BT ///////////////////////
SECRET //N01729//
Z 172130AUG02 SSSSSSSSSSS
FROM: USS DORADO
TO: COMMANDER, USS DEVILFISH
INFO ADDEES: COMSUBCOM
SUBJ: ORDERS AUTHENTICATION
1. ORDERS RECIEVED, AUTHENTICATE ONE FIVE FOUR NOVEMBER DELTA FOXTROT
QUEBEQ TANGO.
2. THIS UNIT IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFIED ORDERS, HAVE ALREADY
RE-DIRECTED YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER COMMANDS WHO HAVE CLEARANCE AND THE
NEED TO KNOW. EXPECT AUTHENTICATION FROM SAID COMMANDS.
3. UNDERSTOOD, COMPLETION OF ORDERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MESSAGE TO
READERMAIL@USSDEVILFISH.COM. COMMENTS TO FOLLOW.
4. PERSONAL FROM CO USS DORADO,
Michael,
I sent you an email a while back, and you sent me a reply. I still
remeber the words you sent. my e-mail told you how much we sailors love
your words, your stories, your books, and I asked one thing, that you
keep on writing, it is with great joy that I recieved your FLASH message,
and this is the best orders any CO could want.........I cant wait until
Sept......Terminal Run ...geez I am telling all my guys about it...you
are still the most amesone writer about subs... Glad your are back on
the quarterdeck, commander, you still have the watch...and alot of peaple
here in PacFLT know you well, from every where on the west coast.
5. ROE: WILL IDENDIFY AND ENGAGE, UPON FINDING DIRECTED ORDERS, WILL
SEND VERIFICATION. Michael,,, so glad you are still writing,,,I will
tell everyone.....
6. Assement: Ship at test depth.....ready for anything, the waterfront
is always the same......I cant wait for your book... pls do not stop
writing..THIS CO would like to keep you as the most best author in the
community.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
sssssssss
N\017772226
nt
|
Subject Re: Message reply
From Michael DiMercurio
Date Mon, September 2, 2002
To: cherokee222
Commander,
Perfectly formatted reply. We'll post it as email of the month!
Hope you'll write in when you finish TERMINAL RUN. Many cc's of
blood/sweat/tears invested!
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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
Subject Re: Message reply
From Michael DiMercurio
Date Mon, September 2, 2002
To: Spiff224
Hi Michael,
Usually reading and answering emails on the ussDevilfish site are in the
category of "promotion," that sector of activities geeky authors hate (and
at which they suck). However, every year or so I get one like yours that
makes me brush a tear from my eye. It sort of makes all those thankless
three o'clock in the morning sessions worth it.
I hope you'll stay tuned and let me know how you like TERMINAL RUN...
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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
Subject Re: Message reply
From Michael DiMercurio
Date Mon, September 2, 2002
To: Damien Chappell
Hi Damian,
Great to hear from you! I hope you'll let me know how you like TERMINAL
RUN and the Complete Idiot's Guide to Submarines.
I'm expecting your email one week after the pub dates!
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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
|
Hi Tim,
Thanks so much for your email. I had to chuckle at your reference to Mr.
Clancy. During the Kursk crisis Tommy embarrassed himself by saying the
trapped crew were sitting back smoking cigars awaiting rescue, something a
nonqual would say who's never lived through a few minutes of atmospheric
control equipment shutdown (as someone who has, I can tell you -- two
minutes without the atmospheric control and you're miserable, breathing
exhaled air, CO and CO2). Meanwhile, I said they were probably losing
consciousness...It would be like an insurance salesman writing about being
a cop! A good sub story's got to have technical accuracy but still have
soul, the kind Hemingway would put into a sub yarn. The thing that drove
me nuts about Clancy's work is the dialogue -- the control room sounds like
it does in THREAT VECTOR. Enough said about the nonqual!
I wish I could say I've seen Deutermann. I think he may be published
through my editor, and seems to know what he's talking about. Sort of the
thrust of James Webb, one of my literary heroes. If I write with a tenth
of the soul of that guy, I'll be happy.
Anyway, hope you'll stay tuned for the upcoming TERMINAL RUN, coming out
Sept 23, and that you'll radio in with a report on it.
Take care,
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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 -----
From: Michael DiMercurio
To: Willem van Hemmen
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002
Subject: TERMINAL RUN
Hi Willem,
I think some of my other books are printed in Holland. Voyage of the
Devilfish and Attack of the Seawolf...I hope that will keep you
satisfied until Terminal Run comes out!
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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
Subject Re: Message reply
From Michael DiMercurio
Date Mon, September 2, 2002
To: Fabrice
Bon jour Fabrice,
It was great to hear from you.
You write English very well!
TERMINAL RUN will be translated by December 02 for publication in Spring 02
in France.
The movies don't look likely because K-19 was a financial disaster for
Hollywood. Now no one wants to hear about a $100 million submarine movie!
Vive la France,
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- 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. :)
Subject Re: Message reply
From Michael DiMercurio
Date Mon, September 2, 2002
To: Tomasz
Hi Tomasz,
It was really great to hear from you, particularly on plot and pace and --
my favorite -- leadership. That last element is missing from most military
adventure novels, making them suffer.
I went to
ksiegarnia.wysylkowa.pl and saw the whole Polish series. It
looks really great. I'm glad it's out there. I was worried that there
might be problems with the translation, but it sounds like it came out okay.
Thanks again for your note.
The U.S. version of TERMINAL RUN comes out in two weeks, by the way.
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Accuracy
From: C.A. Maestas
To: readermail@ussdevilfish.com
Having served in the submarine force for 6 years I was impressed with
your accuracy of detail. One of the few obvious "errors" is the constant
referring to the SSN-637 subs as the Pirahna class instead of correctly
calling it the Sturgeon class. I understand the reason for referring to
SSN 666 as the Devilfish, it makes for a far better title than Hawkbill,
but the Pirahna thing has me stumped. Thanks.
C.A. Maestas
(Formerly SK2(SS) Maestas, USS Tennessee Blue)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Accuracy
From: Michael DiMercurio
To: C.A. Maestas
Hi CA,
It was good to get your email on the Sturgeon/Piranha thing. This is
starting to raise its ugly head now that Voyage has been republished.
I'm an old Sturgeon sailor and I was frustrated by the names. Queenfish,
Puffer, Spadefish, Whale... I sailed on the only one with a decent name --
Hammerhead. So that's why I renamed the class Piranha. When I wrote the
book, it was based on "wouldn't it be cool if" basis, and it became the
cornerstone for the series. Had I known when I wrote it that it would
get this big, I would have called a spade a spade and gone on.
Devilfish was a WWII boat that proved herself in battle. Hell of a name,
no pun intended.
Hope you'll stay tuned for the others in the series.
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Writing a book
From: Sébastien LALOUETTE
To: readermail@USSDEVILFISH.com
Hello,
I just like to know how much time does it take you to write a book, for
example "Terminal Run" ?
Thanks you for answering the questions of you fans !
Good bye.
Sébastien LALOUETTE, your biggest fan.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Writing a book
From: "Michael DiMercurio
To: Sébastien LALOUETTE
Hi Sébastien,
Writing a novel can take up to 3 years. The actual writing can be as
little as 6 months, but the concept is worked for about a year
(concurrent with finishing the previous novel). The "post production"
work is very time consuming, as the editor has a hundred questions, he
gives you a conceptual editing letter asking "why don't you put in a sex
scene?" and you answer, "that's not what my readers want and it would
never happen on a Navy vessel" and he says, "come on, you'd be good at
this" and before you know it you are rewriting the middle to include a
sex scene, just to prove it will never work, and then you submit it
thinking, "ah hah, now my editor can clearly see a sex scene just won't
do" and he replies, "perfect -- I knew you could do it!" That's just for
openers. If it is a bad day, the concept critique might say, the book
suffers and rewrite it all. Then, after having sweated over it, you get
to toss half of it in the trash and start all over again. If it is a
good day, it can be even more maddening --
on ATTACK OF THE SEAWOLF I submitted the manuscript and didn't hear back
for six months, and I was terrified to ask, "what did you think?" When I
finally got the courage to ask, the publisher said, "it's great, of
course, why do you ask?" Then comes the line editing, in which you watch
beautiful prose like "Michael Pacino sat back heavily in the command
chair and exhaled, his spirit leaving him in that one breath" and watch
it
become "Pacino sat back, tired. Pooped was the word." (This happened in
the original VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH, which was one reason I rewrote it.)
You get the edits and do some counter-editing, and then it is time for
the artwork. You go nuts because when you do the artwork, you can see
that much of what you wrote has to be revised (diesel is on the lower
level of the forward compartment, not the middle level of the aft
compartment...). Then come the page proofs -- hopefully by this time you
are finishing the next book -- and you see how the typesetter did, and
there is at least one to two errors per page. "Outboard" becomes "over
board" and "coveralls" somehow become "overalls" and you have to mark the
thing up in red pen. Finally it is finished when the crate comes with the
first editions. You open it up to the first page and immediately
see...three errors in the first paragraph.
Long answer to a short question, but the goal is a book in less than a
year.
See you at test depth,
Michael DiMercurio
|
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.
![[EMERGENCY DEEP]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md11w.jpg)
MORE! On EMERGENCY DEEP
|
EMERGENCY DEEP:
First in an electrifying new series from “A MASTER RIVALING TOM CLANCY.”
--Publishers Weekly
U.S. Navy submarine commander Peter Vornado is at the top of his game in
underwater warfare when a devastating illness takes him out of the service
and almost to the grave. Without duty, honor, or something to fight for,
his life is as good as over.
But the CIA needs a man like Vornado…
A terrorist cabal has acquired a scrapped Soviet sub from the Cold War -- a
technologically advanced failure still able to outrun any torpedo or enemy
vessel and strike at will. With a nuclear payload, it will enable them to
strike directly at Israeland throw the world into chaos. All that remains
is to modernize the sub with the latest technology.
Only one man can infiltrate the group, take the helm, and stop a holocaust
-- a man who has already stared down death, and is ready to do battle once
more…
“Compelling and visionary. DiMercurio’s characters run as deep as his
submarines themselves!”
--Joe Buff, author of Crush Depth and Thunder in the Deep
|
![[TERMINAL RUN]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/amazon.jpg)
Order EMERGENCY DEEP At Amazon.Com!
|
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Order EMERGENCY DEEP At Amazon U.K.!
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Joint Undersea Warfare Technology Conference ("The Clambake"):![[Terminal Run]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md010w.jpg)
![[Threat Vector]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md006w.jpg)
![[Piranha: Firing Point]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md005w.jpg)
![[Barracuda Final Bearing]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md004w.jpg)
![[Phoenix Sub Zero]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md003w.jpg)
![[Attack Of the Seawolf]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md002w.jpg)
![[Voyage of the Devilfish]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/md001w.jpg)
![[SUBMARINE DOLPHINS]](http://www.ussdevilfish.com/dol02.jpg)
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