Super#1: The Barrabas Strike

The first super sized SOBs adventure, and it is an entertaining read cover to cover. A prototype tank is tested by a developer, and after it goes wrong the tank is marked for destruction. But the plot thickens as the tank ends up in an arms deal with Iran. Enter the SOBs to find it and before we know it they are caught up in this mission while at the same time a revenge plot by an Iranian bad guy is after the ones responsible for the nuclear destruction in Iran from book #2 in the series. This makes The Barrabas Strike a sequel to Plains of Fire, and it is recommended that you read that book first. What I like about this story is a lot of different perspectives are presented. Most of the SOBs get their own spotlight, as well as the Dykstra's, Jessup, the Senator, and the Iranian villains and others. My favorite moment has to be Nanos after an excellent action scene on board the ship finds himself stuck in the tank. I had no clue what was about to happen, but like much of the novel, there were all kinds of surprises, and the poop hits the fan let me tell you. There is a lot going on in this book, always entertaining, I just wish that the ending could have been more fleshed out, I got the sense that it was far too rushed in the final pages, and just who the heck was in control of the tank? Also one gripe I had was the presence of Karl Heiss. Alive and apparently well, he has returned for another go. Either there was a miscommunication between authors/editors, or the events in this book take place earlier in the series than the publication date. As there is no number on the spine, It is reasonable to take this stance so in that case no harm no foul.

Enjoyable read where the author manages to squeeze so much between the covers it seems to go a lot longer than it's actual length. Referring all the way back to #2 in this series the story continues on from that title and gives a massive amount of background to what happened and the resulting events in Iran. Mainly following two different storylines for the first three quarters of the title the Sob's are off together as are Barrabas Erikya Gunther Lee and Bishop (huh? yes I know the title is placed incorrectly in the listing). Excellent reading of a newly constructed machine which just can't be made to do all it is supposed to do by the designers and how it manages to be sent to Iran contained within an massive arms purchase. Toss in Karl Heiss who is back yet again and a couple of fine characters on the Iranian side this title has it all. What looks like a no way out situation at the end suddenly opens up in an unexpected way and results in an excellent finish. Recommended reading.

The first Super SOB's book was nothing spectacular, but it was not boring by any means. A lot more time to flesh things out and have an extended mission for the mercs.