-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: USS Devilfish Patrol Report
From: Spiff224
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

Mr. DiMercurio:

It's immaterial, since you've likely read in excess of a thousand pieces of email since I first contacted you, but I'll say anyway that I've written you before and that it was a privelege then and it is now. The fact that you keep your mailbox available to readers does not go unappreciated, least of all by me.

I just wanted to let you know how pleased and excited I am at the imminent release of Terminal Run and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Submarines. I started following the adventures of Michael Pacino when I was a sixth-grader in '95, reading Voyge of the Devilfish and every sequel thereafter. In fact, it was the style and voice of that very book which I sought to emulate in some of my first abortive writing attempts, and I say with absolute honesty that my writing style as a sophomore in college still benefits from those early imitations. I've written two novels for myself (publishing not intended), about 700 pages in all, and books in the "Pacino series" have been the model for both of them (my last novel, "18 Minutes," was about a high-school senior class vacation aboard an ocean liner, cut short by a Libyan 877-class Russian import submarine attack; sort of a blend of Titanic and Threat Vector -- your name was featured in the acknowledgements).

I'm majoring in theater with a creative writing minor -- hardly the engineering-and-math, blood-and-guts educational foundations of a submariner, but every time I pick up a dog-eared DiMercurio novel for the fiftieth time, I feel a little twinge of regret for not joining the Navy and going for my dolphins. Looking at the technical specs for the subs in Terminal Run has already got me fired up (Vortexes in the aft ballast tanks of the Piranha?! What the hell's going on?), and the first chapter of TCIGTS kept me at my chair for the full twenty minutes it took to read it. Reading about the next of your books coming back to the modern day was reassuring, and the classified project sounds intriguing (NSA?); keep cranking them out!

You've got a lot of mail to respond to, so don't feel obligated to reply to this one -- just know that you've had a huge impact in at least one young American writer's life. No thanks could ever be enough.

Good hunting and take care.

Michael R. Fisher

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: USS Devilfish Patrol Report
From: "Chappell, Damian P"
To: "'USSDevilfish.Com'"

michael,

1. this must be the best promo email I have ever seen - it seems as though your literary talents and imagination extend way beyond your magnificent books - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

2. clicking through to amazon now... 8)

SOUND MINDS AND STOUT HEARTS CHAPPELL SENDS

cheers

damian chappell

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Comments
From: "Tim Farwell"
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

Sir;

Just wanted to drop a quick note to tell you how much I've enjoyed your books. I'm reading Threat Vector now (excellent, by the way.) I had started off with Barracuda Final Bearing several years ago, and must say that you pulled me through some of the boring times as a midnight shift police officer. I've worked my way through your series, with just a couple more to go. I would love to see one of your stories made into a movie, being as much of a movie buff as a book lover. Its amazing to me how many people try to compare you with Tom Clancy, but I think its not possible. I think that if you look for technical jargon, you read Clancy (which we all have, but still like his Red October more than his later work). If you are looking for good story writing and characters with thought and feeling, you must read DiMercurio or P.T. Duetermann (another favorite of mine. Have you read his work?). Anyway, keep up the good work. How about a Shallow Water Navy story about us Coasties out there? (lol) Take care.

Timothy A. Farwell
Maine

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: TERMINAL RUN
From: Willem van Hemmen
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

What do you think? I've read those books already forward, backward, upside down, on the ground, in bed, on my chair. Probably I know more about those books than you do:-) I'm buidling a Dimerucrio booskshelf here. Your task is to fill it.. Would 1 meter be enough?:-)

As i told before. I'll be patient.

Regards,
Willem van Hemmen
http://home.kabelfoon.nl/~kowi

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Terminal Run in French version?
From: Jocelyne VELAT
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

Hi Michael,

I'm one of your french fan. My name is Fabrice and I'd like to tell to you my great satisfaction to read your novel. I hope my english isn't too bad ...Since I read your books, I become more interested in SUBs and UBOOT from II War. All persons in stories have they own beaviour, reallistic, and the question is what the isue for Pacino ... (You probably have yet answer this question). My question is : does exist a French Version of your novel TERMINAL RUN? I've tried to know more about it with the site of denis chappuis, but the adress on the net was false. I'm now reading THREAT VECTOR and I enjoy it so much... Please Michael, write more longer novel, and more other ones. Have you got any news about movies from one your book wich could be so nice? Thanks a lot for reading me. Thanks a lot for answering at all my mails. Read you soon, and give us

Bye.
Fabrice

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Really good job and thanks
From: "Tomasz Banys"
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

[SALUTE]

Michael,

I've got mixed feelings about writing the message I suspect that will not reach you, but what the hell. I decided to do so.

The reason I'm typing it now is that I happen to have discovered you today after visiting the library. There I was, browsing through action-wise positions and suddenly of all I noticed a very perfected cover with a title of "Wektor Zagrozenia" (that's obviously polish for Threat Vector).

I usually hate such books because they tend to be a bit schematic and predictable, but the title was good enough for me to open it and skim through the very first few lines.

And after two hours, to put your book aside after reading it.

I quickly got home and checked the series. I have to admit that I plan to obtain all the positions as soon as I get paid. "Threat Vector" is decidedly the best book I've read in many years. You managed to draw a perfect plot and to dose the progress in the right pace. Probably your readers keep telling you that, but you really did a good job writing this novel. You really did.

I spent all my life in a state of fascination by military history and for a few years now, I serve as kind of a leader for a small local community of enthusiasts. In fact, I find your book an obligatory position for all of those, who take leadership parts in the series of strategic and tactical military simulations I happen to run around. While reading, I kept noticing that I mumble to myself 'He's right.' and that I nod with a smile creeping up all over my face. This book clearly depicts the neccessity of true contact and the bond any good officer should have with his crew. I know this seems a nuisance, but you managed to point out leadership qualities some might have not noticed and you did it with a gallant style.

At any rate, I should keep talking nonsense and finish the letter with a simple 'thanks'. Thank you Michael, please continue writing. You did really perfectly well. Your book might influence choices people have to face and I'm grateful to have been experiencing a first really good action novel for the last few years (I say, over 10 for sure).

I'm in your debt for this fantastic cruise.

Best regards,
--Tomaas A.J. Banys
PS: Looking forward to reading your reply. :)

Interview of Michael DiMercurio by The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney, Australia

Q: What do you think is the most likely scenario for a US strike against Iraq - the Gulf War 2 option? The local insurrection "Afghan War 2" option? The inside-out strike (which sounds suspiciously like Phoenix Sub Zero)? Or something completely different?

A: My problem is that I have to separate what I think should happen from what probably will happen.

As to what should happen: The U.S. needs to prove that it can perform a military mission using only U.S. forces and still achieve a victory over Iraq. While allies are best from a strategic point of view, tactically this particular mission could be achieved with just U.S. forces. The assets are all in place, including carrier battle groups and nuclear submarines bristling with cruise missiles, strike aircraft, surreptitious air and land bases in places that publicly don’t support this battle but give us clandestine support behind the scenes, airborne forces, CIA covert forces and military special forces. With all that, a regime change can be achieved in one of several ways. Think of the Panama operation that took out Noriega – we didn’t need much more than a carrier battle group, the Marines and the 82nd Airborne. I would probably be using covert forces to the maximum extent possible, with the mission to assassinate Saddam as the first element. The second goal would be to replace him with someone who will not be worse. The Libya bombing of the Reagan Administration purposely left Qadhafi in place, suitably disciplined, and it seemed to work. The Gulf War apparently sought to do the same with Saddam, but the result backfired. This regime change mission’s goal is to finish what the Gulf War started.

As to what will probably happen: The Bush Administration is at a political crossroads, and is attempting to find popular support for the mission. If sufficient support is missing, the covert element will proceed. The covert attack (something like what was described in PHOENIX SUB ZERO) has a 50-50 chance of achieving the assassination, but a much lower chance of replacing Saddam with a more friendly leader. Note: the use of local insurrection forces is a lower probability, since there is no real Iraqi equivalent to the Afghan Northern Alliance. But covert forces usually depend on internal dissidents to achieve their missions. If more political support can be gained by Bush in the U.S. and abroad, the covert attack will shift to become an intelligence gathering apparatus, with carrier strike forces, amphibious forces and nearby-based forces attacking Baghdad. I do not think we will see the yearlong mobilization that Desert Shield required, but a more rapid attack. This force would leapfrog into town and take Saddam’s security forces and bunkers until he is in custody. This mission would then attempt to set up a democracy, and continue the occupation until elections can be held.

Q: What do you rate the chances of success - will it be as cut and dried as 1991?

A: The 91 Gulf War was an exercise in the achievement of massive force superiority. Napoleon would have been proud of the huge buildup of force against a smaller, ill-equipped military. I was frustrated that the U.S. spent so much time mobilizing – the attack on Kuwait should have been answered within a month, much as we answered 9/11 with the Afghan attack within a month. But at the time, the U.S. was still shaking off its Vietnam defeat, and there was no room for a protracted battle or any significant level of U.S. casualties. Based on the political reality of 1991, the actions of the administration were correct. But we live in vastly different political and military times now. The American people fully expect that our military take risks and that they win when they do.

If sufficient forces are committed, I believe it would seem tactically more like the Afghanistan or Panamanian operations with a commensurate level of success. The level of risk is less than the Gulf War, though, because Saddam’s forces have not recovered from the last U.S. assault. What raises the stakes are that we would try this with less equipment and fewer troops. In the case of the commitment of military force, I would definitely bet on the U.S. military over Saddam’s sad forces.

Q: What's your personal feelings on how the people of the US would react to a war against Iraq, especially given that only Britain and Australia seem to be standing firm with America? Is there a danger of a loss of support if it drags on, or is September 11 such a defining moment of history - in the same way Pearl Harbour was last century - that the citizens of America will maintain their rage?

A: The American people, at the moment, can only see the carnage of 9/11, particularly at this one-year anniversary. If Iraq is linked to the same sort of terrorist activity as Al Quada, or linked to Al Quada itself, support for an assault against Iraq will be sufficient to allow Bush to press ahead with more than covert forces. If Bush is unable to equate Saddam with 9/11 type terrorism, political support will probably not allow a major attack. Absent a declassification of what CIA knows about Iraqi nuclear and chemical/biological weaponry, Americans may not care enough about an Iraqi regime change to give Bush any military options. Bush could press ahead, with the hope that the citizenry will see his way of thinking after the victory, but this is much less likely. Odds are that the classified information about Iraq is so frightening that its declassification would cause further erosion of the stock market and cost the Bush Administration political support, so Bush will remain in this quandary until a decision is made. All we can do now is stay tuned.

My own feelings are that we do not need an encounter session to knock over the likes of Saddam, and that with the military hardware at hand, we should go in and take care of business. But a president who thinks like this risks being defeated in the next election. The U.S. military stands ready to answer the call, but that call needs to be made, and soon.

Updated September 1, 2002 HOT NEWS!:
Terminal Run has just gone to "Pre-Order" status at Amazon.Com. Reserve your copy today!

Mail Of The Month!

Jason Monson Age 8, and "Sammie" the cat
From Doug Grad (My Editor) 6/13/02
Mike-
It's nice to know that you're contributing to the literacy of young Americans! Nice letter attached.
Best,
Doug

May 18 ,2002

Dere Michael DiMercurio,

My name is Jason Monson. I read the novol "Voyage of the Devifish". I started it whin I was 7 years old.and I was finished it after I turned 8. My favorit part is when Novskoyy gets hit in the buttox on page 193. C ommander Michael Pacino is my favrit charactor. He is brave and smart. Vlasenko is the same as Pacino. I don't like Dretzski, he is a weasel face. Mr. DiMercurio, wold you come to lunch with me and we will duscuss the Devilfish? I didn't want the book to end. Wold you sign my book for me? Your Frend ,

Jason Monson

May 18, 02

---

Dear Mr. Michael DiMercurio,

This letter is to provide further insight into the letter written to you this date by my 8 year old son, Jason Monson.

In January of 2002, Jason and I were in a department store. I took him into the book section and we discussed all the wonderful books and magazines present. I was going to allow him to buy a book or a magazine of his choice. Jason, then seven years old, found your novel,"Voyage of the Devilfish." He immediately wanted that book. I told him no, that is was an adult novel and he was a little kid. I tried to divert his attention to age appropriate material. My son looked at me and very politely told me he wanted your book. He than started telling me that it had to be great, his little hands pointing to the Devilfish breaching on the cover. Jason flipped it over and started reading the back cover. Here I was, surrounded by books, trying to convince a seven year old kid not to read for crying out loud!

That is how our wild ride with the Devilfish and Commander Michael Pacino began. Once we got home, we, in fact, did start the book. I set the ground rules, that any bad words that were present we would say gosh or darn etc. i would read a page out loud to Jason and he would then read a paragraph or two from that same page. One page at a time, double reading, we worked our way through the Devilfish. At first, we would struggle with only one page a day, but Jason never quit and soon we were reading two pages, then three etc.

There was only one time when Jason wanted to stop reading "Voyage of the Devilfish". When the Kaliningrad sunk and became a "titanium coffin", Jason got up and just left the room. I finally got him to tell me what was wrong, and he said that the author just should have stopped writing, there was nothing more to say after he sunk Kaliningrad. The tears welled up.

This has been quite and experience and not one that I have ever expected. It took five months for us to read your book, and we thoroughly enjoyed the voyage, discussing events together as we went. Thank you, Mr. DiMercurio. My son's love of books has been well served with your suspenseful, gripping novel. Quite a feat for a second grader.

It would delight Jason to hear from you. He, himself typed the letter he wrote to you. Jason does want to speak with you and just imagine you two would have quite a conversation. Again, thanks for the fine read, thanks for the five month long adventure.

Sincerely,

Pamala Monson
Dave Monson

---

May 31, 02

Update:

Today Jason graduated the second grade. When he started the school year he was reading at a first grade 8 months level, scoring a 37%. As of today, he tested at 4th grade 9th month level, scoring in the 95%!

If a child cannot read, they will have a difficult time in succeeding at anything. Most just give up. Jason has a great start and part of that start was fueled by "Voyage of the Devilfish".

We waited to mail the letter as Jason wanted you to have the enclosed picture.

Again, thank you.

Pamala Monson

---

Dear Michael,

Your unexpected and wonderful package arrive today. Jason was downright thrilled and kept saying, "Mom this is so cool!" Your kindness is very much appreciated. I told him when we wrote that you were very busy and had a lot of people demanding your attention. I tried to let him know that sometimes it is just enough to share something with someone and then hope they might have smiled just a bit, even if we never were to find out. You were so very compassionate with Jason, and you can safely bet your last sentence in every book, you have given Jason a defining moment in his life. We will frame your letter and hang it in his room.

Yes, permission is granted for usage of his letters, in whole or part as well as the picture. If you need any alterations of further explanations, let me know and we will provide whatever you need.

Michael, Jason's dad and I thank you. Your time and gifts have impacted Jason greatly, just as the moment we found the "Devilfish" and I was finally smart enough to shut up and let him have the book of his choice.

Again, permission granted, and thanks.

David and Pamala Monson
parents of Jason Monson

---

Note from Jason:

Dear Mr. MiMercurio,

Thank you for the booksm I am looking foward to reading them all. What an Awesome suprise! Your book the "Devilfish is the greatest novel yet.

Your friend,
Jason

---

TERMINAL RUN – WORTH THE WAIT!

TERMINAL RUN turned out to be quite a project. Instead of the usual year from start to finish, its outline was done in Oct 99 and it was written in first draft in 2000 and submitted in Jan 01. I and my editor Doug Grad (new to me, but the number one maker of thriller NYT bestsellers) reworked it in two complete rewrites in 2001. Doug is the master of suspense, and didn’t care for the original ending. He challenged me to improve, and the new ending had him up all night. He loved it, and now the buzz inside Penguin Putnam is that TERMINAL RUN is a killer. We just spent months on the submarine artwork. I can say this – it was worth every minute spent. TERMINAL RUN is the best DiMercurio book written.

TERMINAL RUN will be out in late September 02. In the meantime, VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH is repackaged and BARRACUDA FINAL BEARING, which had sold out and became difficult to find, will be reprinted in July 02 (see the new cover in the BOOKS section).

May E-MAIL OF THE MONTH!

Subject: Great reading!
From: Mclain, Ron
To: readermail@USSDEVILFISH.COM

I have read Clancy, Brown, Coonts, Robinson, Cussler etc. etc. Without a doubt, your writings are the most exciting I've ever read. I catch my wife watching me read your works, and she laughs at me because I'm so into it. She says that my eyes are bugging out, or I forget to breathe, or my mouth is wide open in awe. My only regret is that I didn't read your books in sequence. I've yet to read Barracuda, and Threat Vector. I'll probably be finished with those two in a couple of weeks. That means you've got to get busy, fellow, I need more. :-)

Thanks Michael.

Ron McLain (an old brown shoe puke)

December E-MAIL OF THE MONTH!

Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 18:42:58 -0800
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com
From: Pat Bates
Subject: My Thanks!

Mr DiMercurio,

There have been many times I've wanted to write and thank an author for his efforts on a novel ... just never got around to it. Well, consider this a first for me. I might add that your email address made my task much simpler and quicker, too.

I've read "Phoenix: Sub Zero" and "Barracuda: Final Bearing" and found them both to be excellent, intense and entertaining. So much so, in fact, I've now gotten "Threat Vector" and "Attack of the Seawolf". I might add that if you keep writing, I'm sure that I'll keep buying and reading them.

Your ability to interweave international intrigue with military combat suspense is most unusual ... and most entertaining. I've never been all that fond of "military novels" until I read your work. There are few authors that I know who can combine the military action into an entertaining novel without it seeming to be written only for military buffs. In that regard, you've surpass many authors!

Please don't feel that its necessary to respond to this note ... perhaps you could devote that time to a new novel? That would make me happy enough.

Sincerely and appreciative,

Pat Bates
Dallas, Texas

THREAT VECTOR IS A USA Today Bestseller. The book is now in its second printing.

Threat Vector is #23 on the Barnes & Noble Bestseller List! (MARCH 21, 2000)

Threat Vector Threat Vector - U.S. Navy term meaning the direction from which the enemy's most lethal and immediately dangerous element approaches. The definition assumes that the afloat commander knows who the enemy is . . . From the USA Today bestselling author of Piranha: Firing Point In high-tech warfare, the enemy is never out of range. There is a new kind of threat lurking beneath the surface. A submarine more silent and deadly than anything in the U.S. arsenal - and it belongs to no known government. Controlled by a multi-billion dollar organization with a secret agenda, this killer sub is wreaking havoc on the high seas. Only one ship - and one crew - has a fighting chance against it - if they know where to look. "His characters step right off the sub deck and onto his pages."-Larry Bond Experience more exciting sub action at www.ussdevilfish.com Until Threat Vector is in your hands, Remain Undetected,

Threat Vector: Submarine commander Alexi Novskoyy has been sprung from prison by a multibillion-dollar organization with a very special mission in mind. The company has designed a new submarine -- the Vepr -- which they will use to wreak havoc on international trade. To test its new weapon, Alexi must sink a cruise ship carrying the entire brass of the U.S. Navy -- effectively decapitating the American fleet. The legendary USS Devilfish is called in to stop the catastrophe, only to be ambushed by the ultra-advanced Vepr. With the Devilfish down, the Navy sends Captain "Kelly" McKee and the newest sub in the U.S. arsenal to hunt down and destroy the super sub. What they don't realize is that Alexi has his own plans, which have him heading straight for the shores of America. USA Today Advertisement CLICK TO ENLARGE MORE! On Threat Vector Order Threat Vector At Amazon.Com! Order Threat Vector At Amazon U.K.!

Michael DiMercurio
Princeton, NJ
www.ussdevilfish.com

Updated December 21, 2001

To all my readers and friends,

I extend my prayers to all the victims of the barbarian assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and to all Americans and all members of the civilized world who witnessed the horrifying loss of life.

I call on our leaders and the leaders of our allies to punish these crimes and acts of war, and to take this action as soon as possible.

Furthermore, I advocate the most forceful and dramatic use of force available in our arsenal. We must affect the consciousness of our enemies and make their memories as terrifying as ours are, so that a potential future terrorist will have to think about his own family if he dares to plot to destroy yours or mine.

After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese found out what the results of an attack on American soil bring. After the World Trade Center, our modern enemies must learn the same lesson.

Our leaders are accountable to history as well as to their citizens, and understandably do not want to have the blood of innocents on their hands. After all, America as an idea is incompatible with allowing children to die in a retaliatory strike. I have heard the pleas that say that killing more will solve nothing, that spilling more blood will lower us to the level of the terrorists. My answer to this is that winning a war unavoidably takes further bloodshed. If this is war, then it should be treated as war, and prosecuted with the same deadly determination we used in the wars of the last century.

God Bless America,

Michael DiMercurio

Subject: Pentagon first-hand, personal account Date: 9/18/2001 This is a first-hand, personal account of what transpired at the Pentagon on Tuesday, from the perspective of Navy CAPT (O-6) William Toti. I have been asked for my view of what happened. Since I don't want to have to repeat this, I'll share with all and be done with it. Have 96 emails in my in box right now. I don't know if I'll have time to even read all them, let alone respond to them. I just came back from work, it's 10:28 p.m., I've been working since 5 am, I start again 5 am tomorrow morning, and I'm beat. I'm a writer, so depending on how I feel, one day I may write more. It's how I cope. Someday perhaps. But not right now. I was about 100 yards from point of impact, I knew it was a terrorist attack the moment the first Twin Tower was hit. (We always have TV on in my office so we can alert my boss Vice Chief of Naval Operations to things going on in the world. When CNN started their coverage of the first plane hit, we immediately started mobilizing our staff. Second hit confirmed what we already knew. Info was not forthcoming, so I told my boss I was going to the command center to find out what was going on. He told me to stay put. At some point I said to him, "We're next, Pentagon is the easiest target to identify and hit in D.C.," two minutes later we heard the plane coming in, I saw a shadow across my window, and heard and felt the impact. Fire started immediately, halls filled with smoke, I tried to get into collapsed section, no joy, went outside building to try to enter from outside, four of us pulled out 4 criticals one at a time (3 of them had 3rd degree burns 90% of body) and we collected about 12 walking wounded, everybody else dead, smoke too bad, couldn't go in any more. Early in casualty when we had 15 wounded, only had 2 ambulances 2 bags IV fluid, 1 bottle oxygen. By time substantial medical help arrived we'd run out of patients, had only dead left... One guy from ambulance crew ran IV lines in one man who was burned so bad I couldn't tell whether he was white or black (he was black).. I had to hold his arm as put IV line in, his skin came off in sheets in my hand. His corneas were burned white (flash burns). A pentagon doctor ran IV in another large woman whose clothes were burned off. Doc got frustrated cause he couldn't get a drip, I noticed he forgot to remove the tourniquet, I pulled off tourniquet, drip fixed... Lady was very scared, she said she's going to die, I stayed with her till we got her to helicopter. (Took 6 of us to carry her.) Then first guy went into respiratory arrest, an EMT had to AMBU bag him all way to helo, as of this morning both still alive in ICU. A third guy had flash burns, outer layers of skin burned off 90% of his body. All he knows is his skin is hanging off in sheets, he thinks he's going to die, screaming every time we touched him. I told him they were just flash burns, outer layers of skin only affected, we told him "You're not going to die today, buddy" but he didn't want to believe me insisting he was going to die (obviously lot of pain). He's still alive too. Lot of lessons learned for me regarding critical care. For Chris Tate, as you might expect, I'm still a big believer in your WFA [Wilderness First Aid] course. Helped a lot. By the way, nobody made it out of the command center, so I guess two words from my boss saved my life. I was later put in charge of half the rescue workers, about 400 people at peak, told to establish a makeshift morgue, which we did. Never got any bodies out of the building to put into the morgue. A lot of lessons learned about "who's really in charge." Everybody thought they were in charge (Arlington Fire Dept, Fairfax Fire, FEMA, FBI, Secret Service, etc, etc) so we (military) took charge to deconflict others. When everybody's in charge, nobody's in charge. At about 8 p.m. I had to call it quits. Didn't eat anything all day, adrenaline starting to wear off, started on severe downward spiral of energy, nobody left to rescue, state medical examiner took over morgue duties, so I called it a day. Somewhere in the fire I had lost my wallet, keys, & sunglasses (fell out of my pockets), found myself with no money, cell phone battery dead, no ID, no drivers license, no nothing. Borrowed cell phone from a doctor to call Karen to tell her to come pick me up but roads closed, she can't get to me, so I started walking south on I-395 highway, she started driving north, till Karen & kids found me.... Bill Toti

E-MAIL OF THE MONTH FROM THE READERMAIL BOX!

From: "Richard J. Davis"
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com
Subject: your books
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001

I have read all of your books, except for the first one and I have found a used copy and have ordered it. I know that it is coming back in print this fall but I cant wait.

YOU keep on writing and I will keep reading. I have always been fasinated by subs, they are the true stealth weapon we have. I worked on the B-2 stealth bomber for 7 and a half years and thought it was frightening until I thought about submarines. They are truely the stealthiest... What you can't see can hurt you...

One more thing, You can thank Dale Brown for turning me on to you as he also has a link to your web site. Thats how I started reading your books and have not regretted it for one second. Thank you for your exciting books.

Hope your Hollidays are filled with Joy and Happiness.
May God Bless us all.
Rick

From: FCartesFTB@aol.com
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 23:08:31 EDT
Subject: Great Reading!
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

Mr. Dimercurio,

As a former Submariner 1980-86... USS Sam Rayburn 635B. I want to let you know that I am hooked on your books... Have yet to read Voyage of the Devilfish because Books-A-Million never seems to have it. Attack of the Seawolf was the most suspenseful for me because it brought back my greatest fear... of being caught in a place we weren't supposed to be... I'd love to see you write a boomer story... and capture the tension durng a countdown of a nuclear launch... We recieved an EAM to launch shortly after learning of the assasination of Anwar Sadat over Armed Forces Radio... Not knowing the status of the Free World after 60 days submerged... None of us in MCC new whether this was a drill or an actual launch... after spinnin up the missiles... we sat at 1SQ which seemd like eternity... Looking around MCC I realized everybody was half dressed... some with only flip-flops on... none of us shavin'... a real rag-tag bunch... Nobody would have realized what professionals we were... and I thought nobody may never know. I could see my buddies thoughts... Does Charleston & Groton exist anymore?... wonderin if our families were still alive. We knew that we were not a first strike country... I died a hundred deaths that afternoon... I was the Computer operator in MCC that day... I have never forgotten the fear and concentration in the faces of my shipmates that day... We were going to pull that trigger by God... and send the damn ruskies to hell!... thankfully... "Secure From Battle Stations Missile for Strategic Launch, This has been a drill'... whew... the sweetest words I have ever heard...

Michael, keep up the Fantastic work... We luv ya Man... I bet ya hear alot of Sea Stories... I think ya would love to hear how well a Boomer 425' long operates under the Ice pack... well, not very well... hahaha... thats why the 635 got pushed way up on the decommisioning list... Ice bergs and HY-80 don't mix... lol... another change of drawers please.... PACINO RULES!

Fred in Pensacola, an ol Blue Nose

Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:51:02 -0400
Subject: Your books...
From: Rem Davis
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com

Dear Mr. DiMercurio,

My name is Rem Davis and I wanted to let you know I just picked up a copy of "Threat Vector". Until this novel I had never read any of your books before. Let me say that after just the first 20 pages I was hooked. I can hardly wait to finish it and go out and try to find ALL your other books.

Though I was never in the navy I find myself fascinated with the stories that I have been told by those that have served in the "silent service". I find myself wishing that I had pursued that career. Though to old to do so now, I find myself reading your book and feeling as if I am on the boat. I can almost picture what it would be like.

I have to agree with you about Mr. Clancy. It is nice to read a book that has been written by someone that has actually been on a boat for real and under real conditions. I have read Mr. Clancy's books "SSN" and the one where he takes the reader on a tour of the SSN Miami (sorry I can't remember her number). While they both seem to have facts of what life is like on a sub. Yours is the first I have read that makes me feel as if I were there.

I just wanted to let you know that I look forward to reading more of your books. Please keep up the great work. I do have one question for you though. Is there any chance that you will write a book sharing your Personal stories of life on the boats and as a teacher? I found that I really enjoyed the little clips of them in your bio. Thank you and god bless you and your family.

Sincerely,
Rem Davis

VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH is completely sold out at Amazon.com, bn.com, and the Penguin Putnam warehouse (remember the last scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"? -- that's the warehouse...). This was anticipated by Penguin, but at a later date. Thanks to everyone who bought it! The great folks at Penguin have allowed a "Director's Cut" with twenty pages previously deleted added back in with a re-edit by the author. If you've read it before, you'll barely recognize it now. The book will have a new sexy cover (watch this space for a preview). VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH will be on the shelves in Fall 2001.

In Threat Vector, Former Sub Officer Michael DiMercurio Returns To Setting He Knows Well By Kirk Susong Books@Military.com Special to Military.com Michael DiMercurio knows about life aboard a submarine, having served aboard the nuclear sub Hammerhead during his Navy career. Now a writer, DiMercurio -- who graduated first in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy, received a graduate engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, and later taught at Annapolis before entering private industry -- has left his military career behind. But his naval experiences continue to serve him well as subject matter. DiMercurio recently discussed his sixth and latest submarine action novel, Threat Vector, with Military.com. Threat Vector takes place roughly 20 years in the future. The backdrop is that a Ukrainian fleet is sailing to South America to intervene in a war between Argentina and Uruguay. Obviously, nothing like that is going on today. To what extent do you try to incorporate, or shy away from, current realities? Well, just like an investor looks at the market and makes his success out of what he thinks will happen in the future, a good plot can be created by extrapolating from the current situation and looking ahead to the future. I do the same thing with global politics. I ask myself, if a certain trend from the news were to continue, what would the world be like? One of the forces out there is economics; it can drive conflict. That’s an area that might not have been as explored as much as it should be in the military novel. So a major component of the plot of Threat Vector is the economic incentive to cause destruction, rather than a nation being backed into a corner because of border disputes or nationalism or religion. Making that credible and bringing out how that could actually happen was a lot of the fun of writing "Threat Vector." Threat Vector places women aboard subs as high-ranking officers. Based on your own experiences, do you think it’s a good idea for the military to do that in the real world? That issue nagged at me for a long time because my novels are always happening a decade in the future. Meanwhile, the Navy is moving toward a more sexually integrated force, and it occurred to me that by the time one of my novels came out, it might be obsolete if there weren’t women aboard. So with Threat Vector I deliberately placed women on the submarines; this is the first novel in which I’ve done that. I had to sit back and think, 'if this were to be done, how would it be done successfully?' And that’s why I injected women into the more senior ranks. Can a woman be an officer on the deck of a submarine? It depends on the woman. It’s really the same answer to the question whether a man can be a good officer on the deck of sub. It depends on the guy ... Now, it’s true submarines might be submerged for 58 days straight. Would things get tense with women on board? Certainly. But with the right people, I think it could be managed. The problem comes from trying to force things too quickly. It could work with the right regulations, the right people and the right attitude. It could also fail if all those things aren’t in place. But the thing about failure is that you learn from it, just as you do from success. I do think women on subs is inevitable. I think that women bring something to the table, a different way of looking at things. When you’re in combat against someone who’s trying to kill you, it’s great to have all the ideas that you can get in your wardroom. The recent disaster with the Russian sub Kursk placed the issue of submarine safety and escape in the headlines. On two separate occasions in Threat Vector, submarine escape hatches are used. In each situation, the captain either expresses reluctance to use the hatches or is physically forced off the sinking submarines by the crew. Were submarine officers like that, in your experience? A big part of the Kursk tragedy was probably the psychology of it. Onboard, we never really thought that we would use the escape trunk. We would spend 98 percent of our time in water 2 miles deep. So if something goes wrong, you’re going down 14,000 feet, and your sub will be crushed by the ocean’s pressure at maybe 1,900 feet. The escape hatch is almost ceremonial, and I think maybe the Russians succumbed to that kind of thinking. But in some ways this disregard for escape is also a demonstration of these commanders’ commitment to their ships and to their missions. These guys train for this their whole lives, from the moment they’re 10 or 11 years old ... So I think you would have to physically pull a captain off his ship to keep him from going down with it. And that’s kind of a report card on the captain. A good captain will be pulled off the ship by his crew before it goes down. With a bad one, the response might be, “OK, skipper, you want to do that? We’ll see you later.” Do you expect to continue writing novels set aboard subs, or will you branch out into different things altogether? There are some plots that I would like to play with. One of them is about the Navel Academy, where I spent my childhood. But submarines are something that I enjoy writing about. I think of how Hemingway admired the courage of soldiers and bullfighters and fisherman because they could do things that he couldn’t. It’s the same with me and submarine commanders. It was always a dream of mine to be able do that. But when I actually went to sea, I learned that I am cut out to be a writer. I was not a great success in the submarine! However, I saw some amazing people in action, which has provided fuel for my writing. People serving on subs are dedicated and courageous, and they really make sacrifices. And the world doesn’t know about it. It’s interesting that I get a lot of e-mail saying how different my work is from Clancy or anybody else because it’s the story of the people behind the machinery. Sometimes it’s the fight with the wife rather than the orders on the radio paper that drives these guys. And that’s what makes my work a little bit different. It’s a story for anyone ... You can be a housewife watching the kids and pick this up and are surprised and love it. And I’ve gotten e-mail to that effect: "I never thought I would love a book like this." And that really pushes my buttons. It makes me feel like I’ve reached somebody I would not have otherwise reached.

U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE WEIGHS IN ON THREAT VECTOR

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Greetings from USS NORFOLK >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This note is automatically appended to all outgoing email.

When sending email to the ship please observe the following: Do not discuss schedules or include classified material. You must include the persons name in the subject line. Since this Email can reach you from many locations, DO NOT respond to this Email by using 'reply'. Since transmission rates to the ship are limited, please minimize message size and avoid including the original Email when responding. (lines beginning with ">" are not forwarded.) Do not send attachments - only attachments from "official" sources get forwarded to the ship.

7 May 00 Dear Mike, NORFOLK (SSN 714) is currently operating in the VCOAs doing ORSE workup and Battle Group operations. I have been reading your book, THREAT VECTOR, for the last week in bits and pieces (you understand...). I had to write to congratulate you on a very nice piece of work. I am thoroughly enjoying everything about the book. It is extremely well written and stands up to the critical eye of seasoned submariners with "no deficiencies noted". Only a submariner could write such a work. Clancey is OK but your wor k leaves him in the dust! (Wardroom concurs) Again, congrats on your work. It gets the message out about what we do. I must confess that I am reading on loan from the CRA, but I'll buy the next one. Best wishes for continuing success, classmate. Jeff Gernand '80

THREAT VECTOR IS A USA Today Bestseller. The book is now in its second printing.

Threat Vector is #23 on the Barnes & Noble Bestseller List! (MARCH 21, 2000)

Threat Vector Threat Vector - U.S. Navy term meaning the direction from which the enemy's most lethal and immediately dangerous element approaches. The definition assumes that the afloat commander knows who the enemy is . . . From the USA Today bestselling author of Piranha: Firing Point In high-tech warfare, the enemy is never out of range. There is a new kind of threat lurking beneath the surface. A submarine more silent and deadly than anything in the U.S. arsenal - and it belongs to no known government. Controlled by a multi-billion dollar organization with a secret agenda, this killer sub is wreaking havoc on the high seas. Only one ship - and one crew - has a fighting chance against it - if they know where to look. "His characters step right off the sub deck and onto his pages."-Larry Bond Experience more exciting sub action at www.ussdevilfish.com Until Threat Vector is in your hands, Remain Undetected,

Threat Vector: Submarine commander Alexi Novskoyy has been sprung from prison by a multibillion-dollar organization with a very special mission in mind. The company has designed a new submarine -- the Vepr -- which they will use to wreak havoc on international trade. To test its new weapon, Alexi must sink a cruise ship carrying the entire brass of the U.S. Navy -- effectively decapitating the American fleet. The legendary USS Devilfish is called in to stop the catastrophe, only to be ambushed by the ultra-advanced Vepr. With the Devilfish down, the Navy sends Captain "Kelly" McKee and the newest sub in the U.S. arsenal to hunt down and destroy the super sub. What they don't realize is that Alexi has his own plans, which have him heading straight for the shores of America. USA Today Advertisement CLICK TO ENLARGE MORE! On Threat Vector Order Threat Vector At Amazon.Com! Order Threat Vector At Amazon U.K.!

Michael DiMercurio
Princeton, NJ
www.ussdevilfish.com

USSDEVILFISH.COM Michael DiMercurio Princeton, New Jersey E-mail: readermail@USSDEVILFISH.COM