Review "Doomsday Reef" by Matt Bracken

[JohnyMac]

I really struggled writing a review of Matt Bracken's new book, "Doomsday Reef", a continuation of Captain Dan Kilmer's story aboard Rebel Yell, because the book was boring. It took me two weeks to finish because unlike most of Bracken's novels, I could put it down and do other things. I struggled because I know Bracken, have a great deal of respect for him, and writing a novel isn't easy. Heck, I have never done it.

Okay, here is a quick synopsis of the novel. The economy in the United States and around the globe collapsed ten years or so earlier. The 60-foot schooner, Rebel Yell was earning her keep by transporting goods up and down the southeast coast out of Beaufort, South Carolina. Due to environmental issues caused by volcanic eruptions the good captain wants to take his crew and boat to a warmer climate like Brazil. In short, the novel is the journey and the perils that they run across on the way to their destination.

I am a sailor. Lived on our sailboat Mad Max for eleven years with MrsMac and a grouchy dowager cat named Maxine. I delivered boats, both power and sail, to augment my pay while working for a chandlery in Marina del Rey, California. With that written, I loved the sailing or traveling part of the novel, however, I suspect that Bracken got too far into the weeds for the casual reader.

MrsMac read the novel before me and she really enjoyed reliving travel by sail. Minus the constant sail adjustment and occasional nasty weather of course. In the end she finished the book in a day and commented, "I enjoyed the Captain Dan from 'The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun' better than this new version though".  She has always been a fan of hero's like Dave Robicheaux of James Burke or Joe Pike of Robert Crais fame. Needless to say, edgy.

The novel wasn't at all just sailing from one point to another. There were a couple of action events that took place that were well written and believable, however there was only a few.

In the end, using a 1-5 scale with 5 being perfect, I would give "Doomsday Reef" a '4.5' for the sailing angle, a '2' for the action angle, and a '3' for laying the groundwork for another novel with Captain Dan being the hero on Rebel Yell.

Overall a solid '3'.

Hopefully, after reading this review Matt will not infiltrate the Mac redoubt one evening and "snipe me".   

[Sir John Honeybucket]

Rebel Yell - schooner.

OTOH, I loved the novel, wished it had MORE sea time and for the same reason as you & Mrs. Mac.  Unlike most Hollywood productions, Bracken gets the background of a sailing vessel and it's utility during a global grid down. Being a sailor, he got the sailing details right. My only significant complaint is the incorrect understanding of radio, seemingly based entirely on VHF/UHF  simplex & repeaters and etc.  So Much is lost by not writing HF radio communication - normal aboard a blue water boat - into the book.  I REALLY appreciated his quest for an accurate  time hack for celestial navigation after the general failure and unreliableness of the GPS system - post event. and the Citizen, solar powered chronometer is the same model that happens to still be on my wrist even today.  That and my WW II, US Navy aircraft sextant are still in my posession: At the very least, I can do noon sites to find the appropriate continent before sailing into it during the night watch..  ha ha

I never had a Dshka 12.7 mm belt fed machinegun on the stern rail of our Bayfield 32c, but am open to suggestions...  The tactical, back and forth is generally dull for me, as it's basically the same - we move - they move - and etc. until one side can't fight anymore.  Yes, that's accurate but does not hold my interest - YMMV.

The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun and simply EXCELLENT! 

[JohnyMac]

  great comments Sir John. Thanks for your review and comments.

Funny story: I was bringing a Santa Cruz 40 sailboat back from Hawaii to Santa Cruz, CA. It was post the WM PAC Cup Race I think. Anyway, I did 95% of the trip using a sextant and time piece (Citizen Dive) that I too wear today. The last 5% was because we were close to our destination and I could not get a clean shot.

We had a HF radio on board and checked into a Ship to shore station using an account about every other day. I will say though, we used the on board VHF a lot chatting with cargo ships going west or east. I use to call them up within sight to get weather info.

Again, if you have been a blue water sailor or want to become one, it is a good book. Not "Riddle of the Sands" by Erskine Childers mind you but a fun read anyhow. Childers was a notorious gun runner for the IRA during the Irish rebellion although he was not executed for that but for carrying (I think) a handgun in November 1922.

Thanks again Sir John for your comments.