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3.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating politics, intricate plot, dull characters, Sep 26 2003
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I do have some complaints. As stated in other reviews, it takes a bit for the action to pick up. There are also many, many characters and places and too-detailed descriptions that I found unnecessary. My biggest complaint, which was something that started off as a minor annoyance but gradually became more and more irritating, was the author's abysmal, despicable portrayal of the only female character in the entire story. She was nothing more than eye-candy, which I'm sure sounds strange for a novel, with horrible dialogue consisting exclusively of "Are you okay?", "What now?", and "Oh how terrible" lines, seldom more than a sentence at a time. There was really no reason for her to exist in the story as she was written. Aside from these complaints, the story was very good. The politics, subterfuge, espionage, and suspense were very well done. The plot to keep the oil barons rich and the American military budget booming ran a worrisome parallel to our current political situation. I am willing to recommend this book, but I would suggest purchasing it used, or looking for it in your local library. I would also remind the reader that the story was written in the late 1980s and may seem a little dated in its pacing and character development, but ultimately anyone who enjoys a decent political action thriller should enjoy it.
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