Sky Masters

Patrick McLanahan #3

by Dale Brown

When Lieutenant Colonel Patrick McLanahan is offered the chance to test-fly a new B-2 bomber in strategic warfare training sorties, he jumps at the chance. This is McLanahan's chance to reconfirm his flying skills. By the author of "Flight of the Old Dog" and "Hammerheads".

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Military Fiction, War, Adventure, Action, Aviation

512 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 1991

About the author

Former 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.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

500 pages of technowank trash, ideal for taking on a 5-day trip to Berlin.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to describing USAF tactics and (not classified) SOP and jargon, Brown get right. But when it comes to dialogue between civilians, it seems to drag on. What I do like is the fact that the political situations, if not necessarily the politicians who handle it, are spot on. In this book, the island chains are resource rich and contested by five nations. One wrong move could lead to a conflict. The setting for this book is 1994 and may or may not have been plausible then. Fast forward to 2014, and ripped from the headlines is China building artificial airstrips to support their operations.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before people played with their smartphones, they read stuff like this on the subway or planes, and pretended they were on the cutting edge of technology. Lots of electronic stuff here that's just now reaching consumers.

Decent techno-thriller that's also an interesting period piece from right after the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold war was winding down. Also, military planes and jets and rockets, missiles, satellites, and radars...and naval battles, and well...you get the idea...

[Bob Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. A perfect example of his clairvoyance is this book written about a Chines/US/Philippine conflict over the Spratly Islands - an eery parallel with what's happening with China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyou Islands in the East China Sea and the pullout of US military in the Philippines.

[Drew Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed the Dale Brown books featuring Patrick McLanahan. Patrick has the chance to reconfirm his flying skills by test-flying a new , high tech B2 bomber. Those skills come into use when America is forced to react in an international dispute over a chain of islands and it erupts into all-out war.

The U.S. has pulled out of the Philippines. The navy of the People's Republic of China lays claim to a long-contested island group, decimated a Philippine oil platform and China launches a tactical nuclear weapon against enemy forces..

The U.S President's hand is forced by China and a scheming Filipino politician.

McLanahan and the newly formed Air Battle Force join Dr. Jon Masters in a counterattack. McLanahan's B2 Stealth bomber comes into important play .

A lot of thrilling action accelerates to a memorable and explosive conclusion.

If you are a fan od Dale Brown, this is a must read book.

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find that the most interesting aspect of these 30 year old military thrillers is to compare them with known reality. It's clear that for every book, Dale Brown had to rewrite some of the past as real world events overtook his imaginary reality, but he does it in a seamless fashion.

This book is centered around tension in the South China Sea, tension that is still there. China, Vietnam and several other neighbouring countries to different degrees claim ownership of the sea, using occupation of reef-like islands as proof. In this book Philippines and China clash over those island in a way that escalates and goes out of control.

I think the book was 20% completely unrealistic already when it was written, but what are these books, but a way to run "what if" scenarios and then it's hard to stay on the right side of the border.

[Roy Szweda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read of a paperback I bought in Boston, USA, way back in 1992 and it remains a strong tale in light of the evolution of politics, technology and story-telling IMHO.
It is another in the FotOD saga of super- Superfortresses "EB52s" and introduces a "souped-up" B2! Other players include Buffs, Lancers and various Chinese MiG-21 variants to bring some edge of the seat aerial combat sequences. The Navy tech is also there with all sorts of missiles, electronic warfare, radar and whatnot.
OK, the characters are not going to win awards but it is a tale well-thought-out and told with verve and page-turning precision.
As too often these days, books are too long... 500 pages is VFM but how am I going to ever get through all the books on my list when everyone writes tomes and doorstops?

[Michael Toleno · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this so long ago—at least 30 years—that I don’t have enough memory of the book or my reaction to it to write more than a cursory review. I do, however, remember that Brown described an interesting military conflict over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, something that could occur today. I believe that this was the first time that I’d heard of the potential of such a conflict.

Unlike several other techno-thriller authors of the era, some of whom seem indistinguishable, I probably will plan to read more of Dale Brown’s novels in the future—probably after I read at least a hundred other books on my list.

As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off.

[Raoul Jerome · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK read, but I had trouble finding the story in this one. The first part was incredibly cluttered with explanations of inventory of weaponry including that of the Philippines, China, and the US. There were hundreds of different kinds of missiles, guns and then it was further cluttered with explanations of how they were controlled--radar, etc. This ranged back and forth from defence to offence, on all sides. The character development was interspersed with all this so, when one guy was introduced, by the time he reappeared I had forgotten who he was. I think that the story itself was perhaps 10-15 % of the novel. That's not enough for me.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dale Brown writes a great story, usually high tech and futuristic. He tends to get bogged down with all the finite technical details. He describes/defines everything in his glossary and again several times within the book. I find myself skipping entire paragraphs of details that have no bearing on the story line whatsoever. I can’t figure out if he just using the details as filler or if he thinks we can’t find the glossary to refresh our memories.

[Travis LaLuzerne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy heavy on weapon names and codes and specs of planes and warships. Character development is not great, action was good but super specific. At least 6-8 different missile types described in detail. A book for people who like to study and read about modern military weaponry.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t finish the book. I tried I really tried! I made it half way through. It was just not my cup of tea. I found some parts interesting but to me the story could have been told in a shorter form. To me there just was a lot of information that it took away from the actual story line.

[Jim Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, but not his best. I enjoyed it was a little let down compared to Old Dog and Night of the Hawk.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fast paced book.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too wordy!!!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. Good author for Tom Clancy fans. About American military leaving Philippines and China moving in and trying to take over. Very good battle scenes.

[Ann Amadori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much description of military tactics, aircraft, ships and weapons systems and their capabilities, not only from the US, but also enemy resources, for my taste. Hardly any character development.

[Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap this was incredible!

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

510 pages

[Marc Kirner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could be describing a 2021 scenario except the US military today is unfortunately, weaker than depicted in the book & the PRC is stronger. Good story

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

great 3 installment in series

[Teto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read - not boring, but somehow too long.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good potential with this book but seems rushed to an underwhelming ending. Other parts of the book were very disjointed with plot’s ending abruptly without explanation.

[Erwin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, the hardware and the characters.

[Mr.Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now anyone can own their own satellite.

[Larry Boggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.

[Mark Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good really for a techno thriller. Dated but not dated.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third of the Patrick McClanahan novel is set on a far wider canvas than the previous two. In Flight of the old Dog and The Day of the Cheetah we were treated to action packed storylines that were based largely on a ‘lone wolf’ scenario. In Sky Masters we are treated to a wider conflict that pits the USA against China.
The USA has removed all its forces from their bases in the Philippines after which local dispute over the heavily disputed Spratly Islands takes place between Chinese and Filipino naval forces takes place. This quickly escalates out of all control when the Chinese admiral fires a nuclear tipped anti-ship missile at the Filipino forces. Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos prominent communists’ factions in the Philippines stage a Chinese backed coup. As the Chinese military build-up continues the US is forced to take action to prevent a total takeover of the islands by the Chinese. What follows is a fast passed battle involving the USA air force and the Chinese navy as they race against time to stop the final invasion and capture of the last remaining area that is resisting the coup.
The technical details fly of the page as is to be expected from Dale, but as the reader you don’t feel swamped by them, and they actually add to the excitement and pace of the storyline. A really good and exciting story.

[Ultan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline
- Dispute between China and Phillipines over Sprattly Islands

China invades Sprattly Islands and Patrick McLanahan and the heavy bombers of the U.S. Air Battle Force leads the American counterattack against a Chinese invasion of the Philippines.

Characters
General Brad Elliott - Commander of Dreamland
Lieutenant Colonel Pat McLanahan - Project director - EB-2 project - upgrade to B-2 bomber
? Master - inventor