Scorpion in the Sea

I recently found Deutermann, and after reading Pacific Glory, I wanted to investigate more. Deutermann has strengths and weaknesses. And the weaknesses interrupt the story line. Looking at books he has written over more than 10 years, he is not abandoning the weaknesses. And here, in Scorpion as in Pacific Glory, it has to do with the love subplot.

He also used the same lousy (it is really horrid) joke in both books. Where is the creativity there? But to highlight, as a first time writer here, when he has the improbable lovers together he will switch POV in mid paragraph multiple times. That is never a good practice. And he gives us insights that show just how perfect the two are, when he often leaves out introspection about why the show more lovers should embark on the course that they do.

Considering how awesome the action sequences work, leaving out all reference to a tangled love affair would have made a stronger tale. And note I think the action sequences are awesome. We see inside the enemy as well as our hero's force. We see modern naval warfare and it works well, though some of the politics in the tale begin to seem far fetched. Some of the assumptions about failure to report so that people can keep the waters smooth seem placed to make the ending come about, rather than how we think our navy would handle matters.

If you like tense, tight dramatic military fiction, then this is for you. It stands with Poyer's Dan Lenson series, though here, i think we have a one off. It is certainly worth a read despite the reservations I have noted. show less