Prowl

By Gordan E. Runyan

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965880451
• ISBN13: 9780965880459
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Deo Volente Pub
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A lot of "depth" for a submarine novel...

Okay, I've just finished my third time through "Prowl" and have identified what makes me keep picking it up. I've always enjoyed reading/ learning about what soldiers, sailors and airmen are faced with--real or hypothetical. Although I don't see it as the main focus of the book, "Prowl" gave me a great behind-the-scenes look at nuclear submarine life (and how to NOT lose that life! The "101 Things That Will Kill This Sub" speech being a particular favorite moment...) The tech stuff is communicated simply, as though it were through conversation with an old friend, instead of a dry spec-sheet transcription.The action was fun, varied and suspensful. There weren't TOO many different settings to keep track of, yet the story didn't take place in a single location. Plus, the overall scenario has enough plausibility to make for an interesting read.Surprisingly for me, the thing that I was so engrossed with was the self-dialog that the main charachter, "Reed" has with his struggles with family, duty, and his drive for a successful career! Runyan has somehow taken these little conversations we have with ourselves and placed them IN the story--reminding me that even those in charge of multi-million dollar weapons aren't exempt from having to fight these battles as well. A wonderful, REAL charachter in this story.I'll leave the last twenty pages or so for the rest of you to experience yourself...a remarkable conclusion to the story that makes you want to go right back to page one and start over--with that new knowledge in mind. Well done, and thank you for your service to our country.

Fast paced, thought provoking, quick read!

Excellent first novel! Right from the Prolog, Mr. Runyan grabbed my attention, I couldn't put this down. He manages to make J.L. and Mark very real to the reader. I became emotionally attached . I found myself provoked into thoughts similar to the guilt that Mark goes through while trying to further his career and "do the right thing". Who hasn't been there? Brought back memories of "Hunt for Red October", book and movie. Would love to see this one made! Tensions run high under the sea in such a confined space. I feel a lot more respect for those who have served on subs, in such a small, controlled environment where so many things can go wrong.The author managed to give the reader the feeling of what it really is like without overdoing the details, and keeping the story fresh. I laughed, I worried, and I cried on the last page. A must read!

Wish there were more stars possible; I'd go with 10

Simply the best Christian fiction I have ever read. I don't know what more to say. I know, from visiting the Prowl web page, the author won't like me calling this book Christian Fiction, and I apologize. His point is well made: Christians should be writing books that are called simply "novels." The label "Christian Fiction" is an attempt at segregating the book stores. Well, in my humble opinion, "Prowl" deserves to sit on the shelf next to anybody writing today, Christian or no. No back seat of the bus for this book! I have read Clancy's Hunt for Red October, and here is how I see the comparison: Runyan writes about three dimensional people. Clancy's characters are quite often cardboard cutouts with as much depth as a Communion wafer. Runyan has been there. Clancy read about being there. 'Nuff said. Action sequences in Red October are by-and-large clashes of machine vs. machine, albeit weilded by people, and nations. Runyan's action scenes seem to me intensely personal and human, albeit sometimes involving torpedoes, depth charges, and machine pistols. All that said, Red October had some plot twists that deservedly crowned Clancy a master storyteller. Prowl is not without its own group of little surprises, but we'll see what Runyan writes next before he gets to usurp Clancy in full.

BUY THIS BOOK

I have just finished reading this book. It is quite possibly the best book of its kind I have ever read. For a Christian/adventure/techno/Navy thing. I am very impressed! Better even than the secular authors who write in this genre. It seems as if I have known the characters in this book for years, old friends even. The technical accuracy is superlative. I found myself remembering things about my Naval service I thought I had forgotten. The spiritual aspect of this book is incredible as well. I do not want to give anything away. So I will just tell you the thoughts and struggles of these characters mirror many of my own and yours too I will wager. If I could buy every one I know a copy of this book I would. It is that good!

My kind of novel!

I reluctantly began reading "Powl" upon the urging of a friend and found myself hooked from the opening pages. I can't recall having so enjoyed a novel. Runyan has written a page turner with excellent style and plot.I knew nothing of submarines, yet I felt I was experiencing some of the experiences of a submarine crew, young men we all know and can relate to. The author was not technical and never boring. It simply comes through that Runyan "has been there and done that." If the enemy's sinister super-modern submarine bent on international mischief were not enough to carry the plot (and it is for any adventure buff), I also found myself caught up in the suspenseful elements of a homicide within the sub. This novel has action, action, action, yet if your preference is for character sensitivity, personal crisis, and the struggles of a marriage relationship being resolved in an inspiring way then don't miss this story. "Prowl" is further made meaningful by a realistic portrayal of genuine Christian faith in action. It doesn't preach to me; I wouldn't have finished it. It doesn't require me to endure a fantasy of religious miracles or heavenly beings resolving all the conflicts. No, Runyan has done a rare thing: He has presented imperfect Christians whom I can respect and with whom I can empathize as they live and work in the real world. Hope you enjoy "Prowl" as much as I did.