Rating: 
Summary: Very fun!
Review: This book is a blast. Fun, fast paced, accurate, ... no words.The novel works even if you don't know anything about the American Civil War (tested it on some of my friends in Brazil who didn't). Wish Michael Shaara had written more, but I guess the labor it took to write just this one was enough. The works of Jeffrey Shaara don't come even close (they are OK, but this is very close to perfection).
Rating: 
Summary: Brave men, living and dead
Review: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975, Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels" is considered by many the best Civil War novel ever written. I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's certainly an impressive war story, set as it is at Gettysburg on those three fateful days in the summer of 1863. Shaara has composed a narrative that shifts back and forth from the officers and infantry fighting under Meade and the men serving under Lee. Readers may be surprised to find that only about one-third of the novel deals with the actual battle. Mainly the story is the contemplation, philosophic and prosaic, of soldiers on either side; and there are many musings on the strategy and significance of war. (The title is a cynical reference to Hamlet's observation that man is "in action how like an angel".) Contrasted with the battlefield are the unavoidable personal conflicts: Longstreet's grave disappointment in and disapproval of Lee's decision, and Jeb Stuart's court martial being demanded by his angry peers. A lighter element is provided by a British observer, puzzled and sometimes appalled by American customs -- for instance, shaking hands. In the book's afterward, we learn this Victorian returned to England, predicting a certain victory for the Confederacy. Gettysburg was, of course, the beginning of the end for the South. As Shaara depicts the conflict (and there are almost 20 maps to help the reader keep his bearings), the Confederacy made itself vulnerable time and again, at the siege of Little Round Top or during Pickett's catastrophic charge. (The great irony of Gettysburg is that the Rebels were attacking from the North while the Yankees were defending in the South.) Both the battle sequences and the campfire scenes are flavorfully written; and, for the receptive reader, Shaara makes this critical episode in American history thoughtful as well as visceral.
Rating:
Summary: Not my usual fare, a great change
Review: I would not have ever selected this book had it not been the choice of the book group I'm in. Lucky me, for it was an incredible book. Never having been much interested in Civil War history (my husband is though), I gained a hugh amount of knowledge of this time period. It proved to be a very interesting discussion book too. The maps are invaluable to guide the reader along the way. The story is very enjoyable. Don't miss out on a great book here.
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest works of historical fiction ever
Review: I first read this book back in 1995 at the age of 14. I had seen "Gettysburg" several times and in the summer of 1995, I visited the battlefield for the first time in about 8 years. I devoured the book, staying up till the wee hours of the morning to finish it the first time, then immediately starting it again. Nine years later, at age 23, I am working on my Master's Degree in American History, while writing my own manuscript of a historical novel. That was how deeply I was inspired by Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels. The book is powerful, moving and enlightening. One of the keys to understanding history is to understand what those in the past were thinking, and in this magnificent work, Shaara captures what it might have been like to have been on that tragic battlefield. About 3 years ago I once again visited Gettysburg and while wandering up the dense foliage of Big Round Top and walking along the huge boulders of Devil's Den, I found Shaara's words coming back to me, the descriptions of death and heroism that made Gettysburg a hallowed ground came to vivid life. I recommend this book even if you are not a historian or really interested in history. It is one of themost poignant works of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Killer Angels
Review: Powerful and inspirational book. Gave it for gifts. Loaned it to friends. Had to buy a second copy when friends loaned it to their friends. Truly enjoyable read
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: Great book to get your feet wet with civil war or just a plain, straight forward, beautiful read. Having a little background on ACW helps, but is not necessary. Shaara does an excellent job of introducing the characters and of course describing the action. The book centers around the battle of Gettysburg, primarily day two and the battle for the round top. I've been doing a lot of non fiction reading of the civil war lately, and this fiction piece was a wonderful breath of fresh air. Reading history can get a little stale at times because it boils down to spewing facts. What Shaara has done is brought the characters of history to life (with some creative license of course). You begin to see their personality rather than just the orders they gave. His treatment of Longstreet and Chamberlain is brilliant with a strong showing from Lee, Pickett, Hancock and others. I was a little disappointed with Gods and Generals, but luckily Killer Angels had a wonderful reputation so I decided to read it. I'm so glad I did. Highly recommended for general readers and for students of the ACW. Especially for the latter. Of course you have to detach yourself from all the facts because Shaara does twist them a little bit, but he paints the picture on a personal level (rather than troop movements, tactical positioning, etc.) for what it must have been like during those 3 days in Gettysburg.
Rating:
Summary: My only regret...
Review: My only regrest is that I hadn't read this novel before seeing the movie "Gettysburg" several times. The characters in the novel are so compelling and profound, much more so than in the film. As soon as I could disassociate Martin Sheen (whose performance in the film,quite frankly, was stilted and awkward) with the character Lee in the novel, I learned so much more about the Southern general and I began to appreciate Shaara's literary accomplishment. Being a fan of Civil War novels, I was very satisfied with this book. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Retelling of the Battle of Gettysburg
Review: A brilliant retelling the last major engagement and one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War, this historical novel details the three-day battle of Gettysburg, as told from the viewpoints of the commanders (such as Lee and Longstreet of the Confederate Army along with Chamberlain and Buford of the Union Army). Unlike other Civil War novels, such as The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, The Killer Angels focuses more on the strategies of battle and the the generals who make those crucial decisions. The plot is somewhat less important because reader's who have studied the Civil War (in Middle School perhaps) are aware of how the battles occur as well as their results (victors, casualties, etc.). Rather, what's notable is how Michael Shaara managed to portray the characters...their personalities (shown through vivid dialoque between officers as well as deep comtemplation within each commander's mind), their beliefs, and the thinking that was involved behind their military decisions. Every commander is shown with his own virtues as well as his flaws, which only adds to the depth of each man's personalties. The research clearly apparent in this novel is superb. Michael Shaara shows a keen sense of knowledge as to the war's background and (important) details, and he does not appear to favor either side. Rather, he illustrates, very clearly, both "causes" to show why each commander and every soldier continued to fight in this long war that forced brother against brother. The maps, placed with their corresponding pages, are very helpful in illustrating the military strategies involved. Also, the film Gettysburg, which is based on this novel, was amazing and incredibly well done in adapting the novel to film format. A remarkable novel. ~Elena Archer.
Rating:
Summary: A Killer Book
Review: The Killer Angels by Micheal Shaara covers the most important days of the Civil War, the 4 days at Gettysburg. Shaara shows besides the war tactics and maneuvuers on the battle field there was something much more important presented off of it. Friendship, love, companionship, these were all elements of life that kept men sane and althought these were intangible things, they were casualties of war as well. Overall I thought the book was well written and gave you an aspect of the war no one has shown before.
Rating:
Summary: A great book, and it's about more than just a battle
Review: I just finished reading Killer Angels for about the third or fourth time. It's one of those books that you can reread every couple of years and still enjoy, time after time. In my view it is, word for word, one of the greatest historical novels out there. Shaara tells a fabulous story that draws the reader in, and yet he does it in relatively FEW words, which is truly a great accomplishment And it's about more than just the battle of Gettysburg. Sharra creates great characters by fleshing out the key players as human beings, complete with flaws, hopes, and fears. There are also lessons for personal and professional life, too. I especially enjoyed Longstreet's "rant" to Fremantle (an English military officer observing the Confederate Army) on Lee's approach to "military strategy". (This excerpt can be found on pp. 250-251 of the paperback version.) A real world example of the need to keep things simple. This is a book that I would unequivocally recommend to anyone and everyone.
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