awesome!

Just finished this series and it was amazing, got me quite emotional towards the end, would highly recommend it

1 person found this helpful

Almost Perfect

Some of the best and most enjoyable books I've listened to on Audible have been those I stumbled across. The Crash Dive series was one such instance of this. One of the emails from Audible featured this title and, as I'm a keen submarine buff, this series looked to fit the bill perfectly. I had never read anything by Craig DiLouie nor had I heard of him, but he is now a firm favourite after reading this superb collection of short stories.

The Crash Dive series takes place during the second World war and follows the career of one Charlie Harrison as he progresses up the ranks in the U.S navy submarine service. There have been many books and films depicting real and fictional stories of daring do in the second World war, but very few of them focus on the silent service''s contribution to the war effort. Most writers focus on land campaigns and so do does Hollywood. This is perhaps understandable, yet both the mortality rate and impact on the Pacific war the submarine service had were amongst the highest of any service, so it's surprising to me that there isn't much more fictional material out there dealing with this branch of the military.

Anyway, I will go into more detail later, but for those wanting the short version of this review; Crash Dive is a superb series. Craig DiLouie has penned a truly masterful depiction of the U.S Silent Service and life aboard a World war II submarine. DiLouie has to be one of the best character writers I've come across. Each of the characters in his stories are so well defined, credible and developed. You could really believe they are real people. Each one has their own unique traits, strengths and weaknesses - it really is like reading about very real people. To date, I've only come across such character writing from Stephen king.

To add to this writing strength, DiLouie is able to grip the reader with pulse quickening action. I recall how brilliantly he would suck me into his vivid prose during battle stations action scenes. I felt like I was there in the thick of it when targets were being tracked and approaches made. In addition, counter attacks by the enemy really came across as completely authentic, with the ability to get my adrenaline going! I've come across so little in this specific genre, it's a wonderful find for me to discover Craig DiLouie's work. To me, it's the American equivalent of the seminal 'Das Boot' and in it's own right worthy of a properly adapted movie or TV mini series, especially considering the material coming out of Hollywood these days.

I cannot stress enough just how well written these stories are. Everything about them is credible and characteristic of the Pacific campaign against the Japanese Empire. Craig DiLouie's Crash Dive series is a real oasis in a desert of submarine based fiction. The only other author I can recommend, albeit set in the modern era, is Michael Dimmer curio. Alas, when last I checked, Audible only had a single Dimmer curio title. I've read a Douglas Reeman book which was disappointing and despite Tom Clancy's reputation, apart from the Hunt For Red October, there really isn't anything submarine focused enough to get your teeth into.

One thing DiLouie has done that reflects his superb character writing abilities, is to provide us with a post script at the conclusion of the series, in which he details the remainder of the main characters lives. This is done so well, so believably and with the backdrop of six books behind it, that I found myself with a lump in my throat as I listened to the fates of the key players.

So, why only almost perfect?

For most listeners, the technical details are not that relevant, but to those like me who are submarine enthusiasts, the multitude of incorrect information grates just a little. Especially so as DiLouie has quite clearly worked hard to make these stories accurate from a technical standpoint. yet, he got the hard stuff right and some of the simple stuff wrong! In addition, inconsistencies or continuity errors were present too.

For example, Charlie suffers 3 broken ribs by the end of book 1. By the start of book 2, he is recovering from 2 broken ribs! His new submarine mentioned at the end of book 1 is stated as a Tambour class submarine, but then becomes a Gato class in book 2. The Sabre Tooth and Sand Tiger, both Gato class boats, were stated to have 4 screws - the Gato class has only 2 in fact. Strangely, DiLouie corrects this when stating much later in the series that the Sand Tiger has 2 propellers.

I puzzled over how a hard left rudder could result in a clockwise turn or why an officer would light a cigarette when oxygen is very low on the submerged submarine. Another thing DiLouie seems to think is that the flooding of torpedo tubes is accomplished by simply opening the outer doors to the tubes!

I also noticed that units of measurement appear to be confused as 14.5 Knots was stated as being about 13 mph, when it's more like the other way around. On more than one occasion, DiLouie refers to a ship as being around 6 football fields long. This would be about right if a football field was 100 feet long and not 100 yards long! The Mark 14 torpedo did indeed leave a wake pointing the enemy to where the firing submarine was. However, submarine commanders would routinely turn hard off the track of the torpedo once launched to avoid this, but not done so in this series.

In September, 1944, another submarine, the USS harder, is featured with its relief crew. however, this boat was lost with all hands the month before in actual fact, something very easy to find out on Wikipedia.

OK, I could go on as there were other things, but anyone still reading this far will have got the point.

Despite all that, I very much enjoyd this series as it's otherwise so darn good! :) If you happen to be a sub buff, like me, don't let my picky observations put you off this excellent series.

Finally, to complete the quality of this series, the superb R.CBray narrates throughout. He really is one of the best narrators featured on Audible and must, by now, be very much in demand. Bray captures the changing voice of Charlie Harrison toward the end of the series where he is irrevocably changed by his experiences,so a really nice touch.

Crash Dive is an overall superb series and one I shall enjoy listening to again .... and again .... :)

2 people found this helpful

Excellent submarine book

27 hour of bliss.

Iv read a few submarine books and this is one of the best. I couldn't recommend it more

excellent in every regards

I wouldn't normally consider this my type of book but was drawn in by the narrator who I have listened to in previous books. I'm very glad that I did because this was one series that I literally couldn't stop listening to. absolutely first class fiction, so real I had to check that it wasn't in fact non fiction.

A different book for me.

I have had one of Craig’s other books in my wish list for awhile, never actually gotten around to getting it, then I saw this one become available I recognised his name, and I thought I’d give it a go. my normal books are either zombie/apocalypse or set in space.
A submarine isn’t too far of a stretch from a space ship, you can’t just walkout side of a sub when it’s underwater. I don’t know a lot about WWII, and I’m pretty terrible with dates, this book does say it’s mainly fiction, I imagine the people are, but I’m sure there will be one or two facts in there. I thought we would start with Charlie being a low rank, but he is an officer, a low officer, he has his issues. He deals with them well. I love the captain’s accent in book 3, I’m a bit of a sucker for a southern accent, thank you R. C. Bray! I’m glad I got the complete series as I wouldn’t of coped with the ending of book 5 without being able to go straight into book 6. Book 6 was a little different and I liked it.

Basically I took a chance with this book, not a huge one because I do enjoy R. C. Bray’s voice, the books he narrates are very fun to listen to, he does an amazing job of brining a book to life. I can’t say if the book is accurate. But I did enjoy the story, and that’s what I wanted, a story. The thought of being in a cramped space, smelling of unwashed men, Diesel engines and smoke was really brought up often, and does not sound enjoyable.
There are battles, fear and friendships.
There is a pretty good review by S. Morris, London, UK They are more knowledgable on submarines and WWII read over their review to get a feel on what’s correct and what’s not. The only improvement I could suggest is that the chapters get their titles. The books are named so it is easy to see when a new one starts.

John Braddock was my favourite character.

After listening to this book I will be getting Craig’s other book that has been sitting in my wish list.

WOW!

All I have to say about these books is WOW!

The realism of the action, the way it's written, you begin to feel like you're there in the thick of it all! I wasn't sure about getting these books at first, but I decided I would after listening to the sample! I was hooked after the first few words! Totally believable, the way the action, the drama, the romance is written, it just pulls you in and "WHAM", you're in amongst the submariners and the conditions that they were put through, and the gritty story of the time in the POW camp was just heartbreaking!

If you haven't guessed yet, I thoroughly enjoyed these books! Tremendous storylines and nailbiting action keep you enthralled for the duration! k(
The legend that is R.C.Bray, narrated these books, and in all honesty, he just is the best narrator in the business!

Wonderful

A fabulous story read by an exceptional narrator.

I can't imagine what I can read next that won't feel shallow or irrelevant by comparison. I feel bereft now this book is over. I can't recommend it highly enough.

A true vision of the war under the sea

This wouldn't normally have been one of my first choices for a book, I'm glad I downloaded it though.
An excellent narration of a very well written story. Made all the more real by the postscript. If you do download this book stick it out until the end. It'll be worth it.

Outstanding series

Fascinating stories, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride that each book took me on. Interesting characters and superb narration had me hooked.

Simply stunning

One of the biggest surprises ever. I’d heard the series was as good as the narration, but to find myself consuming 30 hours of audio inside of a week tells of how addictive it is.
The books are short, but that’s by no means a criticism; there simply aren’t any wasted words and no distracting side quests to waste a reader’s time.
Not often am I left feeling as though I’ve met, gotten to know, and then lost the characters I’ve been with through the journey.
The post script elicits a response like few others, and the brutal, simplistic descriptions of one of the greatest scientific achievements of mankind which was also its darkest hour in many respects, was done so without any unnecessary grandeur.
Well done, Craig. Bravo.