Delta Force: Operation Michael's Sword

My good friend, the former reviewer by the name of Goodwin here, turned me on to this novel. And what a explosive and excellent debut novel!! Never boring, and edge-of-your-seat reading throughout. And this is coming from somebody who never takes the time to write a book review. There better be a 3rd installment.

Compared to other reviewers, it looks like I'm the FNG (funny new guy) in regard to Mr. Harriman's books but, I just finished Michael's Sword after almost not moving from my chair...well, there were times, you know. I was incredibly impressed with the level of research, the detail and the reality of it all. I was even starting to have sympathy pains for Baker! The dialogue was very well written and plausable and, the early character development gave me insight into what the thought process was like for the protagonists in different situations. It's obvious that Mr. Harriman is an experienced and seasoned soldier focusing on the real players; the ones who fight and often die...their courage, their dedication and their resolve to serve their country. I for one will be waiting for the next Delta Force book!!!

As a retired Army Officer I find this book to be one that is more than just facts about organizations and how they work. It deals with decisions that might have to be made if we are to defeat an enemy that will not and never will operate by what is considered norms for even the society from which they come. It comes down to do we play the same way they do in order to accomplish the mission. It's a sit down and don't stop reading it until you are done.

This new book series - # 1: Delta Force: Operation Michael's Sword - is awesome to say the least. I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of my all-time favorite characters, Sgt. Robert Night Runner, from the excellent 6-book series of Force Recon, was in this novel. This automatically told me that author James V. Smith, jr, of the fabulous Force Recon series is now writing this new series, under the alias of John Harriman. And as much as I liked Force Recon, I have to say that this author brilliantly changed course slightly here - and for the better! - writing the finest and largest case scenario novel to date about the tragic 911 date. This novel will instantly grab you, and shock you physically and mentally, leaving you gasping for more. Here, love and war are looked at, and not always in a pretty light. That was the greatness of it. If only Hollywood would make movies like this! Simply put, this new book is much more than it appears. I am just so glad that this highly intelligent author chose to listen to his reading audience fans of force recon, and found a way to keep his older characters from his other series in this new one. Even though Night Runner is not the main focal point, nor lead character, he still manages to steal each scene he is in. I am very much looking forward to Book # 2 in this magnificent new series. For you people who liked this - you really need to get your mittens on the Force Recon novels, written under this author's other seudonym, James V. Smith, jr. A must read.

Once I started reading this novel, I couldn't put it down. Being a former Marine who served in Vietnam, I found that the brutality of war never changes over time--just the participants. I was also intrigued with how warfare has been technologically changed from that which I had been trained for. While I'm not a fan of reading these types of novels, because of my prior expierences, I am looking forward to the next novel by Mr. Harriman. If one is looking for a novel that strikes back at the terrorists of 9/11, this book is for you!