There are a couple of weird shifts in time, such as after the repeated descriptions of death that have told readers that the end of the world is nigh. Officers are suddenly receiving medals for their bravery at the same time 24-hour news cycles of the events are still taking place. A medal it seems, in these days of chaos, could wait a few long months.

I'm also not sure all the damage described would be possible - with the munitions mentioned - of "explosions rippled through the downtown core" and "the city around them had become an inferno" and "Buildings and portions of buildings crashed to the ground. Power poles looked like giant matches. ... "

We're talking grenades.

As mentioned, there exists what comes across as slightly gleeful description of various ways bodies can be destroyed. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a contrast to what I'm assuming are the strong empathetic feelings we are supposed to have.

Then, after the painful paragraphs describing horrific injuries, charred skin and death, Clackson writes that "the attack failed." It certainly didn't read that way.

The government was quick to point out that the attack had failed because the system worked. Grudgingly, the people of San Diego agreed — at least it had worked this time.

The sheer number of people involved, in one fell swoop, IS enough to take your breath away. And the weapons here could quite easily have caused the large-scale devastation: The detonations and resulting firestorm swept across the deck, consuming oxygen and incinerating the thousands of navy personnel aboard her.

Most of us have a clear vision of the symmetric beauty and shine of planes and sailors lined up for inspection - or a homecoming.

And if we didn't before, we do now, have the vision of the similarly symmetrical Twin Towers rising with sunlight gleaming off all surfaces. And the black holes that marred them and then made them disappear.

Don't become complacent seems to be the message, if one is looking for a message, best summarized in Chapter 44: When warnings go unheeded, there is very little a crew can do to avoid a situation. Like other lessons, this one would be learned at the expense of lives and property.

Enjoy seems to be the wrong word. How about read and sweat?

- Temple

(* This is an estimate due to it being pre-publication copy, with no final setting. This is also the first book I've read online, though it wasn't with any e-Book software.)