What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Hatfield #2
A Time for War
From Michael Savage, The New York Times bestselling author of Abuse of Power and radio host of The Savage Nation, comes a powerful new thrillerA Chinook helicopter carrying a squad of Navy Seals suddenly plummets to earth in Afghanistan. A car driven by FBI agents tailing a suspicious vehicle is mysteriously rendered immobile in San Francisco. The body of a Chinese agent is found floating miles from the Golden Gate Bridge after being fed to sharks. The U.S. is under secret attack and only Jack Hatfield, a popular televison host hounded from his position by left-wing forces in the media for speaking the truth, suspects the danger of this lethal conspiracy. With the help of Dover Griffith, an idealistic young woman staffer at the Office of Naval Intelligence, Hatfield pursues a trail leading to a billionaire American electronics entrepreneur who has sold out his own country with the help of officials at the highest level of the American government. As enemy operatives plan a two pronged attack that will disarm the American military and release a deadly toxin killing hundreds of thousands of civilians, Hatfield and Dover race to locate this new Ground Zero and save an unsuspecting county.
Audiobook
First published February 12, 2013
23 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Michael Savage
64 books227 followersDr. Michael Savage is a multimedia icon in the conservative movement. The Telegraph in the U.K. ranked him as one of the most influential conservatives in the United States, and with 10 million weekly listeners, the Berkeley Ph.D. is the third most listened to conservative talk show host. Recently featured in The New Yorker and Playboy, Dr. Savage is the author of many books, including the political thriller Abuse of Power and four New York Times bestsellers. His media presence and profile earned him the coveted Freedom of Speech Award from Talkers magazine in 2007.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Dr. Savage holds a master's degree in medical botany and a second in medical anthropology. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutrition sciences. He is an ardent conservationist, is dedicated to his family, and is a proud patriot of his country.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/michae...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Dr. Savage holds a master's degree in medical botany and a second in medical anthropology. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutrition sciences. He is an ardent conservationist, is dedicated to his family, and is a proud patriot of his country.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/michae...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 4, 2013
A Review of Michael Savage's 'A Time for War'
By Sabin Geyman
In 'A Time for War', Michael Savage’s wake-up call about the Communist Chinese threat to America, the ethno-botanist-turned-radio-host serves up an absorbing story of civilization-butting intrigue. In a nutshell, the point of the story, based largely in fact, is that the Chinese Communists (Chicoms) are not so much a potential threat as they are a real, military-grade enemy that is operating now, real-time, and in the present moment.
The plot moves well and the writing is deft, though unfortunately marred by instances in which the characters use the Lord Jesus’ Name in vain. Nevertheless, as a vehicle for recommending better US national security, 'A Time for War' hits the mark.
Jack Hatfield (the main character in the book) has a token liberal friend, Abe Cohen, that is slow to catch on to the necessities of national security. Abe is shot by a Communist Chinese (“Comchi”) terrorist while boating around the Farallon Islands. Even when the Communist attacker approaches, with weapon in hand, Abe thinks he’s there to help him! The Communist hoists the dying liberal up against the boat’s railing, and still Abe thinks the Commie is going to take him below deck to tend to his wounds! Then, just when the hippie could not have gotten things any more backward, he is thrown head-first into the sea, whereupon he is devoured by sharks and his boat is exploded with C-4. This ghoulish scene provides a less-than-dainty metaphor for what could happen to liberal, globalist Americans who cannot be shaken from their love affair with the fantasy version of Communist China.
While Boeing hosted Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin at its airplane manufacturing facility in 1993 (as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and Microsoft boss Bill Gates hosted Chinese dictator Hu Jintao at his Bellevue, Washington, home in April 2006, Chinese brutes and elites alike were callously enjoying the ivory tusks of slaughtered African elephants, the supposedly aphrodisiac qualities of tiger penises, and the bile from bear gall bladders. As Savage notes in 'A Time for War', “[I]n China there are farms where bears are caged, lying on their backs with no room to move, with tubes in their abdomens to collect bile for so-called medicines. Some of the bears have actually committed suicide by starving themselves to death. And multiple smuggling operations are carrying the bear bile along with body parts from tigers and other endangered animals out of China to the rest of the world.”
There is one sentence in 'A Time for War' that the reader should note: “Distraction—followed by an attack that would collapse a nation.” That well sums up what the Communists may have in mind, and it is a principle in keeping with basic warfighting tactics as laid out in Sun Tzu’s 'The Art of War' and Shi Nai’an’s (or Luo Guanzhong’s) 'Outlaws of the Marsh' (a Ming-dynasty tale of deception and bloodlust involving 108 outlaws or hao han).
In the book, Savage refers to the Communist Chinese as an “unstoppable mass” and I think this perspective is helpful, especially given the disease of complacency and godless materialism that has beset the thinking of many Americans. Turning to the Bible for instruction on the question of whether there could be such an unstoppable mass, it would appear there could indeed be such a thing on the horizon, yes. There is a 200-million-man army prophesied in the Sixth Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 9, an army that arguably only Communist China could field: “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:16-18 KJV). Fortunately, Daniel 2 and Revelation 19 show that the Lord Jesus will destroy the godless powers of the world, so the Chinese "mass," while devastating, will not be the end of the story. It is good to have a town crier such as Michael Savage, and Americans would do well to heed his warning.
* * * * * * *
A former journalist and defense analyst, Sabin Geyman is the author of a Christian book--'Testing the Spirits: Exposing Dark Sayings & Embracing the Light of Jesus'--that has good discussions on national security, Bible prophecy, China, and Israel.
By Sabin Geyman
In 'A Time for War', Michael Savage’s wake-up call about the Communist Chinese threat to America, the ethno-botanist-turned-radio-host serves up an absorbing story of civilization-butting intrigue. In a nutshell, the point of the story, based largely in fact, is that the Chinese Communists (Chicoms) are not so much a potential threat as they are a real, military-grade enemy that is operating now, real-time, and in the present moment.
The plot moves well and the writing is deft, though unfortunately marred by instances in which the characters use the Lord Jesus’ Name in vain. Nevertheless, as a vehicle for recommending better US national security, 'A Time for War' hits the mark.
Jack Hatfield (the main character in the book) has a token liberal friend, Abe Cohen, that is slow to catch on to the necessities of national security. Abe is shot by a Communist Chinese (“Comchi”) terrorist while boating around the Farallon Islands. Even when the Communist attacker approaches, with weapon in hand, Abe thinks he’s there to help him! The Communist hoists the dying liberal up against the boat’s railing, and still Abe thinks the Commie is going to take him below deck to tend to his wounds! Then, just when the hippie could not have gotten things any more backward, he is thrown head-first into the sea, whereupon he is devoured by sharks and his boat is exploded with C-4. This ghoulish scene provides a less-than-dainty metaphor for what could happen to liberal, globalist Americans who cannot be shaken from their love affair with the fantasy version of Communist China.
While Boeing hosted Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin at its airplane manufacturing facility in 1993 (as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and Microsoft boss Bill Gates hosted Chinese dictator Hu Jintao at his Bellevue, Washington, home in April 2006, Chinese brutes and elites alike were callously enjoying the ivory tusks of slaughtered African elephants, the supposedly aphrodisiac qualities of tiger penises, and the bile from bear gall bladders. As Savage notes in 'A Time for War', “[I]n China there are farms where bears are caged, lying on their backs with no room to move, with tubes in their abdomens to collect bile for so-called medicines. Some of the bears have actually committed suicide by starving themselves to death. And multiple smuggling operations are carrying the bear bile along with body parts from tigers and other endangered animals out of China to the rest of the world.”
There is one sentence in 'A Time for War' that the reader should note: “Distraction—followed by an attack that would collapse a nation.” That well sums up what the Communists may have in mind, and it is a principle in keeping with basic warfighting tactics as laid out in Sun Tzu’s 'The Art of War' and Shi Nai’an’s (or Luo Guanzhong’s) 'Outlaws of the Marsh' (a Ming-dynasty tale of deception and bloodlust involving 108 outlaws or hao han).
In the book, Savage refers to the Communist Chinese as an “unstoppable mass” and I think this perspective is helpful, especially given the disease of complacency and godless materialism that has beset the thinking of many Americans. Turning to the Bible for instruction on the question of whether there could be such an unstoppable mass, it would appear there could indeed be such a thing on the horizon, yes. There is a 200-million-man army prophesied in the Sixth Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 9, an army that arguably only Communist China could field: “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:16-18 KJV). Fortunately, Daniel 2 and Revelation 19 show that the Lord Jesus will destroy the godless powers of the world, so the Chinese "mass," while devastating, will not be the end of the story. It is good to have a town crier such as Michael Savage, and Americans would do well to heed his warning.
* * * * * * *
A former journalist and defense analyst, Sabin Geyman is the author of a Christian book--'Testing the Spirits: Exposing Dark Sayings & Embracing the Light of Jesus'--that has good discussions on national security, Bible prophecy, China, and Israel.
March 25, 2013
The author is indeed the controversial, yet very intelligent and street smart radio talk show personality, known publicly as “Michael Savage”. His real name is Michael Weiner, of Russian Jewish descent, having been born in The Bronx. Among his academic achievements are degrees in biology and nutrition. Although I have heard him speak less than a handful of times, it was his tangible, native intelligence that aroused my interest in reading this fast paced novel. Unbeknownst to me previously, was his having been banned to travel to The United Kingdom as he allegedly was engaged in “…unacceptable behavior by seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred….”
The story begins with an isolated incident of the crash of a helicopter carrying Navy SEALS in Afghanistan, believed to be the result of new, nefarious technology, but primarily is centered around, perhaps the most beautiful city in The United States – San Francisco. The author takes time to develop the characters, all unique and interesting. Remnants of Savage’s personal relationships with both Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg are memorialized with the introduction and development of the character “Abe Cohen”, described as an “…unrepentant leftist hippie that owned a poster shop that catered to San Francisco’s aging Flower Power population.”
The story’s protagonist is Jack Hatfield, described as a “…popular television host hounded from his position by left-wing forces in the media for speaking the truth.” It was at this juncture that I began wondering if this story was actually Savage’s polemic, to criticize his very own detractor’s in his very public and controversial career. Fortunately, that suspicion was quickly doused, as the story evolved into a fast-paced account of modern developments in, and the technical evolution of electronic technology, and its abuse by sinister forces, be it state-sponsored or otherwise. Although it is not described as such, the abused, weaponized technology sounds very similar to what is today known as “Directed Free-Energy Technology”, which has its genesis with the inventions of Nikola Tesla, the father of Alternating Current. With the subsequent introduction of the potential release of an airborne toxin, that would in short order, kill tens of thousands of people, Savage’s background in biology is on full display.
I recommend this very interesting story, despite my initial reluctance, given Savage’s combative persona and reputation of being to the right of Attila the Hun. It offers an insight into questions of technological, political and military developments in an ever shrinking world.
Love him or hate him, Savage spins a very interesting story that will hold your attention.
The story begins with an isolated incident of the crash of a helicopter carrying Navy SEALS in Afghanistan, believed to be the result of new, nefarious technology, but primarily is centered around, perhaps the most beautiful city in The United States – San Francisco. The author takes time to develop the characters, all unique and interesting. Remnants of Savage’s personal relationships with both Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg are memorialized with the introduction and development of the character “Abe Cohen”, described as an “…unrepentant leftist hippie that owned a poster shop that catered to San Francisco’s aging Flower Power population.”
The story’s protagonist is Jack Hatfield, described as a “…popular television host hounded from his position by left-wing forces in the media for speaking the truth.” It was at this juncture that I began wondering if this story was actually Savage’s polemic, to criticize his very own detractor’s in his very public and controversial career. Fortunately, that suspicion was quickly doused, as the story evolved into a fast-paced account of modern developments in, and the technical evolution of electronic technology, and its abuse by sinister forces, be it state-sponsored or otherwise. Although it is not described as such, the abused, weaponized technology sounds very similar to what is today known as “Directed Free-Energy Technology”, which has its genesis with the inventions of Nikola Tesla, the father of Alternating Current. With the subsequent introduction of the potential release of an airborne toxin, that would in short order, kill tens of thousands of people, Savage’s background in biology is on full display.
I recommend this very interesting story, despite my initial reluctance, given Savage’s combative persona and reputation of being to the right of Attila the Hun. It offers an insight into questions of technological, political and military developments in an ever shrinking world.
Love him or hate him, Savage spins a very interesting story that will hold your attention.
July 20, 2014
He can talk ( I know from his radio program) & he can write!
Doc & Maggie Yu are the action people.
Dover & Jack are the intellectual MCs.
Very nice, lovely ending. Well done MS!
Doc & Maggie Yu are the action people.
Dover & Jack are the intellectual MCs.
Very nice, lovely ending. Well done MS!
July 22, 2015
The ravings of a paranoid megalomaniac.
April 4, 2016
This is the worst rubbish I have ever started reading. When reading fiction I do not want to be continually harassed by the extremist political views of the author. This book is not fiction, it is pure political indoctrination of the worst kind, just poorly disguised as fiction. This is exactly the same extremist evil propaganda as from the former USSR or from IS, only from the other side of the fence.
May 3, 2014
I have never read anything by Michael Savage nor is government thriller my favorite genre, however I enjoyed this book enough that I would try another of his stories.
It has terroristic violence, revenge and a mild love story. Mr. Savage is not afraid to allow a good guy to die and I resect that.
It has terroristic violence, revenge and a mild love story. Mr. Savage is not afraid to allow a good guy to die and I resect that.
April 27, 2013
I liked the plot, characters and technology about EMPs. I thought the book was a bit wordy and would have been better with more editing. I found myself losing interest until something plot related happened.
May 3, 2013
It was a fast paced book and well thought out plot. Worth the read just for the fact that the Chinese government is trying to block its advertising.
March 4, 2013
A pretty fast paced thriller.
Should be a hit with the Sinophobes, especially after the recent revelations of cyber attacks by the Chinese.
Should be a hit with the Sinophobes, especially after the recent revelations of cyber attacks by the Chinese.
April 7, 2013
Really a fun book and better writing than I expected. Recommended. It also gives a nice window into Savage's life, as he writes himself into the novel.
September 19, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed A Time For War. It was very enlightening. Exciting! Dr. Savage is a great author of fiction and non-fiction. I highly recommend any of his works.
August 18, 2015
Quit reading. Just couldn't get into it so stopped 1/2 way through.
December 22, 2017
While I enjoy the first book, this one was the pits. I couldn't even finish it. I give any book one hundred pages. I gave this one a hundred and twenty. This story is so slow moving and so boring, the best thing this book could be use for is to start a fire. A complete waste of time in my opinion. But you know what they say about opinions????
January 23, 2021
This go around is a better story to join Jack Hatfield in his search for truth. I must say Michael Savage left me guessing with every twist where he was going. This story has proven to be more prophetic then he could have guessed. Again, Peter Larkin read the parts well. Bravo!
January 7, 2025
I thought the beginning was rather slow and I didn’t love the book overall but the plot did quicken at the end and was interesting. interesting concept as well. also of note, I didn’t read book 1 and had no idea this was a series, very easy to read without book 1)
July 11, 2017
waste of time.
June 16, 2019
Journalist tries to save San Francisco with help of his friends. Very conservative views by the author in the banter between several characters.
June 1, 2021
I couldn't get through the first cd. Racist trash!
December 19, 2021
I liked the dual stories that melded perfectly. Multiple heroes/heroines all choosing to do what was right.
October 4, 2024
Hated this
October 3, 2023
I thought he was a very good storyteller. His descriptions were top notch—not too flowery, and not irrelevant to what was happening.
I started to skim through all the political debates about halfway through—once I realized it didn’t have anything to do with the plot. Idk, it just came across very preachy and that’s not why I picked the book up. I’m fine if it moves the plot forward … but in this case it definitely didn’t.
Some of the pacing was interrupted by the history of the city, and in awkwardly placed spots. Kinda like if you we’re witnessing a train wreck, then someone tapped your shoulder to tell you about the history of the railroad. It’s like: Cool, but there’s something serious happening right now so I’d like to focus on that, please.
The sex scene was awkward. It’s like the author wanted to include it, but then he didn’t, but then decided he did?
“Your thing is nice.” Said about the MC’s penis. (I woke my husband up because I snorted so loud at reading this). It’s clear he’s right leaning so maybe he didn’t want to be too crude and alienate his audience? Maybe they don’t like sex in books marketed towards adults? Idk, I try to avoid politics as much as possible.
The book has 40+ page chapters, so I was more inclined to set it down once I finished with one, in contrast to 15 pages chapters where I’m more likely to talk myself into ‘one more’ until the next thing I know, I’m in the thick of the plot and don’t want to put it down even to eat dinner.
This one took me two days to read because of that, when normally I can polish off a book of this size in 6-8 hours.
One minor annoyance: in the prologue, it says: “A Grand tradition perished in an instant, along with thirty-nine lives and countless futures”
But then chapter one immediately starts with: “…killing all thirty-eight Navy SEALs on board….”
I was waiting the entire book for the surviving Navy SEAL to come forward with some type of information… but now I think this was a typo?
Not to mention in the book’s synopsis, it says the body of the Chinese agent is discovered miles from the bridge, and I guess he sort of was, but I thought that would play a bigger roll in the story than to just kill off one of the MC friends.
Overall, it was a good story. I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t entirely unique either.
I started to skim through all the political debates about halfway through—once I realized it didn’t have anything to do with the plot. Idk, it just came across very preachy and that’s not why I picked the book up. I’m fine if it moves the plot forward … but in this case it definitely didn’t.
Some of the pacing was interrupted by the history of the city, and in awkwardly placed spots. Kinda like if you we’re witnessing a train wreck, then someone tapped your shoulder to tell you about the history of the railroad. It’s like: Cool, but there’s something serious happening right now so I’d like to focus on that, please.
The sex scene was awkward. It’s like the author wanted to include it, but then he didn’t, but then decided he did?
“Your thing is nice.” Said about the MC’s penis. (I woke my husband up because I snorted so loud at reading this). It’s clear he’s right leaning so maybe he didn’t want to be too crude and alienate his audience? Maybe they don’t like sex in books marketed towards adults? Idk, I try to avoid politics as much as possible.
The book has 40+ page chapters, so I was more inclined to set it down once I finished with one, in contrast to 15 pages chapters where I’m more likely to talk myself into ‘one more’ until the next thing I know, I’m in the thick of the plot and don’t want to put it down even to eat dinner.
This one took me two days to read because of that, when normally I can polish off a book of this size in 6-8 hours.
One minor annoyance: in the prologue, it says: “A Grand tradition perished in an instant, along with thirty-nine lives and countless futures”
But then chapter one immediately starts with: “…killing all thirty-eight Navy SEALs on board….”
I was waiting the entire book for the surviving Navy SEAL to come forward with some type of information… but now I think this was a typo?
Not to mention in the book’s synopsis, it says the body of the Chinese agent is discovered miles from the bridge, and I guess he sort of was, but I thought that would play a bigger roll in the story than to just kill off one of the MC friends.
Overall, it was a good story. I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t entirely unique either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2013
A helicopter carrying a squad of Seals plummets to earth in
Afghanistan, a car driven by a couple of FBI agents tailing
a suspicious vehicle is rendered immobile in SF, and the body
of a Chinese agent is found floating miles from the Golden
Gate bridge after being fed to sharks. Only Jack Hatfield a
popular TV host hounded from his position by left wing forces
in the media for speaking the truth suspects the danger of this
conspiracy. He receives help from a young woman staffer at the
Office of Naval Intelligence and persues a trail leading to
an electronics billionaire who has sold out his country with
the help of officials at the highest level of government. As
the enemy plans a two pronged attack that will disarm the
military and release a deadly toxin killing thousands of
civilians Hatfield and his female helper Dover Griffith try
to locate this ground zero and save an unsuspecting country.
Not a bad novel from Michael Savage.
Afghanistan, a car driven by a couple of FBI agents tailing
a suspicious vehicle is rendered immobile in SF, and the body
of a Chinese agent is found floating miles from the Golden
Gate bridge after being fed to sharks. Only Jack Hatfield a
popular TV host hounded from his position by left wing forces
in the media for speaking the truth suspects the danger of this
conspiracy. He receives help from a young woman staffer at the
Office of Naval Intelligence and persues a trail leading to
an electronics billionaire who has sold out his country with
the help of officials at the highest level of government. As
the enemy plans a two pronged attack that will disarm the
military and release a deadly toxin killing thousands of
civilians Hatfield and his female helper Dover Griffith try
to locate this ground zero and save an unsuspecting country.
Not a bad novel from Michael Savage.
May 18, 2014
When one pictures the hero of a novel from the thriller genre, one doesn't typically picture a political TV show host/pundit fulfilling the role, but Michael Savage managed to pull it off with his Jack Hatfield protagonist--a thinly-veiled fictitious version of Savage himself. A bit of a shameless and self-serving example life imitating art, perhaps, but I don't hold that against the author, and it's certainly a lot of fun and never has a dull moment.
February 11, 2015
A good read, not quite as nail-biting as the original book but some good character development and certainly a scary scenario of how men with power outside their respective country governments can cause extreme chaos.
December 20, 2015
This book has a very interesting plot, it moves along well, the characters are realistic, and the dialogue is engaging. I wish, though, that there was less political campaigning of the author's personal views. That aspect of the book will probably keep me from reading more from him.
February 1, 2016
It's rare that I don't finish a book once I've started, but I couldn't get past the first 50-or-so pages of this one.
Full of paranoid, right-wing ranting (trust me, i know there's left-wing ranting also).
Reads more like an agenda than a novel.
Only a conservative can save America! ; )
Full of paranoid, right-wing ranting (trust me, i know there's left-wing ranting also).
Reads more like an agenda than a novel.
Only a conservative can save America! ; )
March 18, 2013
Much better than his last novel, more parrellels to the main character and Michaels real life
June 6, 2013
Great for books on tape road trip!
February 6, 2015
Great thriller, just realize that this the second book.... Starting "Abuse of power" hope did not spoiled by reading this one first!
November 6, 2015
not bad
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews