Commander Ben Adnam's struggle against the combined US and British military, as well as his stuggle to find a place in this world. The travails of First Lieutenant Matt Pontowski were less gripping and engaging, but still very well-written. Perhaps after Iraq has passed from the headlines, the book will seem better.

Firebreak - Richard Herman
Genre: Military Thriller
Readability: Jumps back and forth between locations, but each is labeled. Relies a bit on military jargon, all of which is defined in a glossary. It doesn't disrupt the flow of things too much, but sometimes it does seem unnecessary.
Philosophy: Heavily pro-US and pro-Israel overall, though attempting to provide "balance" in the guise of a few sympathetic Arab characters and an over-the-top Israeli Prime Minister.
Suitability: Rough language, murder and intrigue, war, and a cavalier view of sex make this a book for grown-ups.
Overall: 2/5

H.M.S. Unseen - Patrick Robinson
Genre: Spy Thriller
Readability: Very readable, with engaging characters. At one spot near the end, I lost track of something that had happened near the beginning of the book and was compelled to dig back through to answer my question. It was answered within the book itself a few dozen pages later.
Philosophy: Largely amoral, very pro-US, the antagonist is presented as a worthy adversary, but still a bad guy.
Suitability: As is common, rough language and death and destruction make this a book suitable only for older teens and adults. The subject matter probably wouldn't hold the interest of other readers in any case.
Overall: 4/5

(This review appeared first at W6 Daily.)