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Matt Pontowski #1
Firebreak
A terrible new conflagration is sweeping the Middle East and Syria is on the march. Supported by a resurgent Iraq, Syrian armies again challenge Israel. After their humiliating defeat, the Iraqis have created a lethal nerve gas with a delivery system that can reach into Israel. The embattled Israelis are on the edge of a catastrophic defeat and are about to use nuclear weapons. The American President deploys F-15s to Israel in an effort to keep the Israelis and the Arabs from crossing the firebreak and using weapons of mass destruction. Among the Americans is a brash, young pilot, Matt Pontowski, the grandson of the President.
Matt's presence is welcomed as a sign of the President's personal commitment to Israel, but he becomes a liability when he is romantically entangle with a beautiful Israeli whose own loyalties appear to be divided.
Matt's presence is welcomed as a sign of the President's personal commitment to Israel, but he becomes a liability when he is romantically entangle with a beautiful Israeli whose own loyalties appear to be divided.
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
69 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Richard Herman
33 books49 followersAlso publishes as Richard Herman Jr.
Richard Herman was a member of the United States Air Force (Weapons System operator) for twenty-one years, retiring in 1983 with the rank of major. He is the author of ten previous novels, including The Warbirds, Power Curve, Against All Enemies, Edge of Honor, and The Trojan Sea, all published by Avon Books.
(source Harper Collins)
Richard Herman was a member of the United States Air Force (Weapons System operator) for twenty-one years, retiring in 1983 with the rank of major. He is the author of ten previous novels, including The Warbirds, Power Curve, Against All Enemies, Edge of Honor, and The Trojan Sea, all published by Avon Books.
(source Harper Collins)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 10, 2015
Pretty good character driven story about a F-15 pilot who happens to be the grandson of the sitting president.
The primary setting is a fictional war between Israel and Syria/Iraq. Herman does a good job of handling the politics involved, both U.S. and Israeli, in a conflict of this nature. Herman was a Wizzo for the air force but he paid attention to the details when he asked for technical advice on tank battles. Well written for someone who didn't experience them.
First of a series featuring Matt Pontowski.
The primary setting is a fictional war between Israel and Syria/Iraq. Herman does a good job of handling the politics involved, both U.S. and Israeli, in a conflict of this nature. Herman was a Wizzo for the air force but he paid attention to the details when he asked for technical advice on tank battles. Well written for someone who didn't experience them.
First of a series featuring Matt Pontowski.
May 13, 2015
Great Storyline. Proofreaders failed.
Great Storyline. However there were more errors in the writing than I have ever encountered in a single novel. Run on words,repeating words, Rattlesnake like reflexes was turned into a none word. Not one to have ever really noticed similar writing issues in other novels. I found the errors to be excessive almost like a translation issue. Great book in spite of the errors.
Great Storyline. However there were more errors in the writing than I have ever encountered in a single novel. Run on words,repeating words, Rattlesnake like reflexes was turned into a none word. Not one to have ever really noticed similar writing issues in other novels. I found the errors to be excessive almost like a translation issue. Great book in spite of the errors.
January 4, 2021
The Master
I have come to believe that all books written by Richard Herman are a pleasure to read. I look forward to the read because I know it will be fun. Like a beautiful woman, each story has it's own charm and leads you on in anticipation. I enjoyed this book and I am glad there are a few more in the series.
I have come to believe that all books written by Richard Herman are a pleasure to read. I look forward to the read because I know it will be fun. Like a beautiful woman, each story has it's own charm and leads you on in anticipation. I enjoyed this book and I am glad there are a few more in the series.
June 6, 2020
Very good book. Obviously written by a very knowledgeable professional. I would strongly recommend it
to people who enjoy action spiced with a small amount of romance. Proof reading and editing could have been better.
to people who enjoy action spiced with a small amount of romance. Proof reading and editing could have been better.
October 6, 2019
An excellent series debut here. Herman creates some strong characters and strikes the right balance between political intrigue and action thriller. If you enjoy W.E.B Griffin and Dale Brown this will be right up your alley.
January 18, 2018
My review
Excellent, well written, hard to put down. Looking forward to next book in this series, Mr. Herman brings the horror of war as best you can in a book and still maintain the plot.
Excellent, well written, hard to put down. Looking forward to next book in this series, Mr. Herman brings the horror of war as best you can in a book and still maintain the plot.
May 1, 2022
DNF a couple of chapters in. Confusing, dated, sexist, poorly written and edited. Maybe it gets better but I’m not going to bet on it. Not worth the time.
June 30, 2022
It was a good read but seemed to take forever to get through.
January 25, 2023
I go back and forth between three and four stars. It’s worth a read and had me on the edge of my seat most of the way
August 17, 2025
Really enjoyed this 2nd time through my paperback version...on to the next one...
December 29, 2022
The story is electrifying. A must read for those following the Pontowski series. What I do not like about the Kindle edition is … it is full of typos! After I reported 10 typo errors, I stopped counting. Other than that, the novel is a good read.
January 7, 2017
If I were to write a letter to the author of this novel, I would say:
I grew up in a family of veterans. Both my parents served many years in the Air Force, and took an interest in aircraft. Over the years of my father’s military service, he collected a multitude of techno-thriller novels, and Firebreak was among his favorite. My father recommended this book to me, so I read the description on the back. I was hooked already. I have few questions; however, I must ask, did you enjoy the time you served in the Air Force? What exactly inspired you with such fascinating plot ideas? How do you begin writing combat scenes?
Protest a situation/ending/conflict in the novel or make a complaint regarding a situation/ending/conflict/writing style. I have only two issues with this great work of art. My first problem is the rather ambiguous atmosphere presented to me when reading parts where politics are being discussed and arguments are boiling. I wish I could have known these side characters better and understood the current political situations more than I did. My second problem is just one scene involving Shoshana. That scene would be when she expertly maneuvered her current vehicle with her father in it to save their lives, and her father had too few suspicions about such a “coincidence.”
Not that I would know much about writing, but I would put more time into conveying more about the current situation and history of the subjects relevant to the main plot to the reader. I would also attempt to fit in more aerial combat to the story, but I might be somewhat biased toward such action. Regardless of my picky personal preferences, this was certainly an amazing book. I could not read this novel enough. This work of art had me hooked, and I had to finish it.
I grew up in a family of veterans. Both my parents served many years in the Air Force, and took an interest in aircraft. Over the years of my father’s military service, he collected a multitude of techno-thriller novels, and Firebreak was among his favorite. My father recommended this book to me, so I read the description on the back. I was hooked already. I have few questions; however, I must ask, did you enjoy the time you served in the Air Force? What exactly inspired you with such fascinating plot ideas? How do you begin writing combat scenes?
Protest a situation/ending/conflict in the novel or make a complaint regarding a situation/ending/conflict/writing style. I have only two issues with this great work of art. My first problem is the rather ambiguous atmosphere presented to me when reading parts where politics are being discussed and arguments are boiling. I wish I could have known these side characters better and understood the current political situations more than I did. My second problem is just one scene involving Shoshana. That scene would be when she expertly maneuvered her current vehicle with her father in it to save their lives, and her father had too few suspicions about such a “coincidence.”
Not that I would know much about writing, but I would put more time into conveying more about the current situation and history of the subjects relevant to the main plot to the reader. I would also attempt to fit in more aerial combat to the story, but I might be somewhat biased toward such action. Regardless of my picky personal preferences, this was certainly an amazing book. I could not read this novel enough. This work of art had me hooked, and I had to finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 2, 2008A Her
October 22, 2013
Very good book for military techno thriller fans.
A detailed review will follow.
A detailed review will follow.
February 1, 2014
i found this book really lived up to my expectations Herman is great. it did everything i expected it to do.
February 25, 2015
Another one of those books about the Mid East, Russia & the USA. I like books like these even though they are fiction but they keep you wanting read them. I would recommend it.
January 2, 2016
A so so book.
September 21, 2014
Herman is a lot better than Clancy and a little better then my other fave author, Dale Brown.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews