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Patrick McLanahan #2
Night of the Hawk
In 1988, after a breathtaking raid into Soviet territory, Flt Lt David Luger sacrificed himself to save his friends. They escaped to safety, and Luger was left for dead in deepest Siberia. Four years later it is discovered that Luger survived, so a rescue mission is launched.
652 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 1992
92 people are currently reading
1077 people want to read
About the author
Dale Brown
154 books1,135 followersFormer U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 25 consecutive New York Times best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996) and FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN (1999), and WARRIOR CLASS (2001). His Fourteenth Novel AIRBATTLE FORCE will be published in late Spring 2003... Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 10 million copies.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 4, 2018
Blimey, I just realized I never reviewed this book.
This is one of my favorite techno-thrillers. It's less politics-focused than Clancy's books, and there's less spot-hopping convolution, but it's still geographically and politically colorful enough, with the right dose of technical descriptions and hardcore military action. It's a bit cheesy sometimes, but then, it comes off the back of the cheesiest decade in the universe, for the 80s gaveth us the likes of John McClane, John Rambo, John Matrix, Nico, Casey Ryback, and of course, lest we forget, the American Ninja.
The plot is simple - an American pilot long thought dead has been brainwashed by the Soviets into revealing the secrets of stealth technology, and the world is at the brink of a great war. Of course, there must be a pretext, so "spontaneous" demonstrations in the Baltics would serve as the casus belli for the Soviet forces. It's up to a few maverick types to go deep into the enemy territory, save their buddy, and stop the world from getting cooked with gamma rays. Classic, and potentially corny, but the book is executed with fun, flair and imagination.
I read this more than 20 years ago, so I'm a bit vague on some of the details, but I clearly remember that I've enjoyed it a lot, and that I should continue reading this series - and other series.
Igor
This is one of my favorite techno-thrillers. It's less politics-focused than Clancy's books, and there's less spot-hopping convolution, but it's still geographically and politically colorful enough, with the right dose of technical descriptions and hardcore military action. It's a bit cheesy sometimes, but then, it comes off the back of the cheesiest decade in the universe, for the 80s gaveth us the likes of John McClane, John Rambo, John Matrix, Nico, Casey Ryback, and of course, lest we forget, the American Ninja.
The plot is simple - an American pilot long thought dead has been brainwashed by the Soviets into revealing the secrets of stealth technology, and the world is at the brink of a great war. Of course, there must be a pretext, so "spontaneous" demonstrations in the Baltics would serve as the casus belli for the Soviet forces. It's up to a few maverick types to go deep into the enemy territory, save their buddy, and stop the world from getting cooked with gamma rays. Classic, and potentially corny, but the book is executed with fun, flair and imagination.
I read this more than 20 years ago, so I'm a bit vague on some of the details, but I clearly remember that I've enjoyed it a lot, and that I should continue reading this series - and other series.
Igor
March 12, 2014
Too much detail on the weaponry specifics took away from the adventure almost stopped reading half way through
December 10, 2019
God knows how long it's been since I read Fight of the Old Dog, the 1st of this series but it's been at least one and probably two decades or more. I don't remember a lot of the details of that book but I do remember I enjoyed it.
This one not so much.
Dale Brown brings us a tale filled with technology from the early 90s and then one must consider it old enough to be declassified for him to include it in his book. Yet that technology is the saving grace of this book.
Brown did poorly with relationships in this story, going from the melodramatic to the absurd at times. People and thoughts were often stereotyped; the vicious ex KGB operatives, the mindlessness of field grade officers, the laughable antics of General Elliot to name a few.
Don't get me wrong; I love melodrama in its place. Dudley Do-Right and Nell were perfect in the old and wonderful Jay Ward cartoons, but on the stage of human conflict in the face of a nuclear conflagration, not so much. (Oh god but I love all of those Jay Ward cartoons - I'd marry Natasha Fatale in a New York minute!) But I digress, as is my nature.
I have too many good authors to read to peruse any more of Brown's work but I do wish him well.
This one not so much.
Dale Brown brings us a tale filled with technology from the early 90s and then one must consider it old enough to be declassified for him to include it in his book. Yet that technology is the saving grace of this book.
Brown did poorly with relationships in this story, going from the melodramatic to the absurd at times. People and thoughts were often stereotyped; the vicious ex KGB operatives, the mindlessness of field grade officers, the laughable antics of General Elliot to name a few.
Don't get me wrong; I love melodrama in its place. Dudley Do-Right and Nell were perfect in the old and wonderful Jay Ward cartoons, but on the stage of human conflict in the face of a nuclear conflagration, not so much. (Oh god but I love all of those Jay Ward cartoons - I'd marry Natasha Fatale in a New York minute!) But I digress, as is my nature.
I have too many good authors to read to peruse any more of Brown's work but I do wish him well.
February 2, 2021
This follow up to the Flight of the Old Dog is a reasonably enjoyable read although I am not sure that all of the disparate plot ideas actually gel particularly well. The two main threads are the increasing civil unrest in Lithuania and the discover that Dave Luger had not died on the snow during the end of the Old Dog mission but was in fact alive and apparently brain washed in the Russian high tech base in Fiskious (their equivalent of Dreamland).
As the need to evacuate US citizens from Lithuania becomes a reality the powers that be are persuaded to piggy back a rescue mission for Luger onto the marine reinforcement of the US Embassy and early stage evacuation. So far so good. What then unfolds stretches credibility a bit too far for me. As the team arrive at Fiskious the Lithuanians are starting their own assault on the base and much confusion naturally ensues. Meanwhile the head of Fiskious has provide a rouge Belarusian General with nuclear weapons and control circuits to use as a bargaining tool to back up an invasion of Lithuania. Not to be out done General Elliot has planned a separate rescue mission (should the first fail) without the knowledge of the US command structure using all the available ‘toys’ from Dreamland.
Although the action is good (as it always is from Brown) I think there are too many elements going on and it is a little difficult to keep them all straight and the overall story would have been better if it had focused on fewer plot lines.
As the need to evacuate US citizens from Lithuania becomes a reality the powers that be are persuaded to piggy back a rescue mission for Luger onto the marine reinforcement of the US Embassy and early stage evacuation. So far so good. What then unfolds stretches credibility a bit too far for me. As the team arrive at Fiskious the Lithuanians are starting their own assault on the base and much confusion naturally ensues. Meanwhile the head of Fiskious has provide a rouge Belarusian General with nuclear weapons and control circuits to use as a bargaining tool to back up an invasion of Lithuania. Not to be out done General Elliot has planned a separate rescue mission (should the first fail) without the knowledge of the US command structure using all the available ‘toys’ from Dreamland.
Although the action is good (as it always is from Brown) I think there are too many elements going on and it is a little difficult to keep them all straight and the overall story would have been better if it had focused on fewer plot lines.
March 2, 2013
This is the second book in the Patrick McLanahan series (Hammerheads takes place before this novel but is officially not part of the series).
The book takes place primarily in Lithuania & Belarus where after the collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) / Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (CCCP). A now ex-KGB officer holds a US prisoner from the first book, David Luger, who is forced to collaborate on aircraft design at a facility in Lithuania. With the collapse of the USSR and Lithuania now an independent democracy with facilities due to be handed back to the country the ex-KGB officer hatches a scheme with a Byelorussian General to invade Lithuania. In the midst of this Patrick McLanahan & a squad of US Marines go in to rescue David Luger. Action ensues.
It's a good fast paced novel with lots of action. Like other Dale Brown books there's a lot of technical and military information but not to the point where it detracts from the story, and not in a manner that is fanciful or absurd.
Highly entertaining.
The book takes place primarily in Lithuania & Belarus where after the collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) / Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (CCCP). A now ex-KGB officer holds a US prisoner from the first book, David Luger, who is forced to collaborate on aircraft design at a facility in Lithuania. With the collapse of the USSR and Lithuania now an independent democracy with facilities due to be handed back to the country the ex-KGB officer hatches a scheme with a Byelorussian General to invade Lithuania. In the midst of this Patrick McLanahan & a squad of US Marines go in to rescue David Luger. Action ensues.
It's a good fast paced novel with lots of action. Like other Dale Brown books there's a lot of technical and military information but not to the point where it detracts from the story, and not in a manner that is fanciful or absurd.
Highly entertaining.
July 24, 2013
When I first read this book, just after it was published, I thought it was a ripping good yarn. Then, I went through a phase of despising 'unreality' in books and I unloaded all my Dale Brown novels and others that did not meet my standards for reality. I've since chilled a bit and recovered many of the books that were purged back then. Technically, this book is fairly accurate and if Dale Brown had stuck to a straight middle-of-the-road techno-thriller, it would probably have gained another star. What, in my opinion, really let's it down are the protracted scenes of angsting within the White House and the hissy fits through across many levels of rank by many of the military characters. It reads like it was written by someone who was a junior officer (he was) who wants to stick it to the senior ranks for some perceived failing or oversight...
Read this book for the great flying and OK ground combat but just skim the political stuff...you won't miss much.
Read this book for the great flying and OK ground combat but just skim the political stuff...you won't miss much.
September 8, 2010
I have a difficult time starting Dale Brown books because the print is always small and the first part is usually pretty slow. However, as with other Brown books I've read, once the action starts I can't put it down. This story was fantastic.
September 23, 2016
Too long, too much technical detail that added nothing to the plot. Almost no character development.
October 1, 2018
Tom Clancy on steriods. Once you get past the techno mumbo jumbo, an Night of the Hawk is an exciting read. I think I have learned how to construct of CV-22 PAVE HAMMER or any of the V-22 Osprey family of aircraft from the ground up. There are so many details of aircraft and armaments, I am not sure what is reality and what is fiction.
The obvious heroes of the novel are Lithuanian General Dominikas Palcikas, the V-22 Osprey and the EB-52 Megafortress. There are enough Lithuanian names thrown around to fill the Vilnius phonebook. And in an age where the F-35 is all the rage due to its stealth and avionics, it is nice to hear stories about a small rotary aircraft and a suped-up B-52. The B-52 has been around since the 1950s and the V-22 since the late 1980s, yet they are both still winning hearts.
The obvious heroes of the novel are Lithuanian General Dominikas Palcikas, the V-22 Osprey and the EB-52 Megafortress. There are enough Lithuanian names thrown around to fill the Vilnius phonebook. And in an age where the F-35 is all the rage due to its stealth and avionics, it is nice to hear stories about a small rotary aircraft and a suped-up B-52. The B-52 has been around since the 1950s and the V-22 since the late 1980s, yet they are both still winning hearts.
February 22, 2025
I read the prequel to this book and really enjoyed it. This is a good follow-up and in spite of the very detailed descriptions of weaponry and tactics it is hard to put down. Dale Brown as with other authors of this genre seem to have mystical abilities to forecast the future. I read several authors who write military and political thrillers and am always intrigued at how they seem to be right on with what actually occurs years after the books are published. What do they know that we don’t?? Are our Government officials and Spy masters providing the material?? If not shouldn’t they read some of this stuff so they know what is going to happen on their watch. The storyline for Night of the Hawk feels a lot like Russia and Ukraine today.
Being a little facetious, but really! If this genre is something you read regularly, think about it.
Being a little facetious, but really! If this genre is something you read regularly, think about it.
September 10, 2019
Wow, what a mixed bag this book turned out to be!
The negatives would have to start with the really small print of this edition, the incredibly boring details of every airplane and weapon in the story, and the difficult (for me) pronounciations of the Lithuanian and soviet names and places.
The positives include a newsworthy political location, familiar great characters, and a rip-roaring second half! The details are not really important to this review, but if you liked Tom Clancy, or other Dale Brown books you've probably already read this one anyway! If not, the first half was tedious and the second half rocked! Try it, you might like it.
The negatives would have to start with the really small print of this edition, the incredibly boring details of every airplane and weapon in the story, and the difficult (for me) pronounciations of the Lithuanian and soviet names and places.
The positives include a newsworthy political location, familiar great characters, and a rip-roaring second half! The details are not really important to this review, but if you liked Tom Clancy, or other Dale Brown books you've probably already read this one anyway! If not, the first half was tedious and the second half rocked! Try it, you might like it.
March 12, 2020
The Soviet Union is no more, the Commonwealth of Independent States is the new Eastern European power block. Lithuania is going for independence but there are still old Soviet forces in the country, controlled by Belorussian nationalists. So far, so good.
Readers may remember Dave Luger, the navigator who sacrificed his life in the first book. Well, he's now a brainwashed Russian scientist building a stealth airplane in Lithuania.
I think this book might as well be skipped. Since this is an interlude to the overall story, no character development happens and I can't imagine that the other books in the series is worse.
Readers may remember Dave Luger, the navigator who sacrificed his life in the first book. Well, he's now a brainwashed Russian scientist building a stealth airplane in Lithuania.
I think this book might as well be skipped. Since this is an interlude to the overall story, no character development happens and I can't imagine that the other books in the series is worse.
May 22, 2021
A lot of suspense and thrills in this sequel to FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG. General Brad Elliott learns that Dave Luger is alive in a secret facility in Lithuania. Along with a U.S. Marines special operations assault team, the original crew of the Old Dog (Patrick McLanahan, Hal Briggs, and John Ormack) go on an extraction mission to get former Old Dog crew member Luger out of the compound. As a crisis unfolds during the mission, the crew of the Old Dog devise plans of their own.
Another fine Dale Brown novel with a gripping and breathtaking ending. If you are a Dale Brown fan of the Patrick McLanahan series of books, I highly recommend Night of the Hawk.
Another fine Dale Brown novel with a gripping and breathtaking ending. If you are a Dale Brown fan of the Patrick McLanahan series of books, I highly recommend Night of the Hawk.
December 23, 2018
As usual, this book has a slow confusing start. Lots of different foreign names and organizations to remember, lots of military tactics relying on geography. About half way in things pick up and get more exciting.
September 10, 2021
Billed as more from the crew of “The Old Dog.” They’re in the story, but except for Dave Luger, not so much until the end. The stories about the Lithuanians, Belorussians, Russians, and American politicians are good however. Lots of military jargon, sometimes gets in the way.
August 2, 2017
Caught up on my Dale Brown Books, not sure how I skipped this one first time around.
July 3, 2020
This was a great story. There’s probably too much technical detail for someone who is not a special ops geek (which I am). The story dragged in places, but it was a good beach read.
June 14, 2022
Fun and excitement- further character creation and great tech use/description) in the vein of Tom Clancy.
Fun series...
Fun series...
Read
February 17, 2023gOOD BOOK
October 24, 2017
"October 22, 2017 – page 256
44.44%
October 22, 2017 – page 212
36.81% "Break doesn't exist... Just Conducting an Experiment!"
October 22, 2017 – page 212
36.81% "I FUCKED UP.. .
...
FOOLISHLY!"
October 18, 2017 – page 90
15.63%
October 17, 2017 –
2.0% "In this here book there is something which pulls the strings. The author have got potential!"
October 17, 2017 – Started Reading"
44.44%
October 22, 2017 – page 212
36.81% "Break doesn't exist... Just Conducting an Experiment!"
October 22, 2017 – page 212
36.81% "I FUCKED UP.. .
...
FOOLISHLY!"
October 18, 2017 – page 90
15.63%
October 17, 2017 –
2.0% "In this here book there is something which pulls the strings. The author have got potential!"
October 17, 2017 – Started Reading"
May 31, 2024
Terrible Editing
Book was very good. The editing was terrible. At times had to scratch my head to understand what was being written.
Book was very good. The editing was terrible. At times had to scratch my head to understand what was being written.
April 2, 2024
In Flight of the Old Dog, after the crew of the classified B-52 bomber known as "Old Dog" bombed a Soviet laser weapon facility, USAF Lt. David Lugar was presumed dead defending his crewmates from a Russian militia attack at a semi-abandoned Soviet airbase while they were refueling their plane to get home.
Several years later, the Soviet Union has collapsed. Russia & it's former Soviet holdings in the Baltic region are in chaos. Meanwhile, a spy for the U.S. brings startling news from Lithuania: David Lugar is alive. He's been brainwashed into thinking he's a Soviet aerospace engineer & has helped build an advanced bomber with similarities to the Old Dog. He's being held in a facility in Lithuania which is under the command of KGB rogues looking to use the facility & it's assets for their own personal gain.
--------------------------
Pros:
1. Brings back the whole crew from Flight of the Old Dog.
2. Good suspenseful action.
3. Has little bits of humor in it while keeping things serious.
Cons:
1. Get's tech explanation heavy at times.
Overall opinion: A good sequel to Flight of the Old Dog.
Several years later, the Soviet Union has collapsed. Russia & it's former Soviet holdings in the Baltic region are in chaos. Meanwhile, a spy for the U.S. brings startling news from Lithuania: David Lugar is alive. He's been brainwashed into thinking he's a Soviet aerospace engineer & has helped build an advanced bomber with similarities to the Old Dog. He's being held in a facility in Lithuania which is under the command of KGB rogues looking to use the facility & it's assets for their own personal gain.
--------------------------
Pros:
1. Brings back the whole crew from Flight of the Old Dog.
2. Good suspenseful action.
3. Has little bits of humor in it while keeping things serious.
Cons:
1. Get's tech explanation heavy at times.
Overall opinion: A good sequel to Flight of the Old Dog.
September 5, 2011
Set in 1987?
Stroryline
Mike Luger left behind in Russia after Old Dog mission. Captured by KGB
and brainwashed into helping develop the Fi-107 stealth bomber at a base
in Lithuania. Lithuanian Defense Force fighting corrupt Belarus solders
that are trying to take over Lithuania. HAWC send Megafortress to help.
Characters
General Brad Elliott - Commander of Dreamland
Ormack
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick McLanahan
Hal Briggs - Dreamland Chief of Security
(these three go on mission with marines to rescue Luger)
EB-52 Crew
Captain Alicia Kellerman - Nav
Major Kelvin Carter - Pilot
Captain Nancy Cheshire
Wendy Tork - EWO
Captain Paul Scott - Bombardier
Dr. Angelina Pereira - Gunner
Stroryline
Mike Luger left behind in Russia after Old Dog mission. Captured by KGB
and brainwashed into helping develop the Fi-107 stealth bomber at a base
in Lithuania. Lithuanian Defense Force fighting corrupt Belarus solders
that are trying to take over Lithuania. HAWC send Megafortress to help.
Characters
General Brad Elliott - Commander of Dreamland
Ormack
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick McLanahan
Hal Briggs - Dreamland Chief of Security
(these three go on mission with marines to rescue Luger)
EB-52 Crew
Captain Alicia Kellerman - Nav
Major Kelvin Carter - Pilot
Captain Nancy Cheshire
Wendy Tork - EWO
Captain Paul Scott - Bombardier
Dr. Angelina Pereira - Gunner
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2012
this is by far one of the best book ive read recently! this is a very good mix of fiction and non fiction that is based on the cold war between U.S and the soviet union. Night of the hawk is a great book that begins at sea, aboard an aircraft carrier, and this happens to be when there is a secret mission that this pilot (luger) has to be apart of, and during this mission his plane gets shot down. Everybody is lead to believe he has died, whiloe the truth is, he has not. So he is working for the soviets under a brainwash technique when the americans find him. What will happen to luger?
May 31, 2016
#4 in the Patrick McLanahan series in publication order (#2 chronologically).
Patrick McLanahan series - A simple defector extraction raid in Lithuania in late 1992 uncovers evidence that a member of the Old Dog crew, David Luger, survived the events of Flight of the Old Dog and was brainwashed to work on a new stealth bomber at a secret facility in Vilnius. Amidst the political upheaval in the country, General Elliott, McLanahan, and John Ormack join a US Marine contingent in assaulting the facility and rescuing Luger.
Patrick McLanahan series - A simple defector extraction raid in Lithuania in late 1992 uncovers evidence that a member of the Old Dog crew, David Luger, survived the events of Flight of the Old Dog and was brainwashed to work on a new stealth bomber at a secret facility in Vilnius. Amidst the political upheaval in the country, General Elliott, McLanahan, and John Ormack join a US Marine contingent in assaulting the facility and rescuing Luger.
August 5, 2013
Great novel. A bit political for the first half but it seems necessary to set up the finale. The ending was a little abrupt and apart from finding out where Dave Luger ended up, we don't get to really explore the effects of his years of brainwashing. More emphasis on that story line would've been good as well and may have added a little extra to the book. Other than that though, I enjoyed it thoroughly and am looking forward to the next book in the "Patrick McLanahan" series!
March 27, 2015
The book has the usual politics in between full scale action. Technical details were accurate about military hardware. [Spoiler alert] The war description was very detailed. The geography, tactics and organization of modern wars was accurate. Lithuania and Belorussia conflict was shown with correct perspective during the break up of former USSR. All in all read up if you like aviation, military and action. Just skim through the politics.
January 18, 2015
Dale Brown had me with Flight of the Old Dog and he doesn't believe in catch and release. Another awesome read from Brown and the very effective use of continuation of main characters.
When I read Dale Brown, I'm often awed at his technical knowledge, but even more intriguing is his almost clairvoyant ability to write stories that connect with the future.
When I read Dale Brown, I'm often awed at his technical knowledge, but even more intriguing is his almost clairvoyant ability to write stories that connect with the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews