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Scimitar SL-2  By  cover art

Scimitar SL-2

By: Patrick Robinson
Narrated by: David McCallum
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Publisher's summary

Amid the Canary Islands lies the massive crater of the volcano Cumbre Vieja. Scientists theorize that one day the volcano will erupt, triggering a series of events that would lead to a tsunami wave higher than any in recorded history. This mega-tsunami, with waves of more than 150 feet in height, would ravage Europe, Africa, and ultimately the East Coast of the United States, causing immeasurable loss of life and destruction.

It is discovered that Ravi Rashood, America's nemesis, the former SAS officer who is now the head of Hamas, has hatched a diabolical plot against the West: to fire a nuclear-headed guided cruise missile, Scimitar SL-2, named for the curved sword of the Muslim warrior Saladin, into Cumbre Vieja.

United States Admiral Arnold Morgan, the retired National Security Adviser, knows something worse is to come after Rashood explodes Mount St. Helens. But stopping him won't be easy.

As the terrorists' deadline approaches, Morgan and his team must consider the unthinkable and assume the daunting task of organizing the mass relocation of major population centers along the East Coast to safer ground.

Morgan finds himself battling his greatest enemy yet, racing against time to locate Rashood, the silent, underwater marauder, and stop him before the unimaginable occurs.

©2004 Patrick Robinson (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Robinson's full-bodied, measured prose has a retro feel, and his narrative, studded with informative historical and political tidbits, turns every new setting into its own short story." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Scimitar SL-2

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Poorly abridged or Poorly written??

This had potential to be an excellent story but failed to be really that good. Characters were rather poorly developed, plot got a little thin at times. What really detracted from the story was the gaps. Maybe it got cut when abridged (that is why I prefer unabridged), or maybe left out. But there are huge gaps in the story and it takes several minutes to figure that out.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

what Tom Clancy use to be

I have read many other books by Patrick Robinson, and would like to hear more by this author. The Scimitar 12 was unbelievable in it?s timing of would events. The down side is that I felt shorted as this was not the unabridged version. I like the way he play?s the character against one another, and in this version some of that is missing. This is a good intro into Patrick Robinsons work, and I hope that audible would get the rest of his works , only in the unabridged version.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Abridged version does not do the plot justice

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A non-abridged version would spare many of the inexplicable plot holes and jumps. Everything moved much too quickly, contrary to Robinson's detailed plots.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Leave it whole and Bring back George Guidall.

Suspect the unabridged version would make the sequence of events more plausible and real.

Bring back George Guidall.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

this was the most pitifal military thriller EVER

the writer must have run out of inspiration when he wrote this military non thriller
the ONLY redeeming quality about this book was the narrator. it was strained writing, ludicrous story line, too much logistics and hardware specs with way too little actual story or action. oh, and as predictable as they come. BORING!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

...and then a miracle happened.

Robinson appears to be suffering from the Ludlum syndrome. He's trying to "top" his excellent earlier works by being more far fetched and imaginative. The trouble is that he has lost touch with reality. His hero swiftly and easily seizes control of the U.S. government, then in two weeks manages an evacuation of the East coast. Even if we had all of the omitted parts of this dreadfully abridged work, it's difficult to imagine that he could have made it credible. It's a shame. Robinson's first four best sellers were superb. Nothing recedes like success.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Scimitar SL-2

The story line was great. Fast paced and very descriptive. However, the short ending left me feeling cheated. I kept looking for another disc. What happened to the thrill of the chase.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

This is the worst abridged version of any book

I have read this book (and the series) numerous times and love the entire Arnold Morgan series. Of the 10 books, there are 2 that I didn't have the audiobook for (either on Kindle, Audible or Google Play books). I decided to get this book to help complete the audiobook series but did not notice that this was an abridged version. As I'm listening, I start noticing that I'm missing a ton of the story that I remember from reading. If this was the first time I had read or listened to this book, I would have thought the author wasn't very good. But with my knowledge of the entire series, I know that it is the fault of whoever edited this version. I'm very disappointed in this purchase and would recommend that people should just read the novel and leave this flaming dumpster fire alone. I only gave the story 1 star due to the editing and no way reflecting on the author. Also, the narrator does a great job with what he was given.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Slow but Steady

It was a good book, but not up to Patrick Robinson’s usual. I see now why it is only available in an abridged version. I didn’t particularly care for the narrator. When you listen to George Guidall on all his other full length books, it’s just not the same. Admiral Morgan only sounds one way, and that’s not British. However it was still a good story, it just wasn’t what I expected.

Larry S
Reno, NV.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

A lot of inaccuracies

If someone wants to write a book with the military playing a large role, they should do the needed research.
The US Air Force does NOT fly from aircraft carriers.

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