Author Description
Lieutenant Ed Stovic, an F/A-18 pilot, is vectored to intercept Algerians who are defending their newly claimed two-hundred-mile territorial limit. During a dramatic, high-stakes dogfight, the Algerians open fire and Stovic shoots down one of the Algerians' MiGs, its pilot tumbling to a fiery death in the Mediterranean. Stovic is hailed as a hero, and he sees this as the perfect moment to help him achieve his life-long dream -- flying with the world-famous Blue Angels, the Navy's elite flight demonstration team.Ismael Nezzar, the brother of the deceased Algerian pilot, is in the U.S. on a student visa. He sees the boastful Stovic on the Today show and is enraged by his glibness. While attending his brother's funeral -- the biggest event in Algeria in a decade -- Ismael is coerced by a group of Islamic radicals to seek revenge for his brother's death. Though he withdrew from the powerful group years before, Ismael is filled with fury and will stop at nothing to destroy Stovic.Unknown to either of these two men, Kent Rathman has been assigned by a highly placed government official to watch them. Working in the shadows, Rat moves easily among government agencies and is ordered by his White House contacts -- including the President and the NSA director, who has plans to bring about a change of power on her own -- to stop the Algerian. To save his country and his friend, Rat must devise a brilliant counterstrike -- a mission in which failure means certain death.Packed with deadly intrigue, Beltway power plays, and high-flying adventure, The Shadows of Power is Huston's most exciting novel yet. Combining his knowledge of how things work in Washington with his expertise on military hardware, Huston has written an electrifyingly realistic tale of international terrorism and American triumph.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
A high-stakes aerial engagement over the Mediterranean triggers a lethal chain reaction of vengeance and political maneuvering that threatens national security. Lieutenant Ed Stovic, a Navy pilot, finds his career trajectory toward the Blue Angels interrupted when he becomes the target of a calculated vendetta by Ismael Nezzar, the brother of a pilot Stovic downed in combat. As Nezzar is manipulated by radical factions to execute a retaliatory strike on American soil, a covert operative named Kent Rathman navigates the treacherous landscape of Washington D.C. to neutralize the threat. The narrative operates through a multi-perspective framework, shifting between the cockpit, the radical underground, and the highest echelons of the White House to track the converging paths of these three men.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Detailed technical descriptions of F/A-18 flight mechanics and aerial combat maneuvers.
- Political intrigue involving the NSA and the executive branch of the U.S. government.
- Exploration of the radicalization process and the motivations behind international terrorism.
- Alternating viewpoints that build tension across disparate geographical locations.
- High-pressure decision-making scenarios within military and intelligence hierarchies.
- Examination of the public perception of military heroes versus the private reality of combat.
- Strategic planning sequences involving counter-terrorism operations.
- The intersection of personal vendettas with global geopolitical stability.
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to blend technical military accuracy with the fast-paced nature of a political thriller. Discussion often centers on the realistic depiction of Washington power dynamics and the logistical challenges inherent in covert intelligence operations. Critics note that the narrative maintains a consistent level of tension by balancing the personal stakes of the protagonist with the broader implications of international conflict. The pacing is generally described as brisk, with many readers appreciating the grounded approach to hardware and procedural details that define the military sequences. The book is often cited for its focus on the intersection of individual actions and the complex machinery of government policy.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2002-06-04
Publisher:
William Morrow
ISBN-10:
0060008350
ISBN-13:
9780060008352
Contemporary
Action
Thriller
Suspense
Military
Political Thriller
Mystery Thriller & Suspense
Spies & Politics
Genre Fiction
United States
Action Adventure