Iron Gate

The topical perils of a U.N. peacekeeping mission are plunked down in the middle of South Africa as USAF Col. Mat Pontowski, the dashing hero of Herman's previous books (Dark Wing, etc.), is once again pressed into his government's service. Helped by an Israeli scientist, a bunch of revanchist Afrikaners who pine for the salad days of apartheid are in possession of the secret of cold fusion, which means they're in possession of nukes. Civil War threatens South Africa, the U.N. sends in the blue helmets and the U.S. sends Matt and his Warthogs (A-10 aircraft). Matt, a man of action, has to get things done despite diplomatic dithering, UN impotence and all those damn bureaucrats and pesky journalists who get in his way. Herman helpfully reminds us of past events (the death of Matt's Israeli wife and the need to be an attentive father to his young son), and he plants the seeds for a new love (Sam the camera woman) and the sad demise of an old friend. The air combat scenes are exciting and vivid, but the story itself is predictable and the characters stock. The book succeeds on its own terms, however, as Herman wraps two eternal battles--good guys against bad guys, heroes against bumbling suits and brass--into a rousing, serial-style adventure. (Jan.)