About the Book
"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans." --President Barack Obama It was just another day on the job for fifty-three-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, a United States-flagged cargo ship that was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. The pirates didn't expect the crew to fight back, nor did they expect Captain Phillips to offer himself as a hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Thus began the tense five-day standoff, which ended in a daring high-seas rescue when U.S. Navy SEALs opened fire and picked off three of the captors. "It never ends like this," Captain Phillips said. And he's right. A story of adventure and courage, A Captain's Duty provides the intimate details of this high-seas hostage-taking--the unbearable heat, the death threats, the mock executions, and the escape attempt. When the pirates boarded his ship, Captain Phillips put his experience into action, doing everything he could to safeguard his crew. And when he was held captive by the pirates, he marshaled all his resources to ensure his own survival, withstanding intense physical hardship and an escalating battle of wills with the pirates. This was it: the moment where training meets instinct and where character is everything. Richard Phillips was ready.
About the Author :
Richard Phillips was born in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1956. In 1979, he graduated from West Point as an army ranger and served for several years as an officer in the United States Army. In 1989, he graduated with a master of science in physics from the Naval Post Graduate School, completing his thesis work at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Phillips then spent three years as a research associate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory before completing his tour of duty as an army officer. He previously released the popular sci-fi conspiracy epic the Rho Agenda trilogy. Phillips was hailed by bestselling author Orson Scott Card as someone who "is very quickly going to be very well known as one of the best and most popular writers of near-future sci-fi." Phillips lives in Phoenix with his lovely wife, Carol. Stephan Talty is the author of the New York Times bestseller Empire of Blue Water, as well as Escape from the Land of Snows, The Illustrious Dead, and Mulatto America. Black Irish is his first novel. Stephan Talty is the author of the New York Times bestseller Empire of Blue Water, as well as Escape from the Land of Snows, The Illustrious Dead, and Mulatto America. Black Irish is his first novel. George K. Wilson has narrated over one hundred fiction and nonfiction audiobook titles, from Thomas L. Friedman to Thomas Pynchon, and has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards. He spent ten years in broadcast news, including for the American Forces Radio and Television Service and for rock radio in San Diego and Los Angeles. An American Academy of Dramatic Arts, West, graduate, his acting career includes stage, film, television, commercials, improvisational comedy, and stand-up. George has written and performed in over five hundred nationally syndicated short news satire features for public radio and NPR and has received a national Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Award for Best Public Service Program. He has also scripted and hosted corporate videos for Sony, Merck, IBM, and Price Waterhouse. He is currently working on a suspense short story collection and a thriller novel. George K. Wilson has narrated over one hundred fiction and nonfiction audiobook titles, from Thomas L. Friedman to Thomas Pynchon, and has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards. He spent ten years in broadcast news, including for the American Forces Radio and Television Service and for rock radio in San Diego and Los Angeles. An American Academy of Dramatic Arts, West, graduate, his acting career includes stage, film, television, commercials, improvisational comedy, and stand-up. George has written and performed in over five hundred nationally syndicated short news satire features for public radio and NPR and has received a national Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Award for Best Public Service Program. He has also scripted and hosted corporate videos for Sony, Merck, IBM, and Price Waterhouse. He is currently working on a suspense short story collection and a thriller novel.
Review :
Phillips's story is not just riveting and timely, but also an informative, heartening look at...the Merchant Marines.-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review"
"Former broadcast journalist George Wilson provides an authoritative, dramatic, and, at times, appropriately humorous tone to the story of the captain and crew as they face off against cutthroat Somali pirates. Wilson's precise delivery is true to the author's style and easily holds the listener's attention."
-- "AudioFile"
"One closes the book with an overpowering sense that this time, for once, the good guys won."
-- "Booklist (starred review)"
"Phillips' story is not just riveting and timely, but also an informative, heartening look at...the Merchant Marines."
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
