Defensive Action

Excellent read here which as has been previously reviewed by the previous reviewer an excellent follow on to #49 Dragon Fire. Well the Mei character from that title is in fact back but only briefly as a tie in to the ongoing storyline. And what a good story it is with home grown Militia tossed in with Russian ex KGB add in some Chinese and North Korean villians and there is an excellent melting pot for the first title in this duo. The author even manages to whip in the overused nuclear warhead but I didn't seem to take offence at it as it seamlessly slotted into the ongoing storyline. Carl is undercover with the Militia guys here and amidst being captured and escaping and being recaptured features in some fine reading indeed. Phoenix Force is fantastic with as usual McCarter excelling but all members having their place in the spotlight throughout with one member taking a serious wounding (and it was his fault). Able minus Carl are also given good time and play a vital part throughout and the ending sections are superb reading. Add in Jack and the newly outfitted Dragon Slayer which has been upgraded with some very good stuff indeed resulting in an engagement with a Russian MIG which is one of the standout sections of the title. The finish is polished and whilst we take a breath that the mission has been successfully completed we get to the epilogue and get an update on what is happening to Lyons. Will the Teams go black again and invade North Korea to save Carl in the second installment of the duo? Don't know yet as I haven't read it but looking forward to it. Highly recommended reading here.

This book begins as a direct sequel to Stony Man #?: Dragon Fire and answers many of the questions that are left unanswered in that book. Though in superb form Linaker does not require us to have read Dragon Fire before beginning Defensive Action. The story of the Slingshot Project progresses further now that it has entered another phase and is nearly operational. As in Linaker’s other longer works he gives us in depth villains and superb action. Never did the book feel forced or contrived. Improving on his form in Dragon Fire he no longer has extended scenes describing the villains motivations or plot points that could have been integrated into the story much more smoothly. Though the Militia guy does get a bit long winded at times. To this books discredit it does begin to feel formulaic near the end as all parties are closing in on the facility for the final climactic battle. It still makes for a decent ending but comes off a little flat if you read these books frequently. The ending and the plot threads left dangling are a great jumping off point for book two but are not enough to make readers of just this volume feel unsatisfied. Overall Defensive Action is another fantastic outing by Mike Linaker.

Good start to this duo. The first part of the book dragged, I thought, but when the teams go into action, it's vintage Linaker. Phoenix's mission in Siberia, along with Dragon Slayer coming along for the ride was cool. Lyons' part in the story gave us the chance to see him in one of his semi-ballistic modes in the climatic battle. Leaves you wondering what's going to happen in the next book.

Mike Linaker came write a great book. I have enjoyed his books and this is one of them. I was excited to see Carl Lyons infiltrate the Militia Men and be discovered. I was thrilled with Grimaldi and the new Dragon Slayer. In other books, there are areas that get slow but not for Mike he keeps the tension going. Even when discribing the Dragon Slayer by including taking Grimaldi hostage. I felt the tension when Stony Man farm was worried for Carl. Now I will run out and get the second book to Slingshot Project -"Rogue State". I have to know how the team gets Carl back. And it had a good cliffhanger ending to encourage everyone to read. I recommend to anyone looking to read the Stony Man books to pickup these books. This is a great series and a compliment to the power and momentum of the Stont Man teams.