Barracuda, Final Bearing

by Michael DiMercurio

Book Overview

In this acclaimed undersea thriller, Michael DiMercurio, a veteran submarine officer and author of Threat Vector and Piranha Firing Point, takes readers behind the scenes of a naval crisis-and below... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556114583
• ISBN13: 9781556114588
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 365 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Home in on THIS superior Techno-Thriller!

The absolute unchallenged King of the underwater submarine adventure has DONE IT AGAIN! I almost want to join the Navy after reading his exciting stories (...ALMOST...). Trying to avert WWIII...a daunting task, but thank heavens our Sub force is up to the task. I echo another reviewers praise of Mr. DiMercurio's talent for getting TO the point without unnecessary literary mumbo-jumbo that serves no purpose other than to make the book bigger and ultimately less entertaining (a trap that Clancy has been falling into since 'The Sum of All Fears'). Always a few years ahead, DiMercurio's stories give us descriptions of weapons that just MIGHT be invented and implemented on subs in the near future (if they actually haven't already). I also appreciate the insight into the minds of those manning these incredible weapons of war, very interesting to say the least.On a side note, recently I visited Portland, Oregon and floating on the Willammette River at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry is the decommissioned sub, USS Bluefish (remember the sub that came shooting out of the water in 'The Hunt For Red October' the movie? Well THAT is the same sub). I took a tour on this, the smallest American sub on active duty for many many years, and it was absolutely thrilling and amazing to walk the decks of a ship that had actually trailed Russian subs during the Cold War. It reminded me very much of reading Mr. DiMercurio's novels (ALL of which are awesome). If you ever get the chance to tour a sub, I suggest you do NOT pass it up--it was an incredible adventure to see first hand a little of what life was like on board one of these ships. 'Barracuda Final Bearing' is easily one of the best sub stories available in print today. A MUST read for any submariner or anyone interested IN subs.

glued to my hands

My only complaint about this book was that I lost sleep because I couldn't put it down! DiMercurio almost literally lifts you off the pages and drops you on the Conn. He gets very in depth technically, without losing the reader. If you're like me and you enjoy authors like Tom Clancy and Larry Bond... Pick up this book!

Tops Clancy

Loved this book! I like techo thrillers that are realistic, "hard" type sci fi, and Dimercurio's Barracuda Final Bearing is on target (almost a pun, but non intended). If you like Clancy you'll love this book...but what you'll like even better about DeMercurio over Clancy is this author is more economical with words, shoots cleanly at the goal of keeping you in page turning suspense as he thrills you (certainly thrilled me) with a simple but very real and frighteningly possible outcome. Clancy has gotten too wordy (for me) and forget those collaborative "Net Force" books. Not good, shame on you T.C. DeMurcurio seems to keep in mind - for the reader's benefit -what Clancy seems to have lost. Don't get me wrong, I still admire Clancy's plots and work; he's had some great, classic stuff. "Hunt for Red October" was perhaps one of the best submarine thrillers ever but see if you don't agree: I think DeMercurio might have surpassed Clancy's "Red October" classic on this one. Am now anxious to read this author's newest: "Threat Vector," about a cruise ship and a sub. Try this guy. You'll love the way he plots and writes. Funny Hollywood hasn't picked up a couple of these. In my opinion, they're "missing the boat," again: no pun intended. Barracuda Final Bearing would be an excellent movie if they can make it half as good as the book.

DiMercurio's the best at Submarine Warfare novels!!!!!!!

With Barracuda Final Bearing, former submariner Michael DiMercurio once again proves he is the best author in this class. A Naval Academy graduate with a strong engineering background, who served in the US Navy's submarine service, he possesses a command of the subject matter without equal. His dust jackets say that he works as a mechanical engineer now that he's left the Navy so it would seem that he has lost none of his engineering prowess. Unlike many technically trained people however, who can't write a compound sentence, DiMercurio delivers. He writes about Navy people with compassion and a great deal of understanding. After all, he's been there, done that and gotten the t-shirt. He knows from whence he speaks. I have read all of his books in the order published and they continue to grab me and keep my attention. Mr. DiMercurio has a phenomenal ability to take the reader into the future with new technologies but, his works do not read like unbelievable science fiction. What he writes is something we all know could be with us in the not too distant future. This is not the most scholarly of reviews. But then again, DiMercurio isn't writing "The Brothers Karamazov," either. What he does deliver, each and every time, are well written and thoroughly plausible stories of Navy submariners who quietly go about their business, which is defending America and her interests. I am a veteran and a serving member of the reserves and these books always make me stop and pause to think about my active duty brethren, who perform arduous tasks under less than optimal conditions. These men and women, serving at home and far away deserve our undying respect, affection and appreciation. I think the writings of Michael DiMercurio are his way of telling his former colleagues, who are still on active duty, that he has not forgotten them, that they are with him every day. These books are in their own way, his tribute to their valor and sacrifice(s) so that the rest of us can go about our daily lives. Barracuda Final bearing is one book in an outstanding series. They have given me many hours of reading pleasure. BZ Michael. Thank you for every word and for your service to this great country we call home.

Only one word - WOW!

This one makes The Hunt For Red October as outdated as WW2 German U-boats! Set around the year 2020, it details a conflict between Japan and a new nation called Greater Manchuria over a stockpile of nukes. When a suicide commando learns of the find, the Japs launch a plutonium glue missile strike on the base, and the action kicks off as their new high tech robosubs manage to obliterate US navy units sent to blockade Japan in condemnation of the attack. So, the USS Piranha dives beneath the polar icecaps armed with the latest weaponry available on its way to the Pacific . . . what more can one say.Utterly brilliant, in the tradition of Clive Cussler's imaginative thrillers. Fascinating and feasible technology (WritePads and orbiting Internet servers! Great stuff!) and submarine action scenes to rival Tom Clancy, matching his authenticity and detail superbly. Altogether, well worth a read. I would give this ten stars but the scale won't let me!