Protect and Defend

Harry composed a well thought out, wonderfully researched piece with Protect & Defend. For once, the reader can rest assured that units and technology were correctly identified (something many authors of this genre have difficulties with). Harry's understanding of warfare from strategic geopolitics to small unit infantry combat is top-notch. This is a great book to get you started in this genre or to continue your addiction for it.

Like his earlier Arc Light, the story was full of action, and suspense. One of, if not the best writer's of military action on the scene today. An anarchist rises to power in Russia, and wants to deflect international interest in himself, by spreading a campaign of terror in the U.S. and other countries. Action scene follows action scene, both military, and espionage, and you are left with the feeling you have read a really great thriller novel! Too bad he doesn't write anymore.

Great fun! Eric Harry has a way of drawing the reader into the characters. He's not much for twisted psychological mindsets; his characters are good guys or bad guys. A very pleasant read.

In the future, the Russian economy collapses and the country's leaders seek political asylum in Sweden. Russian anarchists are causing havoc with terrorist attacks and sabotage, including an air crash, a riot at a soccer match and finally this culminates in the assassination of the US President. China takes advantage and invades Siberia, and a UN deployment comprising of US, British, French and German soldiers and mechanised infantry is sent over. As the US President is killed, it is up to the USA's first Afro-American President to take control. Faced with another Vietnam as US soldiers are relentlessly killed by the Chinese, he has the weight of the country on his shoulders. The battle scenes are first rate, in particular the story of Howard Stempel, a young lad straight out of boot camp being forced to fight in the frozen wastelands. As well as the action on the ground, technothriller fans will enjoy the appearances by Apache Longbow helicopters on an all-out air assault and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter on a bombing raid. More element here is placed on characters you will genuinely care about. Well-crafted, breathing characters with emotions, not cardboard military robots which feature in several inferior novels of this genre(Op Center series springs to mind). This is Eric L Harry's best book by far, and an improvement over ARC LIGHT. My one complaint is why hasn't this been made into a movie yet? To coin a phrase . . .