Boomer

By: Charles D. Taylor

Narrated by: David Gilmore

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Twenty years ago, the KGB planted an agent in the American Navy. Today, he is the commander of an American nuclear attack submarine!

Wayne Newell is all navy, all American, all traitor. A graduate of the Soviet "charm school", Newell is captain of the nuclear attack submarine USS Pasadena, now patrolling beneath the Pacific. He's convinced his crew that the world is at war - and that the Russians have a deadly masking device that makes Soviet submarines sound exactly like the most crucial ships in the American fleet: the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines known as Boomers. The subs that the Pasadena detects may sound American - but they're the enemy and must be destroyed. The deception has begun....

In a world of darkness, super-sensitive listening devices and nerve-wracking tension, Newell's crew is being driven to the breaking point: cut off from communications and forced to destroy "enemy" subs in a war they can't confirm. And while the US Pacific Command scrambles to find out who is attacking their fleet, two American submarines must go to war - against an aggressor who knows their every move, and is rapidly destroying America's sea-based strategic nuclear defense.

©1990 Charles D. Taylor (P)2015 David N. Wilson

Critic Reviews

"Technically brilliant...plus the added bonus of strong characters and an intelligent plot." (Nelson DeMille, author of the John Corey series)

"Taylor rachets the suspense well past the breaking point... Boomer is a hell of a fine sea story!" (Stephen Coonts, author of the Tommy Carmellini series)

Deep sea warfare

Boomer (Unabridged)
________________________________________

Author: Charles D. Taylor
Date:
2015
Narrator:
David Gilmore
Provider:
Crossroad Press
Running Time:
13 h 16 min
Audible Enhanced Audio

Twenty years ago, the KGB planted an agent in the American Navy. Today, he is the commander of an American nuclear attack submarine! Wayne Newell is all navy, all American, all traitor. A graduate of the Soviet "charm school", Newell is captain of the nuclear attack submarine USS Pasadena, now patrolling beneath the Pacific. He's convinced his crew that the world is at war - and that the Russians have a deadly masking device that makes Soviet submarines sound exactly like the most crucial ships in the American fleet: the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines known as Boomers. The subs that the Pasadena detects may sound American - but they're the enemy and must be destroyed. The deception has begun.... In a world of darkness, super-sensitive listening devices and nerve-wracking tension, Newell's crew is being driven to the breaking point: cut off from communications and forced to destroy "enemy" subs in a war they can't confirm. And while the US Pacific Command scrambles to find out who is attacking their fleet, two American submarines must go to war - against an aggressor who knows their every move, and is rapidly destroying America's sea-based
strategic nuclear defense.

If you enjoy books about the military and the way it functions, specifically about the navy and it’s submarine service, then I think you will enjoy this. It’s long, and it gets technical, and there are a lot of details which, if carefully read will make the action on which this story hinges and the amazing climax of the book easily comprehensible and even more thrilling than it would be, otherwise.

However, this book is far more textured. It’s not just a military story, or a sea story (much as I love sea stories). It is, at its heart, about people; what motivates them, how they react, especially under extreme pressure, and where, and how strongly, they place their loyalties. Part of what makes this book so satisfying is that the author inserts his readers into each wardroom …and by the time the crunch comes, this reader, at least felt less like an observer, but a member of each crew. I found myself wanting the best for almost each and every character, even though I knew some would have to die, and it helped that I “knew” some of the families, as well.

I have read many books about ships and sailors, including submarines and submariners, but it was this book which brought home to me just how isolated, and how fragile, a submarine can be, and the courage it must take to submit oneself to an environment as hostile and dangerous as outer space.

Not only do we see the aspects of submarine warfare played out, but we also get to see political strategies and diplomacy on a grand scale, primarily from the viewpoint of the USSR. Again, the author is wise enough to humanize the players, so these aren’t automatons playing roles but believable characters who must gather information and make decisions in record time that will profoundly affect the entire world.

The writing is brisk, detailed, and yet sometimes thoughtful and even poetic. The author can handle human as well as technical details and interlace them in ways that make this book interesting for both military buffs and those who prefer to read about people and what drives them.

The narration was excellent, as well, in all areas. I did notice, and I am not sure if this is a narrator issue or a technical issue, that when characters were speaking, the voice was louder than when they were thinking. Sometimes, when a character was becoming introspective, or when something was being described, the volume became so soft that it became distracting. However, this did not affect my thorough enjoyment of this excellent book.

I give both book and narrator 5 out of 5 stars, as I expected to be able to do, having read another of this author’s books.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Intense 3 Way Cat and Mouse

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The book is unique, suspenseful, and thought provoking.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Boomer?

When Wayne Newell's EO figures out what is really happening.

Have you listened to any of David Gilmore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first listen.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the Pasadena and Manchester met their fate.

Any additional comments?

This is a very complex Thriller. It develops into a 3 way cat and mouse between the traitor's Wayne Newel's submarine the Pasadena, the protector submarine The Manchester commanded by Ben Steele and the target boomer submarine The Florida commanded by Buck Nelson.This is a classic Greek tragedy set in modern times,

Viewed from the American perspective Wayne Newel is a traitor, however he is a Soviet sleeper agent, trained in boyhood in the Soviet charm school and then implanted in the USA taking the identity of a deceased only child orphan.

A long term plan finally aligns up and comes to maturity. Wayne Newell is now the commander of an American attack sub. He has an American family right down to family dog. He is now in position to be awakened. The communication equipment on his sub is altered to receive messages from a soviet spy ship which appears to be messages from sub-com. Wayne Newell convinces his crew that America is at war and that the Soviets have a masking device which imitates American boomer submarines, and he then begins to take out American boomers convincing his crew that they are taking out Soviet subs..

The Us navy sees something is amiss and sends out Ben Steel and his attack sub the Manchester to protect the Boomer sub Florida commanded by Buck Nelson.

There are flash backs with the characters as well as reminiscences which can be confusing at times, but which also serves to let the listener/reader know the character's make up, values, past life and personality.

Overall this is an excellent book which would make great movie. The theme is classic. The suspense is intense. And there is a heaping service of Biblical justice.

“I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot come”

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

fascinating and scary story

Very good techno thriller from the 90s. fascinating and scary plot. the narration production was uneven, sometimes changing volumes and changing and quality.

Gripping story and excellent performance.

The riveting story with realistic descriptions of a submariner's living and working conditions, together with the skill of the narrator, made me feel as though I was on board with the crew. The author's revelation of the thought processes behing the strategy employed and vivid accounts of combat action kept me from being able to put the book down. In addition to exciting action, the plot illustrates how vulnerable the east-west "peace" was during the Cold War, and how easily the nuclear deterrent's MAD Doctrine could be subverted by the "madness" of political leaders who believed that a nuclear war could be "winnable" by the side that makes an unexpected first strike, and that the death and destruction visited upon its own population by a crippled opponent's retaliatory strike would be "acceptable losses" - and assumed that the other side felt the same way. It also illustrates how the naval command structure that gives absolute authority to the captain, and demands instantaneous unquestioning obedience from the crew of its submarines while on patrol, coupled with the absolute stealth and secrecy of the operations of the "silent service" is a two-edged sword that can produce disastrous results when either the loyalty, the sanity, or both, of the captain are compromised.

Edge of your seat; Submarine Thriller

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The book is unique, suspenseful, and thought provoking

Who was your favorite character and why?

Wayne Newell is all navy, all American, all traitor. A graduate of the Soviet "charm school

What about David Gilmore’s performance did you like?

David had a great use of character voices and his narrator voice. I felt true emotion and the voices of the characters which just added to my enjoyment of the book

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Opening with talk of one time codes and involving the Secretary of the Navy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) and Rear Admiral of the Navy within the first 3 minutes, this book instantly grabbed my attention! It kept right on going after the gripping opener.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review

l liked this one

good book I would recommend it to anybody that likes military history. a good one

Predictable plot -- subpar narration

The narration was poor at best. Hokey accents and mispronunciations throughout. Anyone having spent time aboard US Naval ship would have been similarly disturbed. Calls the 1MC the "eye" MC. Starboard in the navy I served with is pronounced "star-berd" not star BOARD. It chafed. Really distracted from the story. I hate to think the author either never l listened to the narration or, worse yet, knew no better.

boomer

Confusing story. Voicing not clear. Chapters were not in proper order I guess the book should be shut off before shutting down .Qq

Edge of your seat; can't it set down! Submarine Thriller

What did you love best about Boomer?

Opening with talk of one time codes and involving the Secretary of the Navy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) and Rear Admiral of the Navy within the first 3 minutes, this book instantly grabbed my attention! It kept right on going after the gripping opener.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, this plot kept me wanting more! I listened to the entire unabridged book in less than two days. The book instantly took off and developed into an action packed novel with an expertly created and even more expertly placed captain aboard one of America's most elite class nuclear subs. Captain Wayne Newell was the ideallyc "Perfect American". He had a beautiful wife, two children a dog, house, education, and a career that made his nation grateful to him. Perfection isn't always as it seems and this story never has a dull moment as the mild mannered C.O. Newell ' s perfect world is shaken when his crew begins to wonder who the bad guys are.  Is the perfection only skin deep or will this expertly molded, Russian trained, "Perfect American " be able to follow through with his protocol?Supposedly invincible, The Boomers on patrol were carrying almost half of the nuclear defense weapons of the United States. Apparently somebody at the Kremlin some 20 plus years earlier had predicted the same. They implanted the "Perfect American", a Russian Charm School created, perfect version of an All-American star. Rising fast in his post graduate studies and through the Naval ranks until Wayne Newell reached his role as C.O. of the USS Pasadena, a Boomer Class Naval Sub.It is here that he was "awakened" by the Kremlin and told to relay to his crew of 160 sailors that the Russians were able to mask the sounds of their nuclear submarines and make them replicate the sounds of US subs. He ensured his men it was the Russians, the enemy, and they must be sunk.

What about David Gilmore’s performance did you like?

David had a great use of character voices and his narrator voice. I felt true emotion and the voices of the characters which just added to my enjoyment of the book.***I feel that Gilmore must have enjoyed recording this one!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It just keeps going... as a reader I was stuck trying to ponder the true war. Was it on the surface where their families are? In each submarine among the crew? Underwater in the vast oceans of the earth?

Any additional comments?

I love books by Larry Bond and Clive Cussler's Numa and Oregon Series. I am so relieved to find another author with audio books that I can enjoy!**I want to let you know that I was presented with a phenomenal opportunity; one that I could not pass up after reading this book's summary and other literary reviews of it online:This audiobook was provided for me to listen to by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com. I take this as a very important role, as I often base whether or not to try a new author on reviews by my fellow readers. I was thrilled to be asked to do the same. I promise to be 100% honest as I expect the same from other reviewers.

Interesting story that didn't reach its potential.

This is a decent book set in the waning days of the Cold War. The premise was very promising and the voice acting was quite good. Early on, the book had a lot of suspense Unfortunately it read like an abridged book with the author skipping plot points and the reader having to infer that the characters have learned something crucial when three chapters later they inexplicably know something that should still be a mystery. The book also felt rushed at the end as if the author hit his page limit. If you like submarine thrillers, this is a good choice. I read this between other, better, books and used it as a palette cleanser. I would give the story 3 1/2 stars.