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The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away

List Price: $17.95
Your Price: $17.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A brilliant book; Sorry about making the review so short!
Review: An excellent book that gripped me throughout. It displays the brilliant courage shown by Chris Ryan during the Gulf War. I read the first 50 pages or so of Andy Mcnab's account, Bravo Two Zero, but found it not as exciting or as well paced as this book. Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Chris Ryan's Account of Bravo Two Zero's Mission
Review: I first heard about Andy McNab's "Bravo Two Zero" in 1994 from a soldier in the British Army. He told me it was an excellent true story about the S.A.S. in the Gulf War. I read it and was amazed by Andy McNab's tale of fighting behind enemy lines during the Gulf War. Quite awhile later, I discovered CHRIS RYANS's book "The One That Got Away". I rushed to buy Chris Ryan's book, since I was now hooked on true tales of the S.A.S., about the Gulf War, and of the British Army in general. I was impressed by Chris Ryan's side the story - it was fascinating, honest, and matter-of-fact. HOWEVER, Chris Ryan does not have the story-telling talent and the quick wit of Andy McNab. I found Andy McNab to be a talented writer with an amazing ability to recall the past with astounding clarity and detail. Chris Ryan's story is no less valid than that of Andy Mcnab's, but his style of writing is not as gripping or compelling

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An excellent look at the depths of human willpower
Review: "Chris Ryan's" candid review of his amazing accomplishments under the highest level of stress, combat, is a must read. His ability to bring the reader into the harshest shell of existence on the run from a real life threatening situation is unsurpassed. You can gain insight into the military mindset on live operations quickly as you follow a tale of fear, friendship, and the vast unknown as a mission goes bad in a hurry. Feel the victory and the despair as the man reaches freedom and success and looks to find out the unknown status of his team mates. A must have Book!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Candid, forthright, revealing and magnificent!
Review: The One that Got Away by Chris Ryan is a candid look at one man's ability to rise up from the debts of despair and successfully escape and evade 200 miles from Iraq to safety in Syria during the Gulf war. Ryan tells how he and seven other SAS members of Bravo Two Zero go deep into Iraq with the mission of destroying mobile scud missile launchers. However, soon after their insertion, everything goes to shit and they attempt to walk out of Iraq via Syria with the Iraqis in hot pursuit. Ryan is able to escape and evade where all other members of his team failed. Three members of his team are killed and four are take captive and returned after the cessation of hostilities. This is a story about one of the few true heroes of the Gulf war. Ryan is very candid about their feelings prior to the insertion and how after engaged, one member of their team lost heart and gave up. This and other revelations are always kept quiet and within the special ops communities. In bringing this and other things to light, Ryan attempts to put a human face to the ones we too often consider superhuman. These people are human and they do make mistakes but they are able to outfight and outrun the entire Iraqi army for several days and in Ryan's case, for eight days and successfully reaches Syria and safety. The team leader, Andy McNab, also wrote a book entitled Bravo Two Zero describing the same mission only it describes his and the members treatment once they are taken captive. There is drama between Ryan and McNab and it is evident in Ryan's book. The two have never really reconciled there differences relating to Ryan's escape and McNab's capture. McNab's book is a must read also in order to get the full picture of their mission. Both are Great Books!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Chris Ryan's Account of Bravo Two Zero's Mission
Review: I first heard about Andy McNab's "Bravo Two Zero" in 1994 from a soldier in the British Army. He told me it was an excellent true story about the S.A.S. in the Gulf War. I read it and was amazed by Andy McNab's tale of fighting behind enemy lines during the Gulf War. Quite awhile later, I discovered CHRIS RYANS's book "The One That Got Away". I rushed to buy Chris Ryan's book, since I was now hooked on true tales of the S.A.S., about the Gulf War, and of the British Army in general. I was impressed by Chris Ryan's side the story - it was fascinating, honest, and matter-of-fact. HOWEVER, Chris Ryan does not have the story-telling talent and the quick wit of Andy McNab. I found Andy McNab to be a talented writer with an amazing ability to recall the past with astounding clarity and detail. Chris Ryan's story is no less valid than that of Andy Mcnab's, but his style of writing is not as gripping or compelling

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A definite page turner
Review: If you are a fan of Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab then I highly recommend that you pick this one. This is the story that Bravo Two Zero didn't go into. This is the story of raw courage and great determination as told by the one man who went through misery and hell to finish his mission. Chris Ryan's story is something that you have never read before. Use your imagination here. This man walks from Iraq to Syria after his mission falls apart during the Gulf War. Mr. Ryan covered details that I was hoping he would. His feelings during his hellish trek. His thoughts when he was hiding and came within inches of capture. The feelings of the rest of the team that also made it home and how the special operations world benefited from his experience. He also touched base on how it affected life at home. That is something that every service man faces. Thanks Chris for sharing that portion of your life. This is a book that you want to read, especially if you served in the Gulf. I put it on the shelf next to my copy of Bravo Two Zero. This is no Rambo story, so if you are looking for blood and guts look for another book. This is a story of courage and determination.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Fact or fiction
Review: Fact or fiction,in my opinion lots of fiction. Who am I to tell,well I had some questions after having read, The One That Got Away ,as well as B2Z by McNab.The questions have all been answered by,The Real B2Z(Asher),Eye of the Storm(Ratcliffe) and finally in the very good SOLDIER FIVE by Mike Coburn, the fifth surviving member of the patrol.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Courageous refusal to lie down and die
Review: Well, for all of you who think the American Delta Force or U.S. Seals are the best, think again. This book can prove to you why the SAS is the worlds best fighting force. When I read this book, i thought that if you graduate from the SAS, you are one of the best MEN on the PLANET. I have read countless books on military spec ops and when have the Delta Force done this, that's right they haven't, they haven't got the training to. Well if you want a story of a man suffering from food deprivation, hypothermia, adn total weakness and still can kill what comes in his way, well this is for you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A definite page turner
Review: If you are a fan of Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab then I highly recommend that you pick this one. This is the story that Bravo Two Zero didn't go into. This is the story of raw courage and great determination as told by the one man who went through misery and hell to finish his mission. Chris Ryan's story is something that you have never read before. Use your imagination here. This man walks from Iraq to Syria after his mission falls apart during the Gulf War. Mr. Ryan covered details that I was hoping he would. His feelings during his hellish trek. His thoughts when he was hiding and came within inches of capture. The feelings of the rest of the team that also made it home and how the special operations world benefited from his experience. He also touched base on how it affected life at home. That is something that every service man faces. Thanks Chris for sharing that portion of your life. This is a book that you want to read, especially if you served in the Gulf. I put it on the shelf next to my copy of Bravo Two Zero. This is no Rambo story, so if you are looking for blood and guts look for another book. This is a story of courage and determination.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The real professionals.
Review: I read this book right after reading Bravo Two Zero by Andy Mcnab. Both books are a tale of survival, all be it in different ways.

Chris Ryan sure has a good story to tell, he was the only member of the Bravo Two Zero patrol to escape Iraq. He evaded capture for many days on very little food or water. He battled fatigue, extreme weather and many many Iraqis. He also battled himself, he didn't let his body give in while his mind was still working, he fought for every step and his story is truly one of courage and self determination.

The book does focus alot on Ryan's own 'heroism', he obviously feels he should have been the commander of the patrol and expresses this many times through the book, in the end this gets a bit tired and old. He seems to think that the problems the patrol encountered would have been just fine if he was in command, it seems a bit pretentious as it continues.

There are alot of inconsistencies between the books and it is upto the reader who he should choose to believe. I personally think this book was written to ride on the success of the first book by raising questions that will never be answered.

However it is a must read for any one with an interest in the SAS, 2 Stars


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