I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.


1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

7) What story would you like to read?

8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
genre is overdone?

9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
other genres do you read instead?


Eric Pinnell

(Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")

For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
wrote:

> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
>this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
>greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
>please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
>1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

Assuming you mean fiction, then here is my short list:

John LeCarre
Frederick Forsythe
Nelson Demille
Ian Fleming
Trevanian
Tom Clancy
>
>2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

No specifics here. The least enjoyable are also the ones least
published and least known. Typically I don't like pacifists,
apologists and conspiricists.
>
>3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

Plot, believability, character development and use of language that
interests me.
>
>4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
>about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

Strangely enough, I haven't read anything about Korea beyond Boots
Blesse's "No Guts, No Glory" which is more a tactics and attitude
primer for fighter pilots than espionage or war book.
>
>5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
>read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

Didn't read the book, but Bridges at Toko-Ri, Sabre Jet, The Hunters
were all pretty successful. I don't think the genre has been
overworked. If anything, it has been under-reported.
>
>6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Again, if we are talking fiction, I tend toward espionage since there
are more plot convolutions possible. War stories tend to be blood/gore
or sex and tragedy. Both bore quickly.
>
>7) What story would you like to read?

About Korea? Probably something about the F-84 air-ground forces
rather than the MiG-killers. Or artillery/armor rather than infantry.
Or patrol boat ops rather than carrier air.
>
>8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
>genre is overdone?

Still buy them regularly.
>
>9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
>other genres do you read instead?

In fiction? I read period pieces like Clavell's Shogun, horror/fantasy
such as Steven King, legal novels ala Grisham, grand metropolitan
novels like Tom Wolfe's stuff. I tune out the political expose de
jour, since they are inevitably ghost written and self-serving. It
matters not whether they are from the right or the left--they all seem
to make tons of money, but like the stereotypical Chinese meal, an
hour later you're still hungry.
>
>
>Eric Pinnell
>
>(Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")
>
>For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Eric Pinnell wrote:
> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
> 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>
Clancy, Some Coonts,

> 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
The guy who wrote Circle William. I quit after two chapters.
Unbelievable premise, poor writing, cliched.

> 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

It has to grab my interest and it MUST be believable in a real-world
frame of reference.
>
> 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

First chapter of Steel Rain. The same applies as to Circle William.
>
> 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?
Burned to a crisp.
>

> 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?
>
Both

> 7) What story would you like to read?


>
> 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> genre is overdone?
>
Just bought a book of short stories edited by Stephen Coonts, entitled
Victory - Call to Arms. Three stories, excellently done. I'm looking
for the rest of the series.

> 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> other genres do you read instead?
>
>
> Eric Pinnell
>
> (Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")
>
> For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml


Eric, Have you been to the DMZ or done much research on how it's setup?
Or how the ROK is organized? Might be worth a look.

John

"Eric Pinnell" <see my web site> wrote in message
...
> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
> 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

Clancy, WEB Griffin, Martin Caidin (RIP)

>
> 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
> 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

There has to be a basis in reality. Don't try and sell me a stealth B-52 or
a Mach 5 SR-71

> 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

WEB Griffin's latest in one of his series is in Korea.

>
> 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

I'll read any well written book.


> 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Doesn't matter.

> 7) What story would you like to read?
>
> 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> genre is overdone?

See #5

> 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> other genres do you read instead?
>
>
> Eric Pinnell
>
> (Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")
>
> For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

> I am having a dispute with a literary agent

Having a dispute with a literary agent is like having a dispute with
your wife. You can't win.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

Ed Rasimus wrote:

> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
> wrote:
>
> > I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> >this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> >greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> >please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
> >
> >
> >1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>
> Assuming you mean fiction, then here is my short list:
>
> John LeCarre
> Frederick Forsythe
> Nelson Demille
> Ian Fleming
> Trevanian
> Tom Clancy

Ed, if you like DeMille (as do I, and most of the rest of your list),
you'll almost certainly like Brian Haig (Alexander's son, but dont hold
that against him). I'd replace Fleming with Harold Coyle. Unlike Clancy,
he doesn't write techno-porn; **** happens in his books, and the people are
more important than the equipment. Come to think of it, Coyle's first or
second book was set in Korea. And I usually enjoy Stephen Coonts. My
current list would probably go

DeMille (moremystery than espionage or war, but just keeps getting better)
Forsythe (he's had a couple less than terrific ones recently, but like
Arnold Palmer in the Master's, he gets a lifetime pass for "Day of the
Jackal" as well as several lesser but still excellent subsequent works)
Coyle (already described)
Haig (getting better and better, obviously a fan of DeMille. His main
character is an Army JAG type)
Trevanian (haven't read much new by him, but he gets a 10-year pass for the
"Eiger" and "Loo Sanctions" plus "Shibumi")
LeCarre (haven't read his stuff in years, since before "The Little Drummer
Girl". I have a limit on depressing situations, but the man defined the
Cold War spy novel).
Coonts (heading downhill, but still enjoyable trash)
Clancy (he's been coasting downhill, but I still read him).



> >2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
> No specifics here. The least enjoyable are also the ones least
> published and least known. Typically I don't like pacifists,
> apologists and conspiricists.

There are so many bad authors to choose from, but I'll have to give a
special mention to Dale Brown. I avoid his stuff like the plague.

> >
> >3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?
>
> Plot, believability, character development and use of language that
> interests me.

We both consider character development important, and yet we both read Tom
Clancy? ;-) Although I've got to say that his last few books have
noticeably dropped off in quality. At least he got through the
toilet-tongue phase he went through a couple of books back.

> >4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> >about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

A couple by W.E.B. Griffin and James Brady recently, plus Bridges at
Toko-Ri a long time ago. I couldn't tell you the titles of the first two,
they weren't terribly memorable. I tend to read more non-fiction on Korea.

<snip>

> >6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?
>
> Again, if we are talking fiction, I tend toward espionage since there
> are more plot convolutions possible. War stories tend to be blood/gore
> or sex and tragedy. Both bore quickly.

Generally agreed.


> >8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> >genre is overdone?
>
> Still buy them regularly.

With 8 library cards, who needs to buy? ;-) Seriously, I only buy books Im
going to use as references, or the few books of fiction I'm going to reread
repeatedly.

Guy

Eric Pinnell <see my web site> wrote in message >...
> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
> 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>
> 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
> 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?
>
> 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?
>
> 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?
>
> 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?
>
> 7) What story would you like to read?
>
> 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> genre is overdone?
>
> 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> other genres do you read instead?
>
>
> Eric Pinnell
>
> (Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")
>
> For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

Mr Moto, Eric Ambler, The Saint, Cardinal in the Kremlin, etc. you
know the ones without the guy that the agencies never hire. Watch a
Discovery Times channel program on Hollywood and the CIA and get a
clue.

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
wrote:

> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
> 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

For espionage, John Le Carre' and Len Deighton, because they write so
well. Nelson DeMille fits in here somewhere, too. For war, CS
Forester, Patrick O'Brian, Larry Bond, Mark Barent, Neville Shute,
Eric Flint, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, Somebody Frezza, James
Clavell. Their books are believable, their characters are real, and
their plots are complex and interesting.

Ethell, Price, Boyne, Rasimus, Tuchman. Non-fiction.

> 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

I don't really know. What's-his-name, the guy that writes the books
with Dirk Pitt in them.

> 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

How much it engages my interest and how believable it is. Make a big
error (geosynchronous polar orbit or an F-106 passenger conversion)
and it's all over.

> 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

Yes. Dog Soldiers (I think).

> 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

Yes, I would. No, I don't. I've seen very little about Korea.

> 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Yes.

> 7) What story would you like to read?

Something with interesting characters and lots of technology. No
romance unless it's very well done, which is extremely uncommon.

> 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> genre is overdone?

Yes, I do. No, I don't, at least not in well-written books.

> 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> other genres do you read instead?

I haven't stopped or slowed reading them, but I've always read other
genres as well. Mysteries. Science fiction. Fantasy. "Mainstream"
fiction. Biography. Linguistics. Food and cooking. Beading.
History.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

In article >,
wrote:

> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
> wrote:
>
> > I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> > this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> > greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> > please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
> >
> >
> > 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>

I differentiate among espionage, other intelligence collection, special
operations, historical general military, and technothrillers -- with the
latter group blurring into science fiction (e.g., David Weber's "Honor
Harrington" started out as an interstellar Horatio Hornblower, and now
is becoming increasingly diplomatic/political). I also look for
well-done alternate history/alternate
timeline/post-interstellar-diaspora recovery themes.

Definitely in the first two categories, and still in substantial degree
in the next two (as well as current doctrine), I read more nonfiction
than fiction.

In the genre you may be looking for, TC of course. Early Dale Brown; the
later ones fail my plausibility test but I'll read for a while more. WEB
Griffin. James Cobb. For silly escape, Clive Cussler.


>
> > 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

Again, I don't call them one genre. The last one I remember putting down
in the middle and not picking up was by Patrick Robinson (oddly, ADM
Sandy Woodward's as-told-to).

> > 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?
>
Plausibility and characterization. I like following a character(s)
through multiple works.
>
> > 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> > about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?
>
Mostly nonfiction -- I have a shelf of them.

> > 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> > read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?
>
> No, I don't.
>

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 21:24:35 GMT, Guy Alcala
> wrote:

> Come to think of it, Coyle's first or
> second book was set in Korea.

His first, "Team Yankee", was set in Germany, west of the Fulda Gap.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

Mary Shafer > wrote in message >...
> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
> wrote:
>
> > I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> > this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> > greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> > please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
> >
> >
> > 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>
> For espionage, John Le Carre' and Len Deighton, because they write so
> well. Nelson DeMille fits in here somewhere, too. For war, CS
> Forester, Patrick O'Brian, Larry Bond, Mark Barent, Neville Shute,
> Eric Flint, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, Somebody Frezza, James
> Clavell. Their books are believable, their characters are real, and
> their plots are complex and interesting.
>
> Ethell, Price, Boyne, Rasimus, Tuchman. Non-fiction.
>
> > 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
> I don't really know. What's-his-name, the guy that writes the books
> with Dirk Pitt in them.
>
> > 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?
>
> How much it engages my interest and how believable it is. Make a big
> error (geosynchronous polar orbit or an F-106 passenger conversion)
> and it's all over.
>
> > 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> > about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?
>
> Yes. Dog Soldiers (I think).
>
> > 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> > read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?
>
> Yes, I would. No, I don't. I've seen very little about Korea.
>
> > 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?
>
> Yes.
>
> > 7) What story would you like to read?
>
> Something with interesting characters and lots of technology. No
> romance unless it's very well done, which is extremely uncommon.
>
> > 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> > genre is overdone?
>
> Yes, I do. No, I don't, at least not in well-written books.
>
> > 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> > other genres do you read instead?
>
> I haven't stopped or slowed reading them, but I've always read other
> genres as well. Mysteries. Science fiction. Fantasy. "Mainstream"
> fiction. Biography. Linguistics. Food and cooking. Beading.
> History.
>
>

La Carre is counterespionage and Fleming is special ops, neither of
which is strictly intelligence. Overhead surveillance and radio
intercept are intelligence but about as dull as you can get if you
don't have Clancy's live action satellite.

"Eric Pinnell" <see my web site> wrote
> 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

War: James Jones, Sven Hassel, Larry Bond.

Espionage: Tom Clancy (obviously, or I wouldn't be reading this group), Ian
Fleming. Used to read Frederick Forsyth and Craig Thomas but went off them.

Also, Clive Cussler, Dale Brown, and a few others- but I'd class them as
adventure/thriller rather than war or espionage.

> 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

Probably Leo Kessler just for being a dull cash-in on Sven Hassel ("Kessler"
was actually historian Charles Whiting, who should have known better. I
suppose they were OK when I was 12, but otherwise...)

> 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

If it's entertaining, well-written, and has characters that interest me. I
don't mind fantastical stuff if it's acknowledged as being fantastical
(since I also read SF) but hate when something that supposed to be set
entirely in the real and gritty world gets it wrong.

> 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

Not that I can remember.

> 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

If it fit the conditions in the answer to question 3, I'd be OK with it.

> 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

See question 3

> 7) What story would you like to read?

Several events and concepts spring to mind- but as a professional writer
myself, I think I'll hang on to them for future projects.

> 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> genre is overdone?

See the answer to question 3, but usually I'll be likely to get them for a
few pennies in charity shops, rather than buy new (except in the case of
Clancy, Cussler etc, who I will buy new, albeit waiting for the paperback to
come out)

> 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> other genres do you read instead?

SF, crime/detective, adventure thriller, fantasy, horror...

--
--
"I pity the fool who goes out tryin' a' take over the world, then runs home
cryin' to his momma!" [BA Baracus]

Redemption 05 - Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, February 25-27 2005
http://www.smof.com/redemption

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.mcintee

Currently reading: Bandits [Elmore Leonard]

In message >, Eric Pinnell
> writes
> I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
>this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
>greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
>please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
>
>
>1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

Early Clancy: interesting characters and plot, credible technical
details, and uncertainty as to how the book will end and whether all the
characters I've come to like will survive.

Richard Herman Jr: same reasons.

Larry Bond: likewise. Less on character, but solid on interesting
military action.

Craig Thomas: the mach 6 radar-invisible Firefox was overkill, but again
Thomas made you care about Gant (who wasn't very likeable) and Dmitri
Priabin (supposed to be the enemy) and kicked some really good stories
along.

Derek Robinson, Mark Berent, John Del Vecchio, Steven Coontz, Barrett
Tillman all wrote one or more good books that I've kept.

>2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

Of the ones I've read and can remember, Dale Brown (too much
ubertechnology), Sven Hassel (too much "How the Wehrmacht overwhelmingly
won every single battle in the course of losing the war".

>3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

Do I feel like reading it again?
>
>4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
>about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

No.

>5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
>read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

It's got plenty of potential if well done.

>6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Both.

>7) What story would you like to read?

Either if they're well done.

>8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
>genre is overdone?

I read less fiction than I used to, mostly because of shortage of time.
(Easier to dip in and out of Usenet than to give a good book the
attention it deserves...)


--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 17:10:10 -0400, Cub Driver
> wrote:

>
>> I am having a dispute with a literary agent
>
>Having a dispute with a literary agent is like having a dispute with
>your wife. You can't win.

Even worse is trying to get the attention of your publisher. Once
you're under contract you become a mushroom--kept in the dark and fed
****.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

> Eric Pinnell <see my web site> wrote in message

I haven't purchased a fiction book since. . .

> > 1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

For techno-thrillers, Craig Thomas. They are more thrilling, and the
situations more muddied, ala real life, than the 1 to 2 dimensional characters
of Clancy (everyone calling doctors "doc" or using the greeting "howdy" being
among the things that to grate on me). Not sure what you mean by "war"
authors. What genre? Historical fiction? Modern "what if" scenarios?
Historical fiction David Westheimer and Alastair McClean.

> > 2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

I don't know. I tend to not read books that I do not like. There was this
Ozzie author who wrote a series of books on WWIII, but I only read one of them
and it was bad. Really bad. I mean terribly stinking bad. It had a modified
Seawolf SSN that carried six Trident SLBMs (being hunted by a Kresta II
somewhere west of Iceland IIRC), an American POW hero-type, who single handedly
stops the Soviet's last "Big Push" by destroying its almost entire fuel supply
by tossing his Zippo onto a leaking fuel drum. . . Oh, it was simply horrible.

> > 3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

If it interests me. I tend not to throw out books though. Seems sacreligious
to do so.

> > 4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
> > about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

Never read 38 North Yankee. Red Phoenix was ok (the opening battle sequences
were outstanding), but no other "what if" book on Korea. The only other work
of fiction on Korea I've read is a historical fiction book by Patrick somebody
or somebody Patrick entitled Hold Back the Night. It was about the Chosen
Resevoir and was quite good.

> > 5) Assuming a book was well written about a war in Korea, would you
> > read it, or do you believe the Korea scenario has been overdone?

Probably not as I only read non-fiction these days for the most part. As for a
"what if" book, Korea seems like the only place left for a conventional "WWIII"
book, but as we are now envolved in a real shooting war not involving Korea, I
really don't see a market (unless the War on Terror is factored in). Why read
fiction when one can see the real thing on TV?

> > 6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Generally war.

> > 7) What story would you like to read?

Fiction? The War of the Last Alliance or at least a more detailed version of
the War of Eregion. Short of Tolkien being reincarnated, I don't think that
is likely.

> > 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> > genre is overdone?

No. Spy novels will always be around, but for the most part, the era of the
techno-thriller is dead.

> > 9) If you've reduced or stopped purchasing espionage/war novels, what
> > other genres do you read instead?

Military history, but as for fiction, Tolkien and some Asimov (tho' the latter
is a poor writter and his stories are pretty lame, but I find his "universe"
interesting).

--
Regards,

Michael P. Reed

In article >,
(Jack Linthicum) wrote:



>
> La Carre is counterespionage and Fleming is special ops, neither of
> which is strictly intelligence. Overhead surveillance and radio
> intercept are intelligence but about as dull as you can get if you
> don't have Clancy's live action satellite

Now, I'm enough of a specialist in the field to find it interesting
anyway. But some decently readable nonfiction has been published, such
as Brignioni and Babington-Smith in imagery, Kahn in communications
intelligence, etc.

Mary Shafer > wrote:

> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 21:24:35 GMT, Guy Alcala
> > wrote:
>
> > Come to think of it, Coyle's first or
> > second book was set in Korea.
>
> His first, "Team Yankee", was set in Germany, west of the Fulda Gap.
>
And the second one, "Sword Point", was set in Iran.

Can't think of any of Coyle's books that take place in Korea.

Eric Barry's "Arc Light", on the other hand, begins with an invasion of
South Korea by North Korea, as does the first of the "WWIII" books by
Ian, um, Smith? (I've tried to block those out of my memory, as they
were utter crap.) Both books quickly expanded beyond a mere Korean
conflict, though.
--
Marc Reeve
actual email address after removal of 4s & spaces is
c4m4r4a4m4a4n a4t c4r4u4z4i4o d4o4t c4o4m

J Harris > wrote:

> Eric Pinnell wrote:
> > I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
> > this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
> > greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
> > please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.
> >
> >
[snip]
> >
> > 8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
> > genre is overdone?
> >
> Just bought a book of short stories edited by Stephen Coonts,
> entitled Victory - Call to Arms. Three stories, excellently done. I'm
> looking for the rest of the series.
>
Well, there's a big honkin' hardback with all of the stories in it (much
like Coonts' first anthology, "Combat") and then they're being released
in paperback with three stories to a volume.

--
Marc Reeve
actual email address after removal of 4s & spaces is
c4m4r4a4m4a4n a4t c4r4u4z4i4o d4o4t c4o4m

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 15:53:08 +0100, "Paul J. Adam"
> wrote:

>
>>1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
>
>Derek Robinson, Mark Berent, John Del Vecchio, Steven Coontz, Barrett
>Tillman all wrote one or more good books that I've kept.

I'll probably see Mark this week in Nashville at the annual River Rats
Reunion. He's the real deal, a true fighter pilot and a good guy (a
lot like Tom "Bear" Wilson whose fiction has eroded a bit since the
original F-105 Weasel trilogy that drew so heavily on his war
experiences.) I'll mention to Mark that he's got a nascent fan-club in
the UK.
>
>>2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
>
>Of the ones I've read and can remember, Dale Brown (too much
>ubertechnology), . . .

Dare I say "that's what you get" when you put the Nav in charge? ;-))


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Marc Reeve wrote:

> Mary Shafer > wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 21:24:35 GMT, Guy Alcala
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > Come to think of it, Coyle's first or
> > > second book was set in Korea.
> >
> > His first, "Team Yankee", was set in Germany, west of the Fulda Gap.
> >
> And the second one, "Sword Point", was set in Iran.
>
> Can't think of any of Coyle's books that take place in Korea.

Yeah, you're right. I could swear that he wrote one and I know he served
there, but I can't seem to find it. I appear to be confusing it with
Bond's "Red Phoenix" or something else - for some reason I've never gotten
into Bond.

I just prefer Coyle's much more nuanced approach to Clancy's cartoons -
comparing say "Code of Honor" or "God's Children" to "Clear and Present
Danger", the difference between the two authors' approach is stark. I'll
be curious to see if Coyle writes one about Iraq; Clancy's approach would
be to write about the period of "major combat" and end it there when the
good guys 'won', in a victory for truth, justice and the american way.
Coyle would be writing about the whole last year, having to choose from a
bunch of bad options and co-opt people who often aren't very nice and/or
have their own agendas, collateral damage (there isn't any in a Clancy
book, at least none caused by the US -our weapons either score bullseyes or
miss/malfunction in open ground), the war would be fought by hot, dirty,
tired and scared 19 year-old PFCs led by 25 year old Sgts. instead of stock
Hollywood 'characters' led by John Wayne or Harrison Ford, etc.

Guy

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 18:09:10 GMT, Guy Alcala
> wrote:

>I just prefer Coyle's much more nuanced approach to Clancy's cartoons -
>comparing say "Code of Honor" or "God's Children" to "Clear and Present
>Danger", the difference between the two authors' approach is stark. I'll
>be curious to see if Coyle writes one about Iraq; Clancy's approach would
>be to write about the period of "major combat" and end it there when the
>good guys 'won', in a victory for truth, justice and the american way.
>Coyle would be writing about the whole last year, having to choose from a
>bunch of bad options and co-opt people who often aren't very nice and/or
>have their own agendas, collateral damage (there isn't any in a Clancy
>book, at least none caused by the US -our weapons either score bullseyes or
>miss/malfunction in open ground), the war would be fought by hot, dirty,
>tired and scared 19 year-old PFCs led by 25 year old Sgts. instead of stock
>Hollywood 'characters' led by John Wayne or Harrison Ford, etc.

I can't sit back and let you pigeon-hole Clancy that way. I'll agree
that the stretch from Jack Ryan naval officer in "Hunt for Red
October" to President Ryan has been a bit cartoonish. But the grunt
level warfare of Dingo Chavez in the Columbian jungle is pretty
compelling. The convoluted turns of Sum of All Fears and other Clancy
works make a great read, even when belief must be suspended.

The point of good fiction is that it suspends disbelief and does so in
a manner which is sufficiently compelling to keep the reader returning
for more. To fault Clancy for look of real-world realism (his
fictional realism, AKA "techno-babble", is sufficiently detailed to be
believable), is to place the novelist in a creative strait-jacket.

Norman Mailer gives you scared 19-year olds, if that's what you must
have.

Is Steven King's stuff compelling? Absolutely! Is it realistic? Of
course not. But, sit in a dimly lit room past mid-night on a stormy
night with Salem's Lot on your lap and I'll guarantee you believe in
vampires.

((All of the above being said, I'll agree that Clancy's sub-contracted
work--what is it? Ops Center?--is crap!))


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus wrote:

> On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 18:09:10 GMT, Guy Alcala
> > wrote:
>
> >I just prefer Coyle's much more nuanced approach to Clancy's cartoons -
> >comparing say "Code of Honor" or "God's Children" to "Clear and Present
> >Danger", the difference between the two authors' approach is stark. I'll
> >be curious to see if Coyle writes one about Iraq; Clancy's approach would
> >be to write about the period of "major combat" and end it there when the
> >good guys 'won', in a victory for truth, justice and the american way.
> >Coyle would be writing about the whole last year, having to choose from a
> >bunch of bad options and co-opt people who often aren't very nice and/or
> >have their own agendas, collateral damage (there isn't any in a Clancy
> >book, at least none caused by the US -our weapons either score bullseyes or
> >miss/malfunction in open ground), the war would be fought by hot, dirty,
> >tired and scared 19 year-old PFCs led by 25 year old Sgts. instead of stock
> >Hollywood 'characters' led by John Wayne or Harrison Ford, etc.
>
> I can't sit back and let you pigeon-hole Clancy that way. I'll agree
> that the stretch from Jack Ryan naval officer in "Hunt for Red
> October" to President Ryan has been a bit cartoonish.

Oddly enough, I thought "Executive Orders" was one of his best. Between that
and the tail end of "Debt of Honor"(and "Black Sunday" years ago), that's
undoubtedly why I reacted to 9/11 and the anthrax scare not with "Oh my god!"
but rather "I'm surprised it took so long". Paying attention to what was
happening in the Middle East over the last decade or two helped.

> But the grunt
> level warfare of Dingo Chavez in the Columbian jungle is pretty
> compelling.

Ed, read "Code of Honor" and "Clear and Present Danger" back to back (both are
about Colombia), and then tell me which you think is a more accurate portrayal.
And then read "God's Children" (about trying to be 'peacekeepers' in the
Balkans, when the locals main interest is getting in a little ethnic cleansing
of their own), and tell me that you think that Clancy could even attempt the
subject. I did think the movie version of CaPD was well done, especially the
arrival at the airport in Bogota and the subsequent ambush. Gave you a real
feeling for a state and government under siege, near to anarchy.

> The convoluted turns of Sum of All Fears and other Clancy
> works make a great read, even when belief must be suspended.

Sure, I usually enjoy them, but I also know how they'll end. More irritating to
me, Clancy's characters are all one-dimensional cliches, and their behavior and
dialog is entirely predictable. And let's face it, much of the time they're
only there to provide a plausible reason to introduce or use some gee-whiz
weaponry, although since the end of the Cold War he's had to move away from that
a bit. But shades of gray are still beyond him.

> The point of good fiction is that it suspends disbelief and does so in
> a manner which is sufficiently compelling to keep the reader returning
> for more. To fault Clancy for look of real-world realism (his
> fictional realism, AKA "techno-babble", is sufficiently detailed to be
> believable), is to place the novelist in a creative strait-jacket.

Even his techno-babble used to be a lot better. As I said, he's been coasting
recently. I thought "Bear and the Dragon" was just awful, and "Red Rabbit" was
so-so. I couldn't tell you the story line of either now, which shows how
forgettable they were.

> Norman Mailer gives you scared 19-year olds, if that's what you must
> have.

I never thought "The Naked and the Dead" was all that good. "The Thin Red Line"
was better, but who needs fiction about the ground war in the Pacific when E.B.
Sledge's "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" is available?

> Is Steven King's stuff compelling? Absolutely! Is it realistic? Of
> course not. But, sit in a dimly lit room past mid-night on a stormy
> night with Salem's Lot on your lap and I'll guarantee you believe in
> vampires.

Haven't read King in years. I think I bailed somewhere around "Christine" or
"Cujo". Besides, I did my "terrified to go to sleep" bit around the age of 13,
when I saw the original "Night of the Living Dead" late at night on TV while I
was alone in the house for the weekend. After that experience, vampires are
nothing;-)

> ((All of the above being said, I'll agree that Clancy's sub-contracted
> work--what is it? Ops Center?--is crap!))

Never gone near the stuff. If I want to read total mindless escapist formulaic
trash, there's always Clive Cussler (Jack Higgins has become almost as bad,
which is a shame. Cussler was always trash, but Higgins used to be a lot
better). It's interesting to see how Robert Ludlum has continued to publish new
books, despite the considerable handicap of being dead;-) Just shows that once
you've reduced your output to repeating the same tired formula, almost anyone
can write the stuff. Oddly, this (continuing to write after death, not
repeating the same formula) never happened to Alistair MacLean. Perhaps this is
due to there being more of a reading audience when he died, or maybe publishers
were just more willing to take a chance on new authors, figuring that not every
work had to be an instant blockbuster at Barnes and Noble.

Guy

In message >, Ed Rasimus
> writes
>On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 15:53:08 +0100, "Paul J. Adam"
> wrote:
>>Derek Robinson, Mark Berent, John Del Vecchio, Steven Coontz, Barrett
>>Tillman all wrote one or more good books that I've kept.
>
>I'll probably see Mark this week in Nashville at the annual River Rats
>Reunion. He's the real deal, a true fighter pilot and a good guy (a
>lot like Tom "Bear" Wilson whose fiction has eroded a bit since the
>original F-105 Weasel trilogy that drew so heavily on his war
>experiences.) I'll mention to Mark that he's got a nascent fan-club in
>the UK.

Read and thoroughly enjoyed two of his books, but they're not easily
found in the UK. Give him my regards and congratulations.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

"Paul J. Adam" > wrote

>Sven Hassel (too much "How the Wehrmacht overwhelmingly
> won every single battle in the course of losing the war".


You must have read a different translation- all my copies keep having the
characters get the **** kicked out of them, and few barely manage to crawl
back to a German position.

Characters who do claim the Wermacht wins battles tend to either a) be
saying so with extreme sarcasm, or b) immediately get the **** ripped out of
them and/or killed by everybody else...


--
--
"I pity the fool who goes out tryin' a' take over the world, then runs home
cryin' to his momma!" [BA Baracus]

Redemption 05 - Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, February 25-27 2005
http://www.smof.com/redemption

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.mcintee

Currently reading: []

Guy Alcala > wrote:
> Ed Rasimus wrote:
>
[snip]
> > Is Steven King's stuff compelling? Absolutely! Is it realistic? Of
> > course not. But, sit in a dimly lit room past mid-night on a stormy
> > night with Salem's Lot on your lap and I'll guarantee you believe in
> > vampires.
>
> Haven't read King in years. I think I bailed somewhere around "Christine"
> or "Cujo". Besides, I did my "terrified to go to sleep" bit around the
> age of 13, when I saw the original "Night of the Living Dead" late at
> night on TV while I was alone in the house for the weekend. After that
> experience, vampires are nothing;-)

Most of Steven King's novels are basic filler crap for me. The one that
has consistently scared the bejesus out of me is "The Shining". Perhaps
I shouldn't have read it when I was 13, during a thunderstorm in
Tennessee (much more impressive than wimpy California thunderstorms).

Heck, I was scared by the movie trailer (elevator doors opening, oceans
of blood pouring out). Of course, that may have been because I was nince
or ten when that came out (and what they were doing showing a trailer
for "The Shining" in front of a Disney movie I'll never know...)
>
> > ((All of the above being said, I'll agree that Clancy's sub-contracted
> > work--what is it? Ops Center?--is crap!))
>
> Never gone near the stuff. If I want to read total mindless escapist
> formulaic trash, there's always Clive Cussler (Jack Higgins has become
> almost as bad, which is a shame. Cussler was always trash, but Higgins
> used to be a lot better).

Higgins has been recycling old plots for at least a decade. In some
cases, recycling entire books (usually ones that were originally
published with "Harry Patterson" as the author .) by writing new
opening and closing chapters and then having the entire old book in the
middle.

Clive Cussler is apparently finally retiring. (Though there will be two
new series "From the NUMA Files" and one other, which will have
Cussler's name prominent on the cover but actually written by someone
else.
[i]
>It's interesting to see how Robert Ludlum has
> continued to publish new books, despite the considerable handicap of being
> dead;-) Just shows that once you've reduced your output to repeating the
> same tired formula, almost anyone can write the stuff. Oddly, this
> (continuing to write after death, not repeating the same formula) never
> happened to Alistair MacLean. Perhaps this is due to there being more of
> a reading audience when he died, or maybe publishers were just more
> willing to take a chance on new authors, figuring that not every work had
> to be an instant blockbuster at Barnes and Noble.
>
Actually, there were several "Alistair Maclean's" [whatever] novels
published after his death. As I understand it, most of them were based
on plot outlines he had written for a film studio. At least one of them
("Hostage Tower") was filmed.

--
Marc Reeve
actual email address after removal of 4s & spaces is
c4m4r4a4m4a4n a4t c4r4u4z4i4o d4o4t c4o4m

Marc Reeve wrote:

> Guy Alcala > wrote:
> > Ed Rasimus wrote:

<snip>
[i]
> > > ((All of the above being said, I'll agree that Clancy's sub-contracted
> > > work--what is it? Ops Center?--is crap!))
> >
> > Never gone near the stuff. If I want to read total mindless escapist
> > formulaic trash, there's always Clive Cussler (Jack Higgins has become
> > almost as bad, which is a shame. Cussler was always trash, but Higgins
> > used to be a lot better).
>
> Higgins has been recycling old plots for at least a decade. In some
> cases, recycling entire books (usually ones that were originally
> published with "Harry Patterson" as the author .) by writing new
> opening and closing chapters and then having the entire old book in the
> middle.

If I have to read the phrase "God Bless all Here" one more time, I'm likely to
do violence;-) The real one's Harry Patterson; Higgins (and back in the '60s
and '70s, sometimes Martin Fallon/James Graham/Hugh Marlowe) are the
pseudonyms. But I've got to admit I still to read Higgins; it's an evening's
mindless escapism. Checking out his bibliography here,

http://www.myunicorn.com/bibl3/bibl0383.html

you can sort of see that painstaking craftmanship wasn't an issue.

> Clive Cussler is apparently finally retiring. (Though there will be two
> new series "From the NUMA Files" and one other, which will have
> Cussler's name prominent on the cover but actually written by someone
> else.

Yeah, I've already seen one of those in the library. Somehow I had no urge to
read it ;-) Still, Cussler seems to have had fun with his life, and been able
to do what he wanted to. There are worse things to be than a purveyor of
mindless escapism, and I always enjoyed the picture of his latest car on the
back cover of the dust jacket.

> >It's interesting to see how Robert Ludlum has
> > continued to publish new books, despite the considerable handicap of being
> > dead;-) Just shows that once you've reduced your output to repeating the
> > same tired formula, almost anyone can write the stuff. Oddly, this
> > (continuing to write after death, not repeating the same formula) never
> > happened to Alistair MacLean. Perhaps this is due to there being more of
> > a reading audience when he died, or maybe publishers were just more
> > willing to take a chance on new authors, figuring that not every work had
> > to be an instant blockbuster at Barnes and Noble.
> >
> Actually, there were several "Alistair Maclean's" [whatever] novels
> published after his death. As I understand it, most of them were based
> on plot outlines he had written for a film studio. At least one of them
> ("Hostage Tower") was filmed.

Thank goodness I never saw them, but at least he had something to do with them.
Still, before formula took over completely he wrote some decent books, and at
least one terrific one ("HMS Ulysses" of course; "Guns of Navarone" was well
above average). Somewhere around "The Golden Gate" it was clear he was just
recycling the same old stuff, although I stuck with him for several more out of
loyalty and the hope that he'd get a second wind.

AFAICT, Ludlum's publishers only admitted in 'his' most recent book that he's
dead, and that someone else wrote the entire thing. Not bad for a guy who died
in March 2001, and whose output has continued without let-up ever since. Not
that it affected me much; I think the last one of his I read was "The Bourne
Identity", or maybe "The Parsifal Mosaic". He always wrote potboilers, but at
least the early ones were halfway _decent_ potboilers.

Guy

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 16:24:24 -0400, "Kyle Boatright"
> wrote:

>WEB Griffin's latest in one of his series is in Korea.

Griffin's book on Korea that I started was TEDIOUS.

Ed Rasimus > wrote:

>Is Steven King's stuff compelling? Absolutely! Is it realistic? Of
>course not. But, sit in a dimly lit room past mid-night on a stormy
>night with Salem's Lot on your lap and I'll guarantee you believe in
>vampires.

****in'-aye BTDT. "Salem's Lot" is the best vampire story I ever
even heard of. I was making sure the doors and windows were locked
halfway through it.


Billy

http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
wrote:
I don't read much war fiction, but one book by Gaz Hunter "shooting
gallery" stuck in my mind, rather real in its descriptions, I liked
Steven King but have waned a bit due to his last two, One warning
though 'Ice Station' by Matthew Reilly...

Now thats a unintentionally funny _funny_ book... has anybody read it
without giggling??

Cheers
John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

In article >,
John Cook > wrote:

> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
> wrote:
> I don't read much war fiction, but one book by Gaz Hunter "shooting
> gallery" stuck in my mind, rather real in its descriptions, I liked
> Steven King but have waned a bit due to his last two, One warning
> though 'Ice Station' by Matthew Reilly...
>
> Now thats a unintentionally funny _funny_ book... has anybody read it
> without giggling??

No, but I read through Reilly's following book "Area 7," and all I could
think was that it was written by someone who was really, _really_ trying
to get something made into a movie with a lot of special effects, and
damn the reality.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

"Guy Alcala" > wrote in message
. ..
> Marc Reeve wrote:
>> > Clive Cussler is apparently finally retiring. (Though there will be two
> > new series "From the NUMA Files" and one other, which will have
> > Cussler's name prominent on the cover but actually written by someone
> > else.
>
> Yeah, I've already seen one of those in the library. Somehow I had no
urge to
> read it ;-) Still, Cussler seems to have had fun with his life, and been
able
> to do what he wanted to. There are worse things to be than a purveyor of
> mindless escapism, and I always enjoyed the picture of his latest car on
the
> back cover of the dust jacket.

Actually, the NUMA files (Steve Austin) books are comparable to the Dirk
Pitt books. Cussler seems to have picked his writer well seems to be giving
guidance, and has the courtesy to put the writer's name on the cover from
the get-go. None of this "Thanks to Joe Schmoe for his assistance" on the
dedication page stuff!

Hey, they're not high literature, but as swashbuckers they make fine
reading.

George <--currently in the middle of Charles Siringo's "A Cowboy Detective"

"Ed Rasimus" > wrote :
> On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 15:53:08 +0100, "Paul J. Adam"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >>1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?
> >
> >Derek Robinson, Mark Berent, John Del Vecchio, Steven Coontz, Barrett
> >Tillman all wrote one or more good books that I've kept.
>
> I'll probably see Mark this week in Nashville at the annual River Rats
> Reunion. He's the real deal, a true fighter pilot and a good guy (a
> lot like Tom "Bear" Wilson whose fiction has eroded a bit since the
> original F-105 Weasel trilogy that drew so heavily on his war
> experiences.) I'll mention to Mark that he's got a nascent fan-club in
> the UK.

And here in New Zealand as well. I didn't have any trouble getting paperback
copies of his excellent Rolling Thunder series, now sitting very well worn
next to my Nelson DeMille collection. If he ever gets the urge to take up
writing again I'd be more than keen to read the result.


> >>2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?
> >
> >Of the ones I've read and can remember, Dale Brown (too much
> >ubertechnology), . . .

Funny how tastes change. What was entertaining at fourteen becomes quite
unreadable later in life.


> Dare I say "that's what you get" when you put the Nav in charge? ;-))
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

And that book is first on the list next time I'm feeling financial enough to
go ordering from Amazon again (shipping costs are a right pain).

Cheers,
Simon

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 23:20:32 GMT, Chad Irby > wrote:

>In article >,
> John Cook > wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
>> wrote:
>> I don't read much war fiction, but one book by Gaz Hunter "shooting
>> gallery" stuck in my mind, rather real in its descriptions, I liked
>> Steven King but have waned a bit due to his last two, One warning
>> though 'Ice Station' by Matthew Reilly...
>>
>> Now thats a unintentionally funny _funny_ book... has anybody read it
>> without giggling??
>
>No, but I read through Reilly's following book "Area 7," and all I could
>think was that it was written by someone who was really, _really_ trying
>to get something made into a movie with a lot of special effects, and
>damn the reality.


Ice station had a Eurofighter Typoon shot down after launching a Nuke
by six F-22's, (hold on !! - So far no problem!), it was where it
happened!!! around 200 miles from Wilkes Ice station in Antartica,
that sort of thing irratates me when reading, because then I'm
thinking OK the Typhoon presence is semi explained by a VC-10 Tanker
thats been shot down 200 miles from Wilkes, and it could have taken
off from a Carrrier (its possible just like a C-130.)

But where do 6 F-22's come from, the nearest land mass IIRC is New
Zealand OZ or Cape Horn, where did they come from and how the hell do
they refuel...Ah the logistics would be on par with the Black buck
raids.

You have to suspend your disbelief as by this time the French
legionaires, UK SAS and US special forces had all made an appearence
at the Ice Station, fortunately for our hero mutant giant walruses had
eaten half of them Oh, and Killer whales, and a top secret stealth
plane is discovered, obligatory chase in Hovercrafts across the ice
shelf, couple of dips in the Ross sea - Oh! the reality just 'Oozes'
from the pages

By the time you read the last page, you wish the hero had eaten by a
Giant Mutant Walrus!!.

As entertainment goes its good, I'm still grinning about it...



Cheers


John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 14:45:52 +1200, "Simon Ferguson"

>> "When Thunder Rolled"
>> Smithsonian Institution Press
>> ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>
>And that book is first on the list next time I'm feeling financial enough to
>go ordering from Amazon again (shipping costs are a right pain).
>

Good news looms then, since Random House will be releasing it in
paperback in September at only $6.99. You might hold off until around
Christmas and double up with Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights which
will come out of Smithsonian in hardback.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

"John Cook" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 23:20:32 GMT, Chad Irby > wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> > John Cook > wrote:
> >
> >> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell <see my web site>
> >> wrote:
> >> I don't read much war fiction, but one book by Gaz Hunter "shooting
> >> gallery" stuck in my mind, rather real in its descriptions, I liked
> >> Steven King but have waned a bit due to his last two, One warning
> >> though 'Ice Station' by Matthew Reilly...
> >>
> >> Now thats a unintentionally funny _funny_ book... has anybody read it
> >> without giggling??
> >
> >No, but I read through Reilly's following book "Area 7," and all I could
> >think was that it was written by someone who was really, _really_ trying
> >to get something made into a movie with a lot of special effects, and
> >damn the reality.
>
>
> Ice station had a Eurofighter Typoon shot down after launching a Nuke
> by six F-22's, (hold on !! - So far no problem!), it was where it
> happened!!! around 200 miles from Wilkes Ice station in Antartica,
> that sort of thing irratates me when reading, because then I'm
> thinking OK the Typhoon presence is semi explained by a VC-10 Tanker
> thats been shot down 200 miles from Wilkes, and it could have taken
> off from a Carrrier (its possible just like a C-130.)
>
> But where do 6 F-22's come from, the nearest land mass IIRC is New
> Zealand OZ or Cape Horn, where did they come from and how the hell do
> they refuel...Ah the logistics would be on par with the Black buck
> raids.
>
> You have to suspend your disbelief as by this time the French
> legionaires, UK SAS and US special forces had all made an appearence
> at the Ice Station, fortunately for our hero mutant giant walruses had
> eaten half of them Oh, and Killer whales, and a top secret stealth
> plane is discovered, obligatory chase in Hovercrafts across the ice
> shelf, couple of dips in the Ross sea - Oh! the reality just 'Oozes'
> from the pages
>
> By the time you read the last page, you wish the hero had eaten by a
> Giant Mutant Walrus!!.
>
> As entertainment goes its good, I'm still grinning about it...

Reminds me of one at the local library, called "Red Tide" or something,
written in the late 1990s.

New York City is invaded by about 50 Chinese Diesel-Electric subs, complete
with deck guns(!) and landing parties, who are fought by the NYPD. There are
a couple US Navy ships mentioned in the part I had read up to (In the City
harbor for some reason) but no other US defenses.

Don't think a campy tongue-in-cheek book like that would fly today....

> Cheers
>
>
> John Cook
>
> Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
> opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.
>
> Email Address :-
> Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
> Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk