The Last Israelis

With the Prime Minister of Israel hospitalized, it's a perfect time for Iran to make good on their threat of taking care of Israel once and for all with their nuclear weapons that are almost complete. That's when the Dolphin, an Islraelis submarine, is called back to reassemble for a mission of their own.

Daniel Zion, who is captain, and thirty-four other men, all from different walks of life, become the crew of the sub. All of the men have their own beliefs and thoughts of what is happening and what should happen, and the sub fills with hate and distrust among them.

Meanwhile, while they are under water, they lose contact with Naval Command. Now, they have to decide if they should go ahead with their orders of setting off missiles or not. But leading up to this decision is a journey of epic proportions - the men have dreams that are hard to distinguish between reality, there is an enemy sub in the waters, a fire and more. It's a treacherous and realistic adventure that will give you thrills and chills.

Noah Beck has written such a multi-faceted novel; one filled with politics, life-altering choices, back-to-back action and compelling characters. I could easily see this novel made into a movie - it's so vivid and surreal. Riveting, exciting and too close for comfort, The Last Israelis is a well-written novel that is sure to be a best-seller. I finished days ago and I'm still absorbing everything. It's definitely impactive! ( )

The book begins with what seems to be a slower pace -- you get to know the crew members through a brief shore-leave picnic, and at first there isn't a lot of action. But then you realize that this is deliberately done, so that when the action and the tension begin, about a third of the way through, you are experiencing them through the lenses of the different characters, whom you know well by this point. Amongst the novel's strengths is its great ability to give you different perspectives on the issues in question -- and there is real conflict between the crew members' views, all of which are drawn fairly, and with substance -- making this novel as much an intellectual thriller as a military and psychological one. By about the halfway point you won't want to put it down -- the tension has built slowly but unrelentingly, and the climax is really quite intense ... A very good read, a gripping read, and ultimately a chilling one -- lots to think about for anyone concerned about matters middle east ... as a philosopher (author most recently of Uncommon Sense: The Strangest Ideas from the Smartest Philosophers), I had plenty to engage with ... and as a fan of thrillers, I had plenty to be thrilled by! ( )

I was privileged to receive an advance copy of "The Last Israelis" and it was every bit as engaging as promised. When the Israeli Prime Minister awakens to receive intelligence that a nuclear Iran is only days away, he is left with a choice - what to do to safeguard his small nation when a Muslim nation that has vowed to destroy Israel can carry out the threat with just a push of a button. As the world's powers are sidelined by bickering and backroom deals, it appears that Israel is, as usual, alone.

Accentuating Israel's cultural history, which through immigration is much the same as the US' own "melting pot", the crew of the nuclear submarine Dolphin nevertheless share a love for their country (adopted or not) that is stronger than their differences. However, even family disagrees. Faced with the continual "first-strike" threats of Iran's leadership, will the crew of the Dolphin be able to come together to perform the ultimate "second-strike" duties should the unthinkable happen?

One part "Crimson Tide" and another part "Twelve Angry Men", the final third of the book is some of the fastest paced and most gripping literature I have ever read and I would hold it up against the writing of even the most established writers of political/military thrillers. Life on a claustrophic submarine is tough enough during peace time, but life on the Dolphin is made all the more tense when thoughts of family and old psychological scars rear their heads to mix with the stress of real-world ops.

At a time, when Israel's very existence is being threatened by the impending doom of a their belligerent Muslim neighbors, this book is not only hard hitting, but topical. Will the US come to the rescue of Israel or will they be forced to "go it alone" as has repeatedly happened throughout their history because of the rest of the world's entanglements with the oil-rich Middle East. A must read for everyone who loves this nation - no matter where they live. ( )

It could easily happen.

What if your country was about to be attacked, possibly annihilated, what if you held your nation's last means of defense, its final means of retaliation, and what if you are isolated, cut off, with no way to confirm the orders that you are given, and even those orders are confusing and contradictory.

This premise was made into a movie, Crimson Tide, with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. There is just one major difference: Your country is too small to survive a concerted nuclear, chemical and conventional attack.

In fact, there is no country left for you to defend.

What then?

This is an amazing thriller that doesn't fit neatly into categories. It could be a techno-thriller but it does not have the emphasis on weapons systems that characterizes the genre. It is also a drama, with a deep philosophical undertone, and deep political meaning inside, all of it wrapped around a riveting story that will keep you turning pages, either paper or electronic ones.
I cannot wait for more books by Mr. Beck. ( )

A Dramatic Journey on a Nuclear-Armed Sub

The timing of this suspenseful book is perfect - with all the controversy around Iran's nuclear ambitions dominating the headlines. I might disagree with the author on some geopolitical issues but the idea of the book is excellent. The horrific scenario in the novel shows what could happen IF the issue is not handled properly.

What I really liked is the way the author combined reality with fantasy, modern with ancient... The Biblical stories and the dreams are absolutely fascinating. I also liked the conflict between the two main characters -- Daniel and Yisrael. Besides the very human emotions of jealousy and rivalry, it also vividly and fairly shows the divide within Israeli society between right and left-wingers, as well as the chasm that splits the government on whether to strike or not to strike.

I am not Israeli myself but by reading this book I felt as if I had gotten to know a very diverse cross-section of the people in Israel and how they feel about a variety of issues. The author managed to show (very skillfully) the fears and hopes of living in the Holy Land. ( )