I just finished America and was shocked. How could you write such an unpatriotic book and call it America. I think you should have let America sink with Jake on board. He was virtually worthless in this novel I have read my last Coonts novel. Sincerely,
Rocky James November 24, 2008
What a book! Found "America" at a yard sale and thought why not. I try buying books at sales because I normally cannot afford to buy them new! Kept reading and reading and reading...couldn't put it down. Then I found Hong Kong and Cuba. You have given me hours of great reading and will surely look out for more novels in the future. Thank you for being such a great author. You have given me many hours of reading pleasure.
Rick Strausser September 4, 2008
Dear Sir,
I've just finished the lecture of your "America". Thank you for having been written such an impressive novel! Two points of it especially impressive.
1/ A remarks of Janos Ilin about the difference of economy in USA and EU - I dare to think, it is (still) quite inversely. Maybe not QUITE, but - as far as I know - there is more of free market in the USA than in the EU. (Though, in fact, I know America only by the mass media.)
2/ A kind of proverb at the end: if one is afraid of the answer, one shouldn't ask. Very wise!!! I like to say something very similar to my wife, but also to... myself (sometimes) too. (Whose is it?)
I've chosen this book in the library (of "my" university in Torun / Poland)
Trying to find at last the "Bear and dragon" by Tom Clancy's (still not found).
Of course, I read those books in Polish translations only."
Konrad Turzynski April 15, 2008
Pozdrowienia z Poland
Przeczytalem Pana ksiazke : "USS AMERICA". Bardzo dobra!
Rymkiewicz Zdzislaw October 24, 2007
Mr. Coonts;
I just finished reading “America” and, as a retired Chief of the Boat SSN 596, was very impressed. You must know something the rest of us don’t regarding our
subs…I just can’t believe that you could create the America from your imagination! Very well done. I had to “go and blow” from an escape trunk as part of my training and got chills reading that part of the book as it brought back memories of my first free assent before they let us use the hood. Just like Jake, I came out of the water to my waist and was still blowing!
Again, very well done, I am now a fan.
Dave Lotridge June 11, 2007
Good evening Steve:
Just wanted you to know that I have just finished another one of your books, America. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Starting with Flight of the Intruder, I have also read, Final Flight, Intruders, and Minotaur...
Thanks
Gary Sturm May 6, 2007
I just wanted to say thank you for your Jake Grafton series. I havae read most of them, and just discovered Hong Kong, Cuba, America, and Liberty. I have read all the others over and over again until the pages are dog-eared. The technical knowledge in these stories is unrivaled anywhere. It makes me feel as if I am really there, experiencing all the adventures myself. Thank you for these exciting stories in the life of one extra-ordinary naval aviator."
Patrick Brown November 8, 2006
Fantastic novel! I have been away from Jake Grafton for way too long. Went on your website, now can follow Jake & Toad, right up to Liberty. Now I only have 6 more to read, before I get to Liars & Thieves. Again, amazing how the tech's on the submarine "America" relate to the just commissioned USS Virginia. Our grandson will gradate from high school next May, but he has already enlisted in the Navy! Thanks for such great novels." --Charley Rogers, October 25, 2004

"I love your book on America! It is a very real, deep, American book! Not only written for America but, for the whole world to read. You are a wonderful writer and if there was a best writer of all time award you would get it in my book you would get it." --Zachery Hancock, October 7, 2003

"The point to my message is that I wanted to complement you on your fantastic writing abilities.� Thus far, I have read Minotaur, Final Flight, part of Cuba before it was stolen (evidently your works are that coveted!) and now am reading America.� I generally read hard SF, but when it comes to techno-thrillers and adventure, your name is at the top of my list.� Your style places the reader in the action, easily visualized as if on film.� While I realize you probably receive millions of fan mail, I wanted to let you know my thoughts." --Jesse Helmick, July 28, 2003

"Mr. Coonts: I have read all but three of the Jake Grafton novels and find them a thrill a minute. I just finished reading "The Intruders". What an adventure. I have skipped and read "America" and encountered "Flap" Le Beau again. I like it when our heroes emerge after a few tales. I wish I had waited and read them in order. I have "Liberty" and can't wait to get to read it. I will read the others first though. I am starting on "Cuba" now and "Hong Kong" is waiting in the wings so keep them coming. I liked the movie "Flight of The Intruder" but movies don't take long enough to get to know the characters. If I had not read the book first, I wouldn't have known who Jake really was. They have to cut so much out to get the story in it hurts the depth of the people like Jake Grafton. You never know how deep he really was.� Your novels make me feel like I know him personally. After I watched "The Sum of All Fears" cut to pieces, (I'm sure Clancy was not thrilled), you can't make a good movie out of a book like that it would take a 12 hour movie to tell all the story. So you keep writing and I'll keep reading, let those movies chumps try James Bond. Grafton is better "In the Pen", if you know what I mean." --Mike, March 25, 2003

"As an avid fan of your contemporary Tom Clancy I thought I had to try out one of your books. I purchased my copy of AMERICA some three weeks after the terrible tragedies which affected the US. This is merely a short note to congratulate you on an excellent piece of work. I shall be tracking down and reading copies of your other books and look forward to them enormously. One final thought -- I hope you are not beating yourself up about the similarities between the plot of AMERICA and those terrible events. It is purely coincidental, but maybe authorities everywhere should pay attention to suggestions from all quarters including intuitive and imaginative writers such as yourself. I look forward to reading more of your work." --Regards, Marios Patrinos
"I started reading your books about 3 years ago, and fell in love with them. I had to go to a used book store to get all of your books, it was worth it. I have just finished reading AMERICA. With what is happening in the United States today this book really hit home. It was so weird to read it after the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were hit by planes. Even though it made me think about the events going on, it was still a great book. I love the Jake Grafton novels! I hope in the future there will be more books with Jake Grafton." --Sincerely, Nancy S. Richardson

"Mr. Coonts, Just finished reading "America"...seemed to take a little longer to finish because of the current events on the news + I work as a Supv for the FAA at Miami AIFSS and it has been a hectic two weeks because of Flight Restrictions. Lot of similar fictitious situations in your book sure came to life with the emotions stirred by the New York and Washington tragedies. I've read all your books since the first "Intruders", following all the episodes of Jake Grafton. Wanted to let you know I enjoy your writing; Keep up the good work. If you do another "Cannibal Queen", I recommend flying around Alaska...It has a lot to offer if you take pictures flying through mountain passes, etc." --Thanks, Len Canter

"Steve, We know each other "peripherally." I'm Mike "Crash" McCamish (former A-6 B/N) and we met at the Intruder Ball as the Flight of the Intruder movie was about to be released, and again in San Diego when you were signing books with your hand heavily bandaged from severely cutting yourself a few days before. At that time I was CAG-15. I also commanded VA-128, and VA-185 (a second A-6 squadron aboard Midway in Japan). At any rate, there's no way you'd remember but I thought I'd give you that by way of introduction. The purpose of this email is to let you know I've just finished "America" and want you to know I thoroughly enjoyed every page of the book. How an old A-6 pilot could write about sub warfare so convincingly was very impressive. In San Diego I told you I had (at that time) every book you'd written, and you answered they might make a good doorstop someday. I still keep up with your work, and maintain a collection of every one of your books, both fiction and nonfiction. Thanks for writing books. Your work continues to provide me numerous hours of enjoyment." --"Crash" McCamish

"As an avid reader, and one of your biggest fans, I waited with great anticipation to receive notification from my library that I could just out your newest book. This I did, on Saturday, September 21st. I stayed home this morning with a bad migraine, and am "resting" now as I read further. Imagine my shock, surprise, horror, premonition and horror to read page 191 and read about the photo identity abilities via computer for anti-terrorist protection. You state that governments share this database because "NO ONE WANTS AIRLINERS, TRADE CENTERS OR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS BOMBED BY WILD-EYED MANIACS WITH A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE". I cannot imagine how you must feel, having written those word in lieu of what has transpired, and especially since these words are found on page 191. My mother was a librarian for many years, and one of the most intelligent women I have ever known. She taught me my love of books; she always said that as a country we tell too much about what we know. To second that, I always told her that to read a Tom Clancey or Stephen Coonts novel will definitely give you an insight into another side of the world as we know, or should I say KNEW it.
I can only imagine what mixed feelings you must have after the events 9/11/01 but I want to thank you for the information that you have given me over the years. I surely wish we had a few Jakes and Toads working for us...though I believe that we do!! The purpose of this e-mail? Unknown, but I just have felt such deja vu and fear in the first 190 pages and had to make some kind of comments! Please keep writing your wonderful, but maybe a little less realism the next time. In all seriousness, the strangeness of your words, the page number and the overall context with the events of the last two weeks certainly give one cause to think. God Bless America and us all and may we all be a little wiser and more learned about the ways and the evils of the world." --regards, Margie Callahan

"Dear Mr. Coonts, I started reading AMERICA on a flight home to Florida from OK City on September 10. While I was there I visited the memorial, and on the way home I wondered where terrorists would hit next. I got home at 1AM on the 11th; sadly I didn't have to wait long to find out. I just finished the book tonight, and the parallels to the events that we have experienced in the past week are nothing short of spooky. You keep writing and I'll keep buying. God Bless America!" --Steve Weinman

"It is not my usual practice to compliment a writer on his work, but having just finished reading AMERICA I felt moved to congratulate you. As a Canadian, I am not as personally affected as my American neighbors by the unspeakable atrocities of September 11, but still I feel great sorrow and indignation. After reading your book, I realize that such terrorist acts are not inconceivable, but all too real. How did you ever come up with such a prescient plot? Keep up the good work. I look forward to hearing more about Jake and his exploits." --Marsha Winton, Toronto, Ontario

"Dear Mr Coonts, my name is Spencer Tapia I am a 19 year old from a small town in California and I wanted to write you and tell you thank you I would like you to know that because of you I read books because of your great writing skills I was able to discover the wonders of reading to be able to transport yourself into a book and forget all the worlds problems anyway you probably get a lot of these letters from people but I felt I had to tell you thank you so much." --Spencer Tapia

"Dear Mr. Coonts, I bought your newest novel on 8/31 after three weeks when upon moving from NJ to FL I came up for air. For the first week, as my daughter and grandson were visiting I managed only a few minutes and 20 pages. When they got on the airplane finally for LaGuardia and their ultimate CT destination, I sighed and dug into the novel with gusto. I have greatly enjoyed your word craft in previous novels and certainly looked forward to the pleasure of what looked to be a great yarn. By Tuesday morning I had gotten to the point where Kolnikov had launched Flashlight cruise missiles against Wash, D.C. and crippled the capital. Then came 8:45am Tuesday. At work, here in Largo, FL, we always keep a TV tuned to CNBC and the first plane plowed into the North tower of the WTC, literally in front of my eyes. I expected to hear that this was a clip from a movie being released the following Friday and now being publicized on TV. Would that it had been. The following minutes were the most horrific violence I've seen, much worse than anything in the Viet Nam war for being such an ordinary setting, not in the faraway jungle. Through the following days, I devoured your pages, looking for some solace. And though I enjoyed the story and its ending, I still yearn for some finality to the pain of our national reality. I salute our men and women in uniform, doing their duty, the right thing, and trust that the longer denouement of the war against those who hate our way of life and our values will have an equally satisfying and successful result. One of the nicest effects of our current situation is that those of our citizens who hate the US are now exposed in the media as the traitors they are. Please keep up the great work. I look forward to your next novel." --Gerry Bollman, Clearwater, FL

"Was 4 chapters to the end when 9-11-01 happened. I had to quit for awhile because the book was so close to reality. It's great though and I finally finished it. CUBA was my favorite with HONG KONG running a close second. Keep up the great writing." --A Fan

"Steve, Was just about halfway through America when the disasters in NYC and Washington took place. The shocking potential of your story became all too real. Would that we had Jake Grafton available to
help us track down the cowards responsible for these horrible actions. I have faith that we will identify the culprits I just hope we have the fortitude to go after them in a way that will make it all too clear that we are not a Nation who will tolerate such an outrage. I have been a big fan since Flight of the Intruder and look forward to each new Coonts creation. Not being a pilot, the Cannibal Queen inspired me to take to my motorcycle instead and my younger son and I took a trip from Dallas to Phoenix together a
couple of years ago. It was not quite "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," but it was a wonderful experience that my son and I will not forget. Keep up the good work! "--Best Regards, Dan Trott

"This morning a fellow admirer of your works and I were discussing the characters in your novels and decided that we missed "Flap Le Beau." I told Ken that I planned on picking up your book this evening. I just got to page 54 and received the only pleasant surprise of this horrible week. Although the characters in your novels are fictitious, America is made up of millions of "Jakes," "Flaps," "Toads," and "Ritas." It is my hope that the individuals, and supporting nations responsible for the attacks on America have the privilege of meeting some of our real life characters." Sic em "Jake"

"Great book. Your mix of air, water, and mud, is bad for my sleep cycle. I have troubles with sleeping, anyway, as a souvenir of 30 years as a seismic surveyor, now retired. The "imaginary-world" use of ambient sound in the ocean by a submarine is far beyond anything I imagined. Personalities, and characters, flow and swirl around each other, as only someone silly enough to fly aeroplanes off, and on, ships, could picture. I hope you branch out, as did Isaac Asimov, Louis L'Amour, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Thank You." --Neil

"Dear Mr. Coonts, My son Drew is an avid reader and especially of your novels. He just has his second son on 11 July 01. He named his son, JAKE GRAFTON Specht, after your character. They call him "Tuggie" as another nick name. At first, no one was sure about the JAKE GRAFTON name, but Drew insisted. Now we all really like the catchy name. I just thought you would appreciate that one of your characters in now an infant boy living in Pensacola Florida." --Sincerely, Bill Specht

"Dear Mr. Coonts, I have just finished reading "America". All I can say is it was fantastic. Once started I could not put it down. Let me say, sir you are a wonderful writer. Please continue with the Jake Grafton character. I have read all your novels and I think this could be your best." --Yours truly, Bob Orris

"Dear Steve, Your latest novel AMERICA is one heck of a wild ride! I finished the ARC in two nights. I couldn't put it down. The plot kept me guessing right up until the end. About the time I thought I had the bad guys figured out, you'd throw a curve. Hackers, CIA trained hijackers, government cover-ups, kept me in suspense the whole time. The action was AWESOME! I loved the way that Callie spoke her mind and even got a few licks in herself. Jake, Toad, and Flap were there old selves. I really thought that Tony was going to get dimed out by his bosses. Everything was great...the action, the plots, the characters....all messed together to give the reader another pulse pounding adventure. Thanks again for another great book! Tell Debbie no complaints from me." --Anna Shain July 1, 2001