What do you think?
Rate this book
Dan Lenson #18
Deep War: The War with China and North Korea—The Nuclear Precipice
The war against China turns dire, as the United States struggles to survive in this gripping thriller featuring Navy commander Dan Lenson
After the United States suffers a devastating nuclear attack, and facing food shortages, power outages, cyber and AI assaults, and a wrecked economy, Admiral Dan Lenson leads an allied force assigned to turn the tide of war in the Pacific, using precisely targeted missiles and high-tech weapons systems.
But as the campaign begins, the entire Allied military and defense network is compromised—even controlled—by Jade Emperor, a powerful Chinese artificial intelligence system that seems to anticipate and counter every move. While Dan strives to salvage the battle plan, his wife Blair helps coordinate strategy in Washington, DC, Marine sergeant Hector Ramos fights in an invasion of Taiwan, and Navy SEAL master chief Teddy Oberg begins a desperate journey into central China on a mission that may be the only way to save the United States from destruction and defeat.
Thrilling, filled with near-future technology, and deeply grounded in the human cost of war, David Poyer's Deep War is a brilliant novel by an acknowledged master of military fiction.
After the United States suffers a devastating nuclear attack, and facing food shortages, power outages, cyber and AI assaults, and a wrecked economy, Admiral Dan Lenson leads an allied force assigned to turn the tide of war in the Pacific, using precisely targeted missiles and high-tech weapons systems.
But as the campaign begins, the entire Allied military and defense network is compromised—even controlled—by Jade Emperor, a powerful Chinese artificial intelligence system that seems to anticipate and counter every move. While Dan strives to salvage the battle plan, his wife Blair helps coordinate strategy in Washington, DC, Marine sergeant Hector Ramos fights in an invasion of Taiwan, and Navy SEAL master chief Teddy Oberg begins a desperate journey into central China on a mission that may be the only way to save the United States from destruction and defeat.
Thrilling, filled with near-future technology, and deeply grounded in the human cost of war, David Poyer's Deep War is a brilliant novel by an acknowledged master of military fiction.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2018
270 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
David Poyer
82 books240 followersAka D.C. Poyer.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 20, 2019
So many high ratings ... I do not understand it. As a reader of all 18 Lenson novels and great fan of Poyer, this one tarnished the series. The book lacked flow and was disjointed with too much jumping between the characters and subplots, most of which occurred without relationship to one other. The land battle scenes were highly forced, with supermen rather than believable characters. Additionally, the land battle scenes might be appropriate for 2050, but at his point were pure science fiction. Miniaturation, yes, but really, giant mechanical robots a la Star wars? No, not worthy. Lastly, Lenson, the character after which the series is named, only receives brief airtime, and hardly any description is provided as to how he survives his predicament at sea.
Captain Poyer, you can do better.
Captain Poyer, you can do better.
April 22, 2021
This is book 3 of 5 on the war with China. China uses another nuclear strike in the Pacific war. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that the book goes 120 pages in the 2nd half without mention of Dan Lenson, the main character of Poyer's long series on Lenson's career. A number of new weapons are introduced, including robotic soldiers.
February 3, 2019
Is Poyer trying to establish additional characters for a spinoff? Because Dan Lenson has, possibly, less airtime in this novel than his wife, never mind a set of ground-pounding Marines. Though the plot isn’t horrible, there are perhaps five pages of ship command in the entire book. It could be any war techno-thriller—the Naval aspect has submerged.
December 3, 2018
Deep War is a war where everything is at stake—think the Somme or Stalingrad.
China has intervened in a skirmish between India and Pakistan. When the United States sent in a carrier battle group, China destroyed it with a nuclear bomb—killing all 10,000 people aboard.
It’s now year two of the war. In the US, the first and second amendments have been suspended as well as habeas corpus. A full draft has begun that includes woman for the first time. Due to Chinese hackers, only face-to-face and paper communications can be trusted. The US is seriously considering a confined nuclear solution. Later, China unleashes a new tech solution—an artificial intelligence called Jade Emperor that anticipates every move made by China’s enemies and how to counter them. There is also a renegade Navy Seal recruiting and training homegrown troops to infiltrate China on the CIAs behest.
Deep War is the 18th entry in the Dan Lenson series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. It has something for everyone: military strategy, politics, and low and high tech solutions to war. This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy military fiction but also those who like tech will enjoy it. It is scarily true to life. 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
China has intervened in a skirmish between India and Pakistan. When the United States sent in a carrier battle group, China destroyed it with a nuclear bomb—killing all 10,000 people aboard.
It’s now year two of the war. In the US, the first and second amendments have been suspended as well as habeas corpus. A full draft has begun that includes woman for the first time. Due to Chinese hackers, only face-to-face and paper communications can be trusted. The US is seriously considering a confined nuclear solution. Later, China unleashes a new tech solution—an artificial intelligence called Jade Emperor that anticipates every move made by China’s enemies and how to counter them. There is also a renegade Navy Seal recruiting and training homegrown troops to infiltrate China on the CIAs behest.
Deep War is the 18th entry in the Dan Lenson series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. It has something for everyone: military strategy, politics, and low and high tech solutions to war. This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy military fiction but also those who like tech will enjoy it. It is scarily true to life. 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2019
This was NOT on par with the rest of David Poyer's work. David Poyers book work so well because they have been grounded in modern day reality. Deep War appears to be a departure into the "futuristic" This is the first Dan Lenson book that actually bored me at some points.....but I guess this format of breaking up a good eight hundred page book into 3 or 4 half-ass ones is working out well for the publisher.......
August 28, 2019
I’m still being pleasantly surprised by the quality of Poyer’s writing. This book continues his account of an American/Chinese war in the Pacific. A Chinese AI program is the main focus, but there are still naval and land battles occurring as well as the limited use of nukes.
August 13, 2018
Thanks to Saint Martin’s Press for the Advance Reader Copy of DAVID POYER’s 18th book in his series about U.S. Naval Officer Dan Lenson, entitled “DEEP WAR”. It is also the fifth book in the subseries The War with China and North Korea (what did Poyer know that the rest of us did not know?). I have read other earlier books in the Dan Lenson saga and was thrilled to get this early peek at this book arriving in December 2018.
The war is primarily being fought in cyber space. The American economy is on the verge of collapsing. Military hardware and personnel replacements are virtually nonexistent. Communications are nearly impossible. All of this is due to the “Jade Emperor” China’s highly efficient computer network.
As the story opens, Lenson is a Rear Admiral in charge of a task force and is based on the cruiser Savo Island. The task force is embroiled in an attack on Ningbo Island in the East China Sea. The ship is under the command of Commander Cheryl Staurulakis. Its primary mission had been to soften up the defenses of the island before a carrier plane attack. Whoops! That scenario did not work. When the Chinese sent waves of planes to counterattack, Savo Island was ordered to act as an electronic decoy. Unfortunately that did work, too well. Savo Island is badly damaged. Lenson boards a helicopter in order to shift his base of operation to another ship. His trip goes haywire and, along with two others, Lenson is now M.I.A.
Another avenue the story takes is a mission deep in the Karakoram Mountains on the border of Pakistan, India and China, Master Chief Teddy Oberg (and Navy SEAL) is leading a ragtag group of native forces on raids against China. He is operating with support from the C.I.A. His handler gives him a secret, and probably suicidal, mission deep in China.
Lenson’s wife, Blair Titus, works as Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Forces in Washington, D.C. Her family has been involved in government activities since 1831. She is worried about Dan’s disappearance but has a job to do. While on diplomatic mission to Ireland, Blair meets clandestinely with a member of the Chinese delegation who may or may not be a member of an opposition group in China who may or may not be offering an olive branch of peace.
I could not put this book down and my meal schedule suffered mightily. I believe that if you are a fan of military fiction that you will be caught up from page 1, as I was. I have not read the previous four books in this subset but the author uses his literary talents to bring the reader up to date. I found that to most helpful.
GO! BUY! READ!
The war is primarily being fought in cyber space. The American economy is on the verge of collapsing. Military hardware and personnel replacements are virtually nonexistent. Communications are nearly impossible. All of this is due to the “Jade Emperor” China’s highly efficient computer network.
As the story opens, Lenson is a Rear Admiral in charge of a task force and is based on the cruiser Savo Island. The task force is embroiled in an attack on Ningbo Island in the East China Sea. The ship is under the command of Commander Cheryl Staurulakis. Its primary mission had been to soften up the defenses of the island before a carrier plane attack. Whoops! That scenario did not work. When the Chinese sent waves of planes to counterattack, Savo Island was ordered to act as an electronic decoy. Unfortunately that did work, too well. Savo Island is badly damaged. Lenson boards a helicopter in order to shift his base of operation to another ship. His trip goes haywire and, along with two others, Lenson is now M.I.A.
Another avenue the story takes is a mission deep in the Karakoram Mountains on the border of Pakistan, India and China, Master Chief Teddy Oberg (and Navy SEAL) is leading a ragtag group of native forces on raids against China. He is operating with support from the C.I.A. His handler gives him a secret, and probably suicidal, mission deep in China.
Lenson’s wife, Blair Titus, works as Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Forces in Washington, D.C. Her family has been involved in government activities since 1831. She is worried about Dan’s disappearance but has a job to do. While on diplomatic mission to Ireland, Blair meets clandestinely with a member of the Chinese delegation who may or may not be a member of an opposition group in China who may or may not be offering an olive branch of peace.
I could not put this book down and my meal schedule suffered mightily. I believe that if you are a fan of military fiction that you will be caught up from page 1, as I was. I have not read the previous four books in this subset but the author uses his literary talents to bring the reader up to date. I found that to most helpful.
GO! BUY! READ!
November 27, 2018
“Deep War” is the latest book in David Poyer’s “The War with China” series. This book follows five principal characters during the second year of this imagined war. Poyer’s books prior to this China series followed the career of Dan Lenson, an American naval officer, through the crises in many of the world’s trouble spots. This series, however, looks forward to what a war with China might look like in the near future.
The principal characters include Lenson himself in his role as high-ranking naval officer; Lenson’s wife as an expert in policy and military matters in the government; a female captain of an advanced naval vessel; a former SEAL who becomes involved with a band of rebels; and, a Marine Sargent. Poyer takes us through naval engagements involving characters we have been following throughout this series; military, diplomatic, and policy decisions involving political, technical, and military personnel; ground war involving Marine units; and insurrections by China’s enemies at home.
Poyer’s narrative skills are evident here as elsewhere in this series: He creates three-dimensional characters that we learn to care about, independent from their lives and roles in the military or government. Poyer does a marvelous job in explaining to us, the lay reader, complex military and technical matters regarding weaponry and fighting ships. Furthermore, Poyer extends current military equipment and techniques into the near future and attempts to present both the opportunities and pitfalls of the new technology.
Finally, Poyer describes for us the roles women are increasingly playing in modern warfare. He helps us understand the strengths they bring to the jobs and the special challenges they face in these circumstances of warfare. He does not treat them as a glamorous appendage to the stories, but as integral parts of the teams to which they are assigned and the expertise they bring to their positions.
I strongly recommend the entire series and this book in particular
The principal characters include Lenson himself in his role as high-ranking naval officer; Lenson’s wife as an expert in policy and military matters in the government; a female captain of an advanced naval vessel; a former SEAL who becomes involved with a band of rebels; and, a Marine Sargent. Poyer takes us through naval engagements involving characters we have been following throughout this series; military, diplomatic, and policy decisions involving political, technical, and military personnel; ground war involving Marine units; and insurrections by China’s enemies at home.
Poyer’s narrative skills are evident here as elsewhere in this series: He creates three-dimensional characters that we learn to care about, independent from their lives and roles in the military or government. Poyer does a marvelous job in explaining to us, the lay reader, complex military and technical matters regarding weaponry and fighting ships. Furthermore, Poyer extends current military equipment and techniques into the near future and attempts to present both the opportunities and pitfalls of the new technology.
Finally, Poyer describes for us the roles women are increasingly playing in modern warfare. He helps us understand the strengths they bring to the jobs and the special challenges they face in these circumstances of warfare. He does not treat them as a glamorous appendage to the stories, but as integral parts of the teams to which they are assigned and the expertise they bring to their positions.
I strongly recommend the entire series and this book in particular
February 3, 2019
"Deep War" eBook was published in 2018 and was written by David Poyer (http://www.davidpoyer.com/home.html). Mr. Poyer has published more than 35 novels. This is the 18th in his "Dan Lenson" series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in the near future. The US and its allies are at war with China. The primary character is Admiral Dan Lenson, but his wife Blair, Marine sergeant Hector Ramos, and Navy SEAL Master Chief Teddy Oberg all play significant roles.
China has made a devastating nuclear attack against US naval forces. In the US there are beginning to be food shortages and power disruptions. Military and the private sector face various Chinese directed cyber and AI assaults. The US economy is being significantly affected.
A US Naval force makes an attack on China, but it is mostly ineffective due to previously unknown Chinese penetration of military systems. The Chinese Cyber efforts are being directed by Jade Emperor, a powerful AI system. It is out thinking US efforts at every turn. It seems that without taking Jade Emperor out of the war, the US has little hope.
Oberg is behind enemy lines and organizing a guerilla military effort to harras the Chinese. He is sent on a very risky mission with his forces to attack a remote facility in the desert. He hopes that whatever they are attacking will be worth the losses he anticipates.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 292-page thriller. It was a little hard jumping into the middle of such a long-running series, but this novel read pretty well on its own. The way the story is left, there will definitely be another novel in the series. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in the near future. The US and its allies are at war with China. The primary character is Admiral Dan Lenson, but his wife Blair, Marine sergeant Hector Ramos, and Navy SEAL Master Chief Teddy Oberg all play significant roles.
China has made a devastating nuclear attack against US naval forces. In the US there are beginning to be food shortages and power disruptions. Military and the private sector face various Chinese directed cyber and AI assaults. The US economy is being significantly affected.
A US Naval force makes an attack on China, but it is mostly ineffective due to previously unknown Chinese penetration of military systems. The Chinese Cyber efforts are being directed by Jade Emperor, a powerful AI system. It is out thinking US efforts at every turn. It seems that without taking Jade Emperor out of the war, the US has little hope.
Oberg is behind enemy lines and organizing a guerilla military effort to harras the Chinese. He is sent on a very risky mission with his forces to attack a remote facility in the desert. He hopes that whatever they are attacking will be worth the losses he anticipates.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 292-page thriller. It was a little hard jumping into the middle of such a long-running series, but this novel read pretty well on its own. The way the story is left, there will definitely be another novel in the series. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
February 17, 2024
This is the Empire Strikes Back of the series as the Americans are basically on the ropes as the war goes worse and worse for them. Another page turner and readers get a closer look at some elements that were only rumours in the previous novels. Lenson doesn't have much too do but the other arcs are good enough to carry the novel without him angstying up the place. However, with the possible exception of Lenson's wife, the character arcs are incredibly dark by this point .
A lot of readers seem to be upset with how the technology has advanced during the course of the war, despite that being a feature of the last two world wars. I thought the new tech was very cool and seemed like a more plausible version of some of Yoji Shinkawa's designs in the Metal Gear Solid games. Diplomatic relationships between all the major and minor powers and American society itself have also radically changed by this point. It seems like the antithesis of Tom Clancy novels where major world changing events fail to ever change the status quo.
A lot of readers seem to be upset with how the technology has advanced during the course of the war, despite that being a feature of the last two world wars. I thought the new tech was very cool and seemed like a more plausible version of some of Yoji Shinkawa's designs in the Metal Gear Solid games. Diplomatic relationships between all the major and minor powers and American society itself have also radically changed by this point. It seems like the antithesis of Tom Clancy novels where major world changing events fail to ever change the status quo.
April 30, 2019
The war itself is not going well for the United States and its few allies. The U.S. is clearly losing the Cyber-war with China. Utilities and manufacturing have crashed. Credit cards have become invalidated, Wall Street has lost all its records and ordinary people cannot afford to buy petrol. Detainment camps have been set up for ethnically undesirables. Where have we heard this before? Demonstrations and anti-war factions are gaining traction and martial law is ruling in most urban areas. Politically, the war is barely sustainable, yet the top elected officials are becoming increasingly hawkish. International negotiation is at a standstill, and any good will or trust in a political solution seems doomed. Logistical discussions and mass destruction options are in play: any day now we are about to start swapping nuclear strikes with an enemy. Rumors of biological warfare and unstoppable plagues run rampant in some parts of the world.
How will this all play out? David Poyer presents us with a war scenario that is all too believable, and explores how this might unfold. In the second of (how many?) books on this war, many of the characters introduced in the first book are further immersed in the trauma of war, each from their own perspective. We get first-hand views of senior politicians, front-line grunts, captured American SEALs, upper-echelon military leaders and the indestructable-but-cursed Dan Lenson, as usual -- in the thick of flying ordinance.
While the novel is overly burdened with the challenge of maintaining and progressing all of these threads, the overall story is quite compelling. I'm looking forward to the next book to see how Mr. Poyer resolves all these story lines.
How will this all play out? David Poyer presents us with a war scenario that is all too believable, and explores how this might unfold. In the second of (how many?) books on this war, many of the characters introduced in the first book are further immersed in the trauma of war, each from their own perspective. We get first-hand views of senior politicians, front-line grunts, captured American SEALs, upper-echelon military leaders and the indestructable-but-cursed Dan Lenson, as usual -- in the thick of flying ordinance.
While the novel is overly burdened with the challenge of maintaining and progressing all of these threads, the overall story is quite compelling. I'm looking forward to the next book to see how Mr. Poyer resolves all these story lines.
July 10, 2019
First thing, this is NOT my genre. Picked it as a blind, covered, first sentence only, library pick. I thought maybe I would get a cool chick Viking warrior book. Not so much.
I got a Navy book in the middle of WWIII. It also seems to be mid-series, or maybe just recurring characters.
It was very wordy. The author clearly loves to talk about tech and war machines. He goes on and on and on about them. Also acronyms. Lots of them.
The change of voice/scenery after every chapter was disorienting. It felt harsh, instead of a smooth transition, and skewed my sense of time. It also made me feel like I should know who these characters are. There was no to little character development.
All that being said, I can see people liking these books. Like I said, not my genre, and I feel like I got dropped into the middle of the story, and I think that’s sort of why I didn’t quite gel with it.
Just not my jam.
I got a Navy book in the middle of WWIII. It also seems to be mid-series, or maybe just recurring characters.
It was very wordy. The author clearly loves to talk about tech and war machines. He goes on and on and on about them. Also acronyms. Lots of them.
The change of voice/scenery after every chapter was disorienting. It felt harsh, instead of a smooth transition, and skewed my sense of time. It also made me feel like I should know who these characters are. There was no to little character development.
All that being said, I can see people liking these books. Like I said, not my genre, and I feel like I got dropped into the middle of the story, and I think that’s sort of why I didn’t quite gel with it.
Just not my jam.
February 17, 2022
The war between China and the United States intensified in the novel "Deep War." Dan Lenson's promotion to Rear Admiral Lower Half was short-lived; he's back to his previous rank of captain. However, Lenson is still a valuable asset. He's a key figure in strategy development to better combat the Chinese offensive. SEAL operator Teddy Oberg hooks up with Muslim rebels to raid a high-value Chinese installation. Now a Marine Corps sergeant, Hector Ramos works with troops in training and combat. Ramos and his unit take part in a brutal and bloody invasion of Taiwan. David Poyer once again weaves an engaging and entertaining narrative. His description of Marines battling the enemy is fierce and graphic. The beleaguered United States and its allies work to gain the upper hand, as the war continues in "Overthrow," the next book in the story arc.
August 25, 2019
If i was asked to describe this book in one word....WEAK. Having been a long time Dan Lenson follower, it's almost embarrassing how this series has fallen. Book 17 was too long and 18 was too short. Too much futuristic whiz-bang crap and not enough Dan Lenson. Mr Poyer may or may not even be writing the Lenson series at this point. If he is, he's clearly lost interest and that saddens a follower like myself. For any folks thinking of starting this series with any 'current' adventures of Dan Lenson, please, go back towards the earlier books. You will not be disappointed. I'll probably read book 19 (Overthrow) when it ultimately arrives at the library, but thats merely because I'd like to see how the Lenson saga ends.
January 27, 2020
Wow, it is hard to describe my impression and feelings about this installment of the series. I really like the Dan Lenson novels, otherwise I wouldn't have read all of them. This book is well written and fits in the series, it just wasn't as much fun, not as enjoyable to read for me.
It occurred to me somewhere around mid-story that this book is like watching your absolute favorite football team in a playoff game and play after play they are getting beat. They can't even get a first down. It becomes increasingly obvious that this isn't going to end well and it is torturous to continue watching.
And then, with 5 minutes remaining in the game, your team gets the ball and everything comes to a complete stop with an announcement - to be continued in the next book.
It occurred to me somewhere around mid-story that this book is like watching your absolute favorite football team in a playoff game and play after play they are getting beat. They can't even get a first down. It becomes increasingly obvious that this isn't going to end well and it is torturous to continue watching.
And then, with 5 minutes remaining in the game, your team gets the ball and everything comes to a complete stop with an announcement - to be continued in the next book.
December 7, 2018
Intrigue and mystery
The author writes a story so complying that you want to rush to the ending only to want more. Every step in the action is fully charged and detailed that you feel like you are part of the action. Every character links to a piece of the whole series making you route for the person and worry that something bad will befall them.
Looking forward to the next segment of the story and having read the series since the first book love the main character for always doing his best for the mission and troops working with him.
The author writes a story so complying that you want to rush to the ending only to want more. Every step in the action is fully charged and detailed that you feel like you are part of the action. Every character links to a piece of the whole series making you route for the person and worry that something bad will befall them.
Looking forward to the next segment of the story and having read the series since the first book love the main character for always doing his best for the mission and troops working with him.
October 4, 2019
This is the first Poyer book I have read. Since it is the 18th of a series, I felt like I had just jumped into the middle of a story, but it was engaging and I quickly found myself liking the characters and enjoying the story. It follows a number of different characters and jumps around a bit, but I tells a good story. It turns out to be the first of two books (I believe that Overthrow is the sequel to Deep War). Deep War begins in the midst of a major war between the US and China. The war is not going well for either side, and the impact of the war on the US is a rather dystopian one.
June 29, 2023
Excellent. If you like wartime stories, this book has it all - naval battles, land battles, special operations, etc. The fictitious war between nuclear powers China and the United States is taking place on various fronts and we see all the action through the eyes and experiences of the principal players the author has established for this very purpose. It's at once exciting and gruesome, as each side has its ups and downs, and each side needs to decide when and if to utilize their nuclear arsenal.
January 7, 2019
The war with China rages on and nuclear bombs are used in Hawaii. The plot moves at a fast pace covering many fronts. At long last there finally seems some forward progress but like the prior in this series leaves and open end for the war to continue. A very enjoyable read for people who like adventure and technology solutions to war, very interesting developments here. Can't wait to read the next installment "Overthrow".
February 8, 2019
Ugh, this book is one of a couple I have read by this author, he has brilliant flashes of short stories in is books, but the majority of the book moves slow and switches gears without explanation. How does the scene go from a person in the mist of a plane crash, to sitting in a meeting with no discussion about what happened during the crash, what happened? Her husband goes from Admiral to Captain, how did that happen?
January 29, 2020
Picked up this series after an extended hiatus. David Poyer does not fail deliver. This book is well written, with plenty of action, great characters, and compelling character interaction. Moreover, this book does put forth some very interesting newer technologies, but the author has not fallen into the trap so many others and manages to keep the advances from going past past advanced right into science fiction.
November 19, 2021
Well drawn characters and prescient plot
David Poyer is an exceptionally good writer and a head above the others in the future wars genre. His writing is both lyrical and energetic. Unfortunately he may be foretelling the Chinese dictatorship's future moves. Any government that is not accountable to the governed is a danger to all. Any country that waits until the wolf is at the door risks all.
David Poyer is an exceptionally good writer and a head above the others in the future wars genre. His writing is both lyrical and energetic. Unfortunately he may be foretelling the Chinese dictatorship's future moves. Any government that is not accountable to the governed is a danger to all. Any country that waits until the wolf is at the door risks all.
January 23, 2019
Fun read about the future fictionalized war between China, Pakistan and North Korea and USA, India, Vietnam, People, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. I enjoy reading these fictionalized accounts of wars. Poyer
writes well.
writes well.
February 1, 2019
I enjoyed the book. It is interesting that though Mr. Poyer has a naval background, the gripping parts of the novel are infantry/land based. I will certainly purchase the next one to follow along with the ground pounders.
April 20, 2019
I never really loved the book but I also kept reading it so it must be doing something right. I’ll give the series an author another chance but likely via library not purchase. Good if you like Coonts or military fiction like Clancy does.
April 28, 2019
Of all of the David Poyer Boos I have read so far I think I enjoyed this one the most. My only complaint is when a novel ends without finihing. e.g. the China War will continue in "Overthrow." In other words I enjoy series, I am not quite as excited about "serials."
December 24, 2019
It has been my personal opinion the U.S. will eventually be at war with China. The Western World abused Chinese sovereignty when she was weak and now she wants payback. How would a war with China play out? Deep War is, in my opinion, how the war would go.
May 6, 2020
Big fan of this series. This one took turns that I wasn't expecting. It really jumped ahead in time. Seeing the impact of the war being so long was a spin I wasn't expecting. The cyber aspect and the technology jumps were also very interesting to me. I'll keep reading.
August 20, 2023
The war continues once again we see the U.S. will not give up on computer warfare. Instead of going back to old guns and men we use robots which can be taken over by the enemy. A sure way to lose a war.
April 23, 2025
the excitement continued
Poyer's characters continue to evolve and defend the free world in another action packed episode of this series. Not just our old friend Dan and his circle but others too. Recommended.
Poyer's characters continue to evolve and defend the free world in another action packed episode of this series. Not just our old friend Dan and his circle but others too. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews