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Before the Storm: War of the Submarine: Book 0
Modern-Day Piracy Square off Against the U.S. Navy Under the High SeasIt's 2037. A band of modern-day pirates station-hops across the Indian Ocean in an old Russian submarine bought off the black market. Each attack bolder and more costly than the last, these pirates leave behind a trail of broken bodies, businesses, and stolen submarines at every undersea station they visit—and it’s up to Lieutenant Commander Alex Coleman and attack submarine USS Kansas to stop them.Teaming up with his old college roommate and not-so-gentle giant, marine lieutenant colonel Paul Swanson, Alex sets out on his very own pirate hunt. But these outlaws aren’t in rundown little skiffs that are easy to track and find. They’ve got a genuine warship and the will to turn weapons against innocent civilians and undersea stations, and more importantly, they’re good at stealth.With time running out, Alex convinces his friendly neighborhood U.N. representative to rent a ridiculously expensive civilian submarine with every bell and whistle a rich guy can dream of—and many Alex can't! Cut off from Kansas’ support, he and the marines play bait for the pirates.Alex isn’t used to in-your-face battles. He’s trained to push buttons and fire torpedoes, not for the messy and bloody hand-to-hand stuff. His plan is for Kansas to nab the pirates before anyone can wave a gun near his nerdy face. But plans never survive contact with the enemy, and when the hunters become the hunted, can Alex learn a new type of warfare before it’s too late?Before the Storm is a prequel to the near-future World War III submarine series War of the Submarine.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
812 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 27, 2024
While it's not The Hunt for Red October, or Cardinal Virtues, the book is pretty good. I don't read naval fiction because I wasn't in the Navy. But... It's a different world and R. G. Roberts does a good job of it. A prequel to Cardinal Virtues, I liked the short story (was quick to read) and how it flowed. R. G. Roberts does a good job with the story, and I liked her other book, Cardinal Virtues. It has plenty of techno-speak but she breaks it down so it's not overwhelming and makes the story readable. More than likely I'll check out her other books sometime as well.
April 24, 2024
Where is the magic?
Warning: spoilers!!
Underwater stations in deep water (347' to 800'?), that military submarines can connect to?
With elevators to the surface, and moon pools that they could dive from through a dive lock?
And nobody gets the bends?
I kept waiting for the magic that would make all of this work! 1937 magic?
And guns are dangerous in underwater stations, but a flamethrower works ok?
And there is underwater gas mining and refining, but gas is only about $3.80 per gallon?
Warning: spoilers!!
Underwater stations in deep water (347' to 800'?), that military submarines can connect to?
With elevators to the surface, and moon pools that they could dive from through a dive lock?
And nobody gets the bends?
I kept waiting for the magic that would make all of this work! 1937 magic?
And guns are dangerous in underwater stations, but a flamethrower works ok?
And there is underwater gas mining and refining, but gas is only about $3.80 per gallon?
November 19, 2023
This was a largely enjoyable read. I had never read anything by this author, so I had no idea of what to expect. It is apparently the first book in a series, but it is a standalone and can be read and enjoyed without worrying about cliffhangers.
My one big knock on this is that, while the book itself is well WRITTEN, it is VERY poorly edited. There are dozens of typos, at a minimum. There may well be over 100. I do not know if the author dictated this or is just a very quick typist and never re-read it. But most of these errors are very easily spotted even with the most cursory reading. So the author either needs to hire and editor or get a beta or arc team in place to report on errors.
Some of these are continuity errors. One character (Lydia) is showing something to the others. In the next sentence, that character is referred to as Emma. That was just kind of puzzling. Most other errors were equally jarring. It doesn't prevent the book from being a decent read. It just keeps it from being a five star book.
My one big knock on this is that, while the book itself is well WRITTEN, it is VERY poorly edited. There are dozens of typos, at a minimum. There may well be over 100. I do not know if the author dictated this or is just a very quick typist and never re-read it. But most of these errors are very easily spotted even with the most cursory reading. So the author either needs to hire and editor or get a beta or arc team in place to report on errors.
Some of these are continuity errors. One character (Lydia) is showing something to the others. In the next sentence, that character is referred to as Emma. That was just kind of puzzling. Most other errors were equally jarring. It doesn't prevent the book from being a decent read. It just keeps it from being a five star book.
September 26, 2022
I had received this book/novella from the author when I had signed up at his mailing list.
If you read books on either a kindle or a tablet, you've likely downloaded a number of books and sometimes they might get lost in the shuffle (which is likely what happened here).
This book/novella introduces us to the character of Commander Alex Coleman and the crew of the USS Kansas, as they pursue a former-Russian Kilo submarine that is being piloted by a group of pirates who are intent at raiding a number of installations with the purpose of stealing fuel, kidnapping and stealing private undersea vessels to sell on the black market.
This is an excellent book/novella that would be enjoyed by action aficionados. As such, I would easily rate this a solid four stars out of five stars.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.
If you read books on either a kindle or a tablet, you've likely downloaded a number of books and sometimes they might get lost in the shuffle (which is likely what happened here).
This book/novella introduces us to the character of Commander Alex Coleman and the crew of the USS Kansas, as they pursue a former-Russian Kilo submarine that is being piloted by a group of pirates who are intent at raiding a number of installations with the purpose of stealing fuel, kidnapping and stealing private undersea vessels to sell on the black market.
This is an excellent book/novella that would be enjoyed by action aficionados. As such, I would easily rate this a solid four stars out of five stars.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.
October 10, 2024
Nice lead in to a new series. I really enjoyed the exploits of the modern navy.
Pirates on the open sea attacking undersea cities from a war surplus Russian Kilo being hunted by an American nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean. What more could you ask for? How about a civilian private submarine with a party deck. Throw in a squad of marines, and now you're talking action.
Pirates on the open sea attacking undersea cities from a war surplus Russian Kilo being hunted by an American nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean. What more could you ask for? How about a civilian private submarine with a party deck. Throw in a squad of marines, and now you're talking action.
January 17, 2023
Before the Storm
R. G. Roberts
Combines submarine warfare with buddy-buddy story. A stick thin sub-mariner and a Goliath-sized hulking marine three times his size and way too tall for sub bulkheads. Their target submarine pirates. And it becomes a game of hide and seek.
Get the author a good editor please?
R. G. Roberts
Combines submarine warfare with buddy-buddy story. A stick thin sub-mariner and a Goliath-sized hulking marine three times his size and way too tall for sub bulkheads. Their target submarine pirates. And it becomes a game of hide and seek.
Get the author a good editor please?
January 10, 2024
Nice!!
As submarine thrillers go, this is a nice one. Actually, very nice. Flow is good. The writer knows their stuff. Characters are believable and some are attachable. The storyline is tight and the premise is interesting. This story is a very nice escape. And a right tickler for submarine junkies. Moving right into book two.
As submarine thrillers go, this is a nice one. Actually, very nice. Flow is good. The writer knows their stuff. Characters are believable and some are attachable. The storyline is tight and the premise is interesting. This story is a very nice escape. And a right tickler for submarine junkies. Moving right into book two.
August 24, 2022
Wonderful prequel. Enough world and character building to put everything in place for the action at the end. A few editing issues (grammer and spelling) but not enough to detract from the story. Looking forward to reading Cardinal Virtues.
May 14, 2024
Great very with fantastic characters
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that she will never stops writing. Her books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that she will never stops writing. Her books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
June 16, 2024
Really different submarine adventure.
I really enjoyed this read as it involved civilians, old USSR boats and a totaly different view of a submarine novel. Thanks for the read and look forward to the next one.
I really enjoyed this read as it involved civilians, old USSR boats and a totaly different view of a submarine novel. Thanks for the read and look forward to the next one.
November 1, 2024
Good read
Interesting read, clever characters and not to far in the future.
Like the idea, well written and I hope the characters will be continually developed through the series.
Interesting read, clever characters and not to far in the future.
Like the idea, well written and I hope the characters will be continually developed through the series.
June 12, 2025
A great read
I wasn't sure what I was going to find, but very happy that I took the chance. Fast paced page turner. Characters are great and believable. Would love to continue the tales of Alex.
I wasn't sure what I was going to find, but very happy that I took the chance. Fast paced page turner. Characters are great and believable. Would love to continue the tales of Alex.
December 26, 2025
The story nobody wanted to tell
The author did very well with the characters as far as background and personalty traits along the main characters. I will continue to read the series and hope that it's gets better.
The author did very well with the characters as far as background and personalty traits along the main characters. I will continue to read the series and hope that it's gets better.
November 30, 2023
I love myself a good submarine story. But, I had to really push my way through this one. Amateurish writing, B-movie dialog, and poor editing makes for a 2-star rating.
December 20, 2023
A riveting read
It’s a short read but it’s non stop action all the way. Submerge yourself in this one and you won’t regret it!
Highly recommended.
It’s a short read but it’s non stop action all the way. Submerge yourself in this one and you won’t regret it!
Highly recommended.
December 21, 2023
A new author for me, and I'll read more from her in future. It was an interesting storyline and not too convoluted and easy to follow.
December 28, 2023
Slow and Boring
Too much BS and tag a log stuff. Probably will not read any more of these books. Way way too much side action.
Too much BS and tag a log stuff. Probably will not read any more of these books. Way way too much side action.
February 4, 2024
Pretty good book. For in the near future.
March 30, 2024
First read...
Entertaining, but not what I was expecting. I will read more though. I won't give up after just one novel!
Entertaining, but not what I was expecting. I will read more though. I won't give up after just one novel!
April 19, 2024
Predictable reading
It was ok I might even try another book by this author. I love Amazon prime and there free reads
It was ok I might even try another book by this author. I love Amazon prime and there free reads
January 14, 2025
A too short, excellent story!
Fast paced action that I ate up in one sitting.
Don't miss this one.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Fast paced action that I ate up in one sitting.
Don't miss this one.
Can't wait to read the next one.
January 31, 2025
great read
A little different but a very good read. Already purchased the series!! I like the setting of what Subs will be like in 15 years.
A little different but a very good read. Already purchased the series!! I like the setting of what Subs will be like in 15 years.
March 31, 2025
Not great meh.
April 11, 2025
One fine read!
Marines, sailors, murderous undersea pirates; hours of boredom leading up to a few minutes of action...looks to be an interesting series
Marines, sailors, murderous undersea pirates; hours of boredom leading up to a few minutes of action...looks to be an interesting series
July 1, 2025
It was good. Few technical errors that didn't impact the story. I'll read the next one. ex-MMC(ss/dv/sw)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews