Drecasse

A very enjoyable read by Jerry Earl Brown. In much the same vein as Alistair MacLean's "Ice Station Zebra", we find KGB/Spetznaz and CIA/Ranger teams racing each other for a downed Soviet space station high in the heart of the Himalayan mountain range. The space station contains a canister that the Soviets want back very much, with the Americans dying of curiosity as to the importance of the object. Both teams of commandos and scientists suffer hugely in their attempt to scale 20K+ heights. The Americans are led by two adventurers; combat fatigue casualties of VietNam, driven by the mostly crazed widow of a professional expedition leader who died in the same area. In addition to the thrilling aspects of this highly readable adventure, it also offers some very interesting insights into existentialism, and the search for clarity as the mists close in. Written in 1990, the only drawback to this otherwise well fleshed out story is the leftover rampant jingoism of! ! the early 1980's as displayed in the dialogue of both the CIA and KGB agents. A minor amount of coarse language, and some fairly detailed, but not explicit, sexual activity is included in the text. Nicely done, Jerry. Any more?