- Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Presidio Press; Reprint edition (Jan 1 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0891417990
- ISBN-13: 978-0891417996
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.6 x 2.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,681,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Heavy on high-tech thrills but light on almost everything else, Weber's seventh novel zeroes in on that villain of the moment, China, and the ill-conceived fight it decides to pick with the United States. Using jingoistic language that at times harks back to fears of the "yellow peril," Weber (DEFCON One) portrays a nation hungry for power and territory fighting on three fronts Taiwan, the Panama Canal and the skies above the Pacific Rim. The key to China's military might is a new, top-secret laser gun that destroys U.S. aircraft. As the fierce fighting rages, Washington dispatches private intelligence specialists and former pilots Scott Dalton and Jackie Sullivan to China to kidnap the scientist who built the laser. Quickly learning that its secret has been uncovered and it's now overmatched, China falls back on its last resort: launching nuclear weapons at Hawaii and Alaska. Dalton and Sullivan, who were introduced in 1999's Primary Target, may be very brave, but they're also flavorless and stiff. As lovers whose relationship feels as dull as their personalities, they often appear to compete over who can utter the most banalities. (Sullivan: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Dalton: "Yeah, it's going to be a hot time in Beijing tonight.") Weber's initially promising plot nosedives after the first few chapters, hampered by hokey dialogue, exposition-heavy battle scenes and flagging suspense.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
A prolific and proficient technothriller writer, former marine pilot Weber turns his sights on the next cold war, the one impending with China. A few years from now, the Chinese procure advanced missile-defense laser technology through the defection of one Dr. Cheung. With this protection against American retaliation, they threaten Taiwan, and just to compound the crisis, act against the Panama Canal, to cut off American naval reinforcements to the Pacific. This, of course, brings the U.S. directly into the situation, overtly with naval and air protection for Taiwan and covertly with penetrations of China to retrieve or terminate Cheung. The action is brisk, the prose and characters are serviceable, Weber's expertise on U.S. military matters is high, and his depiction of Chinese motives and methods well above the level of Yellow Peril fantasies. A solid accomplishment for thriller readers. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Insulting,
By A Customer
This review is from: Dancing with the Dragon (Mass Market Paperback)
I love a good pulp-action book, but this book is just insulting. I will give him credit for his aviation knowledge, it seems pretty complete. However he clearly knows little about real life in the military. I'm guessing he was in a few years at best. His mistakes are about the only thing fun about this book. What this really comes down to though is the guy can't write, and the book is boring. Don't waste your money.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two thumbs up for Dancing With The Dragon......,
By
This review is from: Dancing with the Dragon (Mass Market Paperback)
In what amounts to a decent mix of cloak & dagger, high-tech weaponry, and modern day warfare, Dancing With The Dragon presents an appealing adventure story with slight undertones to events that could actually happen.Upon losing several military aircraft to puzzling explosions, the U.S. president assigns a deep cover troubleshooting team to investigate the losses. As evidence mounts and answers are revealed, the U.S. government learns of a new weapon system possessed by China that has frightening potential. Compounding problems already at hand, China demonstrates its power in a military play for Taiwan while simultaneously wresting control of the strategic Panama Canal. Forcing America to divide its military assets to control both conflicts, escalating tensions push inexorably toward a nuclear showdown. Dancing With The Dragon is an entertaining read from start to finish and delivers the goods for those looking for an action packed and well written novel.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Wasted Time,
By
This review is from: Dancing with the Dragon: A Novel (Hardcover)
I'll admit this up front: I couldn't even finish this book, it's that bad. Other reviewers have sufficiently covered the weaknesses in the plot, but I became so weary of Dalton and Sullivan trying to out-talk each other, and trying to prove to me, and perhaps themselves, that they really are interesting, intelligent people, that I had to put the book away. This whole book seems devoted to showing just how many different types of aircraft Dalton and Sullivan can have blown out from under them without suffering a single scratch or hangnail. I love flying, and I love well-spun flying yarns, but landing a Beech Bonanza after a bomb has exploded on board stretches the limits of credibility for me. I have to wonder what kind of self-respecting assassin plants a bomb in a Beech Bonanza that only blows the engine off its mounts. One would think that a power like China would arm its operatives with enough C4 to obliterate such a tiny plane, but that would have brought this book to a mercifully quick close.I'm also becoming weary of China as the main protagonist with current military thriller authors. Coyle invented a conflict with the Hungarians and the French that was refreshing a few years ago. Larry Bond wrote a great book involving the South Africans. The last three books I've read in this genre have centered around China doing something dastardly to conquer Taiwan. It's a worn out plotline, and I wish these guys would move on. There are plenty of potential adversaries out there, but this current crop of authors seems to lack the collective will to sit down and develop a plot that introduces something new to the genre. For a lesson on how that can be done, I would recommend the Honor Harrington series, written by David Weber. If you're a military sci-fi fan, and you enjoy well-written, engaging books, look no further than David Weber. Sorry I can't comment on the end of Dancing with the Dragon, but I just couldn't slug my way through it. Pure drudgery.
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