A Time For Patriots- Dale Brown

[Major Lord]

I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend and since it was snowing pretty hard, had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots". I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say that nearly anything that has started a fatal dual on this board is right in there. Cadet "Medics', law enforcement, carrying guns, drugs, shooting people, beating up FBI agents.....all by CAP and CAP members.  You are gonna love this book. Then you will go directly to hell for impure thoughts......

Major Lord

[cap235629]

reading it myself right now. So far unimpressed.

[Major Lord]

reading it myself right now. So far unimpressed.

I would say if you have expectations that CAP is going to be represented factually, you will find it disappointing, but as pure- CAP fantasy, I enjoyed it.

Major Lord

[cap235629]

I expected that but the whole McClanahan as the superhero gets old and the techno-babble that started with the Tin Men just irritates me.... I used to be a big fan but have been getting more and more disappointed as the years go on....

[DiNardo907]

Thanks for passing this along!  I'm not expecting much in the way of accuracy or reality, but how often does CAP really get mentioned in anything? lol

[tsrup]

Just checking out a few pages on Amazon:

weird, one of the news stories referenced from KDLT, is a mission that I was a part of...

[Ed Bos]

I read it. It was good, clean, silly, fun. 

[ol'fido]

I've read it and like the references to CAP in the first half of the book. Thought the latter half jumped the shark a bit, but this is a work of FICTION and not a PAO puff piece. How many times have you seen a movie that seems very realistic on the face of it and then proceeded to pick it apart when it departs from reality. "Thermo-nuclear" hand grenades, 400 rd magazines, and pistols continuing to fire with the slide locked back are the norm for movies and military fiction is the same way. It is fiction.

[EMT-83]

Does this mean that Hawaii Five-O isn't real either? I thought that's what cops did on the islands.

[Eclipse]

I've read it and like the references to CAP in the first half of the book. Thought the latter half jumped the shark a bit, but this is a work of FICTION and not a PAO puff piece. How many times have you seen a movie that seems very realistic on the face of it and then proceeded to pick it apart when it departs from reality. "Thermo-nuclear" hand grenades, 400 rd magazines, and pistols continuing to fire with the slide locked back are the norm for movies and military fiction is the same way. It is fiction.

A valid point, but seriously, on our best day our ops might be personally life changing (Challenger, 911, Katrina, etc.), but sure aren't all that "exciting"
in the Grande Scheme^®.  A wink and a nod in an otherwise realistic story is a nice acknowledgement of our efforts, but if we're talking about Die-Hard stuff like jumping motorcycles over Harriers, I'll pass.

[Major Lord]

One interesting thing I found was that they Government has all this super-cool technology of "transformers" like quality, but CAP is still flying elderly 172 and 182's! I guess even in the near science fiction future, we will still be in the dark ages; Spoiler Alert! The Butler did it!

Major Lord

[NIN]

Wait. Dale Brown writes FICTION? Son of a...

What next, you're gonna tell me the Easter Bunny ain't real?

This day is going downhill rapidly and its only 0530.

[AlphaSigOU]

Does this mean that Hawaii Five-O isn't real either? I thought that's what cops did on the islands.

Real as in the police procedures (jazzed up for Hollywood), but in reality, there is no state police organization in Hawaii, or any law enforcement organization called Five-O. 

[Cliff_Chambliss]

Years ago (I mean when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and before the USAF gave CAP all their old T-34's) I found a book in our high school library that was all Civil Air Patrol. 
  The basic story line was a major hurricane bearing down on Puerto Rico and a major evacuation was taking place.  At the end of it all there were a few CAP Cadets and some stay behinds that managed to find a derelict Constellation, get it started and then fly through the edges of the hurricane to Fl.
  Pure fantasy but for a young high schooler and CAP Cadet at the time it sure fueled many fantasies.
(Can't even remember if the CAP Cadet Aircraft Commander got the girl at the end of the story).

[RiverAux]

Other thoughts on this book:

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=12928.msg240895#msg240895

[Eclipse]

Wait. Dale Brown writes FICTION? Son of a...

Give me a Tom Clancy any day - realistic fiction wrapped in current events (too bad he doesn't actually write much anymore)

What next, you're gonna tell me the Easter Bunny ain't real?

Let's not get crazy here, no one said anything about the EB...

[davidsinn]

Wait. Dale Brown writes FICTION? Son of a...

Give me a Tom Clancy any day - realistic fiction wrapped in current events (too bad he doesn't actually write much anymore)

I used to like Clancy's books but the last few I've read are just way to long with useless minutia thrown in. I do not need to know what a minor character had for breakfast. "Red Storm Rising" was one of his best. It took an over view approach to a late eighties war between NATO and the Soviets.

[Spaceman3750]

What next, you're gonna tell me the Easter Bunny ain't real?

I'm more concerned that they're going to say Punxsutawney Phil isn't real .

[Major Lord]

Any publicity about CAP is going to be good for us. ( We can always break their hearts and shred their souls after they have already signed up) How many Cadets joined CAP thinking they would get flight instruction? I would guess that at least half the Seniors in CAP ended up doing something other than what they thought they would be doing when recruited. Who would join the Coast Guard if they were told they would spend the first half of their career scraping and painting? Who would want to join the infantry if they were told in advance that they were not allowed to kill bad guys? Sure, Tom Clancy and Dale Brown write fiction, but if they wrote the story of the brave airman who unjammed the photocopy machine without even safety glasses, who would buy it? ( Okay, I would buy the Tom Clancy/Photocopier book on GP's anyway.....)

Major Lord

[a2capt]

What next, you're gonna tell me the Easter Bunny ain't real?

I'm more concerned that they're going to say Punxsutawney Phil isn't real .

Okay, I'll cave on Cleveland, Cincinnati and the Easter Bunny.. but...

I...I *still* ain't made up my mind yet about Toledo!

[Eclipse]

Toledo can be found in the "horror fiction" aisle.

[titanII]

I'm more concerned that they're going to say Punxsutawney Phil isn't real .

Oh don't worry, that guy's real all right.

[MSG Mac]

Brown actually put his opinions of CAP to the test. He is a Captain in Nevada Wing

[SarDragon]

Brown actually put his opinions of CAP to the test. He is a Captain in Nevada Wing

Rated MO and MP, too.

[bearCAP pilot]

I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend and since it was snowing pretty hard, had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots". I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say that nearly anything that has started a fatal dual on this board is right in there. Cadet "Medics', law enforcement, carrying guns, drugs, shooting people, beating up FBI agents.....all by CAP and CAP members.  You are gonna love this book. Then you will go directly to hell for impure thoughts......

Major Lord

Thanks for the great comments. "A Time For Patriots" is definitely fiction. It is the CAP I would LIKE to see! I've done the very same thing with the Strategic Air Command, USCG, the USMC, and the USAF. I don't believe in retelling stories everyone already knows--I'm going to tell a story of what MIGHT happen in the future.

I am a MS, MO, MP, cadet orientation pilot, glider tow pilot, PAO, and asst. airplane manager in CAP, and I'm having a great time. I thought once the novel was finished then I'd be finished with CAP, but that didn't happen.

Is there anyone here who doesn't think that CAP's future involves UAVs and satellite surveillance? I think it will happen sooner than anyone believes. Dale...

[PWK-GT]

Mr. Brown, um...I mean bearCAPpilot.....Just wanted to say it's great to have you on board here. Long time reader...and very big fan! You, Clancy, and W.E.B. Griffin are my top 3 faves.

I'm done fawning now.....

Please revert back to the inevitable uniform thread hijack 

[NCRblues]

I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend and since it was snowing pretty hard, had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots". I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say that nearly anything that has started a fatal dual on this board is right in there. Cadet "Medics', law enforcement, carrying guns, drugs, shooting people, beating up FBI agents.....all by CAP and CAP members.  You are gonna love this book. Then you will go directly to hell for impure thoughts......

Major Lord

Thanks for the great comments. "A Time For Patriots" is definitely fiction. It is the CAP I would LIKE to see! I've done the very same thing with the Strategic Air Command, USCG, the USMC, and the USAF. I don't believe in retelling stories everyone already knows--I'm going to tell a story of what MIGHT happen in the future.

I am a MS, MO, MP, cadet orientation pilot, glider tow pilot, PAO, and asst. airplane manager in CAP, and I'm having a great time. I thought once the novel was finished then I'd be finished with CAP, but that didn't happen.

Is there anyone here who doesn't think that CAP's future involves UAVs and satellite surveillance? I think it will happen sooner than anyone believes. Dale...

Welcome to captalk Mr. Brown. I am a big fan, your in my top 2! (with jack Higgins).

Its good to see someone of your prestige involved in CAP. We need more big names IMHO.

I think National PAO should send you on a PAO tour  .

Again, welcome.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

My wife brought it home from the library for me a few weeks ago.

It was a good read, although I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit.

But it was an entertaining book.

[BillB]

So when are we going to see General McLanahan's Grandfather flying Anti sub patrol in World War II???  Come to think of it, it may make a decent storyline. Building an airport in the scrub brush from the ground up. Flying low powered aircraft miles out to sea. The CAP Historical Foundation could supply factual information for such a novel.

[Major Lord]

I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend and since it was snowing pretty hard, had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots". I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say that nearly anything that has started a fatal dual on this board is right in there. Cadet "Medics', law enforcement, carrying guns, drugs, shooting people, beating up FBI agents.....all by CAP and CAP members.  You are gonna love this book. Then you will go directly to hell for impure thoughts......

Major Lord

Thanks for the great comments. "A Time For Patriots" is definitely fiction. It is the CAP I would LIKE to see! I've done the very same thing with the Strategic Air Command, USCG, the USMC, and the USAF. I don't believe in retelling stories everyone already knows--I'm going to tell a story of what MIGHT happen in the future.

I am a MS, MO, MP, cadet orientation pilot, glider tow pilot, PAO, and asst. airplane manager in CAP, and I'm having a great time. I thought once the novel was finished then I'd be finished with CAP, but that didn't happen.

Is there anyone here who doesn't think that CAP's future involves UAVs and satellite surveillance? I think it will happen sooner than anyone believes. Dale...

You are very welcome sir! If we can ever get our staff back from the war(s) I hope we can arrange your attendance as an instructor or guest lecturer at The Cadet Survival School. Its clear to me from your novels that you would fit in well. I have always believed that anyone who is not afraid is either not adequately informed or lacks imagination, and clearly you have a vision that transcends CAP's often stagnant mindset; a vision of which I believe we are in dire need.

Check six,

Major Lord

[ol'fido]

Welcome to CT, Mr Brown. I understand you wanting to project CAP and the AF into the future. But please include a couple of salty old crew dogs with a cigar between their teeth and a steely glint in their eyes who can "kick it old school" for us nostalgic types.

[Private Investigator]

Is there anyone here who doesn't think that CAP's future involves UAVs and satellite surveillance? I think it will happen sooner than anyone believes. Dale...

I concur.

BTW, really enjoy your books.

[dogboy]

had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots".

This book is truly awful. Badly handled narrative, wooden dialogue, and caricatures rather than characters. I gave up at about page 190.

[RiverAux]

Is there anyone here who doesn't think that CAP's future involves UAVs and satellite surveillance? I think it will happen sooner than anyone believes. Dale...

Yes, I don't see CAP operating UAVs or conducting satellite surveillance.  If UAVs become the SAR asset of choice the National Guard will be the ones operating them, not CAP.  Perhaps if CAP survives 100 years and UAVs are a relatively cheap asset and aerial SAR is still needed, maybe we'll have them then.  But, I doubt the CAP SAR mission will survive the transition from airplanes to UAVs -- not because UAVs are better, but because they are neat toys that the empire builders will need to use even if they cost more. 

Now, I do think it possible that at some point CAP might get access to up-to-date satellite photos of search areas.  That isn't out of the realm of possibility, however we certainly don't have the expertise to do much with them.   Remember that tool that was set up to try to find Fossett using satellite photos? 

[spacecommand]

I know this is an old thread, but I found this interesting photograph of Former National Commander Brookfield with General Carr, and I remembered reading this thread, so check out what he's showing him lol!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/civilairpatrol/7932089970/#sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JUE62CGRL._SL500_.jpg

[bosshawk]

Just to set the record straight, reference to using satellite imagery during the Fossett search.  I was laid up awaiting knee surgery and one of the ICs knew that I was an experienced imagery analyst.  I got to spend three days glued to my computer screen, looking at Google Earth imagery taken specifically for that search.  After all that work, seems that the imagery taken just missed the area where the wreckage was eventually found.  True, I was probably the only person in CAWG with those skills.  I look at Google Earth imagery just for fun, now.

[MSG Mac]

It's been a while since this book was released. When is the next one coming out??

[dogboy]

I went to Lake Tahoe this weekend and since it was snowing pretty hard, had plenty of time to read Dale Brown's new novel, "A Time for Patriots". I

After seeing posts about this book on this site I started reading it. I can honestly say that I believe it is the worst written novel I've ever seen. It's juvenile and patronizing with cardboard characters, unrealistic plot, and dreadful development.

I guess for some it could be escapist reading but one's time could be better spent on almost any6 other book.

[AirDX]

Does this mean that Hawaii Five-O isn't real either? I thought that's what cops did on the islands.

They do.  I ran into Wo Fat in 7-11 the other day - he tried to pick my pocket.  And one of the little known missions of HIWG is patrolling for the Tongan pirates off the coast of Molokai.