Recommended Reading

Submarine Novels (nuclear age)

1. The Hunt for Red October. The Granddaddy of Them All (Post WWII). I wasn't even thinking about the Navy when Tom Clancy wrote his landmark novel which launched his epic career and opened the way for modern submarine fiction. But the book gained popularity while I was becoming a naval officer at the U.S. Naval Academy, and it was significant within our geeky culture.
   
   
2. Deep Sound Channel. This is the first of a six-book series by Joe Buff, who in my opinion is the most scientifically gifted submarine author. He's a research machine, and he weaved space-age composite materials and uber-deep nuclear blasts into great battle scenes which I consider the technical manual for future super-deep warfare. Unfortunately for fiction fans, he's moved on to non-fiction and is working on a 200,000+ monster about nuclear deterrence that I'm looking forward to reading.
   
   
3. Trident Deception. Rick Campbell's debut is solid throughout, and it involves a cool "risk" or two where the author experiments with "what if" it really happened in combat. He also has good intrigue on land, rounding out an exciting plot with memorable characters on and off the submarine. Most notably, this is the only book in my Top 5 that's part of an active series. This book may rise in my rankings as it has time to sink into my brain as a fond memory like the others. Check it out!
   
   
4. Scorpion in the Sea. It's one of two I read while I was curled up in my rack on an actual submarine. P.T. Deutermann's submarine novel involved older technology even for its time (twenty-five years ago), but as a character-driven story, it's a gem worth remembering. The final climax scene is still emblazoned on my memory.
   
   
5. Phoenix Sub Zero. Although it's the third in a series, it's the first book I read by Michael DiMercurio. It's one of two I read while I was curled up in my rack on an actual submarine. It's the book I credit with rekindling my interest in submarine fiction after putting down The Hunt for Red October. The author stopped writing the series after nine or ten books, but it's still a series worth checking out.
   
   

Non-submarine-centric naval novels:

1. Red Storm Rising. Some have said Tom Clancy's follow-on effort to The Hunt for Red October is too long. Whether it is or isn't, I'm giving credit to the book that wowed us three decades ago with "what ifs" when heavyweight navies slug it out.
   
   
2. The Seventh Angel. Jeff Edwards' second naval novel is his most harrowing with respect to danger to America, and it takes only one madman antagonist to make it happen. I enjoyed the simplicity of the bad guy's motivation (i.e. a power grab) and how he toyed with America at least until… No. I'm not spoiling it for you!
   
   
3. Tomahawk. David Poyer cranks out naval warfare novels like a machine, and Tomahawk marked my entry point into reading his Dan Lenson novels. Though I read it forever ago, I remember the excellent writing, the credible technical data, and a plot twist I found jaw-dropping but won't mention for fear of ruining it for you.
   
   
4. For Duty and Honor. George Galdorisi is a Tom Clancy author for a reason. He's good. When I found myself trying to poke holes in his plot, I realized I was doing so because it was so damned exciting. And well written. This is U.S. carrier-based excitement, but surface ships, subs, and human operatives play major roles. Enjoy!
   
   
5. Raven One. Kevin Miller's first air-combat novel has grown on me. The plot develops slowly, introducing the antagonist and main conflict later than most stories, but it does so in exchange for crafting the most impressive presentation of characters I've seen in a military combat novel. This, of course, requires strong narrative, which the author delivers in spades. As an update, his next books are even better.
   
   
6. Nimitz Class. I thought about ranking this under submarine novels, but it's a bit more than that, as the title implies. Patrick Robinson's first naval novel includes an unforgettable first battle scene and a very cool undersea navigation challenge through dire straits. Although the author didn't make a long-running series out of it, this debut kicked off his still-thriving career writing naval thrillers.
   
   

Other Military Novels

1. Kremlin Storm This is #4 of the Sokolov brothers series by Ian Kharitonov which pairs a Russian rescue hero/killing machine with his historian genius brother in solving crimes and fighting evil. The series' first three books were blends of action, intrigue, and culture. In book 4, the author winds up the action and spins it nonstop, and he includes an American angle with CIA interests. It's a James Bond-ish blend of espionage with special ops combat. As far as the quality of writing, Kharitonov's one of the best. Check it out!
   
   
2. Operation Ivy Bells A diamond in the rough by Robert Williscroft. Presented as a first person ("I" did this, "I" did that) diary-novel , it's a mix of the author's memory and his creative mind. Not a big fan of diving stories, I tried it on Kindle Unlimited and discovered a first-class hybrid submarine-diving adventure. It's old school 70's submarining, but the tactics are breathtakingly stimulating, the stakes are high, and the writing is great.
   
   
3. Fields of Fire This is a Viet-nam War era glimpse of the USMC. Former marine, senator, and Secretary of the Navy, James Webb wrote this hard-hitting story which gives one of the most authentic impressions of the conflict and the overall sense of heroism shaping the rich history of the American fighter.