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The Red Line
WWIII explodes in this electrifying debut military thriller in the tradition of Red Storm Rising and The Third World War.
Delta-Two, I ve got tanks through the wire! They re everywhere!
World War III explodes in seconds when a resurgent Russian Federation launches a deadly armored thrust into the heart of Germany. With a powerful blizzard providing cover, Russian tanks thunder down the autobahns while specially trained Spetsnaz teams strike at vulnerable command points.
Standing against them are the woefully undermanned American forces. What they lack in numbers they make up for in superior weapons and training. But before the sun rises they are on the run across a smoking battlefield crowded with corpses.
Any slim hope for victory rests with one unlikely hero. Army Staff Sergeant George O'Neill, a communications specialist, may be able to reestablish links that have been severed by hostile forces, but that will take time. While he works, it s up to hundreds of individual American soldiers to hold back the enemy flood.
There s one thing that s certain. The thin line between victory and defeat is also the
red line between life and death."
17 hrs 32 mins
Delta-Two, I ve got tanks through the wire! They re everywhere!
World War III explodes in seconds when a resurgent Russian Federation launches a deadly armored thrust into the heart of Germany. With a powerful blizzard providing cover, Russian tanks thunder down the autobahns while specially trained Spetsnaz teams strike at vulnerable command points.
Standing against them are the woefully undermanned American forces. What they lack in numbers they make up for in superior weapons and training. But before the sun rises they are on the run across a smoking battlefield crowded with corpses.
Any slim hope for victory rests with one unlikely hero. Army Staff Sergeant George O'Neill, a communications specialist, may be able to reestablish links that have been severed by hostile forces, but that will take time. While he works, it s up to hundreds of individual American soldiers to hold back the enemy flood.
There s one thing that s certain. The thin line between victory and defeat is also the
red line between life and death."
17 hrs 32 mins
Audiobook
Published May 2, 2017
160 people are currently reading
1067 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 15, 2018
I'm a fan of history, military history is a primary interest in some ways. I suppose that isn't surprising when I think on it as I also like military fiction, military science fiction, military fantasy and so on. These books can raise very interesting questions as well as simply being fascinating plot-wise.
I call this alternate history, we all hope it is...alternate that is. This book takes place now or in the not too distant future. A "new" Russian Premiere has begun to expand Russia back into it's Soviet Union (Empire) status. You'll need to read the book to get the story. if I try to give a short version here I'll not do it justice.
In short then the war that "we" spent all of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s preparing for happens...when we're not so ready for it.
This is not a lighthearted book. Neither is there an extensive amount of angst, but there is some. There is tragedy, pain and depression. The plot is very well done as you can follow the escalation of hostilities and see how things could easily escalate to a population annihilating nuclear exchange.
IF you are interested in geopolitical thrillers, techno thrillers, military thrillers etc, then try this one. I don't suppose it's proper say it's "enjoyable" but it is well done and interesting. Recommended.
I call this alternate history, we all hope it is...alternate that is. This book takes place now or in the not too distant future. A "new" Russian Premiere has begun to expand Russia back into it's Soviet Union (Empire) status. You'll need to read the book to get the story. if I try to give a short version here I'll not do it justice.
In short then the war that "we" spent all of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s preparing for happens...when we're not so ready for it.
This is not a lighthearted book. Neither is there an extensive amount of angst, but there is some. There is tragedy, pain and depression. The plot is very well done as you can follow the escalation of hostilities and see how things could easily escalate to a population annihilating nuclear exchange.
IF you are interested in geopolitical thrillers, techno thrillers, military thrillers etc, then try this one. I don't suppose it's proper say it's "enjoyable" but it is well done and interesting. Recommended.
April 22, 2021
Read this in less than two days. It was that good.
I will get the one thing that really bugged me about the book out of the way first. The author, who was in the military, insisted on calling "magazines", "clips". Now to some of you that, may sound petty or just dumb. When an author goes to great lengths to describe tanks, air defense radar, and building characters up yet drops the ball entirely on something that simple, it just seems lazy or willfully ignorant. What really got me was that he was in the military. Don't remember the last time I heard anyone in the military call them clips.
Okay, bad part out of the way.
The book moved really well, didn't get bogged down with long drawn out battle scenes or unneeded dialog. The characters were well developed and I found myself actually wanting some to make it to the end of the book. Some do, some don't. It's a book about war, people die.
Aside from my minor irritation stated at the beginning of this review, the author seemed to have done his research. The strategies of the Russians seemed well thought out, and realistic for the most part. There were a few parts that I sort of wondered about, they didn't hurt the story at all though.
As much as I enjoyed reading it, the ending was good too. I sort of wonder if he hadn't watched a certain movie or had it in mind when writing the ending. Some of you will get the one I am referring to after reading the book. Unlike many authors, this one didn't seem to think he had to drag out the book, he knew there was going to be an end. It also didn't seem like he ran out of interest in writing to book and just cut it short. I am sure you have read books like that. All of a sudden things are over. The books that make you wonder if you didn't get some pages with the book when you bought it. That kind of thing. This author did a nice job of tying things up, and didn't just blow everyone up or anything like that.
Over all it was a good book and I look forward to reading more of his work.
I will get the one thing that really bugged me about the book out of the way first. The author, who was in the military, insisted on calling "magazines", "clips". Now to some of you that, may sound petty or just dumb. When an author goes to great lengths to describe tanks, air defense radar, and building characters up yet drops the ball entirely on something that simple, it just seems lazy or willfully ignorant. What really got me was that he was in the military. Don't remember the last time I heard anyone in the military call them clips.
Okay, bad part out of the way.
The book moved really well, didn't get bogged down with long drawn out battle scenes or unneeded dialog. The characters were well developed and I found myself actually wanting some to make it to the end of the book. Some do, some don't. It's a book about war, people die.
Aside from my minor irritation stated at the beginning of this review, the author seemed to have done his research. The strategies of the Russians seemed well thought out, and realistic for the most part. There were a few parts that I sort of wondered about, they didn't hurt the story at all though.
As much as I enjoyed reading it, the ending was good too. I sort of wonder if he hadn't watched a certain movie or had it in mind when writing the ending. Some of you will get the one I am referring to after reading the book. Unlike many authors, this one didn't seem to think he had to drag out the book, he knew there was going to be an end. It also didn't seem like he ran out of interest in writing to book and just cut it short. I am sure you have read books like that. All of a sudden things are over. The books that make you wonder if you didn't get some pages with the book when you bought it. That kind of thing. This author did a nice job of tying things up, and didn't just blow everyone up or anything like that.
Over all it was a good book and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Want to read
February 11, 2017PW Starred: Set in the near future, Gragg’s impeccably researched, riveting first novel pits a revived Soviet Union against NATO. Russia’s brutal dictator, Comrade Cheninko, has built on a resurgence of power begun under Vladimir Putin and reconstituted the Warsaw Pact. A new cold war is about to become a hot one. Cheninko’s top general, Valexi Yovanovich, has developed a brilliant plan to deceive the enemy and conquer Germany in a mere five days. An extensive cast of well-drawn men and women on both the American and Russian sides provides a personal dimension to the big-picture view of the clash of massive armies. Gragg, a Vietnam War veteran who served at the United States European Headquarters in Germany, gives readers a horrifying look at the devastation of modern warfare from the smallest, most painful details to the frighteningly plausible global scenarios that could result in the death and devastation of a significant portion of our planet. This is must reading for any military action fan. Nearly every page reeks of the smoke of battle and the stench of death. Agent: Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency. (May)
May 9, 2017
"The Red Line" spreads before the reader a deeply descriptive and disturbing account of the terrifying and heart wrenching horrors of war between the two greatest superpowers on the planet. The plot will drag you mercilessly along the bitter cold of a winter battle as you breathlessly await the fate of your new favorite characters who in the end are ordinary people who want ordinary things but are swept away in the course of world events. Walt Gragg has put a lifetime of experience, humanity, and observation into this unforgettable novel. I'll not give away the plot points nor the unexpected ending. Those are treasures for you to discover. You'll cheer and sometimes mourn for the fascinating characters Walt brings to life.
June 19, 2017
Very good! Almost declared another book hangover. The battle descriptions and tech was very good and spot on. Some chapters were very emotional and choked you up. Good writing. A page turner. That's two books out of the last three I read that were excellent and one crappy one. Good odds.
May 24, 2017
So, let's say that Russia goes Soviet and Germany goes Nazi today. Walt Gragg has written a chilling novel of what that might mean and it is not pretty. I had been looking for a good what if and heard about this on the John Batchelor show when John interviewed Walt.
Suffice it to say that this is a cracking good read. I had to try and finish it as quickly as I could. I'm not going to reveal anything, but just know that people die and not just a few. The U.S. and NATO are not prepared to deal with events on the ground just as they were not completely during the First Cold War. Political and cultural events today are far quicker at changing than they used to be and we don't have the experience, preparation, and pragmatism we used to have to keep the sides in check.
Lots of characters that drew me into their situations and lives all in the middle of a firestorm.
Go find this book and read it immediately. Share it with your friends. I'm thinking about listening to the audio version next.
Suffice it to say that this is a cracking good read. I had to try and finish it as quickly as I could. I'm not going to reveal anything, but just know that people die and not just a few. The U.S. and NATO are not prepared to deal with events on the ground just as they were not completely during the First Cold War. Political and cultural events today are far quicker at changing than they used to be and we don't have the experience, preparation, and pragmatism we used to have to keep the sides in check.
Lots of characters that drew me into their situations and lives all in the middle of a firestorm.
Go find this book and read it immediately. Share it with your friends. I'm thinking about listening to the audio version next.
May 27, 2017
I received an advanced copy through Goodreads and certainly glad I did! Much research and in-depth, forehand knowledge went into the writing of this fictional War that begins not in the Mideast but in Germany when Russia, under a maniacal leader, decides to "take back" Germany and in the process resorts to nuclear and chemical weapons with devastating results. Mr. Gregg has created a documentary type of tale with many characters in various states and stages of the conflict. Chronicled in a way that in each chapter you feel you are reading a newspaper account of the War. It is obvious that Mr. Gregg is writing from experience as well as privy information concerning the U.S. strength of position (or lack of) in Europe. Well done.
December 10, 2016
The world needs to read this book! Years ago I read an early draft of this book and have been haunted by the most stunning visual scenes - reminiscent of such epic novels as "Gone with the Wind" and "Dr. Zhivago." As the story unfolds we encounter unforgettable characters - heroically desperate, tragic, flawed - and stubbornly determined to overcome events they cannot control. This is a must read!
December 21, 2016
I read an advanced copy. It is a fast paced military thriller. The premise is a future invasion of Germany, across Nato lines by Russia. Offers very realistic atmosphere and characters. A Good Read.
May 2, 2017
**Review for an Advanced Copy** In the not-so-distant future, revolution has run rampant throughout Eastern Europe, and the result: Russia (under the dictatorship of a twisted Stalin-esque premiere) has reclaimed all former Soviet countries, magnifying its power, size of military, and wealth of influence from the Baltic to the Black Sea. And with the eyes of the double-headed eagle greedily searching for other "opportunities" for expansion, a fractured Western Europe and flaccid NATO nervously take the wait-and-see approach to dealing with the new "USSR".
Germany, the last stalwart centurion in Russia's path to breaching the west, fears the threat the Slavic giant poses to its nation's fabric. Out of this palpable fear of an East/West Germany split, a new Fuhrer arises by the name of Manfred Fromisch, a charismatic savior who promises unity and protection from all enemies. But Moscow will not stand for a potential Hitler in Berlin and plants revolutionaries within east Germany. However, Fromisch quashes these uprisings with his ruthless SS-type paramilitary forces. The Russian premiere, in blind fury, then demands a fool-proof plan for the strategic destruction of Germany and the death of Fromisch. At all cost, he says, the country must fall.
Thus, in the midst of a blizzarding January night, a sprinkling of frigid American soldiers posted along the German-Czech border find themselves facing over a hundred divisions' worth of charging Russian tanks and infantry in a bloody blitzkrieg played out amidst thick drifts of snow. World War III begins from this fateful moment with American and Russian lives needlessly sacrificed for the sake of one man's all-consuming agenda.
An action-packed thriller filled with unforgettable characters and cinematic descriptions, THE RED LINE provides a foreboding, grim look into the horrors of modern warfare and illustrates the devastation a full-blown military conflict between nuclear powers would inflict upon humanity and the world. A must-read for anyone who appreciates wide-scope, globetrotting war stories without the density of technical details.
Germany, the last stalwart centurion in Russia's path to breaching the west, fears the threat the Slavic giant poses to its nation's fabric. Out of this palpable fear of an East/West Germany split, a new Fuhrer arises by the name of Manfred Fromisch, a charismatic savior who promises unity and protection from all enemies. But Moscow will not stand for a potential Hitler in Berlin and plants revolutionaries within east Germany. However, Fromisch quashes these uprisings with his ruthless SS-type paramilitary forces. The Russian premiere, in blind fury, then demands a fool-proof plan for the strategic destruction of Germany and the death of Fromisch. At all cost, he says, the country must fall.
Thus, in the midst of a blizzarding January night, a sprinkling of frigid American soldiers posted along the German-Czech border find themselves facing over a hundred divisions' worth of charging Russian tanks and infantry in a bloody blitzkrieg played out amidst thick drifts of snow. World War III begins from this fateful moment with American and Russian lives needlessly sacrificed for the sake of one man's all-consuming agenda.
An action-packed thriller filled with unforgettable characters and cinematic descriptions, THE RED LINE provides a foreboding, grim look into the horrors of modern warfare and illustrates the devastation a full-blown military conflict between nuclear powers would inflict upon humanity and the world. A must-read for anyone who appreciates wide-scope, globetrotting war stories without the density of technical details.
November 23, 2016
Was able to read an advanced copy. Must read for fans of the military tech thriller. Set in the near future on the Russian German border, a very real world scenario of a potential border war that could lead to World War III.
Well written. Due for a spring release, order an advanced copy now.
Well written. Due for a spring release, order an advanced copy now.
May 2, 2017
The Red Line by Walt Gragg is the military thriller the world has been waiting for. While The Red Line is fiction, it's fascinating how much the storyline mirrors news headlines we see every day! Page after page, I found myself stunned by Walt Gragg's storytelling. This book has an exciting mix of fast paced suspense, engaging dialogue and colorful characters. Highly recommended!!
August 9, 2017
Loved the book. It is a must read. It's about world was three. Military. Incorporated but don't stop the people involved have feelings and you will become intertwined. I read the book in a day it's over five hundred pages. You won't put it down. Very good and intellectual. History buff you will like family of the. Service will enjoy. I can't say more. A great author.
July 30, 2017
An amazing new voice in military thrillers. This book grabs you by the throat and is nearly impossible to put down. The characters are vivid and unforgettable and take you their journeys right alongside them. This should be on the big screen. Fantastic debut!
July 26, 2017
One of the best fiction books I've ever read, but also one of the most depressing books I've ever read.
November 9, 2018
Vastly outnumbered American forces in a fighting retreat when 2 million Russian troops with 1500 tanks invade Germany. Strong military "what if" fiction about the ultimate death and destruction modern war can produce. Interesting but depressing!
September 12, 2017
I had high hopes for the book. I had read some of the reviews and found them to lead me to pick up a sample to check it out. The sample seemed decent and worth getting the book. Slightly after the beginning of chapter 18 I had to put the book down. I found myself becoming more and more frustrated because of the lack of knowledge or research into the military aspect. Basic searches on google can give you a better understanding of the current tactics employed as well as what units are in Germany. His discussion of communications made me cringe because they are so far from the mark. Not to mention the Rhine-Main Air Base no longer exists and hasn't since been open since December 30, 2005. Upon doing research on the author, I learned that he served in the Army during the Cold War. It is very evident it the tactics, sites, units, and technology that are portrayed in the novel that he used his experience from that time frame and did little to no research to find what may have changed. Great idea, awful execution.
May 3, 2017
A story with its beginnings pulled from the headlines of today and realistic events that could happen, The Red Line gives a scary look at a what if of the near future. First of all, I liked the book overall. The pacing was good, and the everything was well developed. However, for my own personal taste there was almost too much detail. I know the author intends to give a comprehensive covering of all the aspects of the what if scenario but I personally didn’t need to know the shot by shot coverage. That being said, it was done well and you could feel the tension in each scene. There is definite realism in the story. I like that we don’t get all sunshine and roses throughout the book. We do get realities of war even when it hurts, and that hurt is to the plus of the author’s talent. You feel the losses that take place. I would recommend this book to anyone that really gets into war stories and likes to feel the action.
August 24, 2018
Could not finish it was just that bad.
Got half way through chapter 19 and give up.
From the Russians launching all out attack’s with no artillery barrage, please. Plus the belief the Russians wouldn’t attack in winter. A bit of research please , they are the epitome of the winter soldier. No air Defense for 1000 tank column. Meant to be set in the near future and the T80 is the Russian main battle tank no that would be the T-14 Armata. No mention of Drones or cyber warfare. To the Russian characters being ruthless killers or just stupid order followers compared to the Americans being war Veteran concerned family men.
I would think the Russians would be concerned family men too.
I hate giving bad reviews. I just star rate it low and leave it there. But this is just lazy writing, too one sided and military hardware way out of date.
Got half way through chapter 19 and give up.
From the Russians launching all out attack’s with no artillery barrage, please. Plus the belief the Russians wouldn’t attack in winter. A bit of research please , they are the epitome of the winter soldier. No air Defense for 1000 tank column. Meant to be set in the near future and the T80 is the Russian main battle tank no that would be the T-14 Armata. No mention of Drones or cyber warfare. To the Russian characters being ruthless killers or just stupid order followers compared to the Americans being war Veteran concerned family men.
I would think the Russians would be concerned family men too.
I hate giving bad reviews. I just star rate it low and leave it there. But this is just lazy writing, too one sided and military hardware way out of date.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2019
I would like to have given this three NEGATIVE stars. I m clearly not the intended audience. The Army is all male (wives and kiddies shipped to safety just as WWIII breaks out) The President, Director of the CIA, the Secretary of Defense, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of staff, the Secretary of State, the ambassador to the Soviet Union, all the generals, all the "airmen," all the Soviets, all the German leaders are male. By page 150, I was excited to see the world being destroyed. Finally on page 196 Gragg graciously allows a single crew to have 23 women to work on computers--but it turns out a few pages later that they are both inept and "Nearly helpless." Page 205 was as far as I got. I get enough misogyny on the evening news.
February 20, 2018
Awful. Political build-up to the war is childish, and the resulting situation is absurd. The times of Red Storm Rising are indeed very very far. Could not even finish it, at a point I skipped to the end. On second thought, this book is a bad copy of RSR, without the naval side of the conflict.
May 10, 2017
If you liked Red Storm Rising, you will enjoy this book. It is fast paced and nearly impossible to put down.
November 21, 2019
This is a trashy beach book for dads that like to watch WW2 documentaries. It's got a number of problems that made it hard for me to engage in the story:
- The premise is so fantastical it may as well have been sci fi (a fully reconstructed USSR with a restored Warsaw Pact met by a non-symmetrical level of militarization by NATO, Neo-Nazi Germany, etc)
- The only women in the story are strictly referred to based on how attractive they are to the men in the story
-An absurdly overpowered Russian force against a similarly absurdly underpowered American force
-Huge swaths of full scale combat operations utterly ignored (naval forces, long range bombers, spec-ops, drones, supply chain, comms, traversing terrain in a blizzard)
- Barely a passing mention of NATO forces, including the German army or citizens that would conceivably be defending their homeland.
- A deeply reductive notion of the technology and equipment deployed by both armies, or their current doctrine
- A portrayal of the Russian military as nothing but a force of terminators and stone cold assassins, with no fear of death or feelings at all really
Gragg wrote individual battles very well, and had some real empathy for the toll of total war, but he seemed to want to expand some 1980s war games into a full narrative set in 2017, without accounting for the changes in the world. He could have avoid a great deal of tortured logic by just keeping things in the Able Archer era and writing a straightforward WW3 piece. Mildly amusing, but deeply flawed.
- The premise is so fantastical it may as well have been sci fi (a fully reconstructed USSR with a restored Warsaw Pact met by a non-symmetrical level of militarization by NATO, Neo-Nazi Germany, etc)
- The only women in the story are strictly referred to based on how attractive they are to the men in the story
-An absurdly overpowered Russian force against a similarly absurdly underpowered American force
-Huge swaths of full scale combat operations utterly ignored (naval forces, long range bombers, spec-ops, drones, supply chain, comms, traversing terrain in a blizzard)
- Barely a passing mention of NATO forces, including the German army or citizens that would conceivably be defending their homeland.
- A deeply reductive notion of the technology and equipment deployed by both armies, or their current doctrine
- A portrayal of the Russian military as nothing but a force of terminators and stone cold assassins, with no fear of death or feelings at all really
Gragg wrote individual battles very well, and had some real empathy for the toll of total war, but he seemed to want to expand some 1980s war games into a full narrative set in 2017, without accounting for the changes in the world. He could have avoid a great deal of tortured logic by just keeping things in the Able Archer era and writing a straightforward WW3 piece. Mildly amusing, but deeply flawed.
July 16, 2017
I had hopes for this one, but my hopes were frustrated.
Strategy is utterly crazy, logistics are absent, weapons work perfectly or not at all, suicidal tactics are often employed, nerve gas and nukes are thrown around like peanuts, and nobody cares much. Also, don't get me started about the ending.
Naval warfare is almost completely neglected, though that could have been a choice, to focus more on land warfare. The parts about communications was nice and infantry battles were decent, and they are the only saving grace for this book.
The Red Line is, at best, a poor imitation of Red Storm Rising.
Strategy is utterly crazy, logistics are absent, weapons work perfectly or not at all, suicidal tactics are often employed, nerve gas and nukes are thrown around like peanuts, and nobody cares much. Also, don't get me started about the ending.
Naval warfare is almost completely neglected, though that could have been a choice, to focus more on land warfare. The parts about communications was nice and infantry battles were decent, and they are the only saving grace for this book.
The Red Line is, at best, a poor imitation of Red Storm Rising.
February 11, 2021
A thoroughly engrossing and entertaining read.
October 10, 2019
Ok But extremely redundant on the blood and gore
The book was very detailed and the author obviously has extensive knowledge on the defense department and the infrastructure of the Russian army Their weapons Ray limitations and also what the Pentagon is pumping out regarding our ordinance and ground vehicles
However the “redundancy on the blood and gore “
of people getting blown up shoot up and disintegrated by nuclear holocaust became very redundant and Mandane
There must have been at least 30 incidents were Russian and or American soldiers were blown up shot the death and and basically evaporated or exterminated and didn’t make it I guess that is put in there to explain the atrocities of war and the mass killings but after like number 15 it became redundant and overkill
How many times can a guy be blown up inside of a tank
if he could’ve add more of espionage And intrigueand that type of angle into the story I think it would’ve been better appeal to Tom Clancy type of Audience which it’s obvious he’s trying to appeal to
Sadly I would not recommend the book but I do think the descriptions of the battle scenes were very graphic and I felt I was right there sitting in the Bradley vehicle holding the gun
The book was very detailed and the author obviously has extensive knowledge on the defense department and the infrastructure of the Russian army Their weapons Ray limitations and also what the Pentagon is pumping out regarding our ordinance and ground vehicles
However the “redundancy on the blood and gore “
of people getting blown up shoot up and disintegrated by nuclear holocaust became very redundant and Mandane
There must have been at least 30 incidents were Russian and or American soldiers were blown up shot the death and and basically evaporated or exterminated and didn’t make it I guess that is put in there to explain the atrocities of war and the mass killings but after like number 15 it became redundant and overkill
How many times can a guy be blown up inside of a tank
if he could’ve add more of espionage And intrigueand that type of angle into the story I think it would’ve been better appeal to Tom Clancy type of Audience which it’s obvious he’s trying to appeal to
Sadly I would not recommend the book but I do think the descriptions of the battle scenes were very graphic and I felt I was right there sitting in the Bradley vehicle holding the gun
December 8, 2017
Brutal but intriguing WWIII epic. I'll be curious to see what Gragg writes next.
March 23, 2022
Okay. First of all, there is no doubt that this was a labor of love for the author.
It is entertaining.
Ever sit on the couch on the weekend and channel surf? You come across Friday the 13th, or a Godzilla movie? While not Oscar-worthy, you will stop and watch it. It kills the time.
This is the written equal of a B-movie.
The plot, is wholly unbelievable from a geopolitical standpoint.
While there is no doubt that there are those in Russia that wish to reestablish the influence of the former USSR, they more or less wish to do it within the definition of the old Russian empire.
One has to remember that virtually none of the states that were once part of the USSR or its orbit went willingly. Many went kicking and screaming, some, like the Baltic republics, and even Ukraine fought protracted guerilla actions against Soviet power. Others, like Poland were restive to say the least, this is evidenced by the speed at which the former states of the Warsaw Pact made a beeline to curry favor with the west and NATO. I cannot imagine a scenario in which the former communist states of eastern Europe revert to their former system of government which was after all, imposed upon them.
The attack by Russia into German as portrayed by the book, lacks authenticity in terms of knowledge of Soviet/Russian doctrine (these guys LOVE, absolutely LOVE massive artillery preparation, which seems to be lacking here), and it detracts from the story as it lacks believability.
BTW, I served as a career soldier, fist in an airborne division, then as a tank gunner and commander of an M1A1 Abrams...I have knowledge of Russian equipment, tactics, and doctrine.
But, it is entertaining. Just not believable. Like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers getting shot multiple times and getting up (head shot?).
I would love to see a book about an east-west clash in which the short comings of the Russian army, their equipment, men, and motivation were on full display, and considered. As I write this, the Russian army is having its skivvies pulled down by Ukraine, and it's manhood, or lack thereof, left flapping in the wind for the world to gawk at. What we see in this book is the author best-casing the "paper" capabilities of the Russian Army (the US Army does this at the NTC and other training centers). The Russians just aren't as big and bad as everyone thinks, and for once, why can't an author write a realistic portrayal of a huge army, that abuses it's soldiers, is proliferate in their sacrifice, and not all that efficient? A "Red Storm Rising" rewrite with full knowledge of the capabilities of US systems (the fact an Abrams can kill at 3000m plus, and is near invulnerable to other tanks), I say this, because you still here the detractors from the Gulf War "the Russians didn't give them their best systems..." I find this laughable. I suspect, there were those, at the end of that conflict in Kremlin, thanking god that they did not fight WWIII on the north German plain.
This IS definitely not that book. But, it does kill time.
It is entertaining.
Ever sit on the couch on the weekend and channel surf? You come across Friday the 13th, or a Godzilla movie? While not Oscar-worthy, you will stop and watch it. It kills the time.
This is the written equal of a B-movie.
The plot, is wholly unbelievable from a geopolitical standpoint.
While there is no doubt that there are those in Russia that wish to reestablish the influence of the former USSR, they more or less wish to do it within the definition of the old Russian empire.
One has to remember that virtually none of the states that were once part of the USSR or its orbit went willingly. Many went kicking and screaming, some, like the Baltic republics, and even Ukraine fought protracted guerilla actions against Soviet power. Others, like Poland were restive to say the least, this is evidenced by the speed at which the former states of the Warsaw Pact made a beeline to curry favor with the west and NATO. I cannot imagine a scenario in which the former communist states of eastern Europe revert to their former system of government which was after all, imposed upon them.
The attack by Russia into German as portrayed by the book, lacks authenticity in terms of knowledge of Soviet/Russian doctrine (these guys LOVE, absolutely LOVE massive artillery preparation, which seems to be lacking here), and it detracts from the story as it lacks believability.
BTW, I served as a career soldier, fist in an airborne division, then as a tank gunner and commander of an M1A1 Abrams...I have knowledge of Russian equipment, tactics, and doctrine.
But, it is entertaining. Just not believable. Like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers getting shot multiple times and getting up (head shot?).
I would love to see a book about an east-west clash in which the short comings of the Russian army, their equipment, men, and motivation were on full display, and considered. As I write this, the Russian army is having its skivvies pulled down by Ukraine, and it's manhood, or lack thereof, left flapping in the wind for the world to gawk at. What we see in this book is the author best-casing the "paper" capabilities of the Russian Army (the US Army does this at the NTC and other training centers). The Russians just aren't as big and bad as everyone thinks, and for once, why can't an author write a realistic portrayal of a huge army, that abuses it's soldiers, is proliferate in their sacrifice, and not all that efficient? A "Red Storm Rising" rewrite with full knowledge of the capabilities of US systems (the fact an Abrams can kill at 3000m plus, and is near invulnerable to other tanks), I say this, because you still here the detractors from the Gulf War "the Russians didn't give them their best systems..." I find this laughable. I suspect, there were those, at the end of that conflict in Kremlin, thanking god that they did not fight WWIII on the north German plain.
This IS definitely not that book. But, it does kill time.
September 3, 2017
The obvious parallel is to Red Storm Rising, but as another reviewer pointed out, this is definitely inferior to that classic. It is good to see an updated version, and I had hoped it would be as enjoyable. But it's let down by several aspects, including the total focus on American forces - barely a mention of German and British contributions. The overall picture of the war also seems totally out of kilter - despite suffering serious reverses at the outset, and having most of their Nato allies refuse to join the war, the defending forces, outnumbered at least ten to one, cut through the enemy like butter. The planning of the final gambit, which the Americans hope will lead to victory, depends on getting one reinforced division to the front - while the Russians invaded with 150 divisions (or possibly 150 armoured divisions, as is absurdly stated more than once).
The writing is overblown, too, though for a first-time author it's not as bad as many. Overall a disappointment, but I did read to the end, so it kept me interested to that degree, hence the rating.
The writing is overblown, too, though for a first-time author it's not as bad as many. Overall a disappointment, but I did read to the end, so it kept me interested to that degree, hence the rating.
June 5, 2017
Intrigued by the Lib Journal review...let down with a 50% report of WWIII. Literary qualities seemed to warrant a 3.5, but the author must have run into an editor-imposed deadline. Not worth the investment of time.
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