Landstrike

by Ken Bass

Book Overview

Landstrike is the gripping story of Hurricane Nicole from its birth in the Atlantic Ocean to its catastrophic rampage up New York City?s Hudson River. It is also an enthralling account of the horrific... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1441514864
• ISBN13: 9781441514868
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Xlibris
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Compelling! Riveting! Realistic!

If you want to experience a hurricane without getting wet: read LANDSTIKE! This fictional account of Category Five Hurricane Nicole is so realistic you'll think you'd been there, from flying with hurricane hunters into the eye as it forms across the Atlantic, to its rampage up the Hudson River into New York City. The characters are well defined, believable people who meet the challenges in sometimes heroic, but always human ways. Landstrike is the name of a fictional computer model that one wishes could be used to predict real time hurricanes. With it there would be fewer surprises!

Gripping

This page-turner will happily consume a weekend at the beach in late August. The author obviously did his homework and imagined every detail of a major hurricane's path through New York City. The first third follows Hurricane Nicole through the Caribbean and toward the East Coast -- but for me the middle third is where it really takes off, when the hurricane passes over the Verrazano Narrows and across the bay to Manhattan. The author has studied how high the stormsurge would be when it hit Coney Island -- and then imagined not only the destruction there, but how far the destruction would reach into Brooklyn and Queens. He has imagined what would happen when that stormsurge hit the subway and tunnel entrances --and what it would be like to be in a skyscraper at the height of the storm, or on a tugboat frantically trying to maneuver the swirls. And, just as good and truly stirring, the final third deals with the storm's aftermath, as the might of the US military is applied to succoring millions of citydwellers suddenly deprived of water, elecricity, food, and any hope of getting out of the city. A very satisfying read.

Landstrike Review

In addition to being a riveting page turner this is an audacious and perhaps even brilliant book. What makes Landstrike so audacious is the author's use of the "fact based" anecdotal form perfected by journalist/writers such as Cornelius Ryan--Longest Day, Last Battle, Bridge Too Far--to weave together a fictional scenario so detailed and so informed that I needed to keep reminding myself that none of what I was reading had actually happened and, in fact, was "made up." What the form also accomplished with its use of multiple characters, points of view, situations and settings is to put the reader into the heart of these events so that they are experienced rather than merely related. In short, you the reader are there to experience these events as a participant and not merely an observer. Reading the Sandy Hook/Verrazano Bridge sequences I literally had the chills and from that point on I could not take my eyes off the page and finished the book in a single sitting. The reason I think that the book may be brilliant is that by using a journalistic form it jettisons the "hero saves the day" standard fictional approach which encourages the reader to project themselves onto a larger than life protagonist. This standard fictional form my make for good diversion but, in the end it is just that; a diversion which leaves the reader with very little once they put down the book. In Landstrike, exactly as would happen in reality, it is the event itself--a hurricane barreling towards New York City--on which everything hinges and it is this hurricane that affects and changes the many lives with which it comes into contact. Both compelling as well as true to life, after putting this book down I can assure you, the reader will be thinking about what he or she read for quite a long time afterwards. For all the above, as well as it being a damn good yarn, this is a must read book that may actually be breaking some new ground in a popular fiction genre'.

Great Book

Great book. if you are into hurricanes you will love this book. its very realistic and depicts what would really happen if a hurricane did strike new york. simply could not put this book down. even read it while i was on vacation! it was that good.

Terrifying - and Informed!

I live in NYC - right in the heart - I've often wondered what the effects of a major hurricane would be on the city and just how prepared we are - after all, 2-3" of rain in the subway system can stop over a million people from getting to work! How about a 25' surge in a Category 4 hurricane! Author, Ken Bass, had me on the edge of my seat throughout this page turner. Brilliantly researched the book gives you a clear picture of just what can happen. Maintaining an entertaining edge with skillful writing and a blend of characters that will keep you riveted on an engaging story - whether you live in NYC or not - this book will get your mind working - and probably contacting your Mayor - how prepared is your city! No one will be disappointed in this author's first book - on what he loves - hurricane facts and the results of the power of nature! Be prepared.