A page-turner filled with an insiders knowledge of military aircraft. (Kirkus)From the Back CoverWith the death of his heroic father, bomber and space warfare veteran Patrick McLanahan, Bradley McLanahan must now fly solo, leading a team of young engineers designing Starfire, the world's first orbiting solar power plant. Starfire will not only deliver unlimited and inexpensive electricity anywhere on planet Earth, it can also transmit power to the moon, and even to spacecraft and asteroids. It's a crucial first step in the exploration of the solar system, and Bradley and his team are on the cutting edge. But U.S. president Kenneth Phoenix's plans to militarize and industrialize Earth's orbit spark an arms race in space that eclipses the darkest and most terrifying days of the Cold War. Before he can prevent it, Bradley and his team are caught at the center of a battle that threatens to become an all-out global conflict for control of space.About the AuthorFormer U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 26 best-selling action-adventure techno-thriller 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), FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN, (1999), WARRIOR CLASS (2001), WINGS OF FIRE (2002), AIR BATTLE FORCE (2003), PLAN OF ATTACK (2004), ACT OF WAR (2005), EDGE OF BATTLE (2006), STRIKE FORCE (2007), SHADOW COMMAND (2008), ROGUE FORCES (2009), EXECUTIVE INTENT (2010), A TIME FOR PATRIOTS (2011), TIGERS CLAW (2012), STARFIRE (2014), and IRON WOLF (2015). He is also the co-author of the best-selling DREAMLAND techno-thriller series and writer and the PUPPET MASTER series, and is a technical consultant of the Act of War PC real-time strategy game published by Atari Interactive, and the Megafortress PC flight simulator by Three-Sixty Pacific. Dales novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks, e-books, and computer games exceed 15 million copies. what is the #1 best selling book Starfire: A Novel
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Just not what I've come to expect from a Dale Brown book.By adrenalnjunkyJust not a good book from Dale Brown. It has been a few years since I read Tiger's Claw but I really don't remember Dale's storytelling to be this disjointed and , well, boring. It seems to be that problem where a genre-author can't remember how to do the things that are unique to them and the book doesn't "feel" the same. Dale did best with the yank and bank of aerial warfare - and the Dreamland novels have maintained that - but all of the space based stuff here doesn't convey any of that action. There's a lot of lack of plot development, and when you think things are starting to get to that finale-but-not-really-the-finale (oh no, how will they save the day, surely they're not ending it like this) - it just concludes, wraps up a few loose ends in a few paragraphs, kills a handful of characters, and the epilogue makes you really start to dislike a major character. I will give the next book a chance when it comes out next month - but it better impress or I'm done with Mr. Brown.11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. A Poor Showing for Dale BrownBy C. F FulbrightIve never thought that Dale Brown was a stellar writer, but his plots usually are fun, and you end up enjoying the books despite the writing. I cant give Starfire that benefit of the doubt.Certainly the book starts with the promise of a good plot, but the dialogue is so comical as to make it painful to read. Brown even throws in some embarrassing romance and sex scenes, which trust me you dont want to read yourself.Then we have the Darth Vader allusion to Patrick McLanahan being kept alive inside a Cybernetic Infantry Device, and his son repulsed and yet eager to see his father in the flesh, despite his injuries.And then we have the ridiculous and unlikely passivity by the US President and government (passive even by Obama standards). Why do US Presidents not stand up to crazy Russian dictators, and allow attacks on US military installations without retaliation? Why doesn't anyone complain that the Russians are trying to kill Bradley McLanahan on US soil? How can the American Vice President be killed by the Russians in an overt act of war, and nothing happens?As a final aside, Im frankly disgusted by Browns continued and repeated use of the term American Holocaust to describe a Russian attack in a previous book that killed about 20,000 Americans. Such an attack on US military installations is nothing like The Holocaust, and I ask Brown to cease and desist.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Turning Patrick Mac into Darth Vader?By Gem555Dale is mailing it in. Long on tech explanations, short on action too. I think Brown needs to regroup and reconsider the story arc a bit.