I like the motto "slow but steady." You don't burn out that way. And as it applies to the arts, it usually means that you start off with a fan base that becomes increasingly larger as well as more loyal over time. I wonder if Stephen Coonts has the motto over his workstation. His Jake Grafton novels have steadily become more popular with each release, and for good reason: each novel has been better than the last.

What is noteworthy about this is that Coonts jumped into a small pond already populated with some pretty big fish. Coonts is often compared to one of them, a fellow by the name of Clancy. And there are some similarities to their books in terms of subject matter. They both dabble in military matters, politics, espionage, and the like. The field, and the fan bases, however, are big enough for both of them. And there is plenty of difference in their respective styles. Coonts, for his part, is primarily concerned with the story and the characters. Sure, he uses lots of fancy hardware to move his story along, but he is more concerned with what it does than how it works.

This is spelled out dramatically in HONG KONG, Coonts's latest novel featuring his favorite admiral, Jake Grafton. Admiral and Mrs. Grafton are in Hong Kong, ostensibly for some much needed rest and relaxation. The truth, however, goes far deeper than that. The United States suspects that the U. S. consul general might be pursuing an agenda involving the overthrow of the newly installed Communist Chinese government in Hong Kong, and the U. S. Government has selected Grafton --- "for lack of someone better," in Grafton's own words --- to see what has been going on. Tommy Carmellini, first introduced in CUBA, is along to help. And it's a good thing too, for it's not just Grafton's back that needs to be covered --- Mrs. Grafton is kidnapped at the outset of the admiral's investigation. Accordingly, his task acquires a personal element in addition to the political one. In the meantime, there is revolution in the air. And Grafton is right in the middle of it.

HONG KONG is far and away the best of the Grafton novels. Coonts spent an extensive amount of time researching the island and its people, history, and political makeup. It shows. What is eerie here is that HONG KONG doesn't read so much like a work of fiction as it does a historical account of an epic historical incident, which in this case, has not occurred. Yet. When it does, I have a strong suspicion that it will happen almost precisely the way in which Coonts describes it, as he relates, step by step, how the revolution against the Red Chinese government takes place. There is no substitute for insight coupled with research; Coonts puts both to work to maximum advantage.

I would be remiss however, if I did not mention a couple of other elements that make HONG KONG an over-the-top winner. First of all, Jake Grafton is at his absolute best here. Those of us for whom age 40 has come and gone with 50 looming around the corner always appreciate it when an author demonstrates awareness of the fact that middle-agers can kick butt and take names, while showing the younger generation how it is done. Secondly, Coonts introduces a high-tech gizmo here that every household should have --- maybe. It's called a York. Don't wish for one until you finish reading HONG KONG, however. You'll see what I mean.

HONG KONG will undoubtedly continue Stephen Coonts's success with Jake Grafton, by keeping his loyal readers and adding many new ones. The book reads like history in the making. Read HONG KONG, and keep your eye on the headlines.

   --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub



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