Edge of Battle

This is a typical story by Dale Brown. You can depend on lots of action. Even some of the bad guys get eliminated.

Dale Brown is fantastic. This was just another addition to my collection of his books. ALL of which I have read!

Dale Brown has created a legion of followers who like the way he tells stories that are sort of military-techno thrillers, sort of an outlandish projection of the future based on what's hot in the news at the time. And at this time, illegal immigration is getting a lot of attention from the politicos running for office, and this is the theme of this new book. Basically he creates incidents on the US-Mexican border where a band of drug runners based in Mexico begin committing terrorist acts north of the border and killing American border agents. From there it goes to more of a limited scale war as it escalates on each side. If I were being picky, I'd have to ask why a drug runner would want to do things like this which would only serve to make his job harder. But that would break up the thesis of the book. And getting around this minor problem, the advanced technology and tactics put into place by his hero Jason Richter (introduced in an earlier book) make for pretty good reading. In short, a good book if you're a Dale Brown fan. The story is a lot like his other stories, it may be a little less military and a little more people oriented than his others. In short, not great literature, but a good way to spend a rainy weekend or a long airplane ride.

Five Big Stars! As a Thriller/Suspense novel fan, a real-world Political book fan, and a SciFi novel fan, this fictional novel roams into all three areas. Big Question: Did the White House read this novel before formulating it's new 2006 US/Mexican border policy? Hmmm. Master storyteller Dale Brown's new novel is so much like an Army "field manual" of techno-suspense novels that it should have an "FM" preceding the title. Starting with a Cast of Characters listing, then a Weapons (and weapons systems) listing, an Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terminology list, a passel of Real World News Excerpts to validate his assertions and a Prologue (and followed by an Epilogue at the end, as the cherry on this cake). By the time the reader reaches Chapter 1, we are 'loaded for bear' with information that fleshes out a world that is remarkably like 2006 except for the uniquely-equipped Task Force Talon, minus some 'off-novel' incendiary background terrorist activities that have already jacked up the actions of the players (like the erstwhile National Security Advisor, for example, and some truly nasty terrorists that make some of al Qaeda's members look like street punks). Now the novel begins. Old political wounds run deep, as the drama on the Mexican Border begins in ways that the current and future presidential administrations could learn from. Dale Brown give us a mesmerizing virtual seminar on the way illegal immigrants are brought over the border. The spanish word "Pollo" (chicken) takes on a whole new meaning. The action then centers around the new presidential National Security Advisor's (a very tough, no-nonsense enlisted man: Sergeant Major Ray Jefferson, who is a double hoot of a character) recommendation to utilize military force in controlling illegal immigration and illegal activities on the border. Dale Brown was way ahead of Pres. Bush on this one. The old nemesis Yegor Zakharov makes yet another appearance. Border rat Ernesto Fuerza seems to pop up at the wrong time and place, over and over, but is he a good guy or bad guy? And are the Consortium terrorists back in the picture, operating on the border? Task Force Talon and the use of near-Sci-Fi concepts such as CID and NIS (not the current day terms, but terms unique to Dale Brown's world), CONDORs, GULLWINGs, and GUOS are brought into play and could be harbingers of our possible future border weaponry. Then things get very wild and crazy! An excellent concept-rich, highly-technical, character-driven superbly thought out novel about what is currently one of the hottest topics of the day, illegal immigration and it's possible effect on the war on terror. Plus it taps the deep imagination well of the Sci Fi fan, without pushing the non-SciFi fan too far into suspension. Dale Brown is an amazing writer who writes some intense scenes! Not for the squeamish or timid! Recommended. Five Stars!!

Edge of Battle continues the series Dale Brown started last year with Act of War. With its fresh ideas and a fresh cast of characters, I gave Act of War a hopeful three stars. Now, with Edge of Battle, it is clear that Brown has resumed writing decent techno thrillers. In Edge of Battle, the Russian terrorist from Act of War, Zakharov, is making trouble on the border between the United States and Mexico, exploiting illegal aliens to mask a strike at America (it's strangely comforting to have a Russian bad guy, even if he is just a renegade). Brown nicely manages the action without offending anyone except crooked politicians south of the border in a clever and remarkably timely story. The National Security Advisor is an Army sergeant major who patiently calls generals, "sir," while giving them orders. And Brown even manages to find a badly needed new mission for Cannon Air Force Base. UPDATE: On June 20, 2006, the Air Force announced a new mission for Cannon AFB. It became part of the Air Force Special Operations Command on October 1, 2007.