What do you think?
Rate this book
Dan Lenson #8
The Command
After receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for action in Iraq, Commander Daniel V. Lenson's new orders read: take over as skipper of USS Thomas W. Horn. His mission: prepare the Tomahawk-equipped strike destroyer and her crew for the Red Sea, where she'll join an international task force searching for weapons of mass destruction.
But this will be no routine deployment. Horn will be the first US Navy warship ever to deploy with an integrated male and female crew-a controversial and politically explosive experiment that will raise questions about morale, behavior, training, sexual attraction, and ultimately, performance under fire. Facing sandstorms, smugglers, and ambushes, Horn's increasingly polarized crew will conduct demanding, diplomatically sensitive search-and-seizure operations against foreign vessels attempting to smuggle arms to Iraq. But the real nightmare's brewing in Bahrain. There, the most dangerous bomb expert in Al-Qaeda has targeted Horn for attack- as the first step in a plan to redraw the map of the whole Middle East.
With gripping action scenes and an explosive climax, The Command continues Dan Lenson's star-crossed career in a series that explores both global and deeply personal implications of honor, duty, power, and war.
445 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
49 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
David Poyer
81 books240 followersAka D.C. Poyer.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 25, 2018
A good read
I enjoyed the plot and understand the trials of men and women in combat situations. I wish the ending was a little more detailed. What happened to those who didn't make it home. What was the reaction from higher headquarters...
I enjoyed the plot and understand the trials of men and women in combat situations. I wish the ending was a little more detailed. What happened to those who didn't make it home. What was the reaction from higher headquarters...
April 8, 2025
This novel continues the naval career of Commander Dan Lenson as he takes over as Captain of the USS Horn. The ship is serving in the Middle East, and faces threats from Islamic terrorists as well as command difficulties due in part to the composition of the crew. This is the first fighting ship in the USN with a mixed gender crew, and some sailors do not like it!. Even the Captain, who wants to make this work, is severely tempted late in the novel and serves as an example of why a mix of male and female shipmates can present problems.
The activities on the ship are highly detailed, especially on the bridge and in the conn, and it helps if you actually have served on a ship like the Horn before to fully understand what is going on.
I won't reveal the final scenes, but the situation portrayed in serious, possible, and mildly horrifying.
The activities on the ship are highly detailed, especially on the bridge and in the conn, and it helps if you actually have served on a ship like the Horn before to fully understand what is going on.
I won't reveal the final scenes, but the situation portrayed in serious, possible, and mildly horrifying.
December 14, 2014
So so book; tremendous ending.
November 1, 2019
Daniel V. Lenson's naval career continues in David Poyer's novel "The Command." In this outing, Dan holds the rank of Commander and has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His orders direct him to assume command of a strike destroyer armed with Tomahawk missiles. Dan soon learns that his ship's crew will consist of both men and women, per new U.S. Navy guidelines. Dan has concerns about this policy, as his ship will be deploying to the Red Sea. While docked in Bahrain for some necessary maintenance work, Dan's ship comes under the scrutiny of a long-time terrorist who would like to strike a blow against a decadent America... I find David Poyer to be a terrific storyteller who can grab your attention and keep you turning the page. If you enjoy thrilling military fiction, give it a look.
October 29, 2018
Another Ecellent Dan Lesson Novel
Dan Lessson is given command and fights his ship against terrorist threats, including a nuclear device. Hard to put the book down from the first chapter to the end.
Dan Lessson is given command and fights his ship against terrorist threats, including a nuclear device. Hard to put the book down from the first chapter to the end.
April 23, 2018
AWESOME!!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Great Read. !!!!!! Enjoyed everything about this book!!! Once I picked it up, can't put it down!! Great series!!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Great Read. !!!!!! Enjoyed everything about this book!!! Once I picked it up, can't put it down!! Great series!!
May 15, 2020
Dan Lenson good
March 27, 2021
On of the better Lenson novels
October 28, 2021
Was hoping for Clancyish. Got Dr Phli instead. Was a bit over haif way through before I kicked it to the curb.
January 30, 2025
One of the better of the series to date. A most enjoyable and exciting read with the tension maintained until the very end. Dan Lenson at his commanding best. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2008
Someone once called Poyer "the thinking man's Tom Clancy" and I'd have to agree. He creates fantastic action and settings so well you feel like you're there (I'd never have even condsidered there'd be oil floating on top of the water in the Middle East). The main character in this series, Dan Lenson, has many flaws and this makes him a character you root for because he's just like us. I also learned a lot about Navy life and the things that happenend when women began working on destroyers alongside men. This book is a great example of how you can writer action-adventure and still have sophisticated craft.
The only thing that wasn't for me was the jargon - I had to rearead sections a few times and crossreference pages to remember what some of the terms were. Then again, it was a good reminder of what many of my students have to do (or should do) when they have to read texts that are complicated for their reading level or background knowledge.
The only thing that wasn't for me was the jargon - I had to rearead sections a few times and crossreference pages to remember what some of the terms were. Then again, it was a good reminder of what many of my students have to do (or should do) when they have to read texts that are complicated for their reading level or background knowledge.
August 13, 2015
#8 in the Dan Lenson series.
Commander Dan Lenson is given command of the destroyer USS Thomas W. Horn, the first US warship to sail with an integrated male and female crew, and sent to the Red Sea to interdict contraband to and from Iraq. An interesting thread follows a black female Muslim agent of the NCIS as she tracks down stolen explosives destined for use against the US.
Commander Dan Lenson is given command of the destroyer USS Thomas W. Horn, the first US warship to sail with an integrated male and female crew, and sent to the Red Sea to interdict contraband to and from Iraq. An interesting thread follows a black female Muslim agent of the NCIS as she tracks down stolen explosives destined for use against the US.
January 27, 2009
A good military-thriller with lots (maybe too much) technical details - I frequently got lost in the naval acronyms. I missed the preceeding book in this series resulting in missing out on some background for the main character. I suspect these should be read in order.
December 11, 2010
Finally, Lensen get a command. My favorite unsung hero, in the Navy, that is. Lot of tech stuff I don't understand, but Poyer is a very good writer. He writes personally about his characters, that makes them real.
July 3, 2010
Rob // ...................
Excellent paced naval adventure story .. current events type
Excellent paced naval adventure story .. current events type
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews