Andy Mcnab
Forum
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>>By Lynn (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 15:10)
Very funny Lynn!
No I don't have stock in Amazon a-i-b, but come to think of it........
>>By camban (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 15:14)
Or would that be Mmmwwoooahahahahahahahahaha....?
>>By am-i-binned (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 15:16)
Alright, alright! Just supposing AM does decide to slot NS (altho he better not or there'll be blood upon knuckles and souls gone astray!), but IF he does, wouldn't that make a transition to third person ooooh-so-very convenient? After all, a few posters here have been ooooh-so-very vocal about how limited AM's writing is because of his exclusive use of first person. (Maybe AM has been listening to them? God forbid!) For the most part, tho, I discount that particular criticism as being more sour grapes than pearls of wisdom. Wisdom is knowing your strengths and optimizing them to the max. And, let's get real, how many third-party authors have 179 pages here?
>>By am-i-binned (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 15:49)
Reading the above from aib, I realised that it is the first person narrative that I prefer above all. I think that is why Matt Browning is not as compelling as Nick Stone. It is also why I like the biog format most of all, better than any pure fiction.
Someone was advocating the Duncan Forrester books here a while back. I have just started his first one, his biog. I laughed for ages about the sleeping recruit being left on the parade ground, and the punishment, running around the perimeter carrying their mattresses, priceless!
>>By camban (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 16:22)
I don't think it would be too hard to kill off Nick using first person format. Just have him say a few profound thoughts before he announces his intention to do himself in and leave it at that. Turn the page and the reader finds an Epilogue consisting of an obituary notice or a brief newpaper write-up giving the "official" account of the events that transpired. Big sigh. It's over.
Or is it?
>>By Majorette (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 16:27)
Yes Maj, but he would still have had to have the experiences in order to write about them, so he couldn't write the book because he was dead. This really is a taxing intellectual matter.
>>By camban (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 17:26)
F-TROOP !!
This IS really a sad day.
Not only has ortie left us (well ok he'll be back end of august) but now
even Readit and Devonwren/buddy have left the stage too !?
They will be missed.
Let's all sing "KUMBAJA" .
I'll be in the back shaking my rattles just to keep the rythme going.
ps : I'll be a goner too soon, here is a clue for where I'm off too :
Where do you get to see the big 5 ?
ps: camban, there's a DF-boardie too.
>>By borisette (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 17:33)
>>he would still have had to have the experiences in order to write about them, so he couldn't write the book because he was dead.
Oh boy, I know I'm opening up a couple cans of worms here, but here goes nothin':
Can 'O Worms #1: Nick Stone didn't write the book, Andy McNab did.
Can 'O Worms #2: Nick Stone doesn't really exist; he is a figment of McNab's imagination.
Therefore, I see no conflict in reading about the thoughts of a FICTIONAL character's life right up until the moment he dies. Remember, the story is seperate from the substrate (the book). The book is just the medium that carries the story. Just like you can watch a movie where a character whose thoughts we are privy to dies, so can we read a book of the same events.
>>By Majorette (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 18:58)
Well.... I like DW's idea for Nick best so far. That one has promise and I like Nick coming to grips with his dark issues.... and NAILING George with ball-peen hammer!!!! YES!!!
Anyway... sorry to see Ortie gone for awhile! *pouts until August* Sorry to see readit and DW go too... sounded kinda permanent in readit's case... didn't know DW was on her way out the door though! :-(
Readit will be back though! He can't help himself... he loves us! ;-) And well he should! VBG, VBW!!
So... how the heck is everybody? Having good summer holidays so far, I hope!
>>By Dare (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 21:00)
What ??? Nick Stone is not real?? Fictional ???? * throws herself to the ground and cries, WHY?? * Next thing will be that Andy McNab is not real either .... ( this is an open door, feel free to step in)
Ok, like I have said before, all I care about is Nick Stone and how he will come up after this adventure. And from what I understand is that the Grim Reeper is not missing anybody.........
>>By Ninjawoman (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 22:14)
hehe, Nick is not real, it's a shocker I agree
>>By Lynn (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:26)
Looks like I'll be able to set up comms before august, so ya'll won't have to pout that long.... ;-)
Cya laters!
>>By ortlieb (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:29)
An idea for his tomb stone:
"Gone Underground For Good"
>>By Lynn (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:33)
"Gone Underground For Good.. or have I ?"
>>By Ninjawoman (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:35)
Ortie !!!!!!!!! Above post was not meant for you of course :o)
>>By Lynn (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:35)
WOOOHHOOOO!!! Ortie's not so incommunicado! YEAH!
Hey Ortie, good to see you.... *tries to act nonchalant and cool* ;-)
>>By Dare (Monday, 7 Jun 2004 23:45)
On 14 May a great mate and climbing buddy I knew from work was shot in Baghdad. I came back to the UK for the funeral and I've caught up with old buddys and picked up some more work. Yeah and I've been introduced to this site. First timeround it seemed like a pick-up joint with the impressionable behaving as expected. Pleased to see the books are back in business lately. I've read some of the fiction and it's not that taxing is it, more suited to your 2 week beach package in the Med. At least the "fact" gives you a bit of a laugh if the write-by-numbers manual keeps getting passed around. Latest "open" policy news you hope means more jumping on the bandwagon. But its the heroes who die aint it? The rest are survivors? Or is it cowards? Just plain screwed up? Latter suits me it's a good job I don't need to write.
>>By J.D. (Tuesday, 8 Jun 2004 13:04)
>>But its the heroes who die aint it? The rest are survivors? Or is it cowards?
Interesting point, J.D. I agree with everything you said except for the bit about heroes dying. Not all heroes die. I've known a few who are still alive and kicking. And thank f*ck for that. Nothing is more awe-inspiring than hearing the stories straight from the mouth of someone who was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice and lived to tell about it. Survivors? Hells yeah. Cowards? Not even remotely. I'm the coward. There's no way I could do the stuff they do. The best I can do is just listen and say thanks.
>>By Majorette (Tuesday, 8 Jun 2004 21:13)
Oh guys!! I've missed the leaving do then? The leaving speeches I'd written weren't that long...or that embarassing!! Oh well...till next time, eh?
**********
J.D...
>>a great mate and climbing buddy
Are you referring to Brian Tilley?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1115132,00.html
That's why so many long lost mates have reappeared in the last week or so. Very poignant coz only a few days before he wrote a forum message about Damian Cooks death...local exponent of DWS.
I've put a piece that Damian wrote on my profile page.
J.D. I'm sorry you've lost a friend.
**********
Now onto Nick Stone endings (or not?)...
Epilogue (prologue?)
His eyes briefly caught Carries across the open grave. A flicker of emotion stirred within him as his mind struggled to recall the suggestion of what might have been. The numbness engulfed him once more. It was futile. All the women he had cared for were beyond his reach now. Carrie would be repulsed if she only knew the part that (what was his name now, even that came with difficulty these days...) Nick Stone played in the murder of her father.
It seemed so easy to pick up the impressionable teenager online, progressing to furtive meetings in gay bars and the development of his coke habit, culminating in a frenzied attack made to look like a drug-fuelled lovers tiff. An open and shut case...George with is neck sliced open and the kid with the top of his head missing...
Nick walked away as the drizzle started to fall. He had no ties now. No costly obligations for therapy and expensive schools. He'd sold everything that tied him to the past and he knew where he was headed.
6 months later...
Hidden amongst the densely forested slopes, a small shelter of wood and corrugated plastic sheeting. He was at one with nature now. It was his food and water and his home. Kids from the sixth form college knew he was there...a casual eighth here and there at way over the odds had nurtured his embryonic habit when he first arrived, to reach a point where he was only vaguely aware of his survival each day. Lost in a dark place, the edges of existence slowly caving in with every passing hour. After the coldest February night on record, frost had penetrated even amongst the trees. His video was playing slowly now. Jumping in places. Vision pixellated. The screen fading to that last bright spot in the centre...
>>By bikergirl (Wednesday, 9 Jun 2004 11:50)
wow BG - I'd buy your book ;o)
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 9 Jun 2004 11:55)
Good work Bg... very dark. Sad and real...
>>By Dare (Wednesday, 9 Jun 2004 15:49)
I was told by a guy who served with AM in Gibraltar, that his real name is in fact Steve Richardson.............this ties in with Mike Asher's comment that the Iraqi that they kidnapped in the taxi knew that "The leader's name was Stephen".
Any thoughts / comments ?
>>By Yanito (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 00:54)
Well... it's a nice name! Not sure what else to say other than it does tie in with the Iraqi's statement. ;-) Andy McNab makes for a good catchy pseudonym, though.
>>By Dare (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 03:09)
Follow up on Bikergirl
"We better get him in a the van." A dark male voice is talking above the frozen body of Nick, "How the mighty has fallen."
Nick Stone is aware of more people around him as he slowly opens one eye. It takes a minute for the blurry vision to settle.
"Hello Mister Stone, it is alright, you are among friendlies." The voice is soft and next to him. He looks around and finds two very dark eyes staring at him. 'Female eyes' is hte last thing he thinks of as the sedetive is making it's way through his arm vein.
>>By Ninjawoman (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 10:20)
Ohman, Bikergirl and Ninjawoman!
Between the two of you, you have my imagination rippin-n-runnin all over the place now! Hmmm....
Welcome, J.D. ...
Very sorry for the loss of your friend, a hero by your definition and mine.
Also very intrigued by your comment: "...and I've been introduced to this site" -- may I ask in what way, by whom, for what purpose or interest? Oh, and I'll apologize in advance. Sometimes my curiosity questions are misconstrued as interrogation. You needn't answer if that's your impression.
Welcome, Yanito...
" Any thoughts / comments ?"
Thoughts: Yep, lots. Comments: Interesting, sorta. First off, tho, doesn't the OSA specifically prohibit revealing the identities of former and serving Special Forces? So it seems likely that Asher's "Stephen" is a pseudonym substituted for AM's real name -- a case of: "He told me AM's name was XYZ and I know AM's real name is XYZ, so I know this cab driver is telling me the truth." -- and Asher then picking a "safe" name to substitute for XYZ.
With the same disclaimer as I made to J.D. above, may I ask SOP questions about what you've read, your favourites, and how you found this board?
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 17:22)
Ah, the wonderful part "McNab had tried to get to Syria by hijacking a taxi. He describes fighting his way through a checkpoint. But Asher, who says he interviewed the policemen who stopped the car, gave a very different account. 'The policemen later knew McNab's real name, not his pseudonym"
As Devonwren repeatedly loved to remind us off: SAS/SBS men lie through their teeth - they're trained to sustain bloody torture and yet reveal nothing. AM was stopped by Iraqi police and gives them his real name... of course. Now it would be smart if he did, thinking that WE would think his real name was the last one he'd use. But then... how pointless to speculate....we're not gonna find out are we.
At least.. not us, not here.
Now - about lying through their teeth - I can understand this if it's a matter of life saviour, work related. But what if you retire? Can you stop lying? To protect yourself.. why not. But where does it end? Is it in your system? CAN you stop, can you control it?
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 18:06)
If he's Stephen... ok. If he's Andrew... ok. As long as he keeps writing books!
And BG... think really hard about turning that talent into a writing career! YOWZA!
Ninjawoman... And you are a devious deceitful thing, aren't you? I can't take much of this 'Is he or isn't he?' stuff!!
AND THIS ISNT EVEN THE REAL THING!!!! ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!
All of you are evil, bad, wicked! *puts fingers in ears and tries to drown out the thought of Nick's sad PSEUDO- demise*
PS... really really great stuff you guys... You made me cry.
>>By Dare (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 18:28)
So this is where anti mcnabbers get slotted?
Hi. I came by way of the Special Forces Books Yahoo Group.
Every poor Stephen Richardson in the UK must be wondering why he's so popular all of a sudden. What astonishes me is that any sane person would believe Asher had let mcnab's name out of sack when he knew full well he'd end up in court for breaching the Official Secrets Act. Get real folks. McNab would have slotted the bugger. Asher's known as eccentric and good luck to him if he gets a kick out of living with Bedouins. Intelligence services need native contacts on the ground before kicking off a war, and Asher had useful contacts in the Bedouin camps. Agents who can pass off as one of the enemy don't stand out like a cherry on top a ham sandwich. It pissed me off something cruel yesterday after reading a lot of the rubbish posted on this board. I went away to cool off and to think how best to resolve the bad feelings about Asher. Where should I start was the first consideration and where better than at the beginning. Of men selected for the regular forces quite a lot filter through from TA units and carve out successful careers in the regular army. Recruitments who apply for selection to regular SAS units and get RTU notices are sometimes given them for reasons we have no knowledge of at the time of issue. RTU notices hide a myriad of systematic transitional channelling of recruits to departments which can raise eyebrows in ministerial quarters. As a recruitment to grey areas of counter intelligence you can find yourself walking a very lonely path through ridicule by colleagues about RTU, which might last for several weeks until transfer papers spirit you away. Reasons for a transfer are myriad too, and as you progress through transition procedures you are assessed and could be destined for a civilian career as your cover. That is as far as I am willing to proceeed on this. I hope you will all think in future before judging those of us whom you know little or nothing about.
>>By poolesprocket (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 20:57)
(continuing?)
Sitting in the back of the privately-owned ambulance, she took a quick glance around at the monitors, at the steady drip of fluid entering the IV line, and then back down at the almost lifeless body strapped to the gurney. Had she timed her decision correctly, assessing his deterioration and the onset of advanced hypothermia? Had she waited long enough? They had been very specific as to the condition they wanted him in. Had he slipped far enough? Comatose. Yes, she'd probably timed it right.
He had thought she was his contact, his supplier, his last and only real link with the outside world. But in reality, he had been her assignment. And she'd done a good job. Over the past three months, they'd been providing the packets of what appeared to be a cocaine substance, but she knew there was something else in the mix. She had noted the increasing frequency of his nightmares, watched him thrashing about in his make-shift shelter, listened to him for countless hours, mostly moaning or murmuring, but occasionally screaming out. Always, though, he repeated the same words, the same curses, the same names, and his body contorted with the same movements -- he kept reliving what must have been a brutally violent incident. Their substituted powder had broken his mind and his body; what he'd buried deep was now theirs for the taking. "As good as dead," that's what they wanted. Her instructions had been that simple. But why? What could he do for them if he was dead?
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 10 Jun 2004 23:02)
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