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Independent #1
Silver Tower
America has developed the most devastating weapon ever created-a laser defense system that will change the balance of power forever. And now, it's about to be tested in battle.
349 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 1988
275 people are currently reading
697 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 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 31, 2022
This is very similar to "Flight of the Old Dog" just in reverse. Now, it's the USA which possesses a super-amazing, Star Wars-esque (not Reagan, but Lucas), space-based, laser...in the early 1990s. In point of fact, the novel mentions that the USA currently operates four space stations, military and commercial, in Earth Orbit...in the early 1990s...and this book was written in the late 1980s, so...Mr. Brown is WAY optimistic.
Anyway, the USSR, which is still going strong in 1992, has decided it needs to invade Iran, establishing a puppet-government, finally achieving their dreams of a warm-water port. In the novel, they are still fighting in Afghanistan, as well, which helps cover their troop movements into Iran. Upon seeing the Soviet Union make these moves, the USA declares that it's going to defend the sovereignty of the Iranian government....out of the kindness of our hearts, of course....not because it would mean surrendering our domination over the Persian Gulf....no, of course not.
The Soviets also possess a comparable aircraft carrier fleet, carrier-based fighters which rival our own, an anti-satellite space laser based in Central Asia, and a small squadron of spaceplane fighters capable of shooting missiles...so, you know, totally grounded in reality. This is exactly what 1992 looked like. :)
If you can get past all of this, the story itself is...okay, I guess. It's mostly the tale of our mid-40s Space General hero and his mid-20's Space Scientist girlfriend operating a crippled space station and shooting pew-pew lasers at everything. Speaking of, it's hard to be portrayed as the "underdog" when you are operating a giant, fricking laser beam from space, and shooting down cruise missiles aimed at the American fleet, like fish in a barrel.
Should you read it? No...no, you should not. I read it so you don't have to. :)
Anyway, the USSR, which is still going strong in 1992, has decided it needs to invade Iran, establishing a puppet-government, finally achieving their dreams of a warm-water port. In the novel, they are still fighting in Afghanistan, as well, which helps cover their troop movements into Iran. Upon seeing the Soviet Union make these moves, the USA declares that it's going to defend the sovereignty of the Iranian government....out of the kindness of our hearts, of course....not because it would mean surrendering our domination over the Persian Gulf....no, of course not.
The Soviets also possess a comparable aircraft carrier fleet, carrier-based fighters which rival our own, an anti-satellite space laser based in Central Asia, and a small squadron of spaceplane fighters capable of shooting missiles...so, you know, totally grounded in reality. This is exactly what 1992 looked like. :)
If you can get past all of this, the story itself is...okay, I guess. It's mostly the tale of our mid-40s Space General hero and his mid-20's Space Scientist girlfriend operating a crippled space station and shooting pew-pew lasers at everything. Speaking of, it's hard to be portrayed as the "underdog" when you are operating a giant, fricking laser beam from space, and shooting down cruise missiles aimed at the American fleet, like fish in a barrel.
Should you read it? No...no, you should not. I read it so you don't have to. :)
December 4, 2013
This was a great book to read on vacation. written in the 80s, it gives a perspective of the Middle East a couple decades ago. It was a good read.
October 11, 2015
One of my favorite dale brown novels. Gravity meets world war 3
July 8, 2024
2024 Review 027. Silver Tower by Dale Brown, narrated by Richard Allen
Audiobook length : 6 hours 34 minutes.
As someone who has physically read and enjoyed this book in the past, when I saw this book was abridged, I knew there would be differences, but not how many differences there would be and how much of the book has been cut out.
I found the bits of missing dialogue distracting.
I won't listen to this audio book again and will be returning it on Audible as soon as possible.
Some of the sections that were removed introduced characters and also some parts were extremely significant including action sequences. In one case, a whole month in the time of the story went past between scenes being read which really made it hard to understand what was happening especially as it involved one of the main characters.
There were several bits of dialogue which ended suddenly as if the narrator had just decided not to read the entire sentence or paragraph.
The narrator also didn't attempt to make different accents for each character, but only a few of them.
His Russian accents are awful.
This is a great space based military thriller when read in its original form and I won't hesitate to read the physical book in future, but this book is almost unrecognisable as the original book.
I will be posting this review to my goodreads, storygraph and audible as a warning not to buy this audio book if you have read the original physical book.
1*
*
Audiobook length : 6 hours 34 minutes.
As someone who has physically read and enjoyed this book in the past, when I saw this book was abridged, I knew there would be differences, but not how many differences there would be and how much of the book has been cut out.
I found the bits of missing dialogue distracting.
I won't listen to this audio book again and will be returning it on Audible as soon as possible.
Some of the sections that were removed introduced characters and also some parts were extremely significant including action sequences. In one case, a whole month in the time of the story went past between scenes being read which really made it hard to understand what was happening especially as it involved one of the main characters.
There were several bits of dialogue which ended suddenly as if the narrator had just decided not to read the entire sentence or paragraph.
The narrator also didn't attempt to make different accents for each character, but only a few of them.
His Russian accents are awful.
This is a great space based military thriller when read in its original form and I won't hesitate to read the physical book in future, but this book is almost unrecognisable as the original book.
I will be posting this review to my goodreads, storygraph and audible as a warning not to buy this audio book if you have read the original physical book.
1*
*
September 27, 2014
Hey, remember in 1993 when Gorbachov was overthrown by the Evil Russian Communists (TM) and a moderate, pro-USA faction took over in Iran and we all flew in our spaceplanes to our armored space stations full of lasers and particle beams? Good times. That's the setting for this enjoyably dated techno-trash, centered around the titular Silver Tower, a space station the US uses to keep an eye on the Soviet invasion of Iran, until it comes under spaceplane attack from the resurgent Commies. I'm sure when this came out it was a chilling look at something something or a pulse pounding blah blah, but now it's a charmingly goofy retro-future full of cartoon characters. Frankly, I think this helps the book rather than hurts it, but I'm not sure I'd really recommend this book unless you love:
1.) Tom Clancy-style trash
2.) Evil Russian Communists (TM)
3.) Goof-ass visions of the 90's and now that never came to pass
If you do meet all three criteria, please contact my parents, who I'm going to be giving this book to, and you may want to act fast before they take it to the used book store.
1.) Tom Clancy-style trash
2.) Evil Russian Communists (TM)
3.) Goof-ass visions of the 90's and now that never came to pass
If you do meet all three criteria, please contact my parents, who I'm going to be giving this book to, and you may want to act fast before they take it to the used book store.
July 28, 2009
This is deeper than early Dale Brown, but still a high tech, space war story. The depth came in at the ending, when the pioneers of space based warfare found the impersonal, automated and ultimately apocalyptic nature of space based warfare offensive to their sense of Bushido. Rather than retire, they stayed in the military "because it can only change from the inside." YOu have to remember that it was written at the end of the Reagan administration, but if you can forgive the jingoism and inflation of the threat of the Soviet Union, he will make you care about the characters and their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2015
This book ought to be tossed out and started over. It's set in the 1980s and features a Soviet invasion of Iran and a US space ship in (scientifically impossible) orbit. POTUS micromanages worse than LBJ and Obama together. I think that the tactics might be all right; that's Brown's forte and the interaction of the missile with it's guide rails is discussed. I guess that only Navys fight wars for Brown. The crowning incredulity was when SECDEF called a 1 star general in orbit -- promoted him to 3 stars and made him work for a 2 star. That's when I skipped the middle 3/4 of the book and read the [weak] ending.
May 31, 2016
Non-Series - Military fiction - Four years from now, the space-based defense system known as ""Star Wars'' will have become a reality, the shuttle program will be back on track, and the U.S.S.R., poised to invade Iran and install a puppet regime, will encounter unexpected resistance from the United States by air, sea and outer space. Aboard the Armstrong space station, tenacious young scientist Ann Page is installing Skybolt, the laser system she's invented, and clashing with the station's gruff, charismatic commander, Jason Saint-Michael. When war brews 5000 miles below, the two are thrown together as the ``Silver Tower'' becomes both a weapon and a target.
Read
January 11, 2011A sci fi futuristic and quite possible with current technology its so facinating that the "star wars" of the cold war could become real who knows
October 2, 2015
Plenty of techno-babble. Cartoon characters. Outdated politics. Iffy science. Sorry I started it but had to finish to see what the future would be like in 2002.
August 13, 2019
When i reas it i was like wow people really can write like that too, really a good one for military fiction addicts.
November 14, 2024
This book was published by Dale Brown, better known for his Air Battle and Old Dog series, using protagonist Patrick McLanahan. While published in 1988, this book is set in 1992 and includes high technologies for space use not yet developed in 2024. Brown has done a good job of fitting the Silver Tower into current communications and computers, making his technology feel almost current. This technology is new enough, and dense enough, to satisfy most readers of tech thrillers. This is a high-tech thriller pitting the US against Russia in a high tech, strategic battle. Space and naval technology is used to destroy or minimize each other’s warning and offensive systems.
The USA has developed powerful space-based weaponry that can destroy strategic weapons at any place in the rocket’s trajectory. It can also destroy any satellite in earth orbit. This capability allows the US to destroy any early warning satellites and ballistic missiles prior to activation. Russia has destroyed the first test of Silver Tower in space and intends to take over the middle east oil before the US military can deploy more of the new technology. The Russian destruction of the weapon surprises the US and some of the US space crew are killed.
The US sends a space shuttle to recover their dead and begin repairs to the Silver Tower. Russia has begun its attack on the middle east. The partial repairs to Silver Tower unearth the Russian plan and US space and naval forces are at risk from Russian forces. Russia launches another attack on the Silver Tower and the crew of the US space vehicles.
Battle begins and rages on. The female protagonist is key to this battle. Brown does a good job of the action scenes. The space weapon systems on both sides are well described. This is one of Brown’s strengths. This book is strong on battle, offensive and defensive weapons. His common character on other books, (McLanahan), often faces internal battles with senior military characters or even the President. In this book there is negotiation, but no personal attacks on the protagonist. This is a positive change as these internal issues often add little to the plot and feel artificial.
In general, the major characters are developed enough that we understand their behavior and care about their activities. This makes the book and the plot more plausible. I enjoyed reading it and it went by quickly. Lots of interest, lots of tension, lots of action. Dale Brown tells a good story. Three and ½ stars.
The USA has developed powerful space-based weaponry that can destroy strategic weapons at any place in the rocket’s trajectory. It can also destroy any satellite in earth orbit. This capability allows the US to destroy any early warning satellites and ballistic missiles prior to activation. Russia has destroyed the first test of Silver Tower in space and intends to take over the middle east oil before the US military can deploy more of the new technology. The Russian destruction of the weapon surprises the US and some of the US space crew are killed.
The US sends a space shuttle to recover their dead and begin repairs to the Silver Tower. Russia has begun its attack on the middle east. The partial repairs to Silver Tower unearth the Russian plan and US space and naval forces are at risk from Russian forces. Russia launches another attack on the Silver Tower and the crew of the US space vehicles.
Battle begins and rages on. The female protagonist is key to this battle. Brown does a good job of the action scenes. The space weapon systems on both sides are well described. This is one of Brown’s strengths. This book is strong on battle, offensive and defensive weapons. His common character on other books, (McLanahan), often faces internal battles with senior military characters or even the President. In this book there is negotiation, but no personal attacks on the protagonist. This is a positive change as these internal issues often add little to the plot and feel artificial.
In general, the major characters are developed enough that we understand their behavior and care about their activities. This makes the book and the plot more plausible. I enjoyed reading it and it went by quickly. Lots of interest, lots of tension, lots of action. Dale Brown tells a good story. Three and ½ stars.
September 27, 2025
I bought Dale Brown’s Silver Tower during the summer after my first year (plebe year) at the Naval Academy, possibly in Hawaii—over 36 years ago. I read the book constantly and finished in less than 24 hours, surely the fastest I’ve read a book of comparable length and the most pages I’ve read in a 24-hour period. BUT, I thought that it was over 500 pages—that number stuck in my head—so I’m disappointed to see that this listing, which, I’m pretty sure, is the edition that I read, is only 384 pages. Sure, it was sort of “brain candy,” but Dale Brown is in the top echelon of military techno-thriller writers, so it wasn’t the lightest material available.
Unlike several other techno-thriller authors of the era, some of whom seem indistinguishable, I probably will plan to read more of Dale Brown’s novels in the future—probably after I read at least a hundred other books on my list.
As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off.
Unlike several other techno-thriller authors of the era, some of whom seem indistinguishable, I probably will plan to read more of Dale Brown’s novels in the future—probably after I read at least a hundred other books on my list.
As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off.
February 17, 2021
Walaupun Silver Tower merupakan buku atau novel kedua yang ditulis oleh Dale Brown,namun,bukanlah sambungan terus atau direct sequel kepada The Flight of the Old Dog. Hasil pembacaan saya,Silver Tower menampilkan watak-watak yang berlainan daripada novel beliau yang pertama. Universe naratifnya juga adalah berbeza.
Uniknya pada novel yang kedua ini,Brown kali ini membawa pembacanya dari pesawat pengebom B-52 Stratofortress kepada stesyen angkasa lepas yang diberi nama Armstrong Space Station yang dilengkapi sistem pemantauan dan persenjataan yang canggih.
Saya perhatikan bahawa terdapatnya kematangan dari segi gaya penulisan dan naratif Brown. Dialog antara watak lebih dinamik dan tidaklah terlalu kaku. Hubungan antara watak juga lebih kompleks dan menunjukkan konflik sesama watak yang ada di dalam novel pada kali ini.
Uniknya pada novel yang kedua ini,Brown kali ini membawa pembacanya dari pesawat pengebom B-52 Stratofortress kepada stesyen angkasa lepas yang diberi nama Armstrong Space Station yang dilengkapi sistem pemantauan dan persenjataan yang canggih.
Saya perhatikan bahawa terdapatnya kematangan dari segi gaya penulisan dan naratif Brown. Dialog antara watak lebih dinamik dan tidaklah terlalu kaku. Hubungan antara watak juga lebih kompleks dan menunjukkan konflik sesama watak yang ada di dalam novel pada kali ini.
February 29, 2020
Having been looking for this book for a while, it was great to read it finally as it focused on the battle between America and Russia and in the middle is a US space station that is there for locating enemy forces during such a battle but was also being used for testing a new kind of laser. What was interesting about it to me was the fact that there were space battles in it using space ships essentially attacking this space station seemed more sci fi but grounded in reality, and had several moments of tension as well as some of humor and sadness as well.
August 15, 2019
This is a typical Dale Brown novel--just relocated to outer space. The Russians implement a plan to take over Iran and ultimately control the entire Middle East. At the same time the United States is in the process of installing a defensive laser system on the Armstrong Space Station, aka Silver Tower. The end result is massive destruction of everyone's military assets, and high body count, both on earth and in space. Lots of action, maybe some that will stretch your imagination a bit.
May 18, 2021
If you think the B52 Stratofortress was “Bad”
I gave this book 4 stars because the technical jargon was not as convincing as when the B52s were in action. It’s probably me, but that’s my age. Unfortunately the discovery of outer space will turn into 10x the worst effects of how nuclear energy turns into destruction. The first country to win “space” will have to control those who will use it for evil.
I gave this book 4 stars because the technical jargon was not as convincing as when the B52s were in action. It’s probably me, but that’s my age. Unfortunately the discovery of outer space will turn into 10x the worst effects of how nuclear energy turns into destruction. The first country to win “space” will have to control those who will use it for evil.
July 9, 2023
Not up to the standards of the 80s great military books. There's a few weird things where the omniscient narrator suddenly starts asking questions. And there's the forced "romance" where the couple barely speaks and suddenly we're supposed to believe they're madly in love. (Let's not even go into the whole, "you're just a woman/ a daughter, so I refuse to see you as an actual expert in your field" attitude from all the men.)
December 22, 2021
Okay follow up to Flight of the Old Dog. Space based weapons was all the rage in the 80s mostly because of Star Wars program that never materialized. The Silver Tower was a space based weapon platform in the book. Entertaining book that I’m sure now might read as dated but read as cutting edge when it was published.
December 15, 2023
Silver Tower Still Blast Off
The story moves and is still a fun read. The idea of Iranian Moderates did not seem so ridiculous, the book came after Iran/Contra affair. The techno babble was still kept to a minimal. The characters are fine and help move the story along. It is one of the books I reread for the fun.
The story moves and is still a fun read. The idea of Iranian Moderates did not seem so ridiculous, the book came after Iran/Contra affair. The techno babble was still kept to a minimal. The characters are fine and help move the story along. It is one of the books I reread for the fun.
June 18, 2019
INTENSE
Another excellent book by Dale Brown. It was fast-paced, intense, unexpected twists and turns, and left the reader rapidly turning pages to see what the next one would bring. Looking forward to the next book.
Another excellent book by Dale Brown. It was fast-paced, intense, unexpected twists and turns, and left the reader rapidly turning pages to see what the next one would bring. Looking forward to the next book.
June 20, 2019
Not the Old Dog
I don’t know what happened to Mr Brown but this book is nothing like all the other excellent books I have read of his. So unrealistic, such a poor story. I am just dumbfounded as to who really wrote this story. Couldn’t have been Dale Brown.
I don’t know what happened to Mr Brown but this book is nothing like all the other excellent books I have read of his. So unrealistic, such a poor story. I am just dumbfounded as to who really wrote this story. Couldn’t have been Dale Brown.
July 3, 2019
Exactly what you would expect from Dale Brown. Lots of technical jargon, but it doesn't overpower the plot. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, just when you thought all was lost, another amazing recovery happened. Well worth reading.
July 16, 2019
Exciting well written page Turner.
Lately I've had trouble getting through the books I have been trying to read. That was definitely not the problem with this book. It kept my attention and was a pleasure to read.
Lately I've had trouble getting through the books I have been trying to read. That was definitely not the problem with this book. It kept my attention and was a pleasure to read.
March 3, 2020
Gripping Read
Not read one of Dan's books for a while, so was looking forwarding one again. Sometimes when you really look forward to something it disappoints, but not here. What a superb book.
Not read one of Dan's books for a while, so was looking forwarding one again. Sometimes when you really look forward to something it disappoints, but not here. What a superb book.
June 28, 2020
Good book for war enthusiast. For me, It was too technical with the weapons, different defense systems, battery packs, and etc. It was like watching two airplanes air fight in the dark. You could hear them but you could not see them. Hard to follow.
December 9, 2021
Laser weapon of the future!!!
Good read I really enjoyed it! I hope they recovered the dead as I didn't read about it!! The loss of Captain Page was a real bitch!!! I'll tell everyone how good it was!!!
Good read I really enjoyed it! I hope they recovered the dead as I didn't read about it!! The loss of Captain Page was a real bitch!!! I'll tell everyone how good it was!!!
February 27, 2022
Silver Tower
Another great story by Brown. He is an amazing author. I read this when it was first published and i loved it then. Re reading now was even more interesting, what he put into this was superb.
Another great story by Brown. He is an amazing author. I read this when it was first published and i loved it then. Re reading now was even more interesting, what he put into this was superb.
October 13, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book. The acronyms, however, are overwhelming for a lay person. I found myself looking them up to see what they meant. Aside from that it was a page turner, exciting. I really didn't like how it ended. Why, you must read it to find out. I would hate to spoil it.
July 7, 2025
Excellent as the other 2 Dale Brown books I have read. I continue thru my TBR pile. This one has a short slow period, in the middle, as the action has to change and the warriors reset. Keep reading because the action will give you a whip lash when it restarts. It is high speed thru the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews