Rating: Summary: Not as good as I hoped Review: After being a long-time fan of the military/spy thriller genre, this is my first reading of WEB Griffin, oft revered as one of the greats. So it was with great expectations that I bought this novel...perhaps too great! The characters, although many, are well-developed and fun to get to know. The other aspect of this book that I liked was that Griffin spices things up with a little sex here and there, unlike his colleagues Clancy, Higgins, and Coontz. But in the end, I was sorely disappointed with the story's climax -- or lack thereof.
Rating: Summary: a return to classic Griffin military/intel writing Review: After some lackluster recent efforts, Griffin reminds us why he's considered one of the most capable military fiction authors out there.Excitement level is good; as is often the case, Griffin takes us to a new region (Yugoslavia/Hungary) and shows good area and language knowledge. He leaves the future and survival of one of the main characters of the series in real doubt throughout most of the book. The recent tendency of Griffin to be over-reliant on sex and infidelity as themes is absent. Either the original version (of which this is a republishing) lacked those themes, or it was rewritten. Either way, the romantic stuff doesn't detract from the storytelling, which is classic Griffin. As a bonus, we see some of the less-emphasized characters of the series gain development and fullness. The afterword, which I will not spoil for you except to say that it refers to Griffin's real world acquaintance with historical figures, is revealing and interesting. If you've read the first three, this is a strong continuation. If you have not, the whole series is worth your time and money.
Rating: Summary: Another Winner Review: As always the weaving of historical fact and fictional characters continues to amaze me. I have read most of his war novels and they all are fine offerings. only one mistake, on page 243 the discription of D as dah dah dah is actually o not d. Only a Navy ex-radioman second class would have caught that and what would it matter with his rich discriptions of everything else.
Rating: Summary: Another Winner Review: As always the weaving of historical fact and fictional characters continues to amaze me. I have read most of his war novels and they all are fine offerings. only one mistake, on page 243 the discription of D as dah dah dah is actually o not d. Only a Navy ex-radioman second class would have caught that and what would it matter with his rich discriptions of everything else.
Rating: Summary: The Fighting Agents - A Great W.E.B. Griffin Starter Series Review: For those who have not tried W.E.B. Griffin because they don't wish to commit to reading 9 volumes in The Corps or Brotherhood of War series, I highly recommend trying this 4-book series (#1 Last Heroes, #2 Secret Warriors, #3 Soldier Spies, and #4 Fighting Agents). While I would love to see future installments of the Men at War Series, I thought that Griffin does a very good job of "wrapping up" with The Fighting Agents. I enjoyed it the most out of the 4 in this particular series because I felt that it was more operational and thus contained more action and suspense.
Rating: Summary: How does he keep it interesting? Review: Griffin does it again. Canidy is still tilting at windmills. Fertig is having a better day. You need to read this book. I recommend a hardcover copy, you will re-read it over and over again. I can't wait for W.E.B.'s next book.
Rating: Summary: How does he keep it interesting? Review: Griffin does it again. Canidy is still tilting at windmills. Fertig is having a better day. You need to read this book. I recommend a hardcover copy, you will re-read it over and over again. I can't wait for W.E.B.'s next book.
Rating: Summary: Long overdue for another sequal Review: I started this series about 15 years ago when it was published under the nom-de -plume of "Alex Baldwin". W.E.B. Griffin's writing style was really evident at the time--too unique and "salty" to imitate. Now that the series is in print under the Griffin name I am wondering whether he plans to continue the the plot to a time-line conclusion. In this , the fourth volume of the O.S.S. saga , the major character Richard Cannidy , plans and executes the extraction of Eric Fulmar , Gisella Dyer , and Professor Dyer from Hungary. As a separate counter-plot , Captain Jim Whittaker returns to the Phillipines with aid for "General" Wendell Fertig who is attempting to conduct operations against the Japanese on the island of Mindinao. These operations are set against the background of the machinations of the O.S.S. hierarchy , the sexual/bedroom antics of the protagonists , and an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". I particularly liked Commander John Dolan as a character , and the cameo of Joe Kennedy Jr. seemed correct. In this series , tho' W.E.B. tries to compress alot of subplots into far too little space to be satisfying. If this is the end of the series , then the author needs to concentrate on The Corps , which I consider to be his "Flagship" series. The Wendell Fertig story was fleshed out pretty well in "Behind the Lines". On the other hand , one more volume in "Men at War" could conclude this particular timeline in a satisfying manner. Overall this particular volume was an enjoyable read ; not one of W.E.B.'s very best , but good enough for 4 stars.
Rating: Summary: Long overdue for another sequal Review: I started this series about 15 years ago when it was published under the nom-de -plume of "Alex Baldwin". W.E.B. Griffin's writing style was really evident at the time--too unique and "salty" to imitate. Now that the series is in print under the Griffin name I am wondering whether he plans to continue the the plot to a time-line conclusion. In this , the fourth volume of the O.S.S. saga , the major character Richard Cannidy , plans and executes the extraction of Eric Fulmar , Gisella Dyer , and Professor Dyer from Hungary. As a separate counter-plot , Captain Jim Whittaker returns to the Phillipines with aid for "General" Wendell Fertig who is attempting to conduct operations against the Japanese on the island of Mindinao. These operations are set against the background of the machinations of the O.S.S. hierarchy , the sexual/bedroom antics of the protagonists , and an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". I particularly liked Commander John Dolan as a character , and the cameo of Joe Kennedy Jr. seemed correct. In this series , tho' W.E.B. tries to compress alot of subplots into far too little space to be satisfying. If this is the end of the series , then the author needs to concentrate on The Corps , which I consider to be his "Flagship" series. The Wendell Fertig story was fleshed out pretty well in "Behind the Lines". On the other hand , one more volume in "Men at War" could conclude this particular timeline in a satisfying manner. Overall this particular volume was an enjoyable read ; not one of W.E.B.'s very best , but good enough for 4 stars.
Rating: Summary: Fact with fiction Review: I think the best feature of W.E.B. Griffin's books is the way he mixes fact with fiction. In "The Fighting Agents", he does this very well in telling us the story of Wendell Fertig. I never heard this story until I read about it in Griffin's book.
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