Andy Mcnab
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I like weird.
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 15:05)
JJ-
I'm here because this is the one place where I CAN talk about this sh*t and not be labeled a freak.
I get enough intellectual stimulation at work and at home that I don't feel like I'm selling myself short by ignoring Homer and Shakespeare on Gnooks. Been there, done that. The Bard knows how I feel about him; he's not rolling over in his grave right now because I'm on the Andy McNab board instead of his.
In fact, I'm willing to bet six Barbary horses that if he were alive right now, he'd be on this board, too.
>>By Majorette (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 15:55)
Hey Jon,
Yikes your being to real
I'm am hear for the sole purpose of picking up chicks. Wow has that worked so far.
>>By Broker (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 16:05)
Hmmm.....
You do realize, Just Jon, that your question, at least in theory, could spawn yet another 236 pages, right?
Going, however, for overt oversimplification, I think a good part of the appeal is due to a "contrarian" mindset.
Contrarian:
(OneLook.com): An investor who deliberately decides to go against the prevailing wisdom of other investors
(Dictionary.com): Contrarians operate on the premise that when stocks are very popular they are overbought and when they are very unpopular they are oversold.
Why invest my energies opining away on Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, or Homer (unless you mean Simpson!), when everyone and anyone has already done so ad infinitum, and in some cases, ad nauseum? By far, I prefer pursing and promoting a unique, possibly under-appreciated product, one that isn't commonplace.
In fact, taking contrarianism that one step further, it seems to me a half-way reasonable argument could be made that AM and all the authors within that genre are in and of themselves contrarians too!
Commonplace anything? Hell, no! Fook that! ;o)
>>By am-i-binned (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 16:07)
Jon Jon Jon, you turning into a pacifist?
Violence is a part of life and no matter how gay and pc the western world tries to become it will always turn to violence, unfortunately that is the way we are, nothing but animals that evolved slightly.
Shakespears novels and plays are full of violence, so violence is related to them books, due to emotion is often expressed through violence, and the whole macho, honor scenario.
If anybody gets what i am on about well done because i have lost myself now, god i'm glad i'm not a writer.
>>By fony (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 16:12)
going back to what ever the hell i was on about in my last post, violence and military books go hand in hand so it is obvious that if you like one form of media violence other topics will be discussed in an enviroment where mcnab is the main concern.
>>By fony (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 16:25)
ooh and think of what Frank Collins said about the bible !! HAHAHA
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 16:31)
Aaah, yes, quoting Scriptu.... err... uhm... I mean, quoting AM:
From Immediate Action:
I was lying on my bed one day, scratching my arse and drinking tea, when Frank came in said, “You bored, or what?”
“Yeah, I’m doing nothing, just hanging around.”
“Do you want something to read.”
“Yeah, what you got?”
“I’ve got something with sex, violence, intrigue, you name it, it’s got it.”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll have a read of it.”
So Frank went to his room, fetched the book, and tossed it onto my bed. It was the Bible.
>>By am-i-binned (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 17:18)
Fony makes a good point RE shakespear:violence.
It`s true just because something is written in flowery language doesn`t mean that its` essence is less violent. Juliet talking graphically bout where that dagger going still makes my skin go funny. Who knows in a hundred years time when childrens books describe little timmy mainlining heroin into his eyeball whilst fellating a goat we`ll all go "you know, Mcnab didn`t have to resort to this to write great books".
Then again...maybe not and I agree with your earlier posts RE literature discussion: Mcnab as a great writer. But I love em, same as I love any other insight into the mind of a remarkable person.
Maj
<I'm here because this is the one place where I CAN talk about this sh*t and not be labeled a freak.>
Too late dude. Far far too late...x
>>By docjay (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 17:19)
LOL, docjay
<<little timmy mainlining heroin into his eyeball whilst fellating a goat >>
*ahem* Methinks the pot doth call the kettle black!
>>By Majorette (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 18:13)
Just Jon
*"Discussing his "works" like he's fucking Shakespeare"
I don't think there's such a gradation, to my mind the 'quality' of a work is what it creates in the reader's mind; fun, passion, thought... No literary work is an easy work, even books for the masses.
...There are thousands sites where you can discuss Dickens and friends, for McNab it's only here (as far as I know), so we play here!
*"There's a lot of macho posturing or dreaming among the male fans and a lot of fantasizing about that one violent guy who for some reason won't hit YOU among the women"
The fun on such a board is that you have a sample of readers, but as Lynn said you see just a tiny part of them.
Unhealthy attraction to this violent guy? Perso I enjoy his books and became curious of the writer, it's only curiosity I think. (And I dont see him as a violent man but maybe we don't have the same definition of the word)
*"Anything macho//anything remotely related to violence is considered 'on topic' here"
Well he doesn't write recipes books... Books or author related topics are just an extensive playground.
And these books are related to bloody current affairs. We don't really talk politics on this board but many posts gave me new insights into what's going on in this **** world. This is food for thought, no fascination for violence.
...Hope it's not too confused... Now Just Jon you must answer your own question: why not a Steinbeck site?
(Instead of the AM one, man, I could never thank you enough for it)
>>By alice (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 19:15)
I'm going a few pages back to the burglar posts, didnt think this was online..or already posted??? but I don't feel like checking it out further tonight. Maybe it's because it's a 'review' of the Sun article(s)
"Stop the Week: Shock exchange: Andy McNab’s guide to nabbing"
Before you begin a defence of your home you nip into the lavatory to retrieve the copy of last week’s Sun in which Andy McNab, author and former SAS sergeant, lists six handy ways to attack a burglar.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article
/0,,2092-1471785,00.html
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 19 Feb 2005 22:45)
Thanks to all for answering my questions posted earlier.
I no longer feel bad for reading pop literature. I'm gonna go attack a burglar now, later.
>>By Just Jon (Sunday, 20 Feb 2005 10:38)
Yet another commentary on the SAS/SBS losing men to private contracting. A couple of familiar names quoted........
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-525-1491349,00.html
>>By Majorette (Sunday, 20 Feb 2005 16:07)
"In McNab’s opinion, money is the key to everything"
Thought that was May Swenson ;-)
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 20 Feb 2005 16:45)
I have had the same thoughts as Jon about my motivation for enjoying such books. Even my 22 year old military son reckons I am puerile for reading this stuff. Fact is, after reading B20, which was bought for me out of the blue, I was at the same time excited by this new world and curious to to know more. I had never been particularly interested in the SAS et al but my eyes were opened. Love the style of writing too, I find throw away profanity amusing for some obscure reason, love Billy Connolly for the same vibes; don't swear myself of course! Another factor in my interest was based on some events from my past which I can tell you about in a few years, not exciting or brave events, just something that suddenly added up when I read the first books. Perhaps another factor, for me at least, as I don't usually like fiction, is that at first I could pretend it was at least partially true, having the same experience now exploring the world of Richard Marcinko (only one entry on his Gnooks site). You could really back yourself into an intellectual corner if you carry on analysing why you like anything, or anyone for that matter, maybe the feeling of enjoyment should be enough in itself?
>>By camban (Monday, 21 Feb 2005 12:31)
<<I no longer feel bad for reading pop literature.>>
If it makes you feel any better, I seem to recall that Shakespeare's works were considered "pop art" in his day, too. His stuff had enormous appeal to the masses. And yet today the cultural elitists hold up his work as the pinnacle of written expression. (And, in my opinion, it is.)
Just goes to show that popular does not always mean lower quality. Just because something appeals to our baser instincts does not make it less worthy of our attention.
Bottom line: If you find it appealing, if it strikes a chord in you, if you are a changed person after reading/listening/viewing something.... who the f*ck cares if it's not "classic" or "elite"?
Again, I go back to burgers. I'd rather have a nice, juicy burger where I get to lick my fingers afterwards than dissect a filet mignon with a silver knife and fork just because the latter is the more expensive choice.
>>By Majorette (Monday, 21 Feb 2005 15:36)
I can't slum it in the low-brow section of Borders with the same confidence as Maj and Cam, reason being I'm uneducated trailer-trash and therefore always assume I've just naturally been drawn to the "shoot-'em-up" books rather than making a concious choice. Thus, always questioning my motives.
I can't wait to see Cam's review of Marcinko, and would appreciate a comparison of Marcinko's oh-so-creative profanity versus McNab's.
>>By Just Jon (Monday, 21 Feb 2005 20:23)
Saw mention somewhere of Duncan Falconer's Newsletters from Baghdad, posted on his web site. They are very good, much better insight than the News media can convey, have a look. Maybe McNab will get the same idea I hope.
Trailer-trash Jon? There's nothing trashy about your output mate, chin up old boy!
I think we can declare Marcinko the winner of the proposed swearing competition though!!
>>By camban (Tuesday, 22 Feb 2005 12:17)
Haha JJ i completley agree mate. I (hopefully) get commissioned in a few months, every time i go to Sandhurst (same as Westpoint)i have an almighty chip on my shoulder that i`m eating my peas with the wrong knife. Took me a while to realise that class does NOT= intelligence. In fact my experience of the officer class is that it MAY be inversley proportional.
Trailer trash of the world UNITE!
>>By docjay (Tuesday, 22 Feb 2005 17:15)
Right on, docjay!
And, Cam, I'd have to agree--Marcinko's got 'em all beat in the swearing department. Score one for the U.S. Navy!
Also, can whoever reads "Boy Soldier" first give me all the juicy 411 for my website? Thanks.
>>By Just Jon (Tuesday, 22 Feb 2005 21:49)
Wow, just realized, I'd been saying how I didn't feel this board was "literary" enough and yet didn't even mention the recent death of a modern-day literary giant, Hunter S. Thompson...
So, anyone know what kind of firearm he used to kill himself?
>>By Just Jon (Tuesday, 22 Feb 2005 21:53)
Investigators recovered the weapon, a .45-caliber handgun...
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/
0,1413,36%257E53%257E2724455,00.html
>>By am-i-binned (Tuesday, 22 Feb 2005 23:00)
Ah, the venerable .45, an excellent choice. Thanks, AIB. Then again, isn't using anything other than a single-shot weapon kind of... not as artistically pleasing in that context?
On to happier things...Can anyone tell me if the phrase "wacky baccy" is a common, "up-to-date" British slang term for marijuana?
>>By Just Jon (Wednesday, 23 Feb 2005 06:42)
Oh dear god...please tell me we`re not going to discuss the death of one of the most influential writers of our parents generation (not you reg) in terms of the gun he used to off himself!?!?
Actually...I think that might actually be how he`d want to be remembered...!!!!
>>By docjay (Wednesday, 23 Feb 2005 12:17)
Switching gears somewhat, could someone explain this comment in Dark Winter please?
(Pg 176) Suzy and Nick have gone to King's Lynn, and observes:
"... and none of the cars parked on either side of the narrow road seemed to have a registration plate higher than J."
Fanx... :o)
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 24 Feb 2005 14:10)
Are you english mate?
>>By docjay (Thursday, 24 Feb 2005 14:49)
Nope, Doc...
Born in the USA... (uh-oh! I feel a song coming on!) ... I was born in the USA... ;o)
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 24 Feb 2005 15:16)
Docjay, maybe she's from irish decendants, hahahahaaa.......
>>By spiketheprovo (Thursday, 24 Feb 2005 15:40)
Binsy, J registrations indicate a car registered in 1991, therefore old cars, poor neighbourhood. They run in alphabetic order, changed every six months until 2001, when the system was changed.
Oddly enough, Kings Lynn (they don't use the apostrophe) features in one of DF's novels and in Stella Rimington's also. (Courtesy Useless Information Dept.)
Has anyone done any investigation of the 'deep web' mentioned in 'Deep Black'? I mean, does it exist?
>>By camban (Thursday, 24 Feb 2005 15:46)
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