KCR: A Deeper Blue, Paladin of Shadows #5 (novel, terrorism, hero)

Image via WikipediaA Deeper Blue brings the Kildar back to the US, at least temporarily. A bad guy is importing VX nerve gas into South Florida, probably through drug smugglers, but other than a vague hint, there is no information available. The Kildar and his merry band of Keldara is summoned to South Florida and work. However, Kildar, don't feel like going. He's still morose after death of one of Keldara girls that he actually fell in love with, and death of so many Keldara while destroying the the Chechen threat in the area. However, when the enemy ambushed one of the teams and put two of his best friends in the hospital, he "woke up" and got right down to business... In the meanwhile, Katya former prostitute, now an ultra undercover operative, has penetrated the inner sanctum of the drug smuggler king in the area, under the tutelage of spy master "J". Will they discover the plot in time and put a halt to it with minimal casualties?

The plot isn't quite as sex-ed up but there is a lot more action. Let's just say there is a shootout in the parking lot of... Disney World, sniper on top of the Magic Castle tower... a Black Hind (gunship) in the skies of Miami, car chases on the Florida highways (think CSI: Miami) plus takedown of a freighter (and then it "disappeared"). However, this book is still NOT for the squeamish or politically correct, as Mike "Jenkins" basically ran roughsod over everybody, including law enforcement, bureaucrats, AND enemies. And there is a bit of torture near the end (to a masochist, hah).

Again, this is another big of jingoistic fantasy, but well-done. Again, the guy outrights, outthinks, and when needed, outf***s everybody too. :)

Rating: if you like the series, check it out

KCR: Unto the Breach, Paladin of Shadows #4 (novel, terrorism, hero)

Image via Wikipedia

Rockwell B-1 Lancer supersonic bomber

Unto the Breach, volume 4 of the "Kildar" series (i.e. Paladin of the Shadows), is yet another jingoistic adventure where the hero outfights and outf***s everybody, but dealing with bazillion issues about the team, relationships, foreign policy, and even something as simple as staying alive. John Ringo managed to deliver a taut tale of good men doing bad things to bad people.

The Setup:  a special request through both the US President and Russian President... a Russian WMD scientist was forced by Chechen rebels to betray his country. His daughter was kidnapped and he was forced to smuggle out several samples of deadly smallpox. Mike "Jenkins" was asked to assemble a force to get it back... whereever it is, and destroy it, AND rescue the scientist, AND his daughter. And just in case he fails, there will be a B-1 bomber overhead if the WMD got away. Then the Chechen rebel army got the news and went after them...

This time the character of Kildar finally got some depth and the 'setup' in the previous books were put to good use. While there are still some sex, there are much more fighting this time, and the end fight, while a bit cliche'ed, is still excellent. Addition of several characters (the helicopter pilots) and death of several characters (sorry, no spoiler!) means the world evolves, and more secrets of the Keldara are revealed.

Lots of fun, definitely read it if you like the series. Again, for mature audiences only.

Rating: Read it (esp. if you are a fan of John Ringo)

KCR: Ghost, Paladin of Shadows #1 (terrorism, hero, novel)

Image via WikipediaDespite the series title, this is NOT a fantasy novel, but rather, sort of novel you'd think are more... pulp. And you can guess by the cover. And yes, it does involve OBL. Now that OBL's dead, this book is still a lot of fun to read.

Story: Former navy SEAL "Mike" was just going about his business when he witness a girl snatched off the street. He could have left it to local cops, gave a license plate number, and called it quits. But he was cast adrift, going to school when he wish he can be at war. So he trailed the bad guys to a warehouse... where he discovered a nefarious plot... Al Qaeda, lead by none other than OBL himself, has hatched a decidedly evil plot... They will kidnap 50 girls from the US, put them in a base somewhere in Syria, surrounded by commandos and air defenses, and torture and rape them to death, one at a time, on live TV and streaming over the Internet, unless US agrees to withdraw from the Middle East. With no time to contact authorities, he infiltrated the operation, saved a girl, and stowaway on the aircraft and infiltrated the base. Let's just say it's a funny read, and bloody, complete with songs and heavy metal and death.

Don't take this book seriously. It's written as sort of revenge fantasy, and there are plenty of bodies, ridiculous situations that's both serious and laughable, and thus, perfectly entertaining.

People who are easily offended should not read this book.

Rating: Get it!