Larry Bond Dangerous Ground

Dangerous Ground

Larry Bond

Forge, Jun 2005, $25.95, 336 pp.

ISBN: 076530788X

Commander Lowell Hardy knows his nuclear submarine the USS Memphis should have been mothballed years ago, but the lack of enough procurement funding to buy new keeps the vessel in service. Using major combat equipment items long after their life cycle expired is the norm so that does not shock the veteran naval officer.

The USS Memphis assigned to escort two scientists Dr. Joanna Patterson and Dr. Emily Davis into the forbidden Russian Arctic Ocean to inspect for illegal dumping and leakage of the buried nuclear fuel containers. Grounded pilot Jerry Mitchell is the expert on using Manta, an underwater robot that is key to the inspection. Lowell has several concerns with this job. Will his ancient ship handle the icy Arctic Ocean? How is he to keep his crew's resentment towards the three newcomers from endangering the mission? Finally, he must elude the Russians to prevent an incident with international repercussions. The real mission is to determine how safe from terrorists this mother lode is; all will quickly learn that it is not as a real threat exists.

Not quite the FIRST TEAM such as THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER because much of the cast behaves so predictably they almost sink the fast-paced, action-packed story line. Surprisingly in spite of casting from canned Submarine 101 characterizations, the tale grips the audience even before the USS Memphis reaches its target zone; once inside the Russian waters, the plot goes into incredible knot speed so that the audience feels as if they are along for the ride. DANGEROUS GROUND is for fans of Steven Seagal's Under Siege as likewise the action is to the nth degree.

Harriet Klausner