Cauldron

by Larry Bond and Patrick Larkin

Book Overview

The author of Red Phoenix and Vortex outdoes himself--with an epic adventure straight out of tomorrow's headlines. When France and Germany unite against America, Britain and the Eastern European democracies, the former Soviet Union is caught in the middle of a trade war that turns into a shooting war.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446515671
• ISBN13: 9780446515672
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 569 Pages
• Weight: 2.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

One of his best!

I ordered this book because I had read DANGEROUS GROUND sometime ago and thought it was well written. After reading the flaps on this book I thought, "I don't want to read this," but then decided to read the first few chapters. It started with pages of maps and then listed by country the names and titles of fifty-one characters. This reenforced my believe so I don't know why I continued to read on. But Mr. Bond pulled me into the book with his artful and exciting prose until I did not want to put it down. I thought that with all the many characters and countries that I would have to keep notes to follow the story. But not so. It was written with such skill that you never had to stop and think to understand what was happening. I do have one-sort-of-compliant. With such a long book it should have had a few places where you could stop and set it aside and start reading later. But no, this novel had so many sub-plots in so many different countries that there was always suspense going on in several sub-plots. Finally at 7:15 am when my eyes stopped focusing, I had to lay the book aside. I slept three hours and jumped back up to find out what had happened in five countries, on two ships, and the progress in three battles. This author knows how to spin multiple yarns at the same time. In 1997 as the economies in Europe are in free fall - famine throughout the Third World - rampant unemployment - economic refugees - a global trade war - a politician in France using underhanded methods stirs things up even more, grabs power and enters an alliance with Germany - will the other European countries fold and join the alliance or will they fight - what will Russia do - is it too late for the US to enter the fray . . . This author knows how to transport you into the middle of a raging battle scene. You are there. You see it. You feel it. The smoke from the explosions - artillery dropping all around - bullets whistling by - bloody bodies in the dirt beside you - the stench of death. Author al-Qaeda Strikes Again

This is his best!

Cauldron was not Bond's first book. It is his best though. Undownputable! Unforgettable characters and a scary scanerio to say the least. A humdinger of a plot!

You are THERE when you read this!

This is my favorite of Larry Bond's books, and I've read them all. Red Phoenix is second best. I read this quite a while ago, but noticed I'd never reviewed it. For those who haven't had the pleasure of discovering Bond, pick this one! He's better than Clancy. His technological expertise is obvious, but unlike some, his characters come to life too. This is a high-paced, thoroughly enjoyable jaunt. I even found it believable, which added to my delight!

the new book is his best.

This book is Bond's best ever! the plot is so riviting, that you don't know how the next chapter will begin.

Action-packed and rather intriguing!

An interesting scenario is put forward by Larry Bond here. A world recession, which strikes the dissolving European Community hard. Neo-Nazis blame illegal immigrants for job losses and rioting ensues, especially in Germany and France - a plotine which reflects real events. The US is too concerned with its own problems to aid Europe, and the Republican senators make their right-wing views heard. When the US supplies oil to aid Poland and the Eastern bloc countries, a tanker is blown up by French paramilitaries. The CIA send an agent to investigate - he is taken out. Martial law is declared throughout the newly formed EurCon - US ships escorting the oil convoys are attacked and here we go! A shooting war blows up and escalates into some spectacular action. Despite a slow start at times and rather drawn-out tank scenes(I preferred the naval and air force and also the brief space sequences) on the Polish-German border, the story is highly convincing and sometimes frighteningly feasible. And best of all, it`s great to see the Frogs take a pasting from allied forces! The French satellites are put out of action by the GPALS Star Wars weapons, the French nukes are blown up and their subs sunk! Serves them right for blockading the cross-Channel ferry ports and ruining our trips abroad! But seriously, folks, this is a great war novel. The British side could have been better explored - the RAF and Royal Navy are quite well featured though. (Loved the Mirage being shot down over London too!) All in all, a highly recommended read, although `Red Phoenix` is still better. The Russian involvement towards the end does reflect on the aforementioned actually. I`ve yet to read `Vortex` yet though, I`ve got it on order and can`t wait . . . Ah, well, in the mean time it`s up into the skies with a Dale Brown book!