The Silent Men

Rating:
Summary: Tense, exciting, and impossible to put down!
Review: "The Silent Men" is an excellent novel from first-time writer Richard Dickinson. He has crafted a story that is as far from a cookie-cutter war novel as you could hope for. His characters are never stereotypes; these are real people with real flaws, and the decisions his "hero", Jackson Monroe, makes in this book will likely come back to haunt him in future novels. Dickinson's descriptions of Vietnam are detailed and moody -- he describes the country such that you appreciate the beauty and fear for each step at the same time. The novel presents the horrors of war with unusual brutality, describing each death with an almost forensic detachment. The level of graphic violence is sometimes disturbing, but anything less honest would not have been in keeping with the realistic and personal tone of this book. And the tension is relentless. This is one of the most exciting books I've read in years (I finished the last half of the book in a single sitting -- I just couldn't put it down). I highly recommend this book, especially to those who say they don't like "war stories". "The Silent Men" is a cut above the typical war novel, and Dickinson has a very promising career ahead.

Rating:
Summary: The Men With Him
Review: Allegedly the first of a series of books about Monroe, a sniper, this is really about the people around him. And it is fascinating in detail and characterization. It will be interesting to see where the author goes from here.

Rating:
Summary: Very Realistic - Amazing Sniper Scenes - Great First Novel
Review: I enjoy reading books set during the Vietnam War, so when I saw that a novel by a new author was released on the subject, I eagerly snatched it up. I'm glad I did. Richard Dickinson has written a novel that portreys its characters and settings so realistically that it is difficult to come up with a comparison. This book is like Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson crossed with Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter. It's that good. Do yourself a favor and read it - you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, waiting for the next book
Review: I just happened to pick up this book at a gas station in the middle of nowhere when I was on a long road trip, & I'm glad I did, because The Silent Men is excellent. Richard H. Dickinson's vividly detailed descriptions of the snipers' precision and the filthy chaos of war and his interesting cast of characters held my interest from beginning to end.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, waiting for the next book
Review: I just happened to pick up this book at a gas station in the middle of nowhere when I was on a long road trip, & I'm glad I did, because The Silent Men is excellent. Richard H. Dickinson's vividly detailed descriptions of the snipers' precision and the filthy chaos of war and his interesting cast of characters held my interest from beginning to end.

Rating:
Summary: BEST YET ABOUT VIET WAR
Review: If you are looking for a thrill-a-minute roller coast ride action book, "The Silent Men" is it. Seldom, however, have I read an action book that is so well written. It is quality literature with highly developed characters and a breathtaking sense of place. Unlike most writers, Richard Dickinson does not introduce a character and immediately expend a paragraph on physical description. The characters describe themselves in the way they clean their gear, shoot their targets, and run for their lives. There never is a wasted word about "sinewy arms" or "steel gray eyes," but by the end of the story, you know the main characters in the book as if they are your brothers. The author is a master at incorporating the soldier's banter into the action, and captures perfectly the military mindset. The Mekong Delta is described as if it were a living character as well. You learn about the terrain in the way it affects every action in the story. There is honesty in the writing that makes the story and characters credible. This book starts with action, and by chapter four, just takes off and you cannot put it down. In "The Silent Men," Richard Dickinson, however, transcends the ordinary action genre. Like most great books, this is one where I did not want it to end. "The Silent Men" made my heart race with its story line, and with strong character development, it made my heart break. The book jacket indicated this is the first in a series by Richard Dickinson with Monroe as his central character. Bring on the rest of the series. I can't wait.

Rating:
Summary: a great read
Review: The crisp descriptions and pacing move you through a realistic and compelling view of the war from the rarely depicted perspective of a sniper while integrating the acts of a single soldier into a wider political intrigue.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This book is much better than what I expected. It looked like genre fiction from the cover but is really much more. If you are at all interested in Vietnam War fiction this book is a must-read.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I was hoping for.
Review: Though book started out well with a couple of little twists here and there, but about mid way through, it seemed like the author was sort of, I don't know, looking for ways to prolong the story to fill pages. The book seemed sluggish toward the end, and didn't seem to go anywhere. The characters, who didn't seem to respect even themselves, held little respect from me.