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Summary
The Navy SEALs have been fighting terrorists around the world for more than a decade. And for all that time, the Bandito Platoon from SEAL Team Seven has been on continuous combat rotation. Now they have drawn a shipboard assignment off Central America - an easy day. But for a Navy SEAL, the only easy day was yesterday. Act of Valor goes deep into the secret world of today's most elite and highly trained group of warriors. When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the United States, a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that could kill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitments to country, Team, and their families back home. But each time they accomplish their mission, a new piece of intelligence reveals another shocking twist to the plot, which stretches from Chechnya to the Philippines and from Ukraine to Somalia. The widening operation sends the SEALs across the globe as they track a terrorist ring to the U.S.-Mexico border - where they engage in an epic firefight with potentially unimaginable consequences for America... In a powerful story of global anti-terrorism - inspired by real-life missions - Act of Valor combines stunning combat scenes, up-to-the-minute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate in action adventure.
The way this book is written, it feels like a brochure for military equipment, just missing the part numbers and prices. The characters lack any depth, and the Navy SEALs are depicted more like a recruitment advertisement than actual individuals. Although the preface claims that this book is a tribute to the Navy SEALs, complete with information on where to donate, it fails to tell a compelling story about real people. If it had, it would have been much more impactful. Additionally, one of the authors plays around with verb tenses towards the end of the book, making the predictable ending even more evident.
I must say, I was quite disappointed. I'm usually a fan of Tom Clancy's novels, but it feels like this one is purely using his name to boost sales.
Who would've thought that the daily life of a navy seal team could be so dull and unexciting? The narrative of seal team seven is excessively filled with detailed protocols, military lingo, and character analysis. Regrettably, the core mission of the story seems to be overlooked, receiving very little attention. As I delved deeper into the story, it became less of a thrilling navy seal adventure and more akin to a social studies class. The action was few and far between, leaving much to be desired. The dialogue felt contrived and overly reminiscent of a news report. However, I must admit that it was educational and would have been captivating if I had been seeking a non-fiction account.
I'm into this genre, but this one just didn't hit the spot for me. The plot felt lacking and the characters were developed in a predictable way. If you're looking for a SEALs story, I'd recommend checking out "The Heart and the Fist" instead.
Act of Valor isn't necessarily a terrible read; I wouldn't go as far as to say it's outstanding though; it's just not worth investing much time in. I'm more curious about why Tom Clancy shifted his focus to building a brand rather than continuing to produce gripping espionage thrillers. Whether it's his "Op Center" series or the "Tom Clancy Presents" series, Clancy utilized his name to put out subpar works by less talented authors. I have a feeling that Clancy's marketing strategy was a financial success, but it ended up tarnishing his reputation as a masterful fiction writer. Now that Clancy has passed away, Mark Greany is doing an impressive job carrying forward the Ryan Jr./John Clark series, while Grant Blackwood is somewhat less skillful in his execution.
I sometimes find these Tom Clancy Presents books confusing. His name is prominently displayed on the cover, but they're actually written by someone else. So, who should take the blame for this tear-jerker? Clancy or Couch and Galdoris? It's a bit unclear. Anyway, one thing's for sure, it's nowhere near as well-written as "The Hunt for Red October." I wonder if Clancy is endorsing these new writers and providing them with some sort of outline. It's a real curiosity.
"Act of Valor," which I think is also a movie that I haven't seen, is a typical novel about heroic Navy SEALs sacrificing themselves for the sake of the free world. We've seen this kind of story many times before. Predictably, the guy who dies in the end is the one with the pregnant wife, and naturally, the Mexican Federales are portrayed as slightly less competent than the SEALs. But the most frustrating part is the inaccurate portrayal of Federales in Costa Rica. This shows that the author didn't do their research. Costa Rica hasn't had a military since 1948 when then-President Jose Figures Ferer abolished it, prioritizing education and healthcare for the population. It's a peace-loving country, and the one depicted in the book might be Nicaragua or Colombia, but it's definitely not Costa Rica. I've lived there, and I believe this book does a great disservice by misrepresenting the country.
Now, let's talk about the character development, or rather the lack thereof, in this novel. The bad guys are all purely evil, while the good guys are solely Americans, with a few Mexicans thrown in. There's no indication that there might be American villains involved in drug trafficking or on the receiving end of those illegal activities.
The plot was somewhat confusing and mainly focused on technical descriptions of guns, planes, submarines, night vision goggles, and so on. Towards the end, there was a bit of a plot involving the bad guys planning to have faithful Muslims wear bomb vests and attack America. But it's nothing new or original.
Overall, I would give this book an average rating of three stars. If you're a fan of this type of novel, you'll probably enjoy it. However, it wouldn't be my first choice for a Tom Clancy book to read. For that, I'd recommend one of his earlier works like "Red October." Now, that was a thrilling book!
Clancy is certainly capable of producing much better work.
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