Military Fiction

Despite the wealth of information that fills these novels, the stories move at a breakneck speed, with short chapters, often ending in cliffhangers, moving the plot quickly. Story lines alter with a chapter devoted to the hero and heroine, followed by one that tracks the villain's moves. Alternating the points of view drives the pacing, and the wealth of dialog speeds the reader through the story. The drama also takes place within a very short time span, from a few hours to a few days. With events occurring in rapid-fire succession and a clock ticking somewhere, readers are impelled forward to discover what happens next.

Readers who remember the Spy Thrillers of Helen MacInnes will recognize the protagonists pits an unlikely hero or an untrained couple against the unspeakable villains and overwhelming odds. The pair are thrown together-they often first meet in the midst of danger-and are immediately on a mission and on the run, in mortal danger from some unknown threat. Untrained and unprepared to match their opponents' more bellicose skills, they find intelligence more useful than physical strength in counteracting the obstacles thrown in their way by the villains, and they manage to reach their goal by book's end, despite the danger. In the best Robert Ludlum tradition, the good guys are obviously good and the villains generally recognizable, although there is often a twist at the end that reveals the surprising identity of the evil mastermind. Military thrillers feature strong heroines who match the heroes in intelligence and grit. While his characters may be stereotypes, they are sympathetic, and readers relate to their lack of real training and skills in the face of dangers beyond their control.

Military Fiction authors include:

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