Typhoon

by Mark Joseph

The New York Times bestselling author of To Kill The Potemkin delivers a riveting novel of suspense. Deep beneath the Arctic ice, the world's most sophisticated and powerful submarines engage in a deadly game of deception, treachery, and hull-shattering warfare--in what Stephen Coonts calls "the best submarine tale since The Hunt for Red October.

Genres: Fiction, Military Fiction, Thriller

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Nadienne Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book lies! "The two giant Typhoons face off" doesn't really happen...oh, sorry *spoilers*...there are actually two showdowns between Typhoons (the first one is the "face off" mentioned on the back cover) and, well, the "villain" Typhoon is killed off by an accident/poor design/writer fiat...what have you. Then the "hero" Typhoon is done in by some other means...and then the second "villain" Typhoon is taken out by a freaking nuclear missile from the American submarine.

The story wasn't too bad...it is the run of the mill ambitious-future-dictator-military-officer-in-the-crumbling-Soviet-Union-plot that was all the rage in the early 1990s. However, unlike other stories that I've read in this genre to this point, the action is like 95% on the submarines. None of these "commandos in the Middle East side" stories I've encountered in others...it did get me thinking; however, why are there never stories about ambitious American military officers trying to overthrow their government being taken out by Russian heroes...oh, wait, right...I live in the can-do-no-wrong-USA. The CIA propaganda machine would never allow that...

But, I digress. It was entertaining enough...I think it would probably translate well onto the big screen were it to be made...although, the Soviets do come across like bumbling idiots with constant equipment failures, break-downs, incompetence, and mustache-twirling villains...

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried reading this two other times, to no avail. I had a hard time getting out of the first chapter or two, but I thought I would give it another chance. It is actually pretty good - it spends a lot of time building up "to the ending", but the payoff is definitely worth waiting for. While it does feel like it moves at a slow pace for most of the book, it still was a fast read for me. The character development was decent. The book focuses more on the Russians than the Americans, so that was kind-of interesting as not too many books focus on the "other side's perspective" or do not have the United States military as a secondary focus.

The "heroic" Russian admiral was actually a bit more interesting than his American counterpart commanding the USS Reno, in my opinion. Granted, that is because the author spent more time building up his character over the course of the novel whereas the American captain's character seemed centered around how the American was tormented by visions of nuclear fire across the world in private while attempting to present the "cool, calculating, calm" officer as expected by the upper command. I think I actually liked the Russian admiral more than the American submarine captain, to be honest.

The book is about a potential civil war and military coup d'etat as some hardline Russian naval officers want to return the Soviet Union to the "good old days" of totalitarianism and crushing down the peasants so that the select few can live a good life at the expense of everybody else. The hardliners have been pushing events to a head to force the government to act, and the hardliners are willing to use atomic/nuclear blackmail to see that their wishes are acted upon. Hence, the fleet of Typhoons that are to potentially be used to rain nuclear hellfire down on protesting Russian cities and the Russian population at large. The American submarine happens to get involved "by mistake" as it is initially just supposed to trail a Typhoon and collect data. Then, when the shooting starts, the Reno follows one Typhoon around and around as Russian forces duke it out and are destroyed by the "rogue" Russian admiral attempting to prevent a civil war and decimation of his country by sinking his former command.

It was a good book. I enjoyed reading it by the time I was not-quite-halfway through it. It does take some time to get to the point where the plot really gets moving, but it is worth the wait. There definitely were some twists-and-turns I did not expect, which made it all the more enjoyable. I am glad I took the time to (finally!) give the book a try and read it.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typhoon is about a Cold War submarine battle taking place in Soviet waters. It starts off slow with technical information but then picks up as the characters develop. Zenko is a revered Russian leader who learns of plans to overthrow the current government with submarines he designed. Gunner is the American in charge of USS Reno and its intelligence gathering operation. The USS Reno stumbles upon the escalation of the Soviet civil tension exhibited by Soviet Subs at odds. Gunner and Zenko attempt to understand each other, during political tension, under the ice, without communicating.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very entertaining submarine adventure novel here. There is constant action and tension throughout yet the author doesn't make the mistake of trying to overwhelm readers with techno terms and navy acronyms. The characters weren't developed in great detail but they were interesting. The tradition of the bluenose initiation ceremony provided some humor to balance the more serious tone of the book.

[Rob Leininger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I thought this started pretty slow. But I stayed with it and it came on strong starting about 30% of the way through. A good solid submarine tale, as good as Larry Bond's novels.

[Mark B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-4 Typhoon class submarines, a pair of Akula's, and US Los Angeles class sub, and the good guys (both American and Russian) saving the day -- whats not to like?

[Todd Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but then I could not put down.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story involving USA vs Russia Subs and their commanders when Civil War was about to break out in Russia. Overall it was pretty good.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed The Hunt for Red October you'll like Typhoon by Mark Joseph. It's the late nineties and a few naval officers, fearing the implosion of the Soviet Union and loss of Soviet satellites, have hatched a plan to force a military coup by faking a rebellion and threatening to launch an atomic missile at the capitol of Georgia. Admiral Zenko, in charge of the Soviet Typhoon class submarine base at Gremikha is determined to thwart the rebellion. A Los Angeles class American sub gets caught in the middle and a cat-and-mouse game results. A very entertaining read.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set at the end of the cold war, this REALLY takes advantage of that "What If". I had a hard time putting it down!!! A great read beginning to end and well worth sharing.

[M Schelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping story. Detailed enough to keep you interested, but not quite the technical manual done others can be.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the best submarine warfare book!! Its a great read, definite page turner once your lured into the plot.