Shattered Trident

Jerry Mitchell #4

by Larry Bond

While trailing a Chinese nuclear attack sub, Jerry Mitchell, the captain of USS North Dakota, is shocked to see the Chinese boat torpedo a Vietnamese merchant ship.

This blatant act of aggression is the opening gambit in a war that has blindsided the U.S. and quickly embroiled all nations in the western Pacific. These nations, bound together in the newly formed Littoral Alliance, have begun a covert submarine campaign aimed at crippling China's economy before China can set in motion its own plot to dominate the region.

In a desperate attempt to buy the president enough time to resolve the crisis diplomatically, Mitchell's submarine squadron is ordered to interfere with attacks by both sides. China and the Littoral Alliance are both determined to win, no matter the cost, and as each side increases the level of violence, they approach a dangerous tipping point. Larry Bond's Shattered Trident is a race against time, as the submarines of Mitchell's squadron must execute their mission before the world witnesses an economic catastrophe—or worse, a nuclear exchange.

Genres: Thriller, Military Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, War, Military Thriller, Audiobook

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Larry Bond is the author of several bestselling military thrillers, including Crash Dive, Cold Choices, Dangerous Ground, Red Phoenix and the Larry Bond’s First Team and Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising series. He was a naval officer for six years, serving four on a destroyer and two on shore duty in the Washington DC area. He's also worked as a warfare analyst and antisubmarine technology expert, and he now writes and designs computer games, including Harpoon and Command at Sea. He makes his home in Springfield, Virginia.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond

Reviews

[Paul Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

One could classify this in a “sub”-genre!

Tom Clancy did it first in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, but, in his stellar Jerry Mitchell series, Larry bond carries on the tradition of demonstrating that global geo-political potboilers and submarine hide-and-seek can make for gripping, hold-your-breath reading!

Try to imagine the edge of the cliff hanging over global nuclear war that the world would be walking with a scenario like this – China’s government has decided that its just-in-time economy demands more fuel than its current capacity and meager reserves can supply; in an act of military aggression that amounts to undeclared war, China decides to annex its supply from oil-rich islands in the South China Sea currently claimed by the Philippines; South Korea, Japan, India, Hong Kong and the Philippines join in an ultra-secret military alliance with the express purpose of collapsing China’s economy; and, last but hardly least, in the face of a very clear indication from the alliance that their interference is entirely unwelcome, the USA reaches the surprising decision to secretly operate as a “peacemaker” by running interference against both sides to minimize hostile confrontations, to keep the casualty count as low as possible and to ensure any open hostility stays within non-nuclear boundaries!

One has to admit that, given the USA’s proclivity for unwarranted military interference in world affairs, Bond’s positioning of the USA as a “neutral” peacemaker in this novel pushed mighty hard on my personal credibility buttons, but … it didn’t take away a thing from the power of the story and its possible realism as a trigger to global nuclear war! Bond’s ability to blend the technology of modern naval weaponry, the internal politics and mental mind-set of military cultures around the world, and the reality of national government’s politics makes for a very powerful novel that is easy to recommend to fans of this type of novel.

The depth of the impact of world economics on other governmental decision is made very clear when Bond forces his readers to realize that it makes sense to have an American president say, "The Chinese losing is what scares me"!

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have to give up.

I seem to have lost my taste for Larry Bond and Jerry Mitchell.

The first 38 pages were interesting, but then the political setting up began and the formula began to show.

And why did Joanna Patterson, now the Deputy National Security Advisor, have to stop and worry about how her hair looked when she and her boss were on the way in to see the President for a rushed emergency meeting about a potential war between Vietnam and China? I very greatly doubt that would be a likely scene under the circumstances. None of the male characters fussed with their hair, now did they. GRRR

Anyway, that annoyed me and then there were pages and pages and pages of jumping around among the huge cast of characters, setting up this and that thread to follow and that annoyed me too so I have decided to jump ship.

Maybe it gets better later on but I don't care to wade through it all to find out. And I won't be reading any other titles in the Jerry Mitchell series. I have a non-fiction book by Larry Bond that Marco and I will read aloud together when it gets chosen for the Zapata Reading Club, but otherwise I am done with this author.

I am glad to have read Dangerous Ground and Cold Choices, but for the rest, I prefer more submarines in my submarine stories.

DNF at about 100 pages.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed a break from some serious reading so I picked this up. I used to consume techno-thrillers like Shattered Trident with some regularity. I got out of the habit some time ago but after reading Shattered Trident I was reminded what is good about them. It's easy to hate these types of books and many reasons for doing so can be found in the GoodReads comments for this book, other Larry Bond books, all Tom Clancy books and so on.I can easily understand why many people hate the genre, although, of course, I wonder why they read them. I don't plan to defend the genre but only to briefly reflect on what I like about them and why they are, in their own way, serious books.

Many novels of this type are predicated on a war game scenario. All military forces explore various geo-political crises that might lead to conflict. The United States War Plan Orange explored the ramifications of a naval conflict with Japan. The plan was adopted in 1924, 17 years before the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. As a Canadian I found it interesting to read War Plan Red which detailed the conquest of Canada. (On the other hand, there was a Canadian novel in the 1980s that detailed the repulse of a U.S. invasion, so there you go).

Shattered Trident begins with a Chinese attempt to take control of the disputed islands in the Spratly chain. Where, one might ask:

The Spratly Islands are a disputed group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays, and islands in the South China Sea.[5] The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia (Sabah), and southern Vietnam. They contain less than 4 square kilometers (1.5 square miles) of land area spread over more than 425,000 square kilometers (164,100 square miles) of sea.

A surprisingly alliance of countries , Japan, Vietnam, Korea and eventually other countries take up arms to prevent this. While the idea of conflict over possession of the Spratlys is difficult to imagine, it is important to know that the Spratlys contain greater oil and gas reserves than Kuwait and many other strategic minerals. It is also one of the world's most productive fishing areas. And it is the idea of these smaller states warring with the Chinese behemoth that gives the novel it's geo-political foundation.

America is a horrified spectator to the escalation of violence, vainly trying to negotiate peace talks. The damage to the American and European economy is bad enough but as submarines from the newly formed Littoral Alliance continue to sink Chinese supertankers an ecological disaster of epic proportion is fouling the South China Sea. Bond then surrounds this scenario with a large cast of Chinese, American, and Alliance politicians and military. His series character, U.S. Navy submarine commander Jerry Mitchell, unsurprisingly plays a key role in both the discovery of the hostilities and their ultimate resolution.

What makes the book work is probably what makes it problematic for many readers: a large cast of characters, an array of complicated weaponry, and a seemingly unthinkable scenario. The book even has a multi page appended list of characters and a glossary of technical terms. Yet, once again, this type of novel can be entertaining if the ultimate premise is accepted. Then, again that might be the challenge of any book.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE best book in the Jerry Mitchell series so far. Reminiscent of Clancy's Red Storm Rising, it is beginning to end a masterpiece of submarine battle.

After China puts into effect Trident, a plan to take over the Spratley Islands Japan, Vietnam, India and Korea ally to take the fight to them. America is not invited.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you need to read an “escape” novel this one would be a good choice. Action, good conflict, lots and lots of lots of naval terminology and a surprisingly contemporary scenario all contribute to a solid yarn.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

While trailing a Chinese nuclear attack sub, Jerry Mitchell, the captain of USS North Dakota, is shocked to see the Chinese boat torpedo a Vietnamese merchant ship.
This blatant act of aggression is the opening gambit in a war that has blindsided the U.S. and quickly embroiled all nations in the western Pacific. These nations, bound together in the newly formed Littoral Alliance, have begun a covert submarine campaign aimed at crippling China's economy before China can set in motion its own plot to dominate the region.

In a desperate attempt to buy the president enough time to resolve the crisis diplomatically, Mitchell's submarine squadron is ordered to interfere with attacks by both sides. China and the Littoral Alliance are both determined to win, no matter the cost, and as each side increases the level of violence, they approach a dangerous tipping point.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Except for the end of this novel, there is not much to like. The rest of this story is full of characters and nations that just do not appeal to the reader. In this case, I listened to the novel, at least most of it and even hall of fame narrator Dick Hill could not save this from putting me to sleep. (Good thing I wasn't driving.) In addition to being much too long, the bickering, whining and deceptions are nauseous. Mr. Bond is a better author than this and I hope he is not headed on the same severe down spiral of Tom Clancy who wrote much better many years ago.

[Mike Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure when I read a Larry Bond book recently; it's been a while. This was handy at the library, so I snagged it. It was only when I got home and read the opening riff that I was really captivated. My eldest son, in high school recently did a paper on the development of the first Chinese air craft carrier. This book opens with an attack on that ship in the very near future, 2016. I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The characters were fairly-well developed and the sub-plots (pardon the pun) not overly trying. I'll have to check out others in the series.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story, Good Narration
That aside, everyone should be aware of what China is doing with her bully hegemony in the South China Sea between Viet Nam and the Philippines. They have established a military base and threaten all who come near. This essentially will lead to China controlling ship transit and fishing in the whole area. This book is a forecast.
A lot of people do not know of this situation. I know this because I ask them. Part of my family lives on the west coast of Northern Luzon so I have been following this for over 3 decades.

[Thor Toms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in the series so far.

[Nathan Casebolt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Larry Bond tries to avert World War III in this fourth installment of his series centered on Jerry Mitchell, naval aviator turned submariner. The Mitchell series in general is hit and miss for me, especially compared to Bond’s magnificent war thrillers of the ‘80s and ‘90s; and this is more miss than hit.

His strengths are still strong. Bond is excellent at siting tactical military maneuvers in realistic geopolitical contexts. In this case, he brings to life the challenge of China’s assertive claims to the South China Sea in a way that media articles just can’t do.

Bond is also helpful as a Cliff’s Notes to transnational frictions, partly due to lifelong connections in the U.S. military complex. For example, his ear is so firmly to the ground that his novel anticipates by a full year Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s reinterpretation of Article 9 in favor of Japanese rearmament.

I’m also intrigued by his favorable opinion of Vietnam, both in this novel and in his previous “Red Dragon Rising” series. I’ve heard arguments that in any conflict with China, Vietnam will be a critical partner for the United States despite the deep historical divide between our two nations. Bond clearly believes the same thing, and writes accordingly and convincingly.

I was pleased as well by a subplot dramatizing the power of the Internet and globally crowd-sourced data to alter the fortunes of war. This seems obvious today in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is being fought on Twitter as much as it is on the ground. The fact that Bond called this out a decade in advance deserves a hat-tip.

Less impressive to me is the plot and its resolution. I can buy a secret alliance of Western Pacific nations preemptively taking the fight to China because they’ve lost confidence in U.S. security guarantees, but I think the premise was too sprawling for a single volume of this length.

Either a book the size of “Red Storm Rising” or a series like “Red Dragon Rising” might’ve lent itself to a better treatment. As it is, the space constraints of an average-size book force Bond to rush toward an “America ex machina” that is too tidy and just-so for my taste.

This pairs unfavorably with Bond’s limitations in writing realistic dialogue and characters. His depiction of military culture seems spot on (as near as I can tell, anyway); but it’s always hard for me to connect with his characters or their conversations.

I like Bond for his skill at dramatizing tactical maneuvers, and here he hits near enough those marks that I didn’t hate the read. But I also found myself skimming and drifting, which is not what you want in a military thriller. It doesn’t bother me that I invested time in this book, but I’m also not sorry it’s done.

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the time a book has a story that leads you towards an end. This book feels like it's pulling you to the end. I think the ending was the first thing Larry Bond wrote and then he had to make up a path there, or the path lead nowhere and an ending had to be shoehorned in. In previous book reviews in the Jerry Mitchell series I've said that Larry Bond is good at making up plausible scenarios, but in this one I think he's stretching it.

The book starts with Vietnam learning of a planned occupation of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The islands have been under threat of occupation for a long time since China would like to expand its power to the whole area, and the direct victims would be, among others, Vietnam, so that part is not far fetched at all. After the book was published, China built military airfields on several of the islands, to a huge cost since the islands were not naturally big enough. So that part is plausible enough.

From there, to an unlikely alliance, to a weird selection of actions, to "truth conquers all" and so on, we're lead to an ending that *is* far fetched. Somehow it seems like an attempt to go bigger, and bigger, and bigger, until reality is far behind.

Still, with that major criticism out of the way, it's still a competent military fiction novel, and if you can pretend to agree with the premises, the book can be entertaining enough.

If there had been half stars this would have been 2.5 instead of 2.

[RH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Mitchell, captain of the USS North Dakota is witness of a Vietnamese merchant ship being torpedoed by a Chinese submarine. In response to this a naval war breaks out in the south Chinese sea. Based on the books of an economist surrounding countries form an allience to cripple the Chinese economy and force the Chinese to stop their attacks.

Mitchell is tasked to interfere with attacks from both sides and try and stop this escalating situation, before the war turns nuclear. With his cunning plan to detonate several small nuclear bombs off the Chinese costs, placed there by Mitchell squadron, they manage to scare the Chinese and Littoral Alliance just enough to end the war.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, set a record finishing it. A quick paced and technically stuffed story about a fictional but very realistic possibility of war erupting between China and an alliance of other Asian maritime nations to prevent China's invasion of disputed islands in the South China Sea. I will definitely read other Jerry Mitchell books.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an imaginative novel about a horrendous conflict between the littoral nation of the South China Sea and the China mainland. I do not have much understanding of the area but the novel alerted me to the possible dangers that seem to be inherent in the combatants. There is an unexpected and novel solution to end the conflict. I hope such an event does not occur in reality.

[Anthony P Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real blast

As with the earlier books in this series this book moves along at a good pace, with enough depth to the plot to keep it interesting. A very interesting book with an up to date theme.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I nearly gave this two stars. The story that played out — a covert then not-so-covert war in southeast Asia — was somewhat interesting. I like Bond/Clancy stories and this one was decent enough. The silly ending almost ruined it for me. Like I said, almost two stars just for the ending.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. another good one. getting a little formulaic. But this idea, an alternative future with a war in SE Asia was great.

[Cliff Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long ass book but well done.

[Ann Amadori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to keep track of all the oriental names & places. A lot of geometry related to navigation that didn't make sense to me. Not enough about Jerry and his submariners.

[Roger Scherping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great Jerry Mitchell book, but it's more of a political thriller than a submarine adventure.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitchell Continues to Move up in Command! Jerry is now the Captain of his own Boat and in the middle of a shooting War.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book up to the end. The ending appeared forced and completed too quickly.

[Yo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting update of modern submarine warfare.

[Volpot · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Victor Vilchiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so far the best book on the series.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding as usual. Great read.

[Rob Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frightening

Some scenarios, however remote, simply manage to scare one to the core of our complacent soul. The author's imagination easily accomplishes that and more....

[Lyle Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book helped me pass the time of a few days. I really like the Glossary included with the Larry Bond - Jerry Mitchell books. I wish more authors of Military novels would do the same.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story, made less enjoyable by having way too many characters, and at least 150 pages too long. I would like to have seen more focus on Jerry and his team.