Voyage of the Gray Wolves

by Steven Wilson

Book Overview

1944: The Allies have landed in Europe, driving the Germans back in a relentless march towards Berlin. Inside the Nazi command, many foresee the demise of the Third Reich. But others will do anything for the sake of victory.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786016728
• ISBN13: 9780786016723
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Pinnacle Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A top-notch example of WWII fiction

As a fan of World War II historical fiction, I've read a lot of examples in this genre, and their quality ranges from excellent to dismal. Shortly after beginning "Voyage of the Gray Wolves", I knew that I had found one of the best examples. Steven M. Wilson's craft allows the reader to share in the emotions of the characters and the dialogue, while still making the pulse race during tautly written battle scenes. The fine treatment of the main characters, both Allies and Axis shows that just in real life, war is rarely about absolute villains and heroes. Rather, Wilson will have you deeply engaged in the exciting victories and crushing defeats of the brave men on both sides of conflict. "Voyage of the Gray Wolves" is a highly recommended read, and stands up well next to other excellent examples, such as "War of the Rats" by David L. Robbins, or "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. I look forward to Wilson's next foray in this genre...

fast, exciting novel full of adventure and daring

VOYAGE OF THE GRAY WOLVES is a fast, exciting novel full of adventure and daring. Wilson does a magnificent job of basing his story around Guenter Kern, a German U-Boat captain who realizes that Germany is loosing the war quickly. His mission is a long-shot last hope to the ailing country. Kern faces difficult choices throughout the novel as he begins to clearly see how desperate Germany is. He also has to decide how far he is personally ready to go to remain loyal to his homeland despite his growing discouragement and sickness of a terrible war. Ultimately, Wilson does a great job at making the reader relate to and like Kern. Watching Kern as he is forced to make impossible choices will make the reader appreciate the often horrible intricacies that exist in war. This book will be especially enjoyable for those generally interested in the World War II era, but every reader will enjoy getting to know Guenter Kern.

An undersea thriller

Steven Wilson has written an undersea thriller worthy of attention. My daughter gave me the book and I read it that night. I have long read submariner books from Beach's "Run Silent, Run Deep" to Fluckey's "Thunder Below" with fictional novels thrown in as well. "Gray Wolves" combines "Das Boot" with Clancy's "Hunt for Red October" to give a real feel for the Unterseeboot service and a gives us a rousing story as well. C R DeArmas Jr

I could not put this page-turner down!

Steven Wilson's "Voyage of the Gray Wolves" grabs you from the first page and does not let you go. So often, writers are forgiven for bad writing if their story is engaging. Their formulaic and predictable endings are tolerated simply because they write well. "Voyage of the Gray Wolves" is exceptionally well-written, the story held my interest from beginning to end, and the book actually ends well! Wilson introduces the reader to characters with souls and personalities. These characters interact with tension, humor, and most importantly, intelligence. The story itself, like its backdrop, the sea, is strong. As the story builds, so does the tension. That tension, as the tale winds down, recedes like an ebb tide... For the first time since I finished "Empire Falls," I did not feel like I was cheated by the way the book ended. One important note: I do not read military history as a rule, but the book had been recommended to me by a friend I trust. I really didn't have any interest in the subject matter but found myself fascinated with the world of U-boats. I saw U-571 when it came out and was bored to tears. In this book, I was amazed to learn so many interesting facts and trivia about the era, the technology, and a slice of history. One thing that really surprised me, and I won't reveal the plot twists I am referring to, was how relevant to today's current events this story is. Along these lines, the author does a WONDERFUL job of humanizing the "enemy." Wilson gives you no choice but to form a relationship with the Kreigsmarine's Kern and his U-boat crew, and the British Navy's Land and Hardy. If you're looking for a book that will hold your interest, no matter what your interests are, I recommend this book highly. My new favorite exclamation, which I hope Mr. Wilson will not mind me appropriating, is "Pennants to Punjabi!" Cheers, Adrienne DeArmas

Fast-paced Action

I never heard of the author or the book until a friend recommended that I buy it. Voyage of the Gray Wolves is a fascinating book of what-ifs during World War II. The characters are real and I felt as if I was on the deck of the destroyer or in the U-boat. It's one of those books that once you start reading it, you don't want to put down. I went to the author's website at www.huntersandthehunted.com and found out that he's working on a new book. I recommend Voyage of the Gray Wolves to anyone who enjoys action on the high seas.