Shadow Command

Patrick McLanahan #14

by Dale Brown

America’s most advanced miltary unit rebels against the very government it’s trying to protect in this pulse-pounding military thriller chock-full of suspense, adventure, and high-tech weaponry. Following their success in crushing an Iranian threat, General Patrick McLanahan’s new “Aerospace Battle Force” has grown into a full-fledged task force, based on the Armstrong Space Station. But the program has its critics, including Russia, the United Nations, and the American press. Newly elected, President Joseph Gardner directs congress to cut off funding for this provocative force and dismisses McLanahan. What no one knows is that the Russians have blackmailed Gardner—the first step in a nefarious plan to control the world’s oil supplies . With the ABF decommissioned, Russia deploys troops and warships into Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Persian Gulf. But McLanahan and his forces refuse to allow the Russian aggression to stand. Defying the civilian chain of command he orders the ABF to strike their forces. The president orders McLanahan’s immediate arrest. But before authorities can throw him in jail, they have to find him. Located at one of the most secure bases, with an arsenal of the world’s most sophisticated air weapons, he has control of the Aerospace Battle Force and the Armstrong Space Station. Army, Marine Corps, and FBI units converge on the base, but they are easily held off—for now. In a race against time, McLanahan must outmaneuver his own countrymen, and defeat the Russians, and expose the truth . . .

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

360 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2008

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

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, but not great McLanahan book. He's still up in the space station doing what he can to foil Russian plots and attacks against American assets.
But the new president is a political hack who is too pompous to think anyone could possibly know better than he.

[Michael Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dale Brown always gives a good exciting read and this is no exception. For those who don't know, this series began 30 years ago or so with the "Flight of the Old Dog." This was a great read about a B-52 bomber that had been modified with the then latest, and some cases still experimental, electronics. All this work was done to give that venerable work horse important improvements in many areas of its mission: less radar visibility, wider munitions flexibility including air to air missiles, and on and on. All aimed at not only extending its life but also to give it pin point accuracy and support, pinching off people or forces before little issues became large wars.

The point of this history is simply to say that the most important protagonist was introduced in that book as well as some of the other important characters. The number of active characters has grown over time as they were introduced in various books throughout the series. While it is never necessary to know anything about the earlier books in the series, readers of those books will find a comforting feeling as they experience again their strengths and foibles.

This book again stretches the bounds of technology of its day. There is no need to fear that; the technology is not described in any technological way and jargon is virtually never used. All Brown expects his readers to understand is sentences like "This new abc fuel and def engine design allow the missile to go ten times faster than before."

All this gives a good package for readers who like this style of book. There is lots of action, lots of potential nastiness from the enemy and lots of pressure on the protagonist by his own side. Of course there is a plausible geopolitical situation that requires resolution before it gets out of control. In my view, although Brown writes a very good book, he is not quite in the class of Clancy. The secondary players are not quite as well worked out, their conversations and situations are not as fleshed out as they could be. Maybe that is why the books are 400 - 500 pages rather than 800 - 1000 pages. Nevertheless a good read; hard to put down.
Four stars.

[Dominic Nicotra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadow Command by Dale Brown was not an amazing read technically and the story line was not amazing either. There was lots of technical military references and a bit of action throughout but even the thrilling scenes did not measure up to the fast paced action by our own Matthew Reilly. If you are someone that loves the idea of advanced military projects, unsophisticated political mind games between Russia, America and Iran, and wanting to scream at characters for being oblivious to quite easy-to-piece together scenarios then this book might be the one for you, otherwise advance token to GO and you may try again with another book. If there is one positive about this book however it is that the technology portrayed is quite fascinating whether or not the Author almost made me stop reading by boring me with jargon and a seemingly ill-thought through story line.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuk. Could be the beginning of the end for Dale Brown with this clinker. He spends too much time writing about devious Russians, spineless U.S. presidents, weak servicemen with descriptions of parts and procedures of all gadgets instead of interesting story lines. 2 of 10 for this stinker.

[Alex Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK his newer books don't seem as good since his has mixed his standalone novels with his McLanahan books. Ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book. If a big fan then read but otherwise leave be.

[Kenneth Litwak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was interesting, though a bit over the top, even for me. However, there is a serious problem with this book. When I read the Flight of the Old Dog and Day of the Cheetah, neither, as I recall, was full of sex scenes. Shadow Command has sex scenes and sexual allusions all over the place. These are completely irrelevant to the plot. It's like walking through a dog park. You never know when you might step into something bad. Why did Brown change his style to include all this crud? Due to this, I'm discouraged from reading anything else by him. I want the high suspense plots without the dog poop. What happened to Brown? Some guys might like that junk but not me. If I wanted that sort of content, I could read an "adult" book. I'd never do that and Brown's books would be far better without this garbage.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was ok but was it hard to follow the story line. This story takes place 5 years after a conflict between Russia and the U.S. that almost ends the world. General Patrick McLanahan a hero of that conflict is now in charge of Aerospace Battle Group and Armstrong Space Station for the U.S. McLanahan personal mission is to keep the U.S. safe from all threats foreign and domestic. The book is a fast-paced book dealing with conflicts with his own superiors and foreign leaders, but the plot often does not make sense. There are too many subplots that do not connect. McLanahan may need to risk it all to save the world.

[Randy Ramsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

0 for 2 on this series

This was the second book I read in this series after not being overly impressed with the first one. I was even more disappointed with this one than the first. This book contains so much meaningless detail that serves as noise not amplifying context. I also think the whole book should have been just a background event in a much bigger story. I am done with the McLanahan series.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick McLanahan returns once again in Shadow Command the 14th book in the series. Obnoxious cardboard character for a president carried over from previous book, poor introductions of new characters, stereotypical bimbo females. There was lots of technical military references, most correct...some not. Ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book. Again, I wonder why/if I go on to book 15?

[Peggy Pleasant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally different from anything I had read before, but I totally got involved with the story, I liked the General and enjoyed the fact that he did what was right even though he did 't follow orders. There are times when you have to do what is right no matter the consequences.He held my attention until the very last page.

[Tom Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown brings more high tech to war

Shadow Command is a story about the ongoing conflict between Russia and the USA and the Middle East, with a heavy dose iPod his futuristic weapons and rage carryover of his robots the story evolves around a new President who does not like the futuristic toys and wants to return to a navy based military

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, that I don't think I'm a very big Dale Brown fan. I've read several, and every time I come back to my reviews, I feel the same way. Somewhat inferior in the writing and storyline compared to others in the genre that I enjoy more. Try him for yourself and see if you like.

[Brad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to read Shadow Command again, after it having sat on my bookshelf for a couple years. I noticed the bookmark was not quite halfway through the book from the first time. I didn’t even get through the first chapter this time. I just don’t care about the characters. I’m done.

[Stephen Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow command

Another excellent Dale Brown story. Patrick sees things happening in Iran with the Russians moving in an setting up a new portable laser system capable of shooting Dow things in space. At the same time, a coup takes place in Iran.

[John Lietzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of "Shadow Command (Patrick McLanahan Book 14) by John Lietzke

I think this book is substandard to the other McLanahan books. I do not feel as excited with this book as I did with other McLanahan books.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really enjoy this book.

[John Stille · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little tough to follow with all the acronyms.

[Ron Siggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Raoul Jerome · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Not great, but ok. I think maybe I've read so many of these that they have become formula and I can see stuff coming.

[Connie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

elected officials...

This book should be read by every person who votes... so they can envision how stupid elected officials can be! A great read. Thank you

[Marty]

Fun - started off slowly but picked up and was a good story and finshed strong.
Lead to a good follow on book.

[Sandra Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale Browns books put new and frightening perspectives on current events that are probably worse than what is depicted.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I have a cousin who would like these

[Rochelle Goldsmith · Rating 1 out of 5]

First part was like reading a technical manual. Second part was boring description of geopolitics. Pages 265-275 tolerable storytelling. Last part looks like someone else wrote it. A big mess.

[Bryant Eismeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun, albeit a little formulaic.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absurdly implausible ending that wrapped too quickly

[John Oldfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Dog Follow on very good

[Ultan]

The brightest object in the sky except for the Sun and Moon is Armstrong Space Station, the "Silver Tower," the centerpiece of America's newest defense unit, the U.S. Space Defense Force. Commanded by Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan, Silver Tower is the hub of a vast network of satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket boosters, and spaceplanes that gives the United States instantaneous and secure global information exchange and access to space.
The "high ground" of space now belongs to the United States of America...and that makes America's enemies very nervous.
Russian president Leonid Zevitin doesn't want to look up and see an American military space station flying overhead almost every night, and he's afraid that free global Internet access provided by the U.S. Space Defense Force will eventually weaken his grip on his people. He devises a plan to discredit the Space Defense Force by covertly attacking Silver Tower with sophisticated new anti-satellite weapons--including a mobile version of the Kavaznya laser--and at the same time convince the new U.S. president Joseph Gardner that the Space Defense Force is a threat to world peace and stability.
Gardner plays right into Zevitin's hands. The President's plans for an expanded Navy are stalled, and it's time to do something about it--even if it means destroying America's most popular and successful generals, Patrick McLanahan. He enlists the help of the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Stacy Anne Barbeau, to help discredit McLanahan and convince Congress to cut off funding for the space station.
Patrick is using Silver Tower's incredible surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities to assist the anti-insurgent forces in Iran, led by rebel leader Hesarak al-Kan Buzhazi, until a democratic government can be formed. But the more Patrick does to defeat the insurgents, the more Russia complains to the world that the space force is a threat to world peace. Soon Patrick's activities are so restricted that he can do nothing but watch helplessly as the pro-Islamist insurgent forces in Iran threaten to tear the entire region apart.
But while watching the growing crisis in Iran, Patrick detects a new threat--against Silver Tower and the globe-crossing Black Stallion spaceplanes. In an effort to destroy the threat, Patrick defies orders from the President and orders an attack, using a strike team led by Major Wayne "Whack" Macomber, the new leader of the Battle Force high-tech ground assault force.
Zevitin detects the plan and convinces Gardner to halt it...and when Gardner does so, Zevitin launches his attack, bringing down a spaceplane. Patrick watches the attack unfold and orders a counterattack, using unmanned EB-1C Vampire bombers loaded with hypersonic SkySTREAK missiles. The President orders McLanahan to turn the bombers around, but Patrick ignores the orders.
Enraged, the President strips McLanahan of his command and orders his immediate arrest. But Russia is on the move, and Patrick decides he's the only one who can stop them. He orders his space and air forces to assemble and prepare to attack...
....and to defend themselves against any attempt by American forces to stop them.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick McLanahan returns once again in Shadow Command the 14th book in the series - he probably should have just stayed home.

Obnoxious cardboard character for a president carried over from previous book, poor introductions of new characters, stereotypical bimbo females, and the list goes on. It's almost as if this book was written by a ghost writer, but alas more likely it's just been spat out for another publishers cheque.

The book wraps up with an awful sense of deja vu that we'll be revisiting already trod plot lines, never mind the story dithered about for 300+ pages before wrapping up awfully fast (and skipping vital plot links) in the last 20-30.

I'm pretty forgiving of action books when they keep the pages turning and your interest piqued, after all it's reading for entertainment not learning, however this just didn't cut the mustard.

It's okay, but a poor showing for the series. Pity.

[Olof · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these stories. BUT the author is not very good at conclusions. I really wish this book had had twice the length and four times the complexity. The storytelling is Great, I just wish that smooth and interesting language could paint a bigger, more complex picture with more twists and turns. It is too straight forward, and in that don't feel too realistic. Had it been more complex, the "twist" ending would not have felt like a deus ex machina, which is what I feel now.
During the book I was so upset that The President was acting in such a stupid way, and gave a very selfish and narrowminded impression. I was upset that the author portrayed a person in such a position that way. How could be be like that?! No way. Then after reading the book and looking at the news I was reminded of The Real World. Oh shit!