Lemuria Bookstore Blog

Something I love about reading new books is how they remind you of old books. I went through a serious Tom Clancy addiction when I was in junior high school, and I had forgotten how much I’d enjoyed those novels, especially the earlier ones where the scope was slightly more limited and every nation wasn’t perpetually perched on the brink of World War III. Some of the material is dated, but the writing still stands up as great military thrillers.

I was pleased to be reminded of those books by Thomas W. Young’s first novel, The Mullah’s Storm. Young was a military aviator and it’s easy to see how his experiences informed his writing. All the cool military equipment is there, and in spades, but what stands out more is the depiction of the soldiers (and the protagonist in particular) — the military mindset, the fear of combat and capture, and the loyalty to fellow soldiers. The soldiers are real people — not blond-haired, blue-eyed American demigods endowed with superhuman strength or skill — and not villainous bullies. They are caught between the demands of duty and the circumstances that surround them.

If you remember enjoying the early Clancy novels…The Hunt for Red October, or Patriot Games…I highly recommend checking out Thomas W. Young.