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Rating: 
Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: I picked up these books hoping to gain some insight into the actions of the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. What I found instead was a sort of soap opera that rambles on for hundreds of pages without getting around to much actual fighting. For example, The Marines don't even get to Guadalcanal (their first major offensive) until the end of book III, some 1200 pages into the story. Those 1200 intervening pages are mostly conversations (ad nauseam) between stateside Marine Corps officers as they sit around headquarters, or go out on the town chasing skirts.
The small portion of the books that is devoted to actual battles is done in such a cursory fashion that you're left with the impression that the author either finds this aspect of the Marines' mission distasteful, or doesn't understand it well enough to write about it. Mr. Griffin could have deleted about 80% of his material, and would have ended up with better books, albeit still not good ones.If you're the sort of person who likes to watch daytime soap operas, then you may enjoy these books. If, on the other hand, you're interested in military history, the banality of these books will leave you screaming in frustration.
Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: I picked up these books hoping to gain some insight into the actions of the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. What I found instead was a sort of soap opera that rambles on for hundreds of pages without getting around to much actual fighting. For example, The Marines don't even get to Guadalcanal (their first major offensive) until the end of book III, some 1200 pages into the story. Those 1200 intervening pages are mostly conversations (ad nauseam) between stateside Marine Corps officers as they sit around headquarters, or go out on the town chasing skirts.
The small portion of the books that is devoted to actual battles is done in such a cursory fashion that you're left with the impression that the author either finds this aspect of the Marines' mission distasteful, or doesn't understand it well enough to write about it. Mr. Griffin could have deleted about 80% of his material, and would have ended up with better books, albeit still not good ones. If you're the sort of person who likes to watch daytime soap operas, then you may enjoy these books. If, on the other hand, you're interested in military history, the banality of these books will leave you screaming in frustration.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great book
Review: If you love this series....buy this book !! You have to love the way these characters come alive and the events that were once so one dimensional with black and white newsreels...become living events. A must read for any military history buff.
Rating: 
Summary: Griffin hasn't let me down yet...
Review: In *Battleground*, book four of The Corps series, W.E.B. Griffin puts our favorite characters to the ultimate test when the United States military launches an attack on Guadalcanal in 1942. *Battleground* is another example of Griffin's amazing ability to create sympathetic, admirable characters in unusual situations. Captain Charles Galloway has been assigned to lead the VMF-229 squadron with only one other experienced fighter pilot, Lieutenant Dunn. While they are putting together a squadron of eighteen fighter pilots, Lieutenant Joe Howard and Sergeant Steve Koffler are trying to stay alive on a little Coastwatcher island while keeping an eye on Japanese movements. And Captain Fleming Pickering decides that his work as an intelligence officer can be best performed in the line of fire on Guadalcanal. Readers are treated to a short reunion with Lieutenant Kenneth J McCoy, but it's not nearly long enough in this reader's opinion. *Battleground* was one of the most exciting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat adventures in The Corps series to date. I really can't wait for my copy of book five, *Line of Fire*, to arrive!
Rating:
Summary: Vintage WEB Griffin!
Review: In this volume of the Corps saga , we see several of the characters introduced in "Counterattack" elevated to new prominence. Newly promoted Captain Charley Galloway becomes the commanding officer of VMF 229 , and along with Bily Dunn sets about preparing the young squadron to be thrown into the cauldron of Guadalcanal. Flem Pickering continues to grow in importance to the ongoing tale of incredible heroisim exhibited by the young Marines thrown into bloody conflict. "Battleground" details some of the terrible privations experienced by the First Marine division on the 'Canal and the coastwatchers on Buka island. Steve Koffler and Joe Howard on Buka illustrate the importance of the little known coastwatcher organisation to the success of the Marine aviation assets in the Solomons. Koffler continues to grow in importance to the task of Captain/General Pickering in the Southwest Pacific Ocean Area (SWPOA). Even though Koffler and Howard are ill with parasites and other tropical diseases they continue to function "as Marines".Koffler continues to emerge as one of the more "colorful" characters in the story--look for him in future episodes! Of the many volumes in "The Corps" saga , "Battleground" stands out as one of the more lively and entertaining volumes. A great read--I could hardly put it down. Have now read it 4 times!
A true 5 star effort.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage WEB Griffin!
Review: In this volume of the Corps saga , we see several of the characters introduced in "Counterattack" elevated to new prominence. Newly promoted Captain Charley Galloway becomes the commanding officer of VMF 229 , and along with Bily Dunn sets about preparing the young squadron to be thrown into the cauldron of Guadalcanal. Flem Pickering continues to grow in importance to the ongoing tale of incredible heroisim exhibited by the young Marines thrown into bloody conflict. "Battleground" details some of the terrible privations experienced by the First Marine division on the 'Canal and the coastwatchers on Buka island. Steve Koffler and Joe Howard on Buka illustrate the importance of the little known coastwatcher organisation to the success of the Marine aviation assets in the Solomons. Koffler continues to grow in importance to the task of Captain/General Pickering in the Southwest Pacific Ocean Area (SWPOA). Even though Koffler and Howard are ill with parasites and other tropical diseases they continue to function "as Marines".Koffler continues to emerge as one of the more "colorful" characters in the story--look for him in future episodes! Of the many volumes in "The Corps" saga , "Battleground" stands out as one of the more lively and entertaining volumes. A great read--I could hardly put it down. Have now read it 4 times!
A true 5 star effort.
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