Call to Arms

Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Griffin!
Review: Call to Arms is a finely crafted novel, a very compelling tale which weaves a stunning plot much in the style of recent war novels like "The Triumph and the Glory" or suspense tales like "Black Notice", or even books of a more techno-thriller bent like "The Devil's Teardrop." Four stars and a high five.

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: This Book was Great
Review: I'm a thirteen year old that like to read and this is one of the best sequals that I have ever read. Usually the first book is really good but the second one stinks. Not in this case I finished this book last week and started the third book which seems to be every bit as promising as this one. I highly suggest that you read this book even if you aren't that familiar with this era; after this book you will be.

Rating:
Summary: This Book was Great
Review: I'm a thirteen year old that like to read and this is one of the best sequals that I have ever read. Usually the first book is really good but the second one stinks. Not in this case I finished this book last week and started the third book which seems to be every bit as promising as this one. I highly suggest that you read this book even if you aren't that familiar with this era; after this book you will be.

Rating:
Summary: Military Adventure at it's best!!
Review: This is the first volume of eight in "The Corps" series by W.E.B.Griffin , and is probably one of the best volumes. It is without doubt a wonderful intro to the writings of Mr. Griffin.

The setting of the novel is Shanghai, China in early 1941 , before the onset of U.S. involvement in the hostilities known as World War II. We are first introduced to corporal Kenneth McCoy , a bright 21 year old Marine who has just "shipped over" for a second enlistment in the Marine Corps. After McCoy defends himself from the assault by a group of Italian Marines , by skillful use of a knife , he becomes known as "Killer" McCoy. Captain Edward Banning enters the series as the intelligence officer of th 4th Marines assigned to help McCoy as his defense officer at a Court Martial for killing the Italians. After "Killer" McCoy is cleared , Banning enlists Ken as an assistant in collecting intelligence on the Japanese army that is occupying China. Sergeant Ernest Zimmerman is a motor pool NCO who operates convoys to various Marine installations in the vicinity of Shanhai ; McCoy is subsequently assigned to the convoys to collect information for Banning , using his lowly status for cover. The Japanese provoke another incident wherin McCoy kills a number of "Chinese baandits" with Zimmerman , which results in his transfer back the the U.S.

Unbeknownst to McCoy , he was selected by Captain Sessions , who met Ken on the convoys ,to be run through an officers's course at Quantico. While at Quantico, Ken meets Malcom "Pick" Pickering who continues to play a major role in later novels, as well as his romantic interest in the person of Earnestine "Ernie" Sage.

As one may have concluded at this point , the volume is crucial to anyone contemplating reading any of the later episode in the series , since almost all the major characters are introduced in "Call to Arms".

I have read this book 3 or 4 times over a ten year period and never tire of it. Well written with excellent character development. Briskly paced with good continuity. All in all--one of my favorite books. Five stars plus!

Rating:
Summary: This is good
Review: This was an awsome book. I enjoyed it very much, it is a good story as well as giving some history too.