Target Utopia: A Dreamland Thriller

Brown has created another page turner. The Whiplash series continues with excitement and personal challenges. A bit slow to get started but then takes off. If you are a Dale Brown fan you will enjoy this read.

Dale Brown and Jim DeFelice really have a winner with the "Dreamland" series, and I always look forward to their latest entry. This work is average to slightly above-average compared to some of their previously successful titles in this series. Some of the same characters are back, and they're deeply involved in the latest national security threat that faces the USA. The plot involves a highly-advanced drone similar to the Dreamland-inspired/developed "FlightHawk" that has been wreaking havoc in Malaysia. First an advance team of US Marines with a few Dreamland-Whiplash operators are sent in to investigate. When the real threat is exposed, the President sends the entire Whiplash team into Malaysia to deal with the threat, which involves former a Dreamland employee/scientist who has gone to the dark side. The climax takes place in the highly-disputed island area north of Borneo, west of the Philippines and involves China's military and Philippine nationals. I do recommend this book, but Dale & Jim have set the bar so high, that reaching the suspense and quality of previous "Dreamland" novels is difficult. I'm hopeful they'll add to the collection this year.

A mixture of wide-ranging knowledge of military material and a shallow international conspiritorial plot led by a lukewarm antagonist. A lot of people racing around the South China Sea with Chinese warships glaring over the horizon. Also, lengthy descriptions of dogfights with highly detailed labeling of weaponry used. I would place this effort in the B- to C+ range of Dale Brown's work.