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Red Dragon Rising #2
Larry Bond's Red Dragon Rising: Edge of War
CIA officer Mara Duncan is on assignment in bomb-torn Hanoi. Her task---get scientist Josh MacArthur and a seven-year-old witness to Chinese atrocities in Vietnam out of the country safely. They are pursued by a relentless Chinese monk turned commando who can call on the entire Chinese secret service in Vietnam for help. Their escape is further complicated when SEALs helping Mara, gun down Vietnamese soldiers, making them wanted by both China and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army Advisor Zeus Murphy is given an impossible task: Prevent the Chinese from landing on Vietnam's coast. Heeding the President's advice to think outside the box, he concocts a daring mission into the heart of the Chinese fleet in the harbor at Hainan. This operation will go down in the annals of SpecWar history as either one of the most daring triumphs of all time or one of the most foolish suicide raids ever attempted.
Or maybe both.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army Advisor Zeus Murphy is given an impossible task: Prevent the Chinese from landing on Vietnam's coast. Heeding the President's advice to think outside the box, he concocts a daring mission into the heart of the Chinese fleet in the harbor at Hainan. This operation will go down in the annals of SpecWar history as either one of the most daring triumphs of all time or one of the most foolish suicide raids ever attempted.
Or maybe both.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2010
69 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Larry Bond
75 books412 followersLarry Bond is the author of several bestselling military thrillers, including Crash Dive, Cold Choices, Dangerous Ground, Red Phoenix and the Larry Bond’s First Team and Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising series. He was a naval officer for six years, serving four on a destroyer and two on shore duty in the Washington DC area. He's also worked as a warfare analyst and antisubmarine technology expert, and he now writes and designs computer games, including Harpoon and Command at Sea. He makes his home in Springfield, Virginia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
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June 2, 2014Okay enough. I'm not going to finish this. For the benefit of those who hate it when I rate books I didn't finish I won't even rate it. I was really ready to just remove it from my books altogether but for you who read my review of the first and saw this on my "currently reading shelf" I will note why I'm putting it aside.
This one was written well after the first...recently enough so that the phrase "Global Warming" has been shown to be incorrect (or to use the word in the books stretched and strained intro, "inaccurate"). So they open admitting this...they don't go into how this sort of undoes the premise of the book, but no big deal that part is just "alternate history" now.
But we do get an ongoing diatribe in the introduction switching to the phrase "climate change" with an explanation that it's still bad and we'll all starve.
No sooner do we get through the intro than the same subject/argument is brought into the body of the book.
Look, if that's why you want to read the books more power to you. I was looking for a "technothriller", not political propaganda. So...end of my interest. I have too many other books waiting to be read.
This one was written well after the first...recently enough so that the phrase "Global Warming" has been shown to be incorrect (or to use the word in the books stretched and strained intro, "inaccurate"). So they open admitting this...they don't go into how this sort of undoes the premise of the book, but no big deal that part is just "alternate history" now.
But we do get an ongoing diatribe in the introduction switching to the phrase "climate change" with an explanation that it's still bad and we'll all starve.
No sooner do we get through the intro than the same subject/argument is brought into the body of the book.
Look, if that's why you want to read the books more power to you. I was looking for a "technothriller", not political propaganda. So...end of my interest. I have too many other books waiting to be read.
May 30, 2021
This book is absolute drivel. Not that one really expects great literature from Bond; but there has always been exciting stories and good techno in his techno-thrillers. Not here. it's like he just completed his PhD in Social Justice Warrior. The men are self-doubting wimps, the principal reasons for the conflict is Global Warming, Political Cowardice and greed for power. Top that off with the only heroic character in the entire book is the female spy who saves the aforementioned wimps by helping them run away. and I may never again visit Bond & co.
October 20, 2022
Just didn't hold my interest. shouldn't have taken 18 days to read a book of this length
July 4, 2021
Picks right up at the end of the first book in the series. Again, this is more of a spy novel about the personal struggle of a few individuals than a sweeping novel about a future war. I was hoping for more, and frankly, the characters in the book are just not that relatable. I don't care much about what happens to any of them.
June 4, 2025
Great writing…not great science
As usual the author does a magnificent job of weaving a great story. The only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 was that I’m sick of the rapid climate change hogwash. Other than that…great book. I’ll be reading the rest of the series….just holding my nose at certain points.
As usual the author does a magnificent job of weaving a great story. The only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 was that I’m sick of the rapid climate change hogwash. Other than that…great book. I’ll be reading the rest of the series….just holding my nose at certain points.
August 14, 2018
This is a good techno-thriller, well written with a good plot. I always enjoy Larry Bond, though not quite as much as Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, Stephen Coonts, and Brad Thor. An engaging book and a fun read.
May 22, 2021
Much to be desired. If you’ve read Red Phoenix and Cauldron, you’ll be disappointed. Read like a 900 page Tom Clancy book with barely 100 pages of action. The last book I read from Bond was the Enemy Within which was a disappointment and I decided to give this series a try. Big mistake.
May 26, 2017
Good book well written, good character development. Not sure I like the environmentalism but the story was good.
October 27, 2017
Awesome
Keeps you on the edge of your seat... Can't wait to read the second book in the series... Two thumbs up...
Keeps you on the edge of your seat... Can't wait to read the second book in the series... Two thumbs up...
August 20, 2021
Well plotted with defined characters in a interesting story. Well narrated.
November 30, 2024
I loved it
This story has so much action, I couldn't put it down. I loved book one , and now book two. There are four books you will love them all.
This story has so much action, I couldn't put it down. I loved book one , and now book two. There are four books you will love them all.
January 9, 2025
It ended too soon. I wanted more!
Non stop action. From the jungles of Vietnam to the concrete jungle of New York City it never lets up. There better be a sequel.
Non stop action. From the jungles of Vietnam to the concrete jungle of New York City it never lets up. There better be a sequel.
July 25, 2020
The story continues much on the same plotlines as the last book, needlessly extending on a theme that should have ended with the first book, what were they thinking?
July 1, 2012
If you read the first book in this series then you have pretty much read this one except the chase is through cities and not jungles as much and the scientist doesn't come off as a whiny crybaby like he did in the first book. Of course any real action takes place near the end, just like the first book. As a matter of fact, you can skip the first 100 pages, because other than some Vietnamese Soldiers getting killed by the SEAL team nothing much goes on.
The characters are weak, with the exception of Mara Duncan. She seems like the only one at least putting forth an effort to make this story worth reading. The SEAL team are idiotic and do things I doubt a real SEAL team would do while trying to remain under the radar in a country at war. As for Ma, What is the point? Dump her at an orphanage. Of course the US President comes across as a nitwit whose hands are convienently tied from taking any real action like deploying actual US forces to combat the Chinese - something that I hope Mr. Bond has planned for further novels in this series.
The characters are weak, with the exception of Mara Duncan. She seems like the only one at least putting forth an effort to make this story worth reading. The SEAL team are idiotic and do things I doubt a real SEAL team would do while trying to remain under the radar in a country at war. As for Ma, What is the point? Dump her at an orphanage. Of course the US President comes across as a nitwit whose hands are convienently tied from taking any real action like deploying actual US forces to combat the Chinese - something that I hope Mr. Bond has planned for further novels in this series.
April 27, 2016
Okay, some negative reviews of this book have given the idea that all it is about is "global warming" well that just isn't true. Yes, that is discussed and it is carried to an unrealistic extreme to be laughable. However it supports the main reason for the Chinese invasion of Vietnam. So to the naysayers and harsh critics, please remember that THIS IS FICTION!!! That being said, it offers an interesting premise.
I actually listened to the unabridged version. I find listening to books sometimes makes them much more enjoyable. This particular book is fascinating because of the monk and his sheer determination to catch his prey.
Yes, the technical aspect clearly was not as well developed as a Tom Clancy novel. But you have to admit, the cat and mouse part was intriguing. The politicians in this book are true politicians. Why would they be any different?
I actually listened to the unabridged version. I find listening to books sometimes makes them much more enjoyable. This particular book is fascinating because of the monk and his sheer determination to catch his prey.
Yes, the technical aspect clearly was not as well developed as a Tom Clancy novel. But you have to admit, the cat and mouse part was intriguing. The politicians in this book are true politicians. Why would they be any different?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2013
Ugh. Basically take the run 'n gun of the first novel in the series and put it in an urban environment instead of a jungle one. Dr. McArthur just can't seem to get the U.S. government proof of Chinese war crimes, despite the fact it's 2015 and he's in a major metropolitan city. Just upload the footage to YouTube, dude.
Also, can I just say that McArthur falling in love with the standoffish CIA agent who is trying to save him is the worst sort of spy novel cliche?
Doubly disappointed because Major Zeus, whose story I was most interested in, got very little play in this book.
(Of course, I'm halfway through the series now, so I'm sure I'll finish it even though it's trashy. Darn my completionist tendencies.)
Also, can I just say that McArthur falling in love with the standoffish CIA agent who is trying to save him is the worst sort of spy novel cliche?
Doubly disappointed because Major Zeus, whose story I was most interested in, got very little play in this book.
(Of course, I'm halfway through the series now, so I'm sure I'll finish it even though it's trashy. Darn my completionist tendencies.)
October 20, 2014
Red Dragon Rising Edge of War by Larry Bond did not keep my interest until a couple hundred pages in. The last fifty pages were packed with exciting action, such as a river escape past a Vietnamese gun boat. However, the rest of the book had some action but it could have been copied and pasted from the first book, except with the setting being in a metropolitan area instead of a jungle. I gave this book four stars because even though it was cliche-filled and a replica of the first book it evolved into a book that was so bad it was funny. If you eat steak every night you sometimes just want a greasy Papa John's pizza. As I read the book, I wondered if the author intended for the reader to get this feeling.
February 2, 2021
In this the second instalment of the Dragons Rising quartet we follow on the ongoing struggles of Mara to get Josh home so that he can testify that China are the aggressor it their incursion into Vietnam was pre-emptive and not retaliatory. Mara, Josh and the SEALS are pursued across Vietnam as the struggle to find a suitable location for them to leave the country.
Meanwhile in US the president is struggling with the economy and cannot get any support for his stance on China. There is a debate in the UN regarding sanctions against China, can Mara get Josh back before then? Will his testimony make any difference? Will Josh even by safe once he is on US soil? All these elements of the story come together in an exciting climax to the half way point in the series.
Meanwhile in US the president is struggling with the economy and cannot get any support for his stance on China. There is a debate in the UN regarding sanctions against China, can Mara get Josh back before then? Will his testimony make any difference? Will Josh even by safe once he is on US soil? All these elements of the story come together in an exciting climax to the half way point in the series.
May 26, 2016
CIA officer Mara Duncan follows her most grueling assignment yet. She must
get scientist Josh MacArthur and a 7 year old witness to Chinese atrocities in
Vietnam out of the country. They are being relentlessly pursued by a Chinese monk
turned commando who has the entire Chinese secret service in Vietnam helping him.
The story in this one is pretty good but I would have preferred a little more action.
I gave it a 3.
get scientist Josh MacArthur and a 7 year old witness to Chinese atrocities in
Vietnam out of the country. They are being relentlessly pursued by a Chinese monk
turned commando who has the entire Chinese secret service in Vietnam helping him.
The story in this one is pretty good but I would have preferred a little more action.
I gave it a 3.
August 7, 2016
The continuation of the Red Dragon series finds Josh Macarthur and Ma along with their CIA handler and the Navy Seals trying to make it out of Vietnam before the Chinese invasion is finished. The US liaison Major Zeus is trying to come up with ways to keep the Chinese at bay. Very similar to the first book and the overall storyline of the series only gets moved along slightly and mainly in the last 100 pages or so.
August 10, 2016
Even if you could eat caviar every day, would you really want to? Sometimes you just want a cheap slice of pizza.
These books are not good. They're horribly cliche and often too long for such a simple story. That doesn't mean they're not fun even as you roll your eyes at the predictability of the plot.
These books are not good. They're horribly cliche and often too long for such a simple story. That doesn't mean they're not fun even as you roll your eyes at the predictability of the plot.
May 2, 2015
A lot of words, little story. The plot was weak and fractured, and what little story there was lacked cohesion. Skip this book and try another.
A lot of words, little story. The plot was weak and fractured, and what little story there was lacked cohesion. Skip this book and try another.
A lot of words, little story. The plot was weak and fractured, and what little story there was lacked cohesion. Skip this book and try another.
November 13, 2011
Follow up to Shadows of War...The continuing story of Mara Duncan and Josh MacArthur's escape from Vietnam to bring the true story of China's invasion...to be followed by Shock of War...interest and perceptive as to what the feared climate change can bring to the SE Asian tinderbox!!!
April 13, 2011
Started off with a lot of promise and went South quickly. It is as if he doesn't really have a story, and just has his characters meander around getting in and out of trouble. Not very interesting or compelling.
January 5, 2014
Ya know...I saw this in my book list and I, for the life of me, cannot remember reading it. It must not have been very good though because I only gave it two stars. I don't think it's in my library for me to go back & look at it. Oh well...
July 26, 2013
Talking about the series of 4 books. It is an interesting story, but not 4 books worth. Some things have a lot of technical complexity, but at other times I wonder if I'm reading a young adult novel. I read the 4th book first, so I feel trapped to read the other 3.
January 27, 2011
This was an amazing series of books. If you like alternate, futuristic books this will be for you.
March 14, 2011
I didn't like it quite as good as the first one in the series. The middle section meanders a bit.
April 15, 2012
Fast-paced with intriguing characters and a plausible geopolitical military scenario. Bogged down a little about 2/3 through, but picked up with some real breath holding action at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews