Dragon Fire: A Novel

by William S. Cohen

William S. Cohen, former Secretary of Defense, US Senator and Congressman, has walked the most powerful corridors in the world. Now, in Dragon Fire , he takes us with him into the top-secret rooms where the fate of the world is held in the hearts and minds of men with dangerous and hidden agendas. Packed with action and espionage, intrigue and romance, Dragon Fire is a riveting, intricate, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that so convincingly written, readers will wonder just how much of it is true. Upon the assassination of the Secretary of Defense, former senator and Vietnam POW, Michael Patrick Santini, is called upon by his President to fill the vacancy. Once there, he discovers that the United States is under attack by a silent, sinister force, someone determined to alienate our allies and undermine our position as a global superpower. But America is hours away from going to war―with the wrong enemy. Rejecting direct orders from the president, Santini races across the world in a desperate attempt to prevent a catastrophic global war. When Democratic President Bill Clinton chose Republican William S. Cohen to join his staff in 1997 as the 20th Secretary of Defense, it was the first time in modern U.S. history that a president selected a member of the opposing party for his cabinet. Cohen, the first Secretary of Defense to make biological warfare and terrorism almost a personal crusade, was integral in orchestrating a comprehensive strategy to deal with the threat of terrorism. In Dragon Fire, he takes his experience, knowledge, expertise, passion, and fears and melds fact and fiction into a political thriller only he could write.

Genres: Fiction, Military Fiction

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 21, 2006

About the author

William Sebastian Cohen, a Republican, served as both a member of the United States House of Representatives and Senate, and as Secretary of Defense (1997–2001) under Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow but interesting story about how diplomats work.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t really a bad book, and it definitely got better the further the book went along. Cohen introduces many characters and story threads at the beginning of the book, and does not directly tell readers about when the events described happen. This makes the beginning of the book hard to follow. The characters are not particularly easy to identify with, which also makes it difficult to get emotionally invested at the beginning. Eventually, the book settles into a much better pace, and the thrill and suspense make it fairly enjoyable. Sadly, this is ruined by an ending that is extremely rushed, and that leaves some major questions unanswered. Overall, the book was an enjoyable read, but it isn’t anything too spectacular.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Cohen writes in such a way that even with my limited knowledge, I was able to follow this fast moving book involving the FBI, CIA, the Pentagon, the executive branch and heads of foreign countries, traitors and terrorists. When there is possible War on the horizon, quick action by those in powerful positions is called on even when protocol and other powerful egos fight to keep control.

[Ronald P · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting book. a little slow at first

This contemporary novel is a great read. The author describes scenes which he has obviously been exposed to as Secy of Defense. The end is thrilling, but A LITTLE unbelievable.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot details aided by actual experience as SecDef. The characters seem easily tied to actual U.S. government personnel ie: President Jefferson = William Jefferson Clinton.

[Nefty123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well plotted and executed. I just got confused with so many players and didn't care for the ending. Too abrupt.

[Bill Washburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a slow read

[Todd Loveday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow but certainly picked up. An entertaining read.

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a thriller written by a politician, it's actually pretty good. As a thriller overall, it's pretty average. The storytelling is mostly flat and there's too much focus on the plot moving forward through meetings and other bureaucratic events vs. actual action. I understand that Cohen as a bureaucrat wrote what he knew, but it often doesn't make for interesting reading. Also, he's not at all good at building suspense until the last 30 pages or so: generally, every time there's a plot twist that could move the plot forward in the long term, he instead resolves it anticlimactically in the next 10 pages. Cohen's decision to set the events in the then-present, including usage of actual historical names in the recent past, also means that much of this book breaks the fourth wall in ways that are just weird. The most noteworthy example of this is having his fictional president and that president's fictional cabinet succeed President Bill Clinton and frequently refer to Clinton's actual cabinet and actual events that happened during his administration. This often gets awkward, and while Cohen at least avoided imploding his own universe by mentioning his own service as Clinton's secretary of defense, the framing is often oddly off-putting. Maybe this was Cohen's way of getting around writing what he knew without leaking classified information and it might even have been the best way to do that, but it's a very cumbersome device that distracts from the narrative.

With that said, this book does hint at some some interesting factual details about the way the US government operates, and the story is overall adequate and fairly realistic, if for the most part not terribly thrilling. I can see why the back jacket has a variety of kudos from professional thriller writers and professional politicians, because this book as a reading experience falls squarely between them, neither one thing nor the other.

Check it out of the library if you like political thrillers, but I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt for it unless you really want Cohen's (factual) insider's insight, or you simply have to read every political thriller ever written.

[Chris Billman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back cover sounded good, reminiscent of a Tom Clancy novel mixing political intrigue, spies, and action while the fate of the world rested on a few reluctant shoulders. The execution was unfortunately unable to live up to my meager expectations for a pop fiction novel.

I was drawn to this book because of China. It's my second home and a place where I've spent many years living, but clearly Cohen has not. His knowledge of China seems paper thin which seems about as thick as his character development. I've already forgotten about the characters and don't particularly care to see any of them in a second novel. The conspiracy was over the top ridiculous. Cohen must have been paid for each country involved in his plot.

Bottom line, pick up the paperback for a buck or two at a garage sale and keep it in the bathroom of your RV.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by President Clinton's last Secretary of Defense William Cohen (prior to that a Republican Senator from Maine), I thought a nice fiction book about a SecDef might offer some realistic insider accounts of how things work in the Pentagon. I'm thinking not so much on the realist part, but it was still a lot of fun. Perhaps this shouldn't be a surprise, but the hero of the story is a former two term senator who comes on board to help a president by serving as SecDef. Low and behold, the SecDef is basically James Bond on steroids. (Perhaps Barry Bonds is the better comparison.) Anyway, real or not, it was fun.

[Joe White · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot could have come from Tom Clancy. This was all one-dimensional governmental types in a high tension espionage thriller. Some of the problems that I had with it were that the bad guys concealed their activities too well which created the suspense, but just has very little bearing on reality. The good guys were all extremely one dimensional and in a couple of cases almost supermen. The wrap up ending was so unrealistic that I lost interest nearing the end.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

International thriller in which the U.S. is the focus of a conspiracy by rouge elements in China, Russia and Germany to make the three the dominate countries in the world. Most of the action takes place at the highest levels of the U.S. government with the Secretary of Defense as the one who works through the situation.

Fairly fast paced story line with a lot of intrigue especially among U.S. intelligence departments and a top level presidential advisor.

[Seth Kaplan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needed a quick easy read, and this certainly was that. Clancyesque, but with poorly developed characters and a plot that focused too much on a large number of bad things happening to the US all at once. Would have liked to have learned much more about Elena, which the book jacket seemed to imply would happen, but never really did. Cohen's second effort was a bit better,but I'm not certain it'll be worth trying his third.

[Jim McCulloch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly edited. Jarring POV issues. Author demonstrates limited understanding of US military: ranks, differences between branches, and normal protocols despite being SecDef. No military experience himself . . . and it is obvious. Story line lags and remains essentially unclear until well past the halfway point.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

An early politico thriller of William Cohen (2006), the first 200 pages plod exceedingly slowly; however, it then picks up and Part III is a page turner. As with his other works, I often wonder how much of his story telling is tale spinning and how much is creatively based on events he lived/knew/hear of during his illustrious career in public service.

[Garrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are into politics and political intrigue, then this book is for you. For me, I found it rather slow moving and dull. Most books take me a couple days to finish, but this one took almost a month to get through.

[Opa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced action thriller seen from the top level of government. He uses the name of Jesus Christ too many times and not in a nice way. Don't know why authors use F-bombs and god type expletives when there are better ways of describing emotion.

[Debbie Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating inside view of politics that I was unaware of. Keeping everyone straight was a little difficult. I need to look at a hierarchy chart of political offices, there are sooo many. Intriguiing right to the end.

[Ted Way · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former Secretary of Defense is able to give an insider view of what goes on in the upper echelons of government, but the story gets a bit too fantastic at the end.

[Walter Germann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book on international power politcs by the former Secretary of Defense and US Senator.

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book on international intrigue and manipulation. Also gives good insight into how the US intelligence community interacts, written by former Secretary of Defense.

[Rrfavreau · Rating 3 out of 5]

May 5, 2008, copyright 2006
Secratory of Defense stops a rouge chinese group fron starting a war

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book, but it definitely is one I'd recommend. The ending catches you off guard.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this novel, a conspiracy theory of sorts, had a irritatingly familiar.plot, characters, and dialogue was average. On the other hand, the story kept movingly along at a fast-pace.

[Justin Shaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of Clear and Present Danger the movie. Overall good. Long and a lot of places drawn out but it really adds to the overall picture of the story.

[Rives Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow at beginning but finished well...

[Christopher Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story which kept me interested from the beginning of the book until the end.

[Bryan Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling account from a man who knew all too well how the Pentagon works.