Larry Bond's First Team

Larry Bond's First Team #1

by Larry Bond, Jim DeFelice

In these harrowing times, with our enemies lurking in the shadows and their widespread tactics of unconventional warfare limiting the ability of our traditional armed forces, special measures are needed to fight this war on terror. Heeding this call the President has set up the Joint Services Special Demands Project. Known as "The Team" it is a unique unit existing beyond the bureaucratic restraints of either the U.S. intelligence or military establishments. With an almost unlimited budget, the Team--consisting of a CIA officer, two Special Forces commandos, and one outnumbered Marine--is authorized to track vital intelligence and then take immediate action. Called upon to track a quantity of radioactive waste that has gone missing in the former Soviet Union, the Team is faced with the fact that this material is now in the wrong people's hands. . . . And these terrorists are geared to wage the single deadliest attack ever on U.S. soil.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Military Fiction, Military Thriller, Action, Terrorism, Espionage

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Larry Bond is the author of several bestselling military thrillers, including Crash Dive, Cold Choices, Dangerous Ground, Red Phoenix and the Larry Bond’s First Team and Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising series. He was a naval officer for six years, serving four on a destroyer and two on shore duty in the Washington DC area. He's also worked as a warfare analyst and antisubmarine technology expert, and he now writes and designs computer games, including Harpoon and Command at Sea. He makes his home in Springfield, Virginia.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond

Reviews

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started with the names of people very difficult to read (pronounce) and the font was smaller than normal and the book was longer than average. I have read a lot of books and after the first two chapters I came to the conclusion that this book was not going to be worth my effort. It had the genesis of a good story but ...not for me.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seriously considered quitting this book after about 100 pages. At this point the problem wasn't the storytelling, but the horrendeous dialogue among the "First Team". I guess the authors were trying to add character to these people, but every other word was a joke or a lewd comment. This detracted from the already choppy story because it often seemed forced and out of place and incredibly unrealistic. I doubt soldiers trade crass jokes in the heat of battle.

The horrible dialogue tapers off somewhat and then the horrible story takes over. The authors can't describe scenery at all and do a horrible job of telling the reader why characters are in Iran, then in Russia, then split up into teams, then together. Why are they following a train? Why do they stop? How do they get to a US airbase from following a train? Those easy questions are never answered.

This book has the typical computer nerd working in a messy office at headquarters and he finds some useful info and shares it with the team in the field. Or at least I think he did. What he finds out and tracks makes no sense. The authors mention a May 11 memo. Where did this come from. Did I miss its introduction early in the novel?

The president of the USA sends a sexy 26 year old attorney who amazingly has gone through special forces training out in the field to go with the "Team" and to make all key decisions. Ridiculous.

The team and some Navy SEALS then raid a shipyard in Iran because they've been duped into thinking the ship with the wast was diverted there. This raid takes place very quickly, and there is zero debate or planning in the White House and Pentagon about such a sensitive and unprecedented operation. Ridiculous. A few chapters later, the same scenario plays out in Chechnya: this time a HUGE force of Special Operations personnel raid an airfield, and the only interference comes from some lousy Iranian MiG-29 fighter pilots.

[Pete · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Jerry Mitchell series but this novel, though well written didn't interest me that much. I wasn't drawn to any of the characters here and the story involved too much globe trotting.

[Roger Scherping · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is far too detailed to be enjoyable. The pace is very slow as the authors explain every possible detail of everything that is happening with the three concurrent story lines. The action sequences are so detailed that they're really difficult to follow.

The characters are not well developed at all. About the only things we learn about them are their name and branch of the service. And their dialogue of one-liner insults quickly gets irritating.

Take 200 pages out of this and make it into a movie. That might be very good.

I did enjoy the final action scene, though. That was exciting and moved quickly, and the authors deftly handled the three story lines.

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had purchased this book for my hubby, and he just took too long to read it...and it looked lonely, so I read it. It quickly became one of my favorites even though it isn't a genre I would normally have touched. I'm glad I did, because there's spies, danger, excitement, and lots of cool weapons and stuff.

I am still heartbroken by the ending, but it is still one of my go-to reads when I don't feel like searching for a book.

[Practical Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably doesn't deserve the full 4 stars, but it's more than a 3 star book.

Some times there's just a few more details or actions at the wrong time that messes with the pacing of the story. And I had trouble connecting with the characters at times. They seemed a little one-dimensional.

All in all though, the book is a pretty decent read despite the minor-ish nit-picks above.

[Neil · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is action packed.

Unfortunately that is the only good thing.

The characters in the main appear impervious to weapons or any damage no matter what they did.

They also appeared to have super human powers of recovery.

Which made the whole story very predictable with very little plot.

Not for me

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this, I did not finish it. I have liked his past books, but not this one. This was more espionage and less war fighting.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAR sea adventures
SPY
GOOD WAR STORY DETAIL
EASY READ
GET MOR

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Misogynistic and boring.

[Kevin Middaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting terrorist story.

[Karen Suhorsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book first one I have read by this author. Looking forward to #2

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. Made one think about how nuclear waste is disposed of here in the US and overseas.

[Dennis L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

As would be expected from Bond, this is a very good read! Moves fast and no downtime. Can’t wait to read the rest of the First Team books.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Bond’s best in my opinion. The basic plot was sound, Islamic terrorist are planning on building a dirty bond and are targeting Hawaii. Investigating and trying to stop the terrorists are clandestine group called ‘The Team’ that operate independently of any real oversight, but they get the job done. As far as this went everything was good, the action and battle scenes were OK but lacked some of the technical punch that I have come to expect from Bond.
On the downside however there were a number of things that irritated me and prevented this from being a great book. For me there was not enough of Bond’s brilliant combat scenes. Too much time seem to be spent in stake out /surveillance operations. Now there is nothing wrong with this it’s just not what I expect from a Bond book. There was a major subplot of the new president being unhappy with the level of oversight on the Team and provide a new boss to provide the required level. He chooses one of his in house lawyers and then sends her out into the field with the ‘Team’ to manage the operation first hand. This was just not credible the skill set needed to survive in hostile territory is specialised and I can’t see how a White House lawyer would be anything other than a hindrance to the Special Forces she is in charge of. Needless to say so isn’t a handicap and seems to immediately excel as a field operative. Also I felt that too much emphasis was put on this plot and the associated one concerning the maverick leader of the Team who never follows orders and takes unnecessary risks. Which rather than improve the story caused it stagnate at times and loose the pace and tension that had been building up.
This reminded me of some of the reservations had over the early books in the Jerry Mitchell series which took a while to really get going in the Bond style. Hopefully the Team series will improve as it develops.

[Sarah Eckert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love military/CIA/FBI themed books. Especially one where protagonists go after terrorists and win.

Guess it's just the American in me.

I also like when authors think about ways terrorists can get us, then figure out how to make the protagonists figure out what the terrorists are doing and then stop them. It shows that they are thinking and that if the public reads these books might be on the lookout for ways terrorists might think to attack us and how we can stop them.

Or it might just make us paranoid.

I've always liked Larry Bond & John Nance. The two of them can write a book that I will read in one sitting -- or at least very few sittings as opposed to a book I can put down.

I also like that Larry has a very likable and knowable cast of characters that isn't so big (as in some military themed novels) that I can't keep them straight or there has to be list at the front of the book to tell you who they are.

The language in this book is a little strong, though.

[Mike Emett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not one to just stop reading book no matter how bad, dragging-ly slow it is, good, great etc etc etc it is... I will finish it!!!!! However.... Larry Bond has the 'honor' of being my first book/author to just stop reading a book altogether. I love military/political techno-thrillers to the max! YET.... this book was dragging.... dragging.... I could not take it anymore! Sorry Larry. I had hopes for this series and other books but it drags on and on. I look into and read through other books of yours and they drag too.... I had to stop Larry Bond books and donate them. Sorry. Others may love his books and that is their prerogative and I respect them for that... I just did not like this book.

[Martin Streetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main reason I gave this book 4 stars was the perceived realism. I don't know if it was real or not but my perception was that it was real. Does anyone know if SEAL's and Force recon dudes don't get along? Did they really build a plane, great story. Tip of the spear type stuff. Hard decisions, good guys die. Thanks Nick, can I borrow the others?

[Elisif]

I don't know if I'm going to like this, but years ago I really enjoyed some of his other stuff. The military stuff I read is usually non-fiction, but fiction might be a nice change. I'm so busy these days, something escapist is best.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book of Larry Bond’s first team finds the NSA team trying to track down a group of terrorists who are taking nuclear waste from Soviet Waste sites. As they travel between the various Soviet satellites trying to stop the attack. Ok read

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book if you like military adventure and spy stories

[Craig · Rating 1 out of 5]

Larry Bond should have stuck to writing his own books rather than renting his name to the sophomoric First Team series.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Co-written with Jim DeFelice. I suspect that Bond offered only the use of
his name to this effort as it is badly written. I retired after 50 pages.

[Papal Bull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow. Jumpy. Not as enjoyable as other technothrillers out there. Definitely not as good as Bond's earlier work.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing compared to his earlier works with Patrick Larkin.

[Beth A · Rating 4 out of 5]

tight, suspenseful story telling

[Mr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling adventure. Makes you wonder what's really going on in the threats mind.

[Bob4you · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading it again 3/19 as I was reading 4 books at one time, not good idea, too confusing. LOL

[Dick]

I would recommend this book to anyone who has served in the miltary.

[Norris Holmes]

After bout a qtr way into it I gave up. Just couldn't seem to get into it any longer. And way too much cussing for me as well.