Ghost Fleet

April 6, 2015
Tom Clancy fans will relish Singer and Cole’s first novel, a chilling vision of what might happen in a world war launched by a Chinese sneak attack on America’s eyes and brains in outer space. Singer, a military strategist, and Cole, a former defense-industry analyst for the Wall Street Journal, easily wed their knowledge to a fast-moving plot and characters who make an impression, even the minor characters who appear briefly. After the global economy tanks, urban workers’ riots sweep China, but instead of repressing the workers themselves, the military ousts the Communist leaders, clearing the way for a new government. When the Chinese strike, the Americans fight back. Among the many heroes is Cmdr. James Simmons, who assumes command of the USS Coronado when its captain is killed. Detailed endnotes documenting the real-world technologies and trends behind the book make the fiction even more plausible. Agent: Dan Mandel, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

August 1, 2015

Making their fiction debut, 21st-century warfare expert Singer (Wired for War) and Cole, a former Wall Street Journal defense industry reporter, bring an original approach to the military technothriller. In this near-future tale about a joint simultaneous attack on the United States by Russia and China, the authors describe all aspects of war from air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. The action moves constantly from seats of government to a retired World War II ship stationed in the Pacific. The blending of modern capabilities with old skills is effectively demonstrated by the newly appointed Commander Simmons in the unenviable position of managing an old ship that includes his father as one of the crew. VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended for fans of speculative fiction and war strategy. The authors provide extensive endnotes that support their chilling predictions. [See Kristi Chadwick's Mystery Spotlight, "Not Your Usual Suspects," LJ 4/15/15.--Ed.]

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