War of Eagles

Tom Clancy's Op-Center #12

by Jeff Rovin, Tom Clancy (Series Creator), Steve Pieczenik (Series Creator)

The explosion of a Chinese freighter–carrying illegal workers–in Charleston Harbor is the first sign that someone is capping Chinese interests abroad. After explosions in South Africa and Taipei, Op-Center roots out the cause: warring factions in the Chinese government. But still reeling from budget cuts and an almost devastating attack by an electromagnetic pulse explosion, Op-Center itself sustains a third hit: the removal of Commander Paul Hood, replaced by a three-star general from the Army. Op-Center is now under the control of the Pentagon. Hood's own future exists at the whim of the new President. And the world braces for more attacks….

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, War, Action, Military Fiction, Espionage, Audiobook

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 7, 2005

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of explosions around the globe has two Chinese rivals at each other’s throats and a launch of a plutonium-powered foreign-made Chinese satellite looks to be the next target, but which one and why is the question a suddenly restructured Op-Center must answer. War of Eagles is the twelfth and last book of the Jeff Rovin authored Op-Center series’ original run as Paul Hood is suddenly replaced by a three-star general as Director of Op-Center but as newly appointed intelligence troubleshooter for the new President, only to find himself working with his old command in the middle of China.

Explosions aboard a freighter in Charleston, a sugar refinery in Durban, and then at a night club in Taipei reveals a battle between the head of the Chinese secret police Chou Shin and the top general Tam Li. Yet early in the emerging situation, Paul Hood is called to the White House to become special intelligence envoy for the new President while his replacement General Morgan Carrie is on her way to takeover Op-Center. Both Hood and Carrie quickly assert themselves in their new positions much the consternation to the White House Chief of Staff and the remaining personnel of Op-Center especially Bob Herbert. After learning from Mike Rodgers that his company helped build a new Chinese communications platinum-powered satellite, which would benefit the military, the President sends Hood to China to speak with Prime Minister Le Kwan Po and expects Op-Center to help him in every way. Le, whose main job is keeping political factions at peace or the President will find someone who can, has a meeting with Chou and Tam that Chou leaves early makes Le think the Chou might target the satellite which happens to be the working theory that Hood, Rodgers, and Op-Center have as well. However, Tam plans to blow up the rocket killing Le and other Chinese ministers and bureaucrats as ruse to attack Taiwan then later “learn” it was Chou’s fault. Chou notices the unusual military activity Tam ordered and goes to investigate only for Tam to burn Chou’s plane on the runway. After meeting with Le, Hood goes with the Prime Minister to the launch while Rodgers meets with a team of Marines undercover in China to infiltrate the facility as a security team for his company. Upon learning of Chou’s death, Le becomes suspicious of Tam and decides to talk with his soldiers at the facility only to be conned by the General only to learn they’ve fled the facility. Outside the facility Rodgers helps capture the soldiers and relays where the bomb is that’ll destroy the rocket which Hood and the Marines help destroy preventing disaster. Le orders Tam arrest while Hood’s success gives the President a victory that upsets General Carrie’s superior who orders her to fire Herbert who worked outside the chain of command.

After a nice, arguably slow, setup at the beginning of the book Rovin quickly got the plot off and running along with some interesting subplots that complimented the main plot. Given this was thought to be the final Op-Center book, it was necessary to get the three big players of the organization fully out and the solutions to get Hood and Herbert gone were interesting to say the least. The three main Chinese point-of-view characters were well written and creating an intriguing counterpoint to the America POVs. Though only a secondary character, General Morgan Carrie was well written and would have been an interesting character to have led the series if it had continued, though to be honest if it had she wouldn’t have existed. While one of the better written books there were several big miscues that couldn’t be forgiven. The first was Mike Rodgers independently going after Tam escaping soldiers and not getting shot by other Chinese soldiers chasing after them as well and the second was the decision that Dr. Liz Gordon, Op-Center’s psychologist, to be a creepy lesbian—she starts formulating a plan to seduce a married General Carrie—instead of just simply a lesbian which had been hinted at earlier in the series.

War of Eagles wasn’t the best book in the original Op-Center run that was mostly lows with occasional highs, but after the awful previous installment at least Jeff Rovin sent it off well.

[Raymond Gettins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters and storyline are more multi-facited than most.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book. It took a while to get started. The ending was tense enough to make me not want to put the book down until it reached the point where the tension was gone and it was no longer a big deal to put it down. Seriously, though, it took a while to build up to the climax. This is the twelfth book in the series and I am sure it would have helped to have read the first eleven to get some kind of emotional investment in the storyline and the characters. There were so many characters that I just did not care what happened to many of the people in it.

Apparently there was some kind of upper level management change going on with the Op-Center team. I assume due to too many mistakes made by civilians the 'organization' was going to be put under military command. The new leader is a three-star female general from the Army. I thought it was interesting dynamics, I guess, and it did not detract from the story. I guess it created the most interesting dynamics in the story because there were personnel who remained who resented her being put in charge.

The story focuses 'primarily' on an internal 'civil war' between two factions of the Chinese government [intelligence vs. military]. The 'ultimate goal' of these factions differs [obviously] , but the military's goal is to invade Taiwan and take it over before the rest of the world can even hope to respond .

The book focused a lot on the different Chinese attitudes/perspectives as well as, say, 'three' different 'primary American point-of-views' with some minor American viewpoints. I think the author did do a good job with these various .....perceptions? attitudes?....anyway, the author did a good job keeping the different view points separated from each other and focusing on them individually as the plot required. I am sure he had a lot of balls to juggle to keep the different attitudes and opinions straight, with so many different characters.

The 'dumbest' part of the book involved the psychologist crushing on and trying to figure out how to seduce her new boss, the married three-star general. It was just .....idiotic. Not saying it cannot happen; the way it happens in the book just comes across as pathetic, pedantic, insulting, not-sure-of-the-right-word, stupid. Stupid probably fits it best.

I felt like the book could have been two hundred pages shorter and not missed a beat. It reached the point where it just seemed looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong and I kept looking at where I was in relation to how much I had left to read to finish it. That was between pages 180ish and three hundredish.

Some of the characters were just irritating. But that was fine, as it does mirror real life. One character was very irritating! hahahah

Overall, I could have taken it or left it. I did not feel enriched by reading it. I did not feel inspired to read the first eleven books or the thirteenth book. I am not sure if I am glad I read it. I suppose it was interesting to read about the various intelligence committees/communities in the book and how they interacted with each other. It felt like a chore to read this book, and that means I did not really enjoy it that much. Ah, well. Maybe I will try the first book [again] sometime and see how that goes. Some of the comments made by some of the characters about previous missions did stir my interest, so maybe I will give the series another chance, in another lifetime.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and it seems to keep getting better and better.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelfth book in the Ops Center series, and last one before the series took an almost decade break. Paul Hood is out as the leader of Op Center and a general appointed by the Pentagon is put in charge. Paul lands in the White House as an advisor to the President. Meanwhile terrorist acts are happening across the globe the point to some sort of Chinese involvement. Ops Center will work with Paul Hood and President’s office to get to the bottom of the attacks before it is too late.

This installment was ok. I can see why the series took a break after this one as it seems to be losing stream. Paul Hood was removed from Op Center, but still plays a major role. It seems like some tension was created by bringing in a general from the Pentagon in to run Op Center, but I didn’t feel it was fully vetted out.

I will keep going with the series, and hope the break rejuvenates the series.

[William Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action, but the author gets predictable by several times describing somebody's ambitions and skills and then killing them off.

Two Chinese officials with different beliefs (Communism vs. Nationalism with capitalism) fight each other through proxies resulting in attacks (deaths, explosions) around the world. Various discussions about China, Taiwan, U.S. politics and military.

Op-Center, with a shakeup in staff, gets involved.

Hood is forced to resign and change jobs, yet still is involved with Op-Center in other ways.

[carl clause · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC1

Everything is definitely changed. First Mile Rodgers gets canned . Then Paul gets moved out . Now Bob gets canned for doing his job even though it wasn't per Gem. Carey's rules . General Cares is an ass! But the whole story and plot were 👍! Let's see if Paul and Anita connect ? What about Liz and General Carey? Can't wait for next one!!! 5 stars plus ! Love 💘 whole series. Thanks, Carl Clause

[Drew Keim · Rating 3 out of 5]

__________________________________________
1 star = Did not finish / did not like
2 stars = Had trouble keeping attention to finish
3 stars = Good enjoyable book. A great way to spend my time.
4 stars = Couldn't set the book down. Engaging. Great Book.
Will likely reread when more of the series is released.
5 stars = (4 stars) plus such a good book I will re-read it periodically.
___________________________________________

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This older book is not actually written by Tom Clancy but is based on his characters and written by Jeff Rovin. Not sure why I persisted in reading this old paperback. I guess I thought at some point it would redeem itself. The story never quite came together and the bad guys just seemed puzzling and scattered. Even the good guys did not really pull into a team...
Just not good.

[Adrian Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A changing of the guard at Op-Center. Internal political power struggles in the US, in the Army and in China. New faces and nobody from the Op-Center team got killed in this book like most other books.

[Heinz Park]

It's very interesting that many Author write about the involvement of China as it seams they alway's the enemy and the USA is the savor of the world but then again if not China it's the Russian or the Muslin or Irag, any way aonther Clancy's top knot triller.

[Timojhen · Rating 3 out of 5]

About what you’d expect. No regrets as it was the casual read I was looking for with a few unexpected twists.

[Tina Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pristine valor

The believable characters created by master storytellers are to be commended for a job well done. Excellent reading! Outstanding ending.

[Mike Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of the original, Paul Hood led series. The writing continues to improve, weaving a tale that is both enjoyable and fast paced.

[Chuck Mankin]

A good read but certainly not Clancy. Just small errors that you just didn't get with Tom. A good read that moves along well. I'd recommend it.

[Kodakjack · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope! Didn't like it - at all.

[Tom Geelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom says

Enjoyed this, the fiction was near what it is today and very near to the way politics protray other countries today.

[David B Xanten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

Ok Center at it's finest. The plot was new and exciting. The storyline was taken from current headlines and was not only good but great

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

W sumie takie nie do końca wiadomo o czym, co miało być główną osią fabularną.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and listened to this on the Kindle. Another great disater obverted by the crew of the Op Center. The ending is a little weird but we will see where it leads to in the next one.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audio version. The premise was good: three unrelated attacks and how they are connected. I felt like some of the plot elements were used in other books - the beleaguered Chinese PM and two underlings trying to outmaneuver the other two for the prize: the PM's office. Other books by other authors by Clancy have this motif.

You do have to read the previous 11 to get a sense of the characters. Hood, a civilian and former mayor, Mike Rodgers, a former brigadier general, clashing and often complementing each other. Herbert, etc. and how they have become a great team only to be taken apart.

War of Eagles is the end of the Hood era. The next book is a partial relaunch, partial reset, because none of the first 12 books including War of Eagles reference 9/11, GWOT, and ISIS.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another of Clancy's Op-Center books. Op-center is in turmoil with a change of command, the old head is now working directly for the President and a army 3 star is the new head. Meanwhile the Chinese are ready to launch a satellite with a nuclear power supply and there is an escalating fight between an army general and the intelligence chief. The general wants to move into the future with himself in control and is taking the satellite launch as a pretext to attack Taiwan and the Intelligence chief is old line communist and opposes change. New and old op-center personnel get called on to intervene and thwart the plans. A time filler of a read, moderately interesting.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Op Center is my favorite series in the Tom Clancy universe. And this is my favorite book in the series so far. I absolutely love the way that the characters in this book have to go about doing their jobs, finding information, and fighting with the government and other agencies to get their jobs done. But it's not all about work, the characters personal lifes are well written as well. If you have not read this series yet I suggest starting from the beginning because this is a snowball going downhill and you want to ride it all the way to the end.

[Franklin Cigoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROS: the book was good, it keeped me interested. The main charector ( Paul Hood) prevented a missile from going off. He also found out who was behind a bombing in south caralina, it was the chinease. He helped his frined who was fired for doing the right thing.

CONS: i felt the plot was stretched out and it was jumped from perspective from perspective. It was too long of a book for its plot

All in all, i do recomend this book to anyone who likes tom clancy novals

[Christopher DuMont · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Op-Center books are very entertaining but after 12 of them this year, I believe they have run their course. The authors do a nice job in trying to keep the stories fresh but in some ways the same characters keep playing the same roles and in the same stories. Overall I enjoy the stories and the series and do recommend it, but I would space them out over time as so much in a short period of time is a bit much.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intermittently he inserts non-fictional snippets about events in our military pasttime. I enjoyed those. Otherwise, standard issue military action novel based on a fictional National Securities branch of the government. They are tasked to prevent an international crisis between Thailand and China that, of course, would draw the US into warfare.

[Lyndsey]

listened to on holiday in Oregon. It was very manly yet strangely engaging. Typical Clancy though - very formulaic.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was tough to get started but once into it I loved it. Another series that is best read in order because references are made to previous "episodes"!

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listen to the audio version. Pretty good book, maybe a little slow.

[Rod]

passable