This riveting account of life-and-death drama under the seas competes with any fictional submarine tale. The hopeless state of the Soviet navy recounted in such detail in this book makes the tragic sinking of the Kursk much easier to understand. Hostile Waters gives an incredible inside look at a Band-Aid navy that still suffers from mishap and disaster. The heroism of the crew constrasts sharply with the unfeeling disregard of the Soviet high command for the well-being of the sailors. For engrossing reading, this book stands at the top.