Storming Heaven

Independent #4

by Dale Brown

The USA is under seige. Terrorist Henri Cazaux has been using large commercial aircraft to drop explosives on major US airports. When he unleashes a cargo of explosives on San Francisco airport, the national panic reaches all the way to the White House.

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

496 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 1994

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

[Bob Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written in 1994 and deals with a drug running terrorist who uses a transport plane to drop explosives on major airports. I had to keep pinching myself that this was before 9/11 and how unprepared we were to deal with this type of situation. The military in the novel has few planes deployed that can chase the terrorist wherever he pops up. They also have no right to shoot at a plane and no procedures for firing warning shots or trying to force the plane aside. The commercial flight towers even refuse to give clearance to the jets to fly near their airports' traffic. And when something happens, of course they blame the military for not doing something.

If you hate politicians, there's a lot here in the book to satisfy you as various aides, senators and the President jockey to make themselves look good while not listening to the warnings given by the military. The book has a lot of action and hair-raising scenes.

The only downside to the book is that it contains a LOT of technical jargon, and makes sure to list the model number of each and every gun or ammunition or plane used. Other than that, I highly recommend it.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty standard Dale Brown thriller about a terrorist using non-military aircraft to attack the US. What I found particularly interesting was the similarity of some of the attacks to 9/11, though the book was written in 1994. The author's note at the beginning, dated 1994, describes the book as a work of fantasy, and "I hope it remains a fantasy."

[KateMoxie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to believe this was written well before 9/11.

As with another of his books that I read, I kept thinking my father (WWII pilot) would've loved Brown's details, but I found all the communications between cockpit & airport, etc. to be tiresome. Lost me with the scene of the bad guy whipping a dead man's heart - still attached to an artery - like a lasso.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written prior to 9/11 interestingly enough this book details a terrorist using aeroplanes to not only bomb but also crash into targets. A little ahead of it's time it seems.

It was a reasonable tale, however the pace of the novel does stumble 1/4-1/3 of the way in after the initial action with a bit of a detour with the terrorist taking advice from a astrologer and a few other tidbits that didn't really flow well into the story's narrative in my opinion. This little hiccup however once passed is forgotten as the book resumes the action and the forces of good attempt to tackle the forces of, well, terrorism.

I wouldn't say it is Brown's best work but it was still a pretty solid and entertaining book.

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 1 out of 5]

399 pages

[Donn Lorber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dale Brown does intricate detail on military operations and hardware that is not present in most plots. The plot line of terror in the USA is current and unpredictable.. well done

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent action filled book.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

America is always right

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excitement that has appeared in all of Mr Browns books.

[Joe Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great military book.

[Andrew Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Shane Jaworski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Dale Brown and his work but this book is not good. There are way too many holes in the book. The way the bad guys are able to escape the inept government at every turn is aggravating. Also, midway through the book, the main terrorist discovers that he is the sword of Satan from a tarot reading women. What is that whole section book about? Totally out of place in military thriller. The story is interesting, but the book didn't flow like most of Dale Brown's book and the many holes insult the reader's intelligence. Overall I give 2 stars because of the interesting story, but not one of Dale Brown's best works.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

If following a psychotic terrorist around the U.S. blowing up airports and continually miraculously escaping capture then this is the book for you. I enjoy an occasional espionage thriller, but this one bordered upon everything but reality. There was so much action and unrealism that it became mundane and boring. There could be much more editorial on the action in this book, but I feel that I would be describing a video game.

[Justin Katz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just far too much Military jargon in this book. I honestly think it might have been 150 pages shorter had Brown left out all the procedures and processes. Had he done that though, he'd never have convinced you to read and see how all the little breakdowns and human error can snowball into the utter destruction in this story.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Series - Military fiction - The absence of an air-defense network on US soil prompts terrorist Henri Cazaux to use airliners covertly equipped with bombs in attacking many airports. When the danger goes national, Hammerheads protagonist Ian Hardcastle, now an admiral, is tasked with getting the network up and running to stop Cazaux's activities.

[Brett Tompkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. A bit slow in the beginning, setting the scene for the ending, but as it went on the pace picked up. Interesting that it was written before 9/11. A tad full of Brown's Air Force techno-babel, but I think that is what he is known for.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Dale Brown books. They are pure page-turners and I get to escape into a militaristic world where pretty much everyone's intentions are written on their sleeves. Not particularly complex, but enjoyable none-the-less.

I do prefer MacLanahan as the main character, though.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I started this audio book and quickly realized I had already listened to it, but thought maybe i just started it, so I fast forwarded and it was all familiar. oh well. I even remember being in an airport while listening to part of it, I wonder where I was going.

[Cws]

A Bro

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written pre 9/11, it tells of terrorists that use the idea of airplanes as bombs to attach the US. For a fun read it kept me turning pages fast and I couldn't put it down.

[Miguel · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok not Dale's best

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The panic reaches all the way to the White House" says the blurb. Yeah, right...

[Toesnorth's mom]

stupid and boring

[Shugga]

The book I read was Storming Heaven by Kyle Mills, not Dale Brown. I enjoyed the suspense of this novel. A good read.

[Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written pre-9/11 so scary how close it is.

[Laurie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed a bit like a Tom Clancy book with lots of details about the air force and planes. The story was very exciting at times.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the story and the pace of this book lot. look forward to read more of.brown's book when I get a chance.

[Ice 9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, sex and violence. Not really what I go about reading for, but I get he point. I mean I didn't hate it and I didn't love it.

[Brian Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action thriller

[Roland · Rating 2 out of 5]

too long