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Patrick McLanahan #16
Executive Intent
The United States has just launched the most powerful weapon in history -- a missilelaunching satellite called "Thor's Hammer" that can strike anywhere on the planet in seconds. The world's other major superpowers, Russia and China, are rocked by America's development, and they scramble to respond by gaining control of the seas.
But when terrorists hijack Pakistani missiles and fire them at Indian cities, U.S. President Joseph Gardner has only one option -- to use the untested Thor's Hammer. But when something goes awry, Pakistan decides to give China naval strategic advantage by granting access to Middle Eastern ports.
To make matters worse, Somali pirates board a Chinese freighter and slaughter the crew. China responds by brutally attacking and then occupying Somalia, quickly setting up missile pads that can target U.S. Naval ships. Now the U.S. high command is on red alert and the country's security is in total jeopardy. . .
Another flash point quickly emerges -- in Earth's orbit. When Chinese and Russian spacecraft surround an American space station, the threat is clear: negotiate and compromise, or China and Russia will cripple the U.S. Navy with ballistic missiles. Will the world's superpowers be plunged into a full-scale war?
With Executive Intent, the New York Times bestselling master thriller-writer Dale Brown crafts an action-packed tale of intrigue and technological weaponry that pits the world's superpowers in a contest for Earth's oceans and ultimate high ground -- space.
But when terrorists hijack Pakistani missiles and fire them at Indian cities, U.S. President Joseph Gardner has only one option -- to use the untested Thor's Hammer. But when something goes awry, Pakistan decides to give China naval strategic advantage by granting access to Middle Eastern ports.
To make matters worse, Somali pirates board a Chinese freighter and slaughter the crew. China responds by brutally attacking and then occupying Somalia, quickly setting up missile pads that can target U.S. Naval ships. Now the U.S. high command is on red alert and the country's security is in total jeopardy. . .
Another flash point quickly emerges -- in Earth's orbit. When Chinese and Russian spacecraft surround an American space station, the threat is clear: negotiate and compromise, or China and Russia will cripple the U.S. Navy with ballistic missiles. Will the world's superpowers be plunged into a full-scale war?
With Executive Intent, the New York Times bestselling master thriller-writer Dale Brown crafts an action-packed tale of intrigue and technological weaponry that pits the world's superpowers in a contest for Earth's oceans and ultimate high ground -- space.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2010
226 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Dale Brown
153 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 100 reviews
July 2, 2013
I began this book thinking that it would be a generic techno-thriller involving some conflict between China, Russia, and the US. It would have some high tech battles, some victories by either side, and a resolution that wouldn't be unrealistic. Turns out, nope.
Essentially the book was a piece of Air Force/NASA propaganda. Almost every other branch of the US military was marginalized or belittled in favor of the Air Force. Without spoiling anything, I can say that this book has some of the best Air Force porn I have ever read....
Zooming out from just the Air Force, this book is also just dripping with American patriotism and Pax Americana sentiments. Apparently, if any other nation has an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean, it constitutes a grave threat to American national security, and America must not allow them to build any overseas bases. This is an unrealistic and hypocritical view of American hegemony, and only dragged the weak plot down even further.
Essentially the book was a piece of Air Force/NASA propaganda. Almost every other branch of the US military was marginalized or belittled in favor of the Air Force. Without spoiling anything, I can say that this book has some of the best Air Force porn I have ever read....
Zooming out from just the Air Force, this book is also just dripping with American patriotism and Pax Americana sentiments. Apparently, if any other nation has an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean, it constitutes a grave threat to American national security, and America must not allow them to build any overseas bases. This is an unrealistic and hypocritical view of American hegemony, and only dragged the weak plot down even further.
August 2, 2024
Would really give it a 3.75…but don’t have that option.
This was an interesting read based on the fact that it was written in 2010 and was based on technology plans and headlines of events prior to 2010.
The interplay between the nations top politicians of various countries, and what is said politically vs what they are actually doing is sadly believable. The actions taken by the governments and military in the name of “scientific research” or any other similar names are never believed by anyone…regardless of how they have the press report it to the public. Was nice to read a novel based on the smoke screens that the governments think people are believing. No wonder the world is filled with so many conspiracy theorists when no one can really belief what they are being told.
Almost 15 years after this book was written and it is still the same…the world has never seen an “honest politician”, and likely never will. Does make for fun “fiction” reading though!!
This was an interesting read based on the fact that it was written in 2010 and was based on technology plans and headlines of events prior to 2010.
The interplay between the nations top politicians of various countries, and what is said politically vs what they are actually doing is sadly believable. The actions taken by the governments and military in the name of “scientific research” or any other similar names are never believed by anyone…regardless of how they have the press report it to the public. Was nice to read a novel based on the smoke screens that the governments think people are believing. No wonder the world is filled with so many conspiracy theorists when no one can really belief what they are being told.
Almost 15 years after this book was written and it is still the same…the world has never seen an “honest politician”, and likely never will. Does make for fun “fiction” reading though!!
May 27, 2021
Very high energy thriller, that involves China starting to expand its military reach, and having help from the Russians, as they target U.S. military space interests. The current U.S. president, seems limp-wristed as he does not believe any of the intel about this and wants to kowtow to the Chinese and Russians.
Meanwhile, the vice president, is the opposite, and undermines the president at times, to use non-governmental means of gathering intel and at times attacking/provoking the Russians and Chinese.
Brown does a good job with political running's in D.C., but does a masterful job of detailing military weapons, and aerial dogfights, as well as space based scenes. This is a true techno-thriller that comes with a few pages of acronyms, weapon names and terminology.
The only complaint would be how it ended. Seems things wrapped up fast and nothing was mentioned of what happens to the U.S. President. This may be mentioned in the next McLanahan book in the series "A Time for Patriots".
Meanwhile, the vice president, is the opposite, and undermines the president at times, to use non-governmental means of gathering intel and at times attacking/provoking the Russians and Chinese.
Brown does a good job with political running's in D.C., but does a masterful job of detailing military weapons, and aerial dogfights, as well as space based scenes. This is a true techno-thriller that comes with a few pages of acronyms, weapon names and terminology.
The only complaint would be how it ended. Seems things wrapped up fast and nothing was mentioned of what happens to the U.S. President. This may be mentioned in the next McLanahan book in the series "A Time for Patriots".
June 22, 2012
I pick up Dale Brown novels with a few expectations: The plot will be thick, the character development narrow and the dialog wooden. I do not seek great writing. I seek a fast tale, heroic exploits and a TV ending. His novels travel a well worn path: Crazed hawks take control in Russia, China, Iran or any other likely or just-possible antagonist. A small band of U.S. patriots in possession of unique foresight and technology stand in the way. But they must risk lives and careers in the face of apoplectic politicians and/or unenlightened generals who consider our heroes crazy and just this side of traitorous. Loud explosions and brave exploits follow. Our heroes win the day, and the typical American (who, by the way, we never meet) will live in blithe ignorance of his/her near annihilation.
This one was marked with 13 pages of character names (a nice feature), weapons names, and acronyms along with another 13 pages of "current" real world headlines and news stories. 26 pages before you begin reading was far too many; any new reader would probably be scared away just by the number of acronyms and weapons.
Mind you, this is exactly what I want. In "Executive Intent," Brown brings the story through the build-up phase just as expected. Well past the point where the Brown fan expects the shooting to start, the book is laying the groundwork for the action. OK, you say to yourself, he's trying something new. At some point, the reader gets the same feeling a television viewer has when too much of the plot remains unresolved with 10 minutes left to the show. Some of our heroes are captive of the bad guys; the novel's favored technology is threatened by the enemy; the U.S. president has turned paranoid and paralyzed. Screen to black. New scene: "Phew, that was a close one. Good thing we blew a whole bunch of stuff up and the bad guys backed down." Really, that's it. The action, the one redeeming feature of any Brown novel, happens off-screen.
At the end, the bad guys still have a strangle-hold on the U.S. Our protagonist is the target of death squads. All we miss are the words, "To be continued ..." A little too much like a TV ending.
This one was marked with 13 pages of character names (a nice feature), weapons names, and acronyms along with another 13 pages of "current" real world headlines and news stories. 26 pages before you begin reading was far too many; any new reader would probably be scared away just by the number of acronyms and weapons.
Mind you, this is exactly what I want. In "Executive Intent," Brown brings the story through the build-up phase just as expected. Well past the point where the Brown fan expects the shooting to start, the book is laying the groundwork for the action. OK, you say to yourself, he's trying something new. At some point, the reader gets the same feeling a television viewer has when too much of the plot remains unresolved with 10 minutes left to the show. Some of our heroes are captive of the bad guys; the novel's favored technology is threatened by the enemy; the U.S. president has turned paranoid and paralyzed. Screen to black. New scene: "Phew, that was a close one. Good thing we blew a whole bunch of stuff up and the bad guys backed down." Really, that's it. The action, the one redeeming feature of any Brown novel, happens off-screen.
At the end, the bad guys still have a strangle-hold on the U.S. Our protagonist is the target of death squads. All we miss are the words, "To be continued ..." A little too much like a TV ending.
April 19, 2019
Too technical for me to enjoy.
August 22, 2015
Interesting story. NOt at all what I expected. 3.5 stars Could have been a little better.
June 26, 2023
"The United States has just launched the most powerful weapon in history -- a missilelaunching satellite called "Thor's Hammer" that can strike anywhere on the planet in seconds. The world's other major superpowers, Russia and China, are rocked by America's development, and they scramble to respond by gaining control of the seas.
But when terrorists hijack Pakistani missiles and fire them at Indian cities, U.S. President Joseph Gardner has only one option -- to use the untested Thor's Hammer. But when something goes awry, Pakistan decides to give China naval strategic advantage by granting access to Middle Eastern ports.
To make matters worse, Somali pirates board a Chinese freighter and slaughter the crew. China responds by brutally attacking and then occupying Somalia, quickly setting up missile pads that can target U.S. Naval ships. Now the U.S. high command is on red alert and the country's security is in total jeopardy. . .
Another flash point quickly emerges -- in Earth's orbit. When Chinese and Russian spacecraft surround an American space station, the threat is clear: negotiate and compromise, or China and Russia will cripple the U.S. Navy with ballistic missiles. Will the world's superpowers be plunged into a full-scale war?"
But when terrorists hijack Pakistani missiles and fire them at Indian cities, U.S. President Joseph Gardner has only one option -- to use the untested Thor's Hammer. But when something goes awry, Pakistan decides to give China naval strategic advantage by granting access to Middle Eastern ports.
To make matters worse, Somali pirates board a Chinese freighter and slaughter the crew. China responds by brutally attacking and then occupying Somalia, quickly setting up missile pads that can target U.S. Naval ships. Now the U.S. high command is on red alert and the country's security is in total jeopardy. . .
Another flash point quickly emerges -- in Earth's orbit. When Chinese and Russian spacecraft surround an American space station, the threat is clear: negotiate and compromise, or China and Russia will cripple the U.S. Navy with ballistic missiles. Will the world's superpowers be plunged into a full-scale war?"
Read
June 11, 2019Executive Intent is the 16th book in the McLanahan series. Russia & China conspire to attack America's space based defense systems and POTUS is irrelevant, gutless and ignoramus-like...one you just like to hate...like Carter of Obama. Our hero, McLanahan is retired and still effective but does not dominate the dialogue as in previous editions. This is mostly about the White House occupant, the Veep and SECSTATE. Butk there's lots of tactical action--causing perturbations in the DC fabric. In the end, the author was too kind to the POTUS...he should have gotten a more dramatic comeuppance.
September 15, 2017
Another solid techno-thriller from Dale Brown - America's military space station is getting noticed by China and Russia, so they come together to try and destroy the station. There is an incredible sequence of 2 men going to fix a military satellite which is a true page turner, very exciting. Looking forward to the next book.
October 28, 2020
This book has elements of an entertaining read-suspense, a captivating plot and a well narrated story. My problem is that sometimes Dale gets carried away by the technical terms, perhaps forgetting that some of us are not US Airforce pilots. All in all, I discovered that I could enjoy the story if I chose to ignore that which I found difficult to understand.
December 20, 2024
An exciting well written techno-thriller. Seems the political players are still relevant today as this book was written a few years back. First time I have read this author although been meaning to as his subject is entertaining and intriguing. Lots of interesting info on space from the military perspective and the story moved along at a good pace. May read more of his books!
December 23, 2017
The book got off to a good start but then dragged on for a while and then ended too quickly. I felt like the author rushed to finish it after realizing there was too much going on. I did like the dialogue between characters though.
July 3, 2018
Another fine Dale Brown Techno-thriller, well written and fun. It is a good page-turner. The scenario is getting a little shopworn but remains valid. The Russians and Chinese team up to dethrone the US as a world power. Good summer read.
March 1, 2020
Somewhat interesting but goes into too much technical military talk at times whilst rambling on with mundane backstories at other points. Entertaining, and almost real, plot but ends a little abruptly with little story conclusion for my opinion.
January 12, 2021
Set in 2013, the tech was advanced for the time. The politics were the opposite of reality save pols motivations were just as selfish as ever.
The bad guys are laughably hateful and the good guys have white hats. It's Dale Brown alright.
The bad guys are laughably hateful and the good guys have white hats. It's Dale Brown alright.
August 28, 2018
Took a while to ramp up to interesting reading but it made it. Enjoyed it very much.
November 28, 2018
Hot damn
What a great thrill ride,plenty of action,great flying scenes,even if you don't read in order you follow along nicely ,this is well worth it
What a great thrill ride,plenty of action,great flying scenes,even if you don't read in order you follow along nicely ,this is well worth it
May 5, 2019
The action was mostly non-stop. My only negative is the epilogue. It jumped a few months ahead and left you guessing about the events in between the climax of the plot and the epilogue. It was confusing because I didn't know how the events in the epilogue came to pass.
Read
October 15, 2019I have enjoyed this series of books. I felt this was not up to Dale Brown's usual writing. The storyline seemed to drag on with too much detail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2020
Could have been better if the president in the book was not an Obama like weiner.
September 25, 2020
Solid book but Dale Brown must have had a due date to finish this. Story runs great at the expected pace and then with 20 pages to go, it moves very fast.
January 1, 2021
Executive Intent
Another interesting Dale Brown story. I don't enjoy the tolerating the stupid things that the President kept doing. It detracted from the whole story.
Another interesting Dale Brown story. I don't enjoy the tolerating the stupid things that the President kept doing. It detracted from the whole story.
October 1, 2021
A detailed build up with multiple plots. The ending was very abrupt.
October 18, 2022
It was ok, but I'm starting to lose interest in the Patrick McLanahan books. They just seem to meander lately.
January 19, 2023
Great follow on from earlier stories and a set up for more fun and an expanded plot line.
December 26, 2023
Space. Russia. China. Incompetent US President. VP Phoenix and XX's to the rescue. Good book for a long car ride
February 11, 2024
I'm glad the library doesn't have it all
April 28, 2024
Audiobook
Youll want to finish it but too many important characters introduced throughout the book. Just a bit rambly
Youll want to finish it but too many important characters introduced throughout the book. Just a bit rambly
May 9, 2024
Intense
Every one of these books have been incredibly intense and very infuriating. The worst part is that they could all be true.
Every one of these books have been incredibly intense and very infuriating. The worst part is that they could all be true.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews