Andy Mcnab
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I really enjoy reading Chris Ryan’s books, the last two I thought were exceptional. Apart from too much sex, which I think has been remarked upon on here before, I enjoy Ryan as much as Mcnab.
>>By Psicosis (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 11:23)
I think CR trys to make his books more 'literary' if everyone knows what I mean by that... whereas AM's fiction is largely character-based, and the success of the stories depend on the reader connecting with Nick Stone, the success of CR's fiction depends on the reader getting into the plot more than liking the main character. His plots are often complicated, and this is enabled due to him adopting the omniscient or third person narrative as Ortlieb mentioned earlier.
However I definitely prefer the Nick Stone books, as AM's persistent use of the first person with the same character allows the reader to feel as if they are actually friends with Stone, and the fact that the whole story is unwravelled through one man's eyes only means that there is less the reader knows about what is going on elsewhere in the plot - which means they get the same surprise as Stone does as things turn out.
That's my first proper post for ages!
Catch ya later
>>By Ignaty (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 13:43)
FIRST proper?? Meaning there will be more? say YES !!
Welcome back Ignaty! And Psicosis too!! Nice to see you both back.
>>By Lynn (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 14:53)
Lol thanks Lynne, ok I'll say YES !!
>>By Ignaty (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 15:56)
This is a general question to the general public:
I'm in possession of a copied transcript from a WW2 German Intelligence Interrogator's "memoirs." It's basically his tale of how he always preferred to lure information out of his POW-subjects rather than the brutal "beat it out of him" method.
It's quite clever and interesting, and it has been used for educational purposes with certain Intelligence units in the Norwegian Army.
It's written in very old style Norwegian, so I'm about to translate it into English.
Any suggestions as to how to distribute this in the most efficient way?
>>By ortlieb (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 19:38)
Errr... would the "gimme, gimme" method work, O? ;o)
>>By am-i-binned (Monday, 26 Jul 2004 20:25)
So greedy AIB!! (if gimme gimme means you get 2, there's one for me!!)
Is someone organising an F Troop gathering? Here's a nice suggestion for an excursion :
The Royal Green Jackets Museum houses an outstanding collection of uniforms, weapons, silver, paintings and medals
Among the items on display is the Prisoner of War uniform worn by Sergeant 'Andy McNab' after his capture by the Iraqis in 1991.
The Royal Green Jackets Museum is situated close to the City Centre and the heart of historic Winchester.
(Peninsula Barracks - Romsey Road)
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 00:10)
Ortlieb,
Re: Peter Ratcliffe: check out my post on this matter on page 177.
Interesting stuff the whole saga involving PR, but who to believe? Everyone can make a mistake and a decision had to be made about the mission, whether vehicles or not, if AM had to make that decision and it was against others better judgemnet, it does strike me as strange that someone with a position of PR would slate AM for not taking vehicles. Almost everyone who was there and has written books to the account has commented on the lack of intelligence available to them about the areas they were to work in, obviously a facter in which AM made his decision. Would PR been so eager to jump on AM back if the mission was a sucess and all returned home?
I would also recommend Ken Connor's book ' Ghost Force', bloody good book as well as Lofty Large's book ' Against all Odds' which gives an insight to early Regimental goings on.
>>By B@dger (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 07:33)
Lynn,
thx for the page numbers :o)
>>By B@dger (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 07:35)
The discussion about Johnny 'two combs' earlier, and about Ratcliffe above reminded me about a video I acquired a while ago. It is a four tape set published in '96, the title is: SAS: The Soldiers Story. The four tapes are 1. Selection and Training 2. The Falklands 3. The Iranian Embassy 4. The Gulf war and The Battle of Mirbat. The content is fairly routine and predictable with a commentary by Johnny Two Combs, except for the GW1 tape, this is narrated by 'Soldier I' who I am certain is Yorky Crossland. It recreates the attack on the Communications Station described by Ratcliffe, Yorky, and Cameron Spence in their books. Considering the obviously low budget nature of the production, this part is quite impressive and gives a true flavour of the event. Don't know if it still available, meant to check.
Also been reading the autobiography of Stella Rimington, former head of MI5 (now reading her first novel, which is excellent so far) she never refers to the SAS by name for some reason but it is obvious to the reader where they fit in. She mentions being in a building practicing the hostage rescue situation where she is the hostage and feeling her hair being blown about by passing bullets! Then wonders if 'these people' really know what they are doing, a bit like the Duke of Edinburgh, who nearly lost his ear thanks to Spud Ely!
>>By camban (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 12:13)
Just checked on the availability of that tape set. Seems to be out of production, but plenty of used ones around.
>>By camban (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 12:47)
camban:
>Then wonders if 'these people' really know what they are doing, a bit like the Duke of Edinburgh, who nearly lost his ear thanks to Spud Ely!
*** Perhaps that's one of the thoughts that crossed Princess Diana's mind when she attended a Killing House demo? One SAS-trooper frantically started to pat the hair on the back of her head, as it had caught fire from one of the flashbangs (or something like that).
>>By ortlieb (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 12:48)
Ortlieb old chum,
I don't believe I actually called anyone a w*nker, for their preferences with 1st or 3rd person narratives, And I respect your preferences and opinion on 'the watchman', however I think I just prefer 1st person.
I used to read Sven Hassel when I was a kid and after I joined the Army, great warry gory stuff, then after the falklands war, when I was a sprog I would hear tales from falklands vets, they may have been embelished somewhat, but they sure beat Sven Hassel because they sounded real, the fear and pain and humour was right in front of me telling me what it was like. I know Sven Hassel was supposed to have been a whermacht tankman, but his books just werent plausable anymore.
After that when it came to military books I just didn't read non-fiction anymore, they just weren't true, if you see what I mean.
Had AM written fictional books about SAS soldiers doing daring stuff, I doubt very much whether I would like them, yeah I would have read the first one or two, as I did with CR (I bought them at Heathrow waiting for a delayed flight, I doubt if I would have bought them otherwise), but now CR just doesn't interest me anymore.
For me it has to be non-fiction or a tale being told as though the author was down the pub having a pint with you telling you whats just happened to him.
I do like non-fiction, but not military, and the plot has to be bloody good or I just put the book down.
A quick one re: Micheal Asher's 'the real Bravo two zero', he mentions that anyone worth their salt would glean all they need to know about desert warfare from Lawrence of Arabia's 'The seven pillars of wisdom', well has anyone read it, I started it but it was just so boring that I didn't get past the third chapter.
>>By geo (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 16:53)
Maybe aib or someone else posted this allready.
But then hey maybe the newcomers don't know it yet :
Storyline Deep Black author Andy Mcnab
Nick Stone's future has never looked as bleak. The only person he's ever loved is dead. The only people who might give him a reason not to join her have turned their backs. Until a chance encounter with a man he saved ten years ago appears to throw him a lifeline . . . But on the bullet- and bomb -scarred streets of Baghdad, second chances are in short supply.
A simple quest becomes a journey to the heart of a chilling conspiracy; BABES together with Borisette engage Matt Browning to abduct Andy Mcnab , too late, Nick Stone realizes that he is being used as bait - to lure into the open a man he believes can offer some salvation, but whom the darker forces of the West will stop at nothing to destroy . . . From its violent and shocking opening in the Muslim enclaves of Bosnia, through vivid, lightning-paced action in war-torn Iraq, this unforgettable story proves Borisette yet again to be the master of Nick Stone's salvation.
>>By borisette (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 18:24)
I would like to add the last line of synopsis:
"this unforgettable story proves Andy McNab yet again to be the master of the modern thriller, a writer at the very top of his game"
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 20:06)
Oh and for (present) cover go to :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/
search-handle-form/202-2497317-8422268
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 20:09)
tut.....tut.....tut.....no sense of humour !
>>By borisette (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 20:43)
hehehe, me.. no I'm not known for my sense of humour ;o)
But seriously.. it's such a lovely sentence.."a writer at the very top of his game" .. can't withhold this board from such beauty !!
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 27 Jul 2004 22:22)
Any other Dutchy's here... Dark Winter will be Dag van Terreur,
published this fall, no exact date yet.
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 12:13)
Right on Geo! I agree with you 100%, the been there, done it books are way the best. Having read all that I can find of the genre, the ones that tell someone else's story, or are pure fiction, are just not interesting enough. Even when the writing or the story are not that good, the tang of authenticity is obvious and enticing. Even moving on to pilots and policemen now that I have ran out of SF books!
Tonight on Channel 5 UK at 19.30, a new seven part series about the SAS, starting with David Stirling. Only snag, it is opposite Chris Ryan's programme on the BBC, which I find to be very good.
>>By camban (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 12:29)
Wow Cam, tough decision !!!! I would sympathize but errr... at least you GOT a choice ;o)
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 13:49)
cheers camban
I'm in the czech republic so i won't get to see the programmes either, have you tried 'Chickenhawk' by Robert Mason, it sort of inspired myself and quite a few colleauges to apply for pilot training with the Army Air Corps ( I didn't make the grade!) It's a classic book and one to be seen in many a barracks room
>>By geo (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 16:11)
camban:
Run out of SF-books, eh? Maybe you should try out a book that I ordered a while ago (but haven't had time to read yet). It's more "survival"-related than SF, but I think this piece of literature might be a candidate to putting CR's escape to Syria in the shadows.
"As Far as my Feet Will Carry me", by Joseph Bauer.
The story is quite old though. It's a tale of one German Wehrmacht soldier's escape from a Siberian leadmine POW-camp back to Germany - a 3000-mile escape that took him 3 years to complete....
>>By ortlieb (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 18:47)
Yikes! More recommended books?!? At this rate, Bauer's German POW-camp escapee will have made it home faster than what it'll take me to read the books on my current "to-be-read" list, let alone additional recommends.... ;o)
GRRRRR!!!! "Relax With A Book" has gone missing -- AGAIN! Just tried it now (http://www.relaxwithabook.com) and got absolute zip. Does anyone know why or maybe have a different url to the RWAB interviews with AM (Firewall and Lib Day) and CR (SAS Fitness)?
Help us, please, Obi-Cam-ban-obi -- you're our only hope!
How about if we non-UK folks chip in and get you a webcam and microphone? Would you consider being our simul-cast source?
>>By am-i-binned (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 20:31)
Those links have been on the Transworld page for a long time AIB:
www.booksattransworld.co.uk
http://www.relaxwithabook.com/vidlinks
/mcnab20021025_56.ram
(liberation day)
http://www.relaxwithabook.com/vidlinks
/mcnab_56.ram
(firewall)
but they don't seem to work. So basically the same thing but I"m not sure this is what you meant
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 21:34)
Yepper, Lynn... and that's exactly why I GRRRRRR'd....
>>By am-i-binned (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 21:49)
Thought we should be used by now to things AM related disappearing ;o)
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 22:31)
AIB...
I have a TV card in my pc, so i can record live tv onto my hard drive,... However, 5 mins of tape would take up about 10Mb, and i dont have supa-ultra-speedy fast Broadband to send them to you via e-mail...
any other ideas???
S2K
>>By Shoot-To-Kill (Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 22:46)
Ortlieb, that text you mentioned on Monday, is it too long to reproduce here? If so, those who want to read it could send their email addresses to you. Sounds interesting. Will investigate that Bauer book, also sounds interesting. And the Princess Diana hair on fire episode is mentioned in a couple of books, she was extremely hostile about it one writer says. She was apparently sitting in a Range Rover at the time, with the window open, and caught the blast of a flash-bang. Speaking of her, has anyone read Op Royal Blood yet?
Geo, had a look at Chickenhawk and ordered it! Together with another, similar book. A new, rich vein to explore! But, I'm not going to join you in the Lawrence of Arabia department, I'll take your word for it! Now half way through Once a Pilgrim, so far, so good.
AIB, it's not the cost of the equipment that's the issue, my 1950's brain is the big problem! Don't even know what STK means up there. Surely, some of the smaller cable TV companies over there transmit this stuff produced by UK stations?
Finished At Risk now, can recommend that too, a very gripping and plausible tale, complete with SAS bits and a surprise ending. Quote "Are we just going to let those psychos from Hereford go in and blow their heads off?"
>>By camban (Thursday, 29 Jul 2004 12:35)
Shake-up in Special Boat Service over claims it 'panicked and fled' in Iraq
The Special Boat Service faces substantial restructuring after criticism of its performance in Iraq, with one senior
SAS soldier refusing to work with the unit again because its members were "unprofessional".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news
/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/07/26
/nsbs26.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/07
/26/ixportal.html
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 29 Jul 2004 14:31)
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