The Circle

David Poyer's seminal naval work The Circle takes you directly in to the life of a young naval officer. Of all the books I have read about my profession, US Navy Surface Warfare Officer, it is the closest thing to actually being there. The long hours of watch and work, the mistakes you make being over-tired, and the lessons you learn from men who have spent their lives at sea are all contained within this book. In addition the, Poyer paints a vivid image of the environment of shipboard life and the perilous sea. Reading this book makes me cringe and want to return to sea duty as soon as possible.

For those of you who crave highly detailed and very technical military action-adventure, David Poyer is the one of the very best writers in this genre. Poyer not only gives the reader an exciting naval story, but he packs the novel with tons of technical details about naval destroyers, weapons systems, sonar, propulsion systems, engine rooms, descriptions of bridge operations, etc. He also gives the reader a very interesting main character, Dan Larsen, who although vulnerable, always triumphs over his adversaries. All in all, a great book to snuggle up to the fireplace with on a cold, wintry night.

Picked up this book as a paperback in an airport bookstore to read during the endless waiting one has to endure when flying. Reading it hooked me as I became fasinated with Dan Lenson. I have since read all of Poyer's books about Lenson and like them all (I am currently reading his latest about pirates in the South China Sea.Lenson is not a typical hero - which is what I really like about his character. He does remain bound by honor and trying "to do the right thing". He is a character anyone can identify with; not a superhero like the James Bond's of the fictional world.I read with interest the comments by former Navy types; I am glad Poyer got the details right.

I was stationed on two FRAM-II Destroyers. I am a "Blue Nose", a "Shellback", and earned a Combat Action Ribbon while a crewmember on the USS Ozbourn (DD-846) off the coast of Vietnam. I am tired of all these glorified ("gun-decked")stories and movies about submarines and aircraft carriers, usually written by retired admirals or authors who were never even in the military never mind the navy. This story tells it like it is. I've often times wondered how young Ensigns dealt with the crap and stayed sane never mind got advanced and survive to make successful Navy careers. I truly enjoyed this book. I'm reading "The Med" now and I have also got "Passage" standing by. Only a "Tin Can Sailor" could have written this book. The terminolgy and slang terms are right on. I can understand how a person who never served in the Navy would have a hard time with this book. Perhaps Poyer should have a glossary in the back of his books to help decipher Navy jargon. I highly recommend this book, especially to former Navy anchor clankers. To Mr Poyer, from one ol' Tin Can Sailor to another, I bid you fair winds and follwing seas.

I served aboard an ammunition ship from 1958-61 and did quite a bit of steaming in the North Atlantic. Mr. Poyer's description of the drudgery and effort of working in rough weather and 15-25 foot seas is vividly described. Almost every character on the "Ryan" had a twin on the AE19, USS Diamond Head, right down to the whale boat crew and stewards. I certainly can relate to the collision having lived through one with, coincidentally, the aircraft carrier USS Independence. The shock, the terror, the confusion, every emotion that the mind can conjur up came crashing from the pages. It literally brought me to the seat of my chair. I could feel the power of the carrier and frailty of our ship through Mr. Poyer's words. This is a gripping novel writen by a man that obviously has been there before. For anyone who has respect for the sea, this is a must. I can't wait to begin "The Med". Thank you Mr. Poyer.