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Cold Is the Sea
Cold Is the Sea followed, in 1978, Edward L. Beach's extraordinarily successful first two novels, easily meeting their high standards. But unlike these earlier World War II novels, this book is set fifteen years after the war's end as the U.S. Navy converts its fleet of conventional submarines to nuclear-powered ships. The focus of the story is the USS Cushing, whose sixteen missile silos carry more explosive power than all the munitions used in both world wars. The Cushing is on a secret mission to the Arctic Ocean to determine whether her missiles are effective if fired from beneath the ice. When the submarine is incapacitated, with a suspicious Russian sub lurking in the vicinity, the scene is set for a dramatic thriller, rich in technical detail and submarine lore.
First published November 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 11, 2014
This book managed the neat task of being a compelling page-turner, yet full of the intrigue and history surrounding nuclear submarines and the Cold War. Exciting and visceral, drenched with technical detail that never slowed the story line. I had to remind myself it was fiction. Fantastic thriller.
September 5, 2021
Gripping throughout.
January 21, 2023
Gut Wrenching!
Gut wrenching ending to this saga! I was there, in the control room with the crew for the entire time.
Gut wrenching ending to this saga! I was there, in the control room with the crew for the entire time.
July 12, 2026
I first discovered Edward L. Beach when I was twelve at the Utah School for the Blind. His World War II classic Run Silent, Run Deep completely captivated me. I read it multiple times, even though it contained some adult themes that flew over my young head. William Gladden narrated the cassette version I devoured, and his rich, expressive voice could transport a kid straight into a submarine under fire. The National Library Service offers the book now, but its narrator doesn’t come close to Gladden’s magic.
I downloaded Cold Is the Sea back in 2014, promising myself I’d dive in right away. Oops—twelve years later, I finally did. Once again, the narrator made all the difference. Robert Donley, who recorded for the American Foundation for the Blind in New York for many years, delivers a performance that feels absolutely perfect for this story. I’m sorry most of my Goodreads friends won’t get to experience his work; it’s that good.
Beach himself was a highly decorated submarine commander during World War II and later commanded the nuclear submarine USS Triton on its historic submerged circumnavigation of the globe in 1960. That real-world experience shines through in this novel, which reunites three wartime friends—Rich Richardson, Keith Leone, and Buck Williams—for brutal nuclear-engineer training near Idaho Falls. Admiral Brighting, their volatile and often cruel commander, seems determined to break them, especially Richardson, the senior officer. When Richardson diverts emergency power to save a woman’s life during surgery in a small Idaho town, Brighting punishes him harshly—until he later relents. The men somehow survive the ordeal and move on to new assignments.
Keith ends up commanding the nuclear-powered USS Cushing on a dangerous mission beneath the polar ice cap. When a Russian submarine deliberately rams them, the damage is catastrophic. Richardson and Buck Williams race to the rescue in Buck’s submarine, the Manta, doing everything in their power to save Keith and his crew.
This is classic Cold War naval adventure done right—four solid stars from me. I would have given it five, but the long passages detailing 1960s nuclear submarine technology slowed me down. Beach clearly knew his stuff, but the tech sections tested my patience.
The ending, however, is masterful—heartbreaking and triumphant at the same time. Donley narrated the book in 1980, yet his voice sounds as fresh and clear as today’s best studio productions. Hearing him again amplified every emotion, especially at that powerful close. I seriously doubt a Braille edition would have hit me the same way.
I downloaded Cold Is the Sea back in 2014, promising myself I’d dive in right away. Oops—twelve years later, I finally did. Once again, the narrator made all the difference. Robert Donley, who recorded for the American Foundation for the Blind in New York for many years, delivers a performance that feels absolutely perfect for this story. I’m sorry most of my Goodreads friends won’t get to experience his work; it’s that good.
Beach himself was a highly decorated submarine commander during World War II and later commanded the nuclear submarine USS Triton on its historic submerged circumnavigation of the globe in 1960. That real-world experience shines through in this novel, which reunites three wartime friends—Rich Richardson, Keith Leone, and Buck Williams—for brutal nuclear-engineer training near Idaho Falls. Admiral Brighting, their volatile and often cruel commander, seems determined to break them, especially Richardson, the senior officer. When Richardson diverts emergency power to save a woman’s life during surgery in a small Idaho town, Brighting punishes him harshly—until he later relents. The men somehow survive the ordeal and move on to new assignments.
Keith ends up commanding the nuclear-powered USS Cushing on a dangerous mission beneath the polar ice cap. When a Russian submarine deliberately rams them, the damage is catastrophic. Richardson and Buck Williams race to the rescue in Buck’s submarine, the Manta, doing everything in their power to save Keith and his crew.
This is classic Cold War naval adventure done right—four solid stars from me. I would have given it five, but the long passages detailing 1960s nuclear submarine technology slowed me down. Beach clearly knew his stuff, but the tech sections tested my patience.
The ending, however, is masterful—heartbreaking and triumphant at the same time. Donley narrated the book in 1980, yet his voice sounds as fresh and clear as today’s best studio productions. Hearing him again amplified every emotion, especially at that powerful close. I seriously doubt a Braille edition would have hit me the same way.
April 25, 2022
This book is worth reading for the technical detail on very large boys toys. That aspect is quite gripping and oozes authenticity in every detail Quite good fun!
The plot is a trifle far-fetched to be credible and I found it very difficult to believe that 3 submarine skippers absolutely devoted to each other almost more so than to their wives,. would be permitted to manage combined operations of 2 very large nuclear submarines. It's a shame, because the author is clearly immensely well versed in his subject.
The plot is a trifle far-fetched to be credible and I found it very difficult to believe that 3 submarine skippers absolutely devoted to each other almost more so than to their wives,. would be permitted to manage combined operations of 2 very large nuclear submarines. It's a shame, because the author is clearly immensely well versed in his subject.
May 24, 2026
A Classic
Reading this novel decades ago helped convince me to follow the family tradition and join the navy. Rip roaring adventure, camaraderie and sacrifice representing the best of naval tradition!
Reading this novel decades ago helped convince me to follow the family tradition and join the navy. Rip roaring adventure, camaraderie and sacrifice representing the best of naval tradition!
August 8, 2026
a real page turner!
This is a terrific read! I did scan some of the submarine operations details BUT that detail and it’s precision is all a piece of the way the author weaves this riveting tale. I am hooked and will move on to another Beach book!
This is a terrific read! I did scan some of the submarine operations details BUT that detail and it’s precision is all a piece of the way the author weaves this riveting tale. I am hooked and will move on to another Beach book!
December 30, 2018
Good Book
February 13, 2025
Extremely ex.citing, informative nuclear submarine thriller taking place under the Polar ice cap. A gut wrenching finale. This book will be with me forever.
February 18, 2012
If there was a simple word for manufactured, seemingly mass-produced and utterly uninteresting semi-domestic "tension," this book would get it. The only thing that could possibly redeem it at the point I left off (around 150 pages from the end) would be a gunfight followed by aliens followed by the end of the world. Maybe.
March 1, 2016
Edward L. Beach, Rich Richardson Series, Bk 3, RDC-M, #4, 1979, 7/86. A novel set 15 years after the end of WWII as the US Navy converts its subs to nuclear-powered ships. The USS Cushing is on a secret mission to determine whether her missiles are effective when fired from beneath the ice...but a Russian sub is lurking in the vicinity. Very good.
Want to Read
December 9, 2009did not read
January 22, 2010
Some of the best WW2 submarine stories written by the master of the genre
March 4, 2011
Grade C+
July 10, 2011
I have a copy signed by the author
Want to Read
July 29, 2011Crap. Does this mean I have to finish reading "Dust on the Sea" before I can start this one? :_ _ _ (
August 30, 2014
It was an exciting book, it just seemed to me that some of the terms in the book didn't seem to jive with submarine lingo; still worth a read.
April 13, 2017
I admit to having read the Readers Digest Condensed version of this book so the complete novel may have been better. That being said, I had a very difficult time separating the characters (especially the women) from each other. As I read, I had to keep going back to figure out exactly who each character was. What part did this man play? Whose wife was this? Why did this character care (personally) what was happening to this other character? And, really, why were the Russians doing what they were doing? By the end all I could think of was the line from the Hunt for Red October movie: "You've lost (i)another(/i) submarine?"
I don't recommend it.
I don't recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews