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Dreamland #5
Strike Zone
The Dreamland special ops team uncover a plan to stir up unrest between Taiwan and mainland China -- in the latest high-octane adventure from the acclaimed author of Flight of the Old Dog and Air Battle Force. Dreamland is a cutting-edge weapons research facility in the Nevada desert -- home to some of the world's finest pilots and an elite combat unit that operates directly at the command of the US President. Dreamland is rocked by the news that someone in the South China Sea has developed an unmanned spy plane as advanced -- and dangerous -- as their own top-secret Flighthawk. Has there been a breach of security? With a high-level summit between Taiwan and mainland China looming and such a potentially devastating weapon on the loose, the threat to the region's fragile stability is immense. While the hunt for a mole threatens all their achievements, the Dreamland team must embark on the race of their lives: to seek out their mysterious rival -- and destroy it.
Paperback
First published December 30, 2003
103 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Dale Brown
154 books1,133 followersFormer 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 25, 2019
It’s been several years since I’ve read one of these techno-thrillers but I felt like I wanted to catch up with these characters, so I took the plunge once more. This is the 5th book in the Dreamland series, a spin-off of Dale Brown’s long-running Patrick McLanahan series. This novel continues the exploits of the team members of the high-tech weapons center in Nevada, known as Dreamland. Like the others, it is full of high-octane aerial warfare but has a good portion of political intrigue and stressful world tensions ready to explode at the push of the wrong button.
Even though this was written pre-9/11, the twin threats of Russia and China are big players here. But it is a rogue element from Taiwan who wants to bring things to a boil this time by starting a war between China and the US, part of a plot thread left hanging from the previous book.
It was nice to return to the series but I can only take these novels in small doses. This sub-genre is known for its heavy-handed references to weapon system nomenclature, first made popular by Tom Clancy but there seemed a little less of that this time around. Still, if you don’t know your EB-52s from your J-11s and your RD-3M Turbos, this book will be sure to spell it out for you.
For me, it’s the characters that bring me back to these books. There are a lot of them, most of whom we've met before, but they all have their own personalities. Their interactions keep the plot moving forward...it's not all just about the edge-of-your-seat heroics. The plots of each book are connected as time passes and even though it has veered off from actual history at some point in the past, they are still fairly close to current geopolitical concerns. While they relate to Dale Brown’s universe, (and his name is on the cover), I do believe most of this series’ writing is done by Jim DeFelice, the “co-writer” and a prolific author in his own right. Regardless, these books are fun reads even if somewhat predictable. They always deliver exactly what I expect.
Even though this was written pre-9/11, the twin threats of Russia and China are big players here. But it is a rogue element from Taiwan who wants to bring things to a boil this time by starting a war between China and the US, part of a plot thread left hanging from the previous book.
It was nice to return to the series but I can only take these novels in small doses. This sub-genre is known for its heavy-handed references to weapon system nomenclature, first made popular by Tom Clancy but there seemed a little less of that this time around. Still, if you don’t know your EB-52s from your J-11s and your RD-3M Turbos, this book will be sure to spell it out for you.
For me, it’s the characters that bring me back to these books. There are a lot of them, most of whom we've met before, but they all have their own personalities. Their interactions keep the plot moving forward...it's not all just about the edge-of-your-seat heroics. The plots of each book are connected as time passes and even though it has veered off from actual history at some point in the past, they are still fairly close to current geopolitical concerns. While they relate to Dale Brown’s universe, (and his name is on the cover), I do believe most of this series’ writing is done by Jim DeFelice, the “co-writer” and a prolific author in his own right. Regardless, these books are fun reads even if somewhat predictable. They always deliver exactly what I expect.
August 12, 2009
I enjoy Dale Brown's military techno books. Even though I would probably put it in the category of "pulp" adventure. Light and sweet but no real substance. I will certainly read more of them when I'm in the mood for a "snack"!
March 7, 2021
OK. I give up on Dale Brown. This book, #5, is a continuation of #4; just the next chapter and it seems arbitrarily hacked up just to make publisher length restrictions. If you can follow switchology on a B-52 that has not yet been modified, you're a better listener than me--too much detail (again). Characters seem cardboard cutouts--one talks to the POTUS direct from the cockpit. Really? I gave up about 30 minutes into a 10 hour read and I don't believe I'll go on with book 6-18...life has more to live than boring Charlie Brown's teacher in my ears. DNF
May 21, 2025
I love Dale Brown's stories
Dale Brown is one of the best military story writers that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I've g a few more of his stories to read before I be will have read everything he's written. Love it.
Dale Brown is one of the best military story writers that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I've g a few more of his stories to read before I be will have read everything he's written. Love it.
August 16, 2017
Great book
This book is right in line with what is going on in the South China sea. Dale writes in such a way to make the story so very believable.
This book is right in line with what is going on in the South China sea. Dale writes in such a way to make the story so very believable.
June 8, 2021
Moves along, hard to follow occasionally with drones, megafortress and names of planes, but characters OK.
December 31, 2023
somewhat entertaining
November 18, 2024
Pretty good book, but very long.
Typical Dreamland book to be honest, but lots of action and twists and turns.
Typical Dreamland book to be honest, but lots of action and twists and turns.
March 9, 2025
great
Great book glad to have read it
Beginning started off slow but moved along.
Going to reading the follow ons
Great book glad to have read it
Beginning started off slow but moved along.
Going to reading the follow ons
March 18, 2025
Story very weak
Hard to read and too many individuals to keep track of. It made for a very confusing story without a clear vision by the author.
Hard to read and too many individuals to keep track of. It made for a very confusing story without a clear vision by the author.
October 3, 2016
In the Nevada desert, the high-tech future of warfare is being conceived and constructed at a top-secret military facility called Dreamland Strike Zone.
An Asian war that would have escalated into a nuclear nightmare has been halted, thanks to the raw courage, unparalleled skill, and total commitment of the Dreamland force. But an analysis of radar data has revealed the presence of an unknown super-weapon in the area: a robot warplane with terrifying capabilities, dubbed the "ghost clone." Though strikingly similar to Dreamland's own U/MF Flighthawk, no one knows where this fearsome instrument of destruction originated, but a rogue nation possessing a squadron of them could wreak unimaginable havoc on an unsuspecting free world. Now nothing less than a brazen, brilliantly conceived deception will lure the ghost clone out of hiding and only a daring strike on enemy soil can avert a tomorrow too terrible to consider . . . if it isn't already too late.
An Asian war that would have escalated into a nuclear nightmare has been halted, thanks to the raw courage, unparalleled skill, and total commitment of the Dreamland force. But an analysis of radar data has revealed the presence of an unknown super-weapon in the area: a robot warplane with terrifying capabilities, dubbed the "ghost clone." Though strikingly similar to Dreamland's own U/MF Flighthawk, no one knows where this fearsome instrument of destruction originated, but a rogue nation possessing a squadron of them could wreak unimaginable havoc on an unsuspecting free world. Now nothing less than a brazen, brilliantly conceived deception will lure the ghost clone out of hiding and only a daring strike on enemy soil can avert a tomorrow too terrible to consider . . . if it isn't already too late.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2007
The Dreamland series is still a great read. But 4 stars because its not classic McLanahan.
July 9, 2010
I am still getting used to this series of books. There seem to be alot more characters to keep track of, possibly too many
July 31, 2012
Was hoping for something like Clancy, but this was too hard to follow. Dumb names and too much tech. Not a believable plot.
April 10, 2022
More of the same. Always a fun read.
June 3, 2014
Having read many books by Dale Brown. This is not his finest work but it is solid and well written. An ideal beach read good way to pass some time
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews