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Jason Richter #1
Act of War
New York Times bestselling author Dale Brown pits a group of seasoned military veterans and young techies against a consortium of international terrorists, determined to destabilize the global economy through a series of attacks on oil refineries around the world.
402 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
About the author
Dale Brown
166 books1,053 followersFormer U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 25 consecutive New York Times best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996) and FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN (1999), and WARRIOR CLASS (2001). His Fourteenth Novel AIRBATTLE FORCE will be published in late Spring 2003... Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 10 million copies.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.
Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.
Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 8, 2018
Started out weak, began to feel like low budget Anime, then devolved into utter garbage, proceeded to barely make sense at the end only to be topped off with an embarrassing mixture of cheese, corn, and manure. I will never get back the life I wasted on this.
July 2, 2018
Truly, it's a 2.5 stars. This is not one of Dale Brown's better books. 1. I never connected with the main character nor any of his colleagues. In Brown's other books, while I have little in common with this characters, I always felt some connection with them -- this one I had nothing. Nada. 2. It was really hard to believe some some of the events/outcomes in regards to the military. I believe the phrase is -- jumping the shark, no?
It's okay. Full of lots of action -- just not relatable.
It's okay. Full of lots of action -- just not relatable.
February 26, 2018
The plot was okay right up to the end. And then it nose-dived and started to plummet. Maybe my copy was bad, but some of the characters seemed to have done a sudden about-face faster than the drill sergeant commanded.
A CSM disrepecting a major? And suddenly, the CSM is all "Yes sir, hooyah." Even though five pages ago, the CSM didn't even think the major ought to be in charge. The other FBI agents are just as bad. Special Agent Colton is another example; he proclaims the CID doesn't belong and then at the end, he is using a CID. Come on. Get real and that's the good guys. However, i do think Richter was right: use the CID to break the deadlock of traditional thinking of creating yet another joint task force to fight terrorism.
Meanwhile, I thought the bad guys were much more believable. Even the background on the GAMMA terrorist group made more sense: their history, their choice of politics, and how to fight back.
I guess I am repeating the general consensus that Dale Brown should have stuck with writing about Patrick McLanahan and co.
A CSM disrepecting a major? And suddenly, the CSM is all "Yes sir, hooyah." Even though five pages ago, the CSM didn't even think the major ought to be in charge. The other FBI agents are just as bad. Special Agent Colton is another example; he proclaims the CID doesn't belong and then at the end, he is using a CID. Come on. Get real and that's the good guys. However, i do think Richter was right: use the CID to break the deadlock of traditional thinking of creating yet another joint task force to fight terrorism.
Meanwhile, I thought the bad guys were much more believable. Even the background on the GAMMA terrorist group made more sense: their history, their choice of politics, and how to fight back.
I guess I am repeating the general consensus that Dale Brown should have stuck with writing about Patrick McLanahan and co.
September 18, 2017
How ironic, that the thing that wipes out an oil refinery (and almost all of Houston) is not Dale Brown's fantasy of a suitcase nuke toted by a twisted environmental "terrorist" -- but something real, and far more dangerous: climate disaster brought on by the fossil fuel industry. Dale Brown, who never saw combat, uses his novels much as he does his FB page - to egg on his "fellow warriors" to deep fry the Enemy of the Day with his own Chef's Special of high tech weaponry. Predictably, the cool, white American hero in "Act of War" wipes out the darker, foreign terrorists (who are the puppets of a evil, white Communist). Dale stretches his rather limited writing skill into the realm of racist porn when he writes a particularly lurid sex scene between two people of color (while the white hero and his white girlfriend modestly make love off screen). Can someone think of a good way to recycle this racist, anti-environmentalist, anti-Communist, Trumpish propaganda? (Dale Brown just congratulated Trump for freeing Sheriff Arpaio. It's way too toxic for toilet paper.
May 19, 2020
So glad I stumbled upon this book at the dentist office where there is a small book exchange area. It is another series that will definitely be on my reading list.
A Houston oil refinery belonging to a worldwide corporation owned by Kingman is blown to bits by a nuclear backpack device. It is the start of a terrorist attack that resembles 9/11 with no stopping in site. Do anything to disrupt our American lives and you can be sure of retribution.
Enter the CIDs. Superpowered, robotic soldiers created in a top-secret, high-tech facility by the likes of Jason Richter and his team.
It is a thriller and a page turner.
A Houston oil refinery belonging to a worldwide corporation owned by Kingman is blown to bits by a nuclear backpack device. It is the start of a terrorist attack that resembles 9/11 with no stopping in site. Do anything to disrupt our American lives and you can be sure of retribution.
Enter the CIDs. Superpowered, robotic soldiers created in a top-secret, high-tech facility by the likes of Jason Richter and his team.
It is a thriller and a page turner.
January 16, 2023
Started weak and nose dived into the ground. Houston factory is newk'd. The National Security ADVISOR grabs a geeky Army Major with a new cybersuit and an FBI analyst control freak--stuffs them together. This, against the advice of their cabinet bosses, under a national security council Marine Sergeant Major who treats them like marine recruits. I just can't imagine the suffering of the American people with an American anti-terrorist strike force at the will of the President, with Posse Comitatus suspended. At that point, I gave up and shit-canned the book. DNF. No more Dale Brown Jason Richter for me. I have better things to do then pound my ears with this drivel.
October 6, 2019
Act of War is a rather predictable techno-thriller written way back in 2005. Don't get me wrong, the action is still good, the premise is chilling, and the characters are fun. The technology is still pretty cool as well! Where it does not stand up is in mystery and in military reality.
What this book is, is a escape for a day or two. Grab a beer, ice tea, or what have you, and let Dale Brown take you to a world of excitement!
What this book is, is a escape for a day or two. Grab a beer, ice tea, or what have you, and let Dale Brown take you to a world of excitement!
May 19, 2020
Act of War drew me in from the opening pages. Dale Brown has written a scary glimpse into the future in this techno-military novel. It has a bit of everything: robotic fighting machines, disgruntled military officers, betrayal, love interests, and terrorists bent on destroying a corporation and willing to kill countless innocents while doing it. If you're a fan of the action adventure genre, you'll enjoy this book.
July 26, 2020
It was a fast paced novel, but not for those who appreciated 100% accuracy and detail (I mean Brown is regarded (at least according to the reviews on the cover of his books) as being very detailed). Case in point, the main character is a major (pretty senior - In the United States Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force, major is a field grade military officer rank above the rank of captain and below the rank of lieutenant colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of lieutenant commander in the other uniformed services.) and through at least half of the novel, he is referring to the Command Sergeant Major as "Sir" - when actually a Command Sergeant Major is the senior ranking non-commissioned officer.
Other than that, the novel spends about 2/3 explaining the characters and the main story line and then only devotes a mere few pages to the other major attacks on the continental United States.
Overall, it was a half decent novel (probably a 3/5)
Other than that, the novel spends about 2/3 explaining the characters and the main story line and then only devotes a mere few pages to the other major attacks on the continental United States.
Overall, it was a half decent novel (probably a 3/5)
March 16, 2020
A pretty interesting book exploring the US's reaction to an act of terrorism at an oil refinery. The plot gets confusing and hard to follow and I feel like the end was quickly thrown together. It was a good idea and I feel had a lot of potential, but it just didn't live up to it. I would be interested in reading more of his books though.
May 14, 2024
Another spectacular read!
Dale Brown once again had gotten over the top! From start to finish,his books are the best. His CID’s always come through to save the day, but in Richter’s hands they truly rock. From one crew dog to another keep ‘em burnin and turnin. !!! All Air Force Veterans, especially flyers should read Flight of the Old Dog, and read them all!!!
Dale Brown once again had gotten over the top! From start to finish,his books are the best. His CID’s always come through to save the day, but in Richter’s hands they truly rock. From one crew dog to another keep ‘em burnin and turnin. !!! All Air Force Veterans, especially flyers should read Flight of the Old Dog, and read them all!!!
March 9, 2018
I got through half of the book and couldn't go any further. The only characters that are at all likable this far in the book are the terrorists. Poor writing and a lack of consistency make this a horrible book.
March 21, 2020
A new series from Brown finds a unit of supersoldiers in robot like suits teaming up with traditional units and law enforcement to track down terrorists. Thought the books jumped around quite a bit and I figured out the ending early on so wasn’t a whole lot of surprise.
June 15, 2022
The premise that a guy in an exo skeleton could make any difference in the war on terrorism...is in my mind flawed to start with. The right wing agenda of these books does jar with the older me. Easy to read but shallow in the extreme.
April 24, 2023
Jason Richter joins a group of seasoned military veterans and young techies against a consortium of international terrorists, determined to destabilize the global economy through a series of attacks on oil refineries around the world.
May 9, 2024
Not as good as Brown’s earliest works which included “The Old Dog.”
This work could benefit not only from a competent proof reader but also a skilled fact-checker. He frequently refers to the classic Russian infantry semi-automatic rife as an “KA-74”.
This work could benefit not only from a competent proof reader but also a skilled fact-checker. He frequently refers to the classic Russian infantry semi-automatic rife as an “KA-74”.
March 18, 2017
Violence, sex, language, technology, war, evil Politicians, this book has it all. It was interesting enough that i finished it in spite of all the preceding.
June 18, 2017
Fun listen. Exoskeleton clad scientists help take on terrorists to save the country. A bit cheesy at times, but helped pass the miles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2017
Intro to Jason Richter. Cool tech, clear and obvious prelude to a series. It's well written, a nice read but ultimately not as satisfying as it ends with the sequel in mind.
July 13, 2017
Comments
Maybe you have not noticed but this is America and we speak English here! Got tired of every other word in Spanish and moved on to another author.
Maybe you have not noticed but this is America and we speak English here! Got tired of every other word in Spanish and moved on to another author.
August 8, 2017
A political/military thriller. I enjoyed this.
December 25, 2017
Traitor
Well written, great adventure story, I figured Chamberlain was the leak. It was hard not to have a McClenahan as the central hero.
Well written, great adventure story, I figured Chamberlain was the leak. It was hard not to have a McClenahan as the central hero.
May 31, 2018
a more believable story than some of the newer ones
May 9, 2019
This oil company is crisis because they could be Terror Forces
August 12, 2019
Environmental terrorists used a nuclear weapon in Houston. A war on terrorism ensues with a new military weapon.
September 4, 2020
Just not that good.....
January 18, 2021
It's never a good sign when a book starts with over a page of acronyms and their definitions. This got easier to read near the end, but the beginning was just too much.
June 25, 2021
DNF, bland characters, bad dialogue, a Clancy wannabe that will never even get close.
August 21, 2021
A bit too predictable and a bit too far fetched for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews