BLIND MAN'S BLUFF

Less than a decade after the Cold War, the cat-and-mouse games that U.S. and Soviet submarines played throughout it already seem insane. Still these stories of undersea derring-do are as exciting as any spy thriller, and the authors have a touch of Len Deighton or Jack Higgins. Unlike many works about military intelligence, this one never bogs down in jargon, and even in abridged form it's easy to stay on top of the characters and the action. When Tony Roberts assumes the characters' voices (sometimes dangerous in nonfiction), he has a commendable arsenal for projecting rugged sailors, Russian leaders, and a pretty fine Ronald Reagan. D.B. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]