Book Description
Meet BLACKWATER USA, the world's most secretive and powerful mercenary firm. Based in the wilderness of North Carolina, it is the fastest-growing private army on the planet with forces capable of carrying out regime change throughout the world. Blackwater protects the top US officials in Iraq and yet we know almost nothing about the firm's quasi-military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and inside the US. Blackwater was founded by an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire ex- Navy Seal named Erik Prince, the scion of a wealthy conservative family that bankrolls far-right-wing causes.
Blackwater is the dark story of the rise of a powerful mercenary army, ranging from the blood-soaked streets of Fallujah to rooftop firefights in Najaf to the hurricane-ravaged US gulf to Washington DC, where Blackwater executives are hailed as new heroes in the war on terror. This is an extraordinary exposé by one of America's most exciting young radical journalists.
Customer Reviews:
Lazy hippie critizes American hero!!!! .......2007-10-08
How to describe Erik Prince? A man who grew up with tons of money and still decided to serve this country, in the Navy SEALs no less, risking his life in serveral engagements. Continuing his father's legacy of putting Americans to work and building this country by providing security and support to our military which Clinton gracefully gutted for us. A true American to the core!!!!
How dare Jeremy Scahill bash this man????!!!!! What has Jeremy Scahill done for this country lately??? Must be that liberal sense of "if you don't do anything, nobody can critize you since nothing is almost impossible to screw up". Blackwater employees have held out against terrorist with our conventional military, has a spotless record in regards to never loosing a person they had to protect under contract, and only lost less than 30 employees during the entirely of the Iraq War. Liberals like Jeremy Scahill want nothing more than Blackwater employees to be subjected to lynch mobs and ridicuolous RoEs (Rules of Engagement). Liberals love nothing more than court martialing our troops for performing their duties while watching from afar.
Jeremy Scahill seems to think New Orleans after the Hurricane was just daisies until Blackwater showed up. Does he critize the looting, rapes, murders, or any other of the horrid behavior that occurred in the aftermath of Katrina? No he is more concerned that Blackwater is not "accountable".
News flash!!! Blackwater is a private company meaning it is always accountable to their customers. They arn't the government who can take you money away through force. Long live Erik Price!!! This country needs more men like him.
Personal agenda wastes a potentially fantastic scoop.......2007-10-08
I just finished reading Blackwater:The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, and I am still reeling from how disappointing it was. Maybe I'm an action junkie, the stem cells of my attention span tinkered with by the cocktails of impulse that video games provide. I went in expecting to read about Blackwater and how it operated, its tactics, training, its harrowing hidden stories of what evils unregulated private armies commit.
What I got instead was a few pages of the good stuff, and four hundred remaining pages of anti-neo-con, anti-right-wing, anti-religious-right, anti-any-religious-con diatribe. What could have been a sharp tale about a frightening, unregulated cult of ex-special forces types selling their warfaring skills fizzled and drowned itself out. Instead, we got a tale about something bad that every person ever connected to anyone remotely related to Blackwater has ever done. The amount of implicit condemnation isn't just infuriating or unfair, it's just plain boring to read. Skeletons can be dug up in anyone's closet. Scahill had plenty of material for Blackwater alone, but each page just got more and more personal, attacking every politician or figure he's hated, until I closed the book, read the back cover, and discovered, to no surprise, praise form Michael Moore, who pioneered these very techniques.
What techniques? Why, the one where first you imply someone is a bad boy because someone else he knows has done something bad at some point in his life. Then, you simultaneously praise and criticize the same people, using them as you see fit. The favorite Moorian target is the soldier, who is described as a dumb lunk of American arrogance sometimes, and as a sensitive family man at others. It just depends on which heartstring they wanna pull. Scahill is a journalist, and should be above this kind of liberal manipulation. Read it yourself, and see how many scandalous things mentioned have anything to do with Blackwater itself.
Even with his personal agenda splattered on top, which would only bother conservatives like me, the book still lacks a good narrative. There are constant detours that leave me wondering what any of it has to do with Blackwater. There's way too much repetitious foreshadowing, and much of the "facts" could have been left in endnotes. I say "facts" because they are facts, but that doesn't make this an impartial book. If he wanted to say privatization of the army was a disaster, I'd wholeheartedly agree, free-market capitalist that I am. But if he was trying to tell a riveting tale of conspiracy, a soapbox was not the best place to spin an engaging yarn.
5 stars for Erik Prince - 0 for the novelist.......2007-10-08
The author Scahill definitely has an agenda as many of the 1 star reviewers rate. He wastes no time pointing out that Erik Prince donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republicans and $0 to democrats. The author also repeatedly 'accuses' Erik Prince of being a fanatic religious right winger who was brought up in Calvinism and later converted to Roman Catholicism - as if that is a bad thing. However, to his credit, the author did point out many of the wonderful gifts, million$ in sponsorships and contributions to colleges and businesses that Erik Prince's father, a self-made millionaire, gave to the lakeside community they grew up in. Mr. Prince was a capitalist with a heart of gold who not only took great care of his family but also took care of the people who worked for his company as well as his community. After attacking the Prince family, the author 'relives' the major fights in Fallujah and Najaf purporting as if he were there to know what our troops were actually thinking but he writes nothing about the Iran insurgency where the vast majority of the IEDs killing our troops and car bombs killing Iraqis come from. An entire chapter is devoted to the sources in the book but hundreds of the sources contain one word - 'ibid', or 'interview' but not with or by whom the interview was conducted. Fat slob michaelmoore drooled a blurb for the jacket- go figure! As for buying this book, wait for leftover stock and get it for $1, it will be there in very short order.
Not worth it even if you despise the War.......2007-09-30
This book was such a letdown. I had no idea it was written with such an agenda. Even though I probably agree quite a bit with the author, I did not buy this book to read someone's column. I expected a history of Blackwater to better understand it. Instead this book ruins any interesting tidbits by always throwing in a biased opinion. It made reading the book very difficult even for someone who is anti-war. Really a shame since this could have been an important book. The only ones who will like it are those so close minded that they can only read books that share their viewpoint. Hence the 5 star reviews. Not for anyone with an open mind.
Thrilling!.......2007-09-25
Highly enjoyable book if you can overlook the preachy and somewhat hysterical tone. I can't decide if it's inadvertent, since this is ostensibly some sort of exposé, but the author gives Blackwater this highly appealing aura of danger and excitement and glamour.
Have you ever seen one of those lurid B-movies from the 50s, narrator lectures on the dangers of marijuana, fast women, go-go dancing and other sensational trash? Yet, at the same time, promoting it because it's hot? It's a bit in that tradition I think.
Amazon.com
Ex-military cop Jack Reacher is the perfect antihero--tough as nails, but with a brain and a conscience to match. He's able to see what most miss and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Each book in Lee Child's smart, addictive series (The New York Times has referred to it as "pure escapist gold") follows the wandering warrior on a new adventure, making it easy to start with any book, including his latest gem, Bad Luck and Trouble. However, be forewarned...once you meet Jack Reacher, you'll be hooked, so be prepared to stock up on the series. --Daphne Durham
Who Is Jack Reacher? A Video from Lee Child
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A Note from Lee Child
Two years ago I was on a book tour, promoting that year's new Jack Reacher novel, One Shot. One particular night, the event was held in a small town outside of Chicago. The date was June 21st. As I was giving my talk and answering questions and signing books, that date was nagging away at the back of my mind. I knew it had some significance. I started panicking--had I forgotten my anniversary? No, that's in August. My wife's birthday? No, that's in January. My own birthday? No, that's in October.
Then suddenly I remembered--it was ten years to the day since I had been fired from my previous job. That was why and how I had become a writer. That night in Illinois was a ten-year anniversary of a different sort, somewhat bittersweet.
And ten is a nice round number. So I started thinking about my old colleagues. My workmates, my buddies. We had been through a lot together. I started to wonder where they all were now. What were they doing? Were they doing well, or struggling? Were they happy? What did they look like now? Pretty soon I was into full-on nostalgia mode. Ten-year anniversaries can do that to a person. I think we all share those kind of feelings, about high school, or college, or old jobs we've quit, or old towns we've moved away from.
So I decided to make this year's Jack Reacher book about a reunion. I decided to throw him back among a bunch of old colleagues that he hadn't seen for ten years, people that he loved fiercely and respected deeply. Regular Reacher readers will know that he's a pretty self-confident guy, but I wanted him to wobble just a little this time, to compare his choices with theirs, to measure himself against them.
The renewed get-together isn't Reacher's own choice, though. And it's not a standard-issue reunion, either. Something very bad has happened, and one of his old team-members from the army contacts him, by an ingenious method (it's hard to track Reacher down). She gives him the bad news, and asks him to do something about it. He says, "Of course I'll do something about it."
"No," his friend says. "I mean, I want you to put the old unit back together."
It's an irresistible invitation. Wouldn't we all like to do that, sometimes? --Lee Child
Secrets of the Series: A Q&A with Lee Child
Q: Why do you think readers keep coming back to your novels?
A: Two words: Jack Reacher. Reacher is a drifter and a loner with a strong sense of justice. He shows up, he acts, he moves on. He's the type of hero who has a long literary history. Robin Hood, the Lone Ranger, Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, Jack Reacher--they're all part of the same heroic family. Reacher just ratchets it up a notch. Maybe more than a notch. Why is he so appealing? Most often people say to me it's his sense of justice; he will do the right thing. Even though there is no reward in it for him, even though there is often a high cost to be paid by him, he will always try to do the right thing and people find that reassuring in today's world when not too many people are doing the right thing.
Q: Jack Reacher gets compared to James Bond, Jack Bauer and Jason Bourne, each of whom now has a "face." In a movie, which actor do you think could fill Reacher's shoes?
A: That's the toughest question. The thing about Reacher is he's huge; he's 6'5" tall and about 250 pounds. There aren't any actors that size--actors tend to be small. So we aren't going to find a physical facsimile for Reacher because there aren't any. We have to find someone who is capable of looking big on the screen. Many people have said to me a young Clint Eastwood would have been perfect--we need someone like that who has the vibe of a big intimidating man. Hopefully there will be somebody available like that. It's also a question of finding somebody ready to sign up for more than one movie. They want to make a franchise, minimum of three, and that makes it a little bit harder.
Q: What research is involved in writing one of your stories?
A: My research is all kind of backwards. I don't go to the public library for three months and take notes in advance; instead my best research is by remembering and adapting. I read, travel, and talk to people just for the fun of it, filing away these interesting little snippets to the back of my mind and eventually they float to the surface and get used. The problem is, I approach writing the book with the same excitement and impatience that I hope the reader is going to feel about reading it. But even so, I need a certain measure of technical intrigue in the story. There is specific research I have to do as I go along, anything that's a small detail; a car, a gun, a type of bullet. I will check that out at the time. But, that's what I call the detail--the broad stuff is the stuff I already know.
Meet Jack Reacher
The Killing Floor |
Die Trying |
Tripwire |
Running Blind |
Echo Burning |
Without Fail |
Persuader |
The Enemy |
One Shot |
The Hard Way |
Book Description
From a helicopter high above the empty California desert, a man is sent free-falling into the night…. In Chicago, a woman learns that an elite team of ex–army investigators is being hunted down one by one.... And on the streets of Portland, Jack Reacher—soldier, cop, hero—is pulled out of his wandering life by a code that few other people could understand. From the first shocking scenes in Lee Child’s explosive new novel, Jack Reacher is plunged like a knife into the heart of a conspiracy that is killing old friends…and is on its way to something even worse.
A decade postmilitary, Reacher has an ATM card and the clothes on his back—no phone, no ties, and no address. But now a woman from his old unit has done the impossible. From Chicago, Frances Neagley finds Reacher, using a signal only the eight members of their elite team of army investigators would know. She tells him a terrifying story—about the brutal death of a man they both served with. Soon Reacher is reuniting with the survivors of his old team, scrambling to raise the living, bury the dead, and connect the dots in a mystery that is growing darker by the day. The deeper they dig, the more they don’t know: about two other comrades who have suddenly gone missing—and a trail that leads into the neon of Vegas and the darkness of international terrorism.
For now, Reacher can only react. To every sound. Every suspicion. Every scent and every moment. Then Reacher will trust the people he once trusted with his life—and take this thing all the way to the end. Because in a world of bad luck and trouble, when someone targets Jack Reacher and his team, they’d better be ready for what comes right back at them…
Customer Reviews:
My First Reacher Novel, Probably My Last.......2007-10-06
I picked up Bad Luck and Trouble because it sounded like an interesting book. I must say, though, that it was not my cup of tea. I, on the whole, enjoy crime novels and spy thrillers in the vein of Vince Flynn and David Baldacci. Lee Child most likely fits here nicely.
The story is about Jack Reacher, a former military policeman. He receives a call for help from one of his former teammates. It seems that several members of the unit have disappeared and Reacher needs to find out why. Interesting premise, but it quickly devolves into a revenge novel with a little bit of "let's stop the terrorist" thrown in to make the story timely.
I have no problem with the writing of the book. Mr. Child is a very talented writer. I just did not enjoy the story. Revenge for the sake of revenge is not my idea of a good time.
disappointing.......2007-09-27
Unfortunately, in my opinion, this book cannot be compared the The Hard Way. That one was taut, thrilling and extremely gripping. This one was drowning in minutiae, far too many 'filler' details. It took 250 pages to even know what the characters were trying to stop. From then on, you just knew Reacher would get the bad guys and the climax was pretty standard 'shoot 'em up', no surprises or twists at all. I expected so much more. Pass this one by.
Best Yet.......2007-09-25
I have enjoyed the seris, and liked this one the best, because of the former team members, they give some real balance to Jack...
The Latest Installment From A Favorite Author.......2007-09-18
If you somehow got your hands on a copy of Bad Luck & Trouble and have NOT read the previous Jack Reacher tales, stop and begin with The Killing Floor. Lucky you!
Having said that, Bad Luck & Trouble is yet another very satisfying installment in the series. I sincerely hope that Lee Child continues to be inspired by his character and the interesting settings that Jack Reacher finds himself in.
This story is fresh, edge of the seat entertainment that we fans have come to expect. Mr Child does not disappoint!.
Jack's Back.......2007-09-16
My enjoyment of the Jack Reacher novels is such that I actually purchased this hardcover. Anyone familiar with this type of novel recognizes that plot details are secondary to what has been called, "solidification of sequence". This novel is a shade less enjoyable than the rest. Is Mr.Child losing interest? Am I losing interest? Hard to say but this one comes up short. Of course Jack is still there. And I would still like to have him as a friend, although I come probably never find him if I needed him. By the way, isn't only owning the "clothes on his back" gimmick wearing a little thin. Jack,buy yourself a knapsack, a duffel bag, at least a brief case, and carry a change of socks. To those of us accustomed to changing clothing at least every day the idea of wearing them until they reek is not only unappealing but unrealistic. And, I have wondered, what the hell does Jack do when he takes the next bus to anywhere and gets there. What does he do, walk the streets? With no real money and clothes that stink his choices are somewhat limited. Seedy hotel rooms lose their charm after a while and there are only so many undeserving victims of cruel, powerful people out there to assist. Sure, it's great to read of him breaking the neck of some ruffian but walking back into the great outback of novel land, chucking it all so he can return next year to crack some more skulls does require the willing suspension of disbelief. Life must be awful boring between bouts with bad men. Jack, settle down, get a job, star in a tv series, marry that beautiful babe, put some roots down before old age catches up with you....and Mr. Child runs out of marginably credible adventures for you to participate. And, for cryin' out loud, change your clothes.
Book Description
Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used.
Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.
Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.
The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect book on an intriguing subject.......2007-09-22
I bought Pelton's 'World's most dangerous places' a few years ago. I'm always interested in the shady world of mercenaries, contractors and hired guns so of course I wanted to buy this book as soon as it was out. And it was spot-on. This is a very well written book, it gives you a no-nonsense look into the world of the contractors and after you have read it, you know a lot more about the matter than the average newsreader. What I liked most was the parts about Sandline and Executives Outcomes. Definetely a must-read if you want to know something more about contractors and 'mercenaries', or better put: the difference between those two. I recommend it highly.
Contract Rifles.......2007-08-13
Robert Young Pelton's Licensed to Kill is a book well worthy of the time invested in reading it. Pelton illuminates the world of modern private security contracting both from the inside and from an historical perspective. He draws a distinction between the security contractor, who is essentially a defensive fighter, and a mercenary, who undertakes offensive actions. The reader meets individual contractors and a few of the men behind the organizations. Tales of trial by fire mix with broader-perspective cautionary tales about where the trend in security contracting may be headed and the gray zone between the private security company and the mercenary army. Pelton's work offers valuable perspective on a phenomenon that has erupted since the start of the War on Terror and which deserves serious attention.
Licensed to Kill is many things at once. Pelton's book is a jigsaw puzzle of personal experiences with contractors on the ground, small-picture stories about individuals in the post-9/11 world of gun-for-hire opportunities, and big-picture stories that serve to frame the pre- and post-9/11 world of security contracting. A literary critic might argue that Licensed to Kill is a postmoderist work that lacks central direction or a single message. I believe that Pelton's book is a creditworthy effort at giving a human face to security contractors while creating a context for the world in which the War on Terror contractor operates.
At the personal level, Pelton devotes several chapters to his experiences in Iraq and North Carolina with contractors. Based on his subjects, Pelton to enjoys the closest contact with the American company Blackwater--one of post-9/11 private security success stories and one of the big winners of the outsourcing of security in Iraq. Pelton describes the Blackwater people in detail. The reader is imparted the knowledge that these are real people. The author sees most of them as men of (surprisingly) complex motives: they want to fight for their country; they want to support wives, children, etc.; they don't want to put up with the Big Army's bureaucratic nonsense; they want better pay than an Army junior enlisted man gets for putting his life on the line; they fear they have no other skills, so they want to earn a living marketing what they have; many are too old to go active duty, anyway; they crave the high that comes from danger.
As a mid-thirties National Guardsman and junior NCO who served in Baghdad in 2005, I understand the men Pelton describes reasonably well. Pelton describes a run down Route Irish to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) and back to the Green Zone. I've made that run more than once myself. Although I find Pelton's description a touch dramatic, he's very authentic when he describes the hazards of the situation. I understand completely why these men hate the Big Army way of doing business. Soldiers in Iraq--NCOs included--are treated like irresponsible children, forbidden any sort of liberties, and subjected to the attentions of bored sergeants major who think the insurgency will be defeated by proper uniforms and correctly-laced boots. The contractors Pelton describes have found a way to get into the fight while avoiding the Army's less-attractive aspects. Many of my fellow soldiers talked about trying to come back as contractors so they could make twice as much money (or more) and be treated like men into the bargain. Pelton gives the reader an idea of who the contractors, mostly prior military, really are. Seemn through Pelton's eyes, contractors are not predominantly bloodthirsty raiders looking to spill as much innocent blood as possible. They are men being paid to carry a rifle to accomplish specific tasks and trying to survive while doing it.
Pelton is clearly in the trenches with the contractors physically and sympathetically. He acknowledges as much, so we are free to take his anecdotal experience as exactly that: anecdotal.
That much said, Pelton is not a mindless promoter in Licensed to Kill. He raises questions about the legal framework of contracting. To whom do the contractors really answer? Soldiers are clearly representatives of their nation, and they are held to well-published standards of conduct. Contractors, though as former soldiers may be guided by the same moral and ethical compass as their uniformed brethren, are not bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Pelton points out that contractors exist in a sort of legal and ethical limbo. This, Pelton claims, is what the US government wants. When a contractor messes up and is called to task for it, the US government can claim that the contractor does not represent the policies and intent of the United States. The contractor can be dismissed out of hand, Pelton tells us, and the government thereafter washes its hands of the whole thing. Deniability, the author claims, is one of the chief virtues of the contractor and, by extension, one of the chief moral pitfalls. What does it say about the United States of America when we engage disposable men to fight for our causes? Soldiers are expendable in that their lives may be sacrificed to accomplish a mission. However, soldiers receive a host of benefits and long-term investment as part of their service. Contractors receive pay and nothing more. Currently, they are mostly immune from legal consequences in Iraq; but when and if they do start to be charged with crimes for their activities, the US government can give them up with a clean conscience--no harm, no foul to the government. Compare this to the fallout associated with Abu Ghraib and other poor conduct by American troops, and one can see the allure of disposable, deniable contractors. Whether or not the rest of the world will buy the argument that the actions of contractors do not reflect on the government sponsoring the contract remains to be seen. Pelton's point is that the US government has been entranced by the prospect and is likely to remain so until circumstances invalidate the idea.
Pelton devotes some narrative to the world of security contracting prior to 9/11. The main point of doing so seems to be to illustrate the fact that while private security contracting is by no means a new activity, the War on Terror has completely transformed contracting and contracting companies. He also points out that the more mercenary activities of private contracting that occurred in the 1990's still exist as possibilities in the 2000's and beyond. Pelton tells us that the leadership of Blackwater in particular is interested in building a force larger, more capable, and much more powerful than the armies of a number of Third World countries. Pelton seems assured that the Blackwater leadership assumes a priori that a Blackwater army would be used only in support of American foreign interests and that this fact creates a satisfactory moral and ethical framework for the use of said force. At the same time, Pelton raises the question of what will happen when the bounties of the War on Terror cease to provide satisfactory employ for the growing mass of men and companies under arms by contract. Men like the men Pelton describes in detail in Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Carolina may find that having decided to live by the rifle in their post-military careers they are unable to resist bending their codes of conduct to take jobs that are neither entirely in nor out of line with American foreign policy and interests once the ratio of contractors-to-contracts starts to become more competitive. (Sooner or later, this will happen. The market makes it inevitable.) Where in the gray zone between security contractor and mercenary will these men then operate? This is no academic question. As Pelton points out, it is a reality being rushed along by the decision of the US government to privatize much of the security force of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Licensed to Kill is a worthy read. The men are real. The world in which they operate is filled with dangers, rewards, and uncertainties. The national policies unfolding today lead us down a road fraught with hazard and paved with the bodies and rifles of security contractors and those they have been engaged to fight. Pelton provides the reader with an interesting, informative read. Whether one agrees with him or not, Pelton paints a fascinating picture and raises important questions.
Pelton Explores the Rise of Military Privitization.......2007-08-13
Robert Young Pelton has been reporting from global hotspots for the past 15 + years. His record of reporting from far a field is impeccable, including stints in Afghanistan, Columbia, Kashmir, Algeria, and now Iraq. Having long been acquainted with private military contractors throughout his travels, Pelton ventures to Iraq to experience first hand the move towards privatization in the US military.
Pelton spends the majority of his time in Iraq with the controversial Blackwater USA; making runs along the "highway of death" between Baghdad Airport and the Green Zone. He gives a good description of the life of a military contractor in one the world's most dangerous zones. Pelton refrains from painting a too glorified picture of contractor life, and seems more to concentrate on the motivations of men working in the field.
Pelton also describes the history of the military contractor beginning in the early 1980s with such firms as the South African Executive Outcomes, and the British Sandline. He illustrates both the perceived benefits of private military intervention, such as quelling the RUF in Sierra Leone, to the not so clean interventions in Equatorial Guinea sponsored by the wealth-seeking interests of international business and finance.
All in all, I think Pelton does an excellent job refraining from the political bias which clouds much of the recent work on military contractors. Licensed to Kill serves as a readable description of the unstoppable move towards the expansion of private military contractors, and provokes thought and discussion on this new Pandora's Box.
Fascinating read that explores the implications of private security forces.......2007-08-07
This book reflects on the history and modern evolution of private security forces, their influences on the war on terror and the implications of the acceptance of private security forces in society's future.
Beyond just a dry assessment of private security contractors in Iraq, Pelton, adds dramatic personal narratives of his interactions with security contractors, aptly painting a picture of their experiences in Iraq.
This is a must read for anyone interested in the blurring of the line between the military and privately fielded armed forces, which raises interesting questions regarding the US Military's self-sufficiency, the allegiances of private forces, the skill-drain occurring in the armed forces and the future of warfare.
Bull's Eye!.......2007-05-22
In his book, Licensed to Kill, Robert Young Pelton hits the bull's eye with a sweeping, crash course in the explosive growth of private security contractors.
Thrust from the sweltering groins of Africa, Papua New Guinea and other trouble spots around the globe where hidden treasures of oil and minerals tempt buccaneering entrepreneurs, the private security industry is now bursting in full multi-billion-dollar glory on the bloody streets of Iraq.
Pelton chronicles it all with gritty first-hand experience and a keen, knowing vision: the past is prologue and the present boom in Iraq screams a cautionary tale for tomorrow. We may be witnessing the birth of a roving, freelance warrior class in constant search for new wars. (On second thought, the world may already have one. It's called the global war on terror.)
Licensed to Kill, proves once again that Pelton gets the interviews and access that few writers even dream about. He gallops into the secret mud brick camps of Afghanistan; lifts glasses with big wheels while toasting back-room money deals; sweats through a Triple Canopy training camp in Arkansas; barrels down the dangerous highways of Iraq; explores the twisted life of a self-aggrandizing bounty hunter searching for bin Laden; and lives the daily tensions of retired cops and veterans struggling to make a living for their families back home as hired guns.
Although these blue-collar workers may earn $600 a day, they work 24/7. It is grueling and deadly work. Just ask Miyagi, one of the many characters percolating through the book. Sent home by Blackwater to his wife and nine-year-old son in Santa Barbara, an IED drove a gash through his arm and left a fist-sized hole in his [..]. Now, he's waiting for a new assignment. He says it's too tough to make ends meet for his family as a cop in California.
Others, like Erik Prince, a politically-connected former Navy SEAL, never faced those worries. As the founder of the North Carolina-based Blackwater, USA, Prince hit the jackpot a long time ago with a multimillion-dollar family fortune. Today, his company banks on government security contracts totaling $750 million or more won after the Sept.11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. Blackwater's success may be only the beginning. Prince envisions taking part in contracts all over the world with Blackwater's own private air force. The company claims it can deploy a private regiment of 1,700 anywhere within a 24-hour notice.
"Prince likes to think of Blackwater's relationship to the traditional military as something akin to FedEx's relationship to the U.S. Post office," Pelton observes after meeting with Prince on several occasions.
Then there's Col. Tim Spicer, a former Scots Guardsman, who first plied his mercenary trade on the outskirts of the developed world by getting mixed up with coups, mineral rights and guns for cold hard cash. Today, Spicer has reinvented himself with the newly-formed Aegis Defence Services. His company holds the largest security contract in Iraq and is charged with coordinating the chaos among tens of thousands of gun-slinging contractors working for scores of companies.
But who will coordinate the chaos of private security companies after Iraq? The business is already on the prowl for new work. "The thing to watch," Pelton cautions, is if hired guns become a permanent fixture in foreign policy.
Even more troubling, is the prospect that the private warriors will begin to freelance in backing political coups -- sometimes unknowingly -- because their mission can be disguised by contracts to protect oil fields, gold mines and other corporate property.
Pelton recounts chilling incidents of this already happening before Iraq sucked up the talent from around the world and then went begging for new recruits. No one knows how many trained and battle-hardened private warriors are working in Iraq. Some estimate 30,000, others say 50,000 or more. Most of these fighters will have few crossover job skills once they leave, but they will have proven resumes showing they carry guns for hire and answer to no one but their company boss.
Licensed to Kill may be just the first chapter in what leads us to ask: what monster is this that the world has created?
Book Description
In Lee Child’s astonishing new thriller, ex–military cop Reacher sees more than most people would...and because of that, he’s thrust into an explosive situation that’s about to blow up in his face. For the only way to find the truth—and save two innocent lives—is to do it the way Jack Reacher does it best: the hard way….
Jack Reacher was alone, the way he liked it, soaking up the hot, electric New York City night, watching a man cross the street to a parked Mercedes and drive it away. The car contained one million dollars in ransom money. And Edward Lane, the man who paid it, will pay even more to get his family back. Lane runs a highly illegal soldiers-for-hire operation. He will use any amount of money and any tool to find his beautiful wife and child. And then he’ll turn Jack Reacher loose with a vengeance—because Reacher is the best man hunter in the world.
On the trail of a vicious kidnapper, Reacher is learning the chilling secrets of his employer’s past…and of a horrific drama in the heart of a nasty little war. He’s beginning to realize that Edward Lane is hiding something. Something dirty. Something big. But Reacher also knows this: he’s already in way too deep to stop now.
Customer Reviews:
Big and bad!.......2007-09-13
Jack reacher is big and bad and doesn't take crap from anyone. He also has a heart and a conscience that seem to choose the right thing to do for the right reason. He's far from perfect but he's like a modern cowboy and thinks in a traditional sense. One thing for sure, is you better make him a friend, because you certainly don't want him as your enemy.
Electrifying Climax!.......2007-09-07
Jack Reacher, like John "Lilly" Lelankevitch Evil, Be Gone, walks tall amongst other men. Guys like these are drawn to evildoers and leave dark justice, vengeful mayhem and a certain silencing of evil in their wake. Lee Child has created a character in Jack Reacher who conveys a very comfortable confidence in his ability to handle almost any dire situation that confronts him. The Hard Way is riveting and yet the author also equips his hero with comic relief capability that gives readers a moment to catch their breath. This is a fun book to read and the climax is one of the best in the genre, drawing you so completely into the scene that you'll be looking over your shoulder to make sure there are no bad guys sneaking up on you. Don't worry, with Reacher there...you're covered. Robert John Estko, author of Evil, Be Gone (a John "Lilly" Lelankevitch novel available on Amazon.com)
addictive.......2007-08-25
This writer is addictive. My husband told me to order all of Jack Reacher novels. We both love this guy. Everyone we know would love a guy like this in our lives. Great read!!!!!! Great writing and from start to finish non-stop action. Loved it!!
Thanks
JAS
The best of the series--so far.......2007-07-29
I just discovered this series and read all but the most recent this summer. He keeps getting better. I love his disinterest in possessions and the change in setting in each story. Makes for a one-of-a-kind hero who never fails to surprise.
Typical Jack Reacher Formula.......2007-07-23
I like the Reacher books, even though they are preposterous. Reacher, of course, is a caricature of the loner super-hero and this book is no exception. Sometimes I think the name "Reacher" is literal -- in other words, the author may be reaching a bit too far in his plot turns. BUT...on the whole, this was a good Reacher novel, if you can just suspend belief and reality for a few hundred pages. It's a good yarn, with a lot of suspense and some pretty well-drawn characters. I think the writing here is a shade better than in Child's other Reacher books and the plot is creative. If you're a Reacher fan, you'll like this one. I am and I did.
Book Description
Mercenaries have been with us since the dawn of civilization, yet in the modern world they are little understood. While many of today's freelance fighters provide support for larger military establishments, others wage war where the great powers refuse to tread. In War Dog, Al Venter examines the latter world of mercenary fighters effecting decisions by themselves. In the process he unveils a remarkable array of close-quarters combat action.
Having personally visited every locale he describes throughout Africa and the Middle East, Venter is the rare correspondent who had to carry an AK-47 in his research along with his notebook and camera. To him, covering mercenary actions meant accompanying the men into the thick of combat. During Sierra Leone's civil war, he flew in the front bubble of the government's lone Hind gunship-piloted by the heroic chopper ace "Nellis"-as it flew daily missions to blast apart rebel positions. In this book the author not only describes the battles of the legendary South African mercenary company Executive Outcomes, he knew the founders personally and joined them on a number of actions. After stemming the tide of Jonas Savimbi's UNITA army in Angola (an outfit many of the SA operators had previously trained), Executive Outcomes headed north to hold back vicious rebels in West Africa.
This book is not only about triumph against adversity but also losses, as Venter relates the death and subsequent cannibalistic fate of his American friend, Bob MacKenzie, in Sierra Leone. Here we see the plight of thousands of civilians fleeing from homicidal jungle warriors, as well as the professionalism of the mercenaries who fought back with one hand and attempted to train government troops with the other, in hopes that they would someday be able to stand on their own.
The American public, as well as its military, largely sidestepped the horrific conflicts that embroiled Africa during the past two decades. But as Venter informs us, there were indeed small numbers of professional fighters on the ground, defending civilians and attempting to conjure order from chaos. In the process their heroism went unrecorded and their combat skill became known only to each other.
In this book we gain an intimate glimpse of this modern breed of warrior in combat. Not laden with medals, ribbons, civic parades, or even guaranteed income, they have nevertheless fought some of the toughest battles in the post- Cold War era. They simply are, and perhaps always will be, "War Dogs."
AL J. VENTER has been an international war correspondent for nearly thirty years, primarily for the Jane's Information Group. He has also produced documentary television films on subjects from the wars in Africa and Afghanistan to sharkhunting off the Cape of Good Hope. Among his previous works are The Iraqi War Debrief: Why Saddam Hussein Was Toppled and Iran's Nuclear Option: Tehran's Quest for the Atomic Bomb. A native of South Africa, he is currently resident in the United Kingdom.
Customer Reviews:
First Hand Account of Mercs.......2007-07-28
I waited and waited for this book to come out. I wasn't disappointed. It covers the modern mercenary world from a a first had account. The primary focus of the book is on mercs in Africa. The author spent a significant amount of his time with these mercenarys, occassionally even going on missions with them. The book is long, getting into details that other books have skimmed over for lack of information.
I only give this book 5 stars because he covers a subject to a depth I haven't seen since the 80s mercs books. I'm tempted to give it 4 stars though because the writer skips around, referencing future chapters and re telling the same story several times. However if you are into true mercenarys this is the one and only book to get. I collect books on African mercenarys but this is my reference and encyclopedia book on the subject.
Hind's First hand.......2006-08-22
I'm a "Hind-Nut" or a HUGE fan of the MI_24 Helicopter and all it's variants. (old & New) I get every book and read every thing on line I possibly can about this flying battle ship.
The only problem is that most all books on the hind are Technical manuals, discriptions and Histories of it, there is little or nothing written about actual combat in the hind. Not true anymore! The Authors stories of Neil Ellis' battles are very exciting and will be to any Hind Enthusiest.I knew little or nothing about the Bush wars in Africa (or even where Sieara Lione was)until I read this book and got a real education from it as well. NOT a light read though.
PMCs, Diamond Fields & Hinds.......2006-07-02
The main focus of "War Dog" is on mercenary pilots in Africa around the turn of the millennium. Flying 'outdated' planes and third hand Hind helicopters these pilots ruled the skies above the endless battles to control the diamond mines below. Land battles and treks in BMPs get their due too, but it's the helicopters and airplanes that get the most attention in this book.
The main thing I took away from "War Dog" is that as First World governments become more and more hesitant to have body bags full of -their- soldiers show up on the TV news Private Military Companies (PMCs) that run armies for hire have stepped up to do the dirty work. The rise of one such PMC "Executive Outcomes" is discussed at length.
A good book full of information, not a light read, but one people interested in current events will find useful.
Unique insight into military contracting; sobering tutorial on modern Africa.......2006-04-23
This is a remarkable book. It turns like a thriller, yet the reader also is being educated from a first-hand observer of the sorry state of modern, post-colonial (sometimes proto-colonial) African states. If hiring professional soldiers is what it takes to do something--anything--to ameliorate the "Wretched of the Earth" and the biblical suffering in underdeveloped basketcases, then let's by G-d do it.
From one who was there and in the book..........2006-03-28
All I can say is reading this was a very emotional experience as I relived some of those memories from Ventor's book, War Dog.
It is not only a work of truth but an amazing story of historical facts that should be read by anyone who truly wants to understand the nature of modern, post cold war conflict and how closely integrated international economy is with these small wars.
He also, speaks not only of the 'contrary to popular opinion' fact, that most modern mercs were former distinguished soldiers who left their service and continue to serve with more honor than many civilians will ever know or have. Mercs who also were smart enough to see a way to make some money doing what they were already good at from years of service. Mercs who risk their lives for causes, not just money, and that many of these causes, still actually serve the good of their own homelands through indirect means.
Also, they understand that many of their enemies are not out for anything other than pure greed and will stop at no inhumane horror to attempt achieving this. Using child soldiers, hacking off limbs of old people with dull machetes, taking bets and then cutting the babies out of pregnant women to see if it's a boy or girl that falls out...
These mercs understand what no politician or self professed peace lover will ever understand or be able to say, much less take action on...And that is that some people in this world are not kind, but ruthless and the only way to stop them is with force...
And that's what this book is all about, these men who choose to lay their lives on the line, sure for some money, if they live and when they get paid (if ever), but mostly for a cause they believe in, in places most can't even fathom and in ways, many will never understand, until they live it.
These men fall in love with a woman, or a country, or an ideal and often, money is the least of their motives. Read for yourself and form your own opinion. This is the closest to ground truth anyone can ever get without actually going there and living through it- if they live though it.
For me, my tour in Africa in some ways, was one of my quietest in terms of combat actually fought, as my wars were in other places. But, in terms of the blood shed and horrors of inhumanity, I've seen nothing like these wars.
And, I've seen nothing like the brave men I met there. The Russian crews I served with were some of the best ever and the South African men I met and worked with there, make many heros look small in comparison. To those men go the real honors and salutations.
And to Ventor for capturing it, so that their stories will be told, the truth will be know, people can understand and maybe, just maybe, someone somewhere, who is in a position to make a change, might just do so and in that, all our efforts combined, will make a difference.
A good read, a better book and a great story for everyone who seeks to understand where we are and where we're going.
Salute!
>>----->
Book Description
The explosive New York Times bestselling Oregon Files series returns!
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the covert combat ship Oregon have barely escaped a mission on the Congo River when they intercept a mayday from a defenseless boat under fire off the African coast. Cabrillo takes action, saving the beautiful Sloane Macintyre-who's looking for a long-submerged ship that may hold a fortune in diamonds. But what surprises Cabrillo is her story about a crazy fisherman who claims to have been attacked on the open sea by giant metal snakes in the same area.
What begins as a snake hunt leads Cabrillo onto the trail of a far more lethal quarry-a deranged militant and his followers who plan to unleash the devastating power of nature itself against all who oppose them.
Customer Reviews:
Action on the seas around Africa.......2007-08-20
What do you get when you tie together Clive Cussler and one of his numerous co-authors? Typically, a Clive Cussler book with some twists that show the seams where Clive and the co-author split writing duties. that is not the case in this book! JacK DuBrul is identified as the co-author here and there appear to be only minute seams which may actually be artifacts of editorial decisions made by others.
In the Oregon Files we follow the adventures of Juan Cabrillo and his modern pirate ship. Oh, I know! Juan Cabrillo is the "Chairman" of a corporation and he gets his commissions from government work - not high seas piracy. But, is this really that different than what used to be called Privateering?
The Oregon is Cabrillo's ship. She looks like a tramp steamer, but is in reality a super modern, highly equipped and weaponed, futuristic ship. Her equipment includes everything from superb engines to a multiple ways of launching boats, to all kinds of weapon systems and helicopters. The crew are all ex-CIA or other special forces and all seem hell bent for leather to do anything they are asked to.
In Skeleton Coast we see the marriage of eveil fanatical eco-terrorists with the power seeking quasi-officeers who take over African countries. The thread that pulls them all together is the Oregon and its exploits.
In typical Cussler style, there is a prologue in which we learn of a daring diamond heist perpetrated on an African nation over 100 years ago. Then, we switch to modern times and see the Oregon delivering a load of weapons to a modern African warlord. Action starts there and does not stop until we meet a woman who works for DeBeers diamonds, charismatic industrialists and scientists who invent various things, evil scientists who try to kill millions to show the world that the environment is deteriorating, etc. etc. etc.
There are actions scenes galore, many bodies, morbid torture and killing sprees, a fabulous prison situated in the middle of an impassible desert, and more. All to be resolved as it should with the Oregon rescuing the world and getting the girl to boot! It was a fun read and they even tied the old stolen diamonds in a way that made some kind of madcap sense.
Having had some bad experiences with co-author arrangements, I was frankly skeptical about this one. But after having read the Skeleton Coast, I will seek out more of the Oregon Files in the future.
Skeleton Coast.......2007-07-20
Book was received in a timely manner. Excellent condition.
I enjoyed reading the book and its fast paced action.
Typical Over-the-Top Cussler Action-Thriller.......2007-07-03
This review is for the Berkley trade paperback edition, October 2006, 373 pages. SKELETON COAST was on the USA Today's Top 150 Best-Selling books list for nine weeks in October and November 2006, reaching a peak position to 21. Clive Cussler has 24 novels on this best-seller list.
The story begins in 1896 with the theft of a fortune in uncut diamonds from the Herero king in then the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana). After a treacherous escape across the Kalahari Desert, the five thieves, all Brits, reach the HMS Rove, their chartered escape vessel. But as soon as they board, they are trapped by a violent storm and their pursuers attack. Officially, the HMS Rove is lost a sea, but the story narrator reveals it is buried eight miles inland in the desert.
In the present day, the story moves to a laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland and a conversation between the owner and a female technician about making sea water gooey. Then it jumps to a scummy looking freighter in the Congo River. The crew is trading weapons for uncut diamonds with a rebel group. Beneath the crud the freighter is actually the Oregon, Captain Juan Cabrillo's technological marvel operated by ex CIA agents and other mercenaries working for a for profit corporation. After escaping a harrowing fire fight with the rebels, the Oregon saves a damsel in distress who happens to be looking for the HMS Rove.
And so it goes. The Oregon faces one challenge after another, each one more tortuous than the previous and requiring the employment of the Oregon's state-of-the-art firepower, helicopter, lifeboat cum hydroplane and submersibles. The feats and skills of the Oregon's crew are nothing less than unbelievable, the coincidences incredible and Captain Cabrillo's ability to invent complex plans within minutes astounding. This is a typical over-the-top Cussler action-thriller. Unfortunately, it is heavy on tell rather than show and the non-stop action is frequently interrupted by speeches we would rather skip.
Cussler at his best!.......2007-06-19
Last Christmas, my mother asked me if I could give her any gift ideas for myself in the 15-30 dollar range. Without hesitation, I told her to buy me a book, something by Clive Cussler, but not Sahara or Atlantis Found, as I had already read them.
When I opened this book, and first saw the reflective red cover, I was a lttle taken aback. The title was not one I expected to see. (I already recognized the shape, weight, and flexibility as being a novel from my many years of present shaking as a child.) A quick scan of the synopsis further worried me. This novel would not prominently feature Dirk Pitt. (I only recently realized that my knowledge of Mr. Cusslers work is still in it's infancy)
Slightly dismayed, I set the book aside for a week or two. Then, one day for no obvious reason, I picked it up. I quickly realized that Juan Cabrillo is every bit the caliber of Dirk Pitt. Even the way the crew members converse, setting each other up to display intelligence and character in a way that would seem out of place in reality (but always seems to skirt the edge between comic book an adventure novel here) remained. many ways having knowledge about subjects and scenarios that seems unlikely at times. In all, I found everything I love about Cussler inside, and for anyone wary to venture from the Dirk Pitt series to some of Cusslers other works, take this as a vote of Confidence. You will not be disappointed.
Another Clear Winner for the Author.......2007-06-19
Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon, a well disguised combat shop have barely escaped from a mission on the Congo River. Not in a hurry to commit is men to anything else for a while when the radio operator intercepts a mayday call from a boat under fire off the African coast. Much as he would like to ignore the Mayday, no seaman with an ounce of self-respect can ignore such a call. Cabrillo takes the appropriate action and saves the beautiful Sloane Macintyre.
Sloane is looking for a long lost sunken ship that could hold a fortune in diamonds. But what intrigues Cabrillo most of all is her story about a mad fisherman who claims to have been attacked in the same area by giant metal snakes . . .
Book Description
As the U.S. Army shrinks, a private army steps into the breach. A Bloody Business offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes and into the ranks of this mercenary force (numbering as many as 15,000 today) who guard supply convoys, train foreign soldiers, provide security for foreign leaders and dignitariesand whose workplaces are the most dangerous hot spots on the planet. With its insights into who these men are, what drives them, where they come from, how they prepare, and what they do, this book provides a uniquely close-up and complete picture of the private army behind Americas military muscle.Author Schumacher interviewed security contractors and their families and high-ranking coalition officials. He was in Iraq, where he witnessed how private soldiers fought ambushes, trained Iraqi forces, escorted high-level officials in dangerous conditions, and saw the contractors side of the Iraq war.
Customer Reviews:
A Bloody Business.......2007-08-01
I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. I was pleasantly surprised. I initially had a very negative view of military contractors, mostly due to the media bias in our country. The book spells out what type of contractors serve in Iraq and what I enjoyed the most, gives personal accounts of the contractors who serve. I am considering taking a position as an International Police Officer in Iraq and I found the personal accounts of the officers who served there quite compelling.
The author remains very politically neutral, unlike recent books I have read about this subject, and lets the reader decide how he or she feels about the involvement of "civilians" in the warzone. I only wish he could have dug a little deeper and gathered more personal accounts, but this is still a good read nevertheless.
A Bloody Buisness.......2007-03-31
Gerry Schumacher brings the gritty world of security contractors into focus in this very informative book. War stories from actual contractors, re-told from the vantage point of a battle seasoned veteran. Plus, the experiences of a retired soldier who was in Iraq, met the people, and ran some of the missions. If you are looking for a political agenda, this is not your book:) If you are looking for a window into life in Iraq, this is an excellent collection of stories that changed my view about contractors and about what life in Iraq is like outside the spin zone.
play it again.......2007-03-30
Not very well written, often redundent, but still a decent overall view of trials and tribulations of contractor life in a war zone.
Such a waste of paper.......2007-03-21
If glorifying an illegal murderous private army now is the job of a retired officer, he's done a good job.
A good read..........2007-03-10
Taking the book for what it is...one man's observations, it is an excellent book that allows you to grasp a better view of the contractors in Iraq.
Book Description
The author of the bestselling NUMA and Dirk Pitt series returns with an all-new novel of adventure and intrigue featuring his unbeatable hero of the high seas-Juan Cabrillo.
Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.
Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.
Customer Reviews:
Fast favorite.......2007-06-02
I have always been a Clive Cussler fan, I have been enjoying the "Oregon
Files" since the begining. But lately they have become a fast fovorite.
I am also a Jack Du Burl fan. Teaming him with Clive Cussler is one of
the best ideas that have ever come along. Action adventure fans will find
thees books a wonderfull read. I highly recomend them. I have started my
frends and family reading all the series, Dirk Pit, Kurt Auston, Juan Cabrillo, and Phillup Mercer, wouldent it be fun if Dirk Pit and Maercer
had an adventue togather.
Solid adventure.......2007-02-11
This was my first encounter with Cussler's Oregon franchise - one that resembles yet is also distinct from his older and well known NUMA franchises.
"Oregon Files"? That's right. "Oregon" is the name of a tramp freighter, a sea-going wreck that is alo loaded with tons of high-tech and hard-hitting weaponry, capable of zipping over rough seas with next-generation engines using electromagnetism and carries its own contingent of SEALs. Owned by the shadowy "Corporation", the Oregon stands ready to handle various clandestine operations that freedom-loving governments themselves are unable to handle. (If you've seen the orginal James Bond movie "Thunderball", imagine the "Disco Valente" and you'll get the idea.) "Oregon" is very much a profit-making enterprise, but one that chooses only assignments that its "Chairman" can live with. In short, Oregon is the epitome of the term "Freedom isn't Free".
In "Dark Watch", the crew is asked to look into reports of piracy in the Sea of Japan. What they find is only the tip of the iceberg. Cussler and Du Brul link the piracy to a huge operation involving crooked bankers, human smuggling on a vast scale, an industrial-sized ship-breaking operation, and your typical character who embodies evil.
If "Dark Watch" is any indication, then "Oregon Files" can best be considered a more determined and gritty version of Cussler's "Dirk Pitt" books. Not even the "Chairman" himself (the nominal hero of the story) quite captures the story the way that Dirk Pitt does. Cussler ditches the "Camp of Pitt" (in "Valhalla Rising", Pitt manages to locate and rescue a beautiful woman from the heart of a burning cruise liner; the next morning, he introduces himself by apologizing for his "tardiness) but doesn't really replace it with something new. It's like "Diet Dirk Pitt" - fewer calories or taste.
As for the story itself, "Dark Watch" has a bunch of interesting threads that just come together without ever becoming a truly epic story - instead, one story leads into another once it's had its compulsory adventure scene.
That said, this was still a great read (great beach reading in the finest Cussler tradition), with riveting action sequences and fun/disposable bad-guys. In know I'll be packing some more of "Oregon" the next time I head for the beach.
Don't Bother!.......2006-10-14
It's too bad that Clive Cussler changed collaborators on his "Oregon Files" series. This was terrible! I couldn't even finish it. I read a lot in all different genres so I feel that I'm a little qualified to comment on a book I have read. It dragged, some of the characters were changed and even though I know you have suspend disbelief, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone were much better.
Finally - some depth to the characters.......2006-06-23
I was very disappointed in the last Oregon book. This was a fun read and the character development that makes a Cussler book worth reading.
AAA+++.......2006-05-19
This was my first Cussler novel and I'm hooked. Fast paced adventure and a great way to learn about many facets of the maritime.
Book Description
In an embattled, sexually-charged new world of the future, the adventure begins...
Beautiful Trinity Yeager's mission: join Nathan August's star-hopping team of mercenary soldiers. With one condition: Trinity must prove her resilience as a lover for him and his first officer, Sebastian Cole.
Trinity not only sees Nathan's bet. She raises it...
Now, from galactic dens of depravity to far-reaching planets of dominant females and strapping male slaves, Trinity, Sebastian, and Nathan join forces, risk flesh and blood, and push the boundaries of erotic adventure in order to protect, honor, and service.
Download Description
Trinity Yeager faces an unhappy life on a colony of religious zealots who make the Taliban look conservative. Her only chance for happiness is to convince a mercenary starship captain to accept her as a member of his crew, giving her the transport off-world she needs. But Captain Nathan August is skeptical that Trin's situation is as bad as she claims. He decides to test her. The only position available, he tells her, is that of his sexual toy. He expects her to back down, but Trin calls his bluff-even when he tells her his first officer will join him on the "test drive." Trin, Nathan and first officer Sebastian Cole all get a ride they'll never forget. But just how far are they willing to go?
Customer Reviews:
Oh, My..........2007-09-20
Really hot. All three stories are good. I've re-read this book several times.
i really liked it.......2007-05-14
I agree with the other reviews that I wanted more from each story. But I decided to review what we got and it was pretty darn good.
I liked all three short stories and I felt they tied together nicely. This book is expensive but I think it's worth it. I'm a penny pincher so I don't say that lightly. I can certainly see myself reading it again. Well certain parts of it again for sure. *grin*
I really enjoy Angela Knight's writing style it's sexy and hot; somehow not filthy but yet deliciously naughty. But it's a taste thing so it may not appeal to everyone.
There is plenty of kinky goodness but nothing so over the top that I'm saying to myself... Oh yeah right! She would enjoy THAT or thinking it was overly crass and ridiculous. You know that oh gosh thank you SO MUCH for sharing... going to therapy soon? feeling. But I like my kink on the light side. She does not fill her books with sex being described in contemporary language and thinks that makes a sex scene erotic. When there is contemporary language - it seems to fit and does not draw a lot of unnecessary attention, key words aren't overused. And her sex scenes are indeed yummy. Each story in this collection is a nice stand alone but yet is tied together as I mentioned.
Because I would classify this as erotica; I don't know if others appreciate reading a review that highlights what sort of sex is included but I do because not everything is to my taste and yet sometimes it is exactly to my taste and I need/want to know. I would like those books to be pointed out so I can buy them without wasting my money on something that doesn't appeal to me personally. So if you don't want to know quit reading here.
All three stories have dom/sub with bondage situations with the women being in the sub's role. The first and second stories more than the third. But it is not about enjoying serious pain and forced sexual encounters by men who disrespect women. Especially in the first two stories it's all very consensual with reassurance along the way. The men like and admire the women's strength yet at the same time want them to play the submissive roles in private. It's about playing sexy games between adults. Meaning, as long are you aren't victimizing someone, don't be ashamed by what you like type of message. Having said all of that, the third story blurs that line just a bit but only slightly. They are both fighter pilots trying to kill each other at first so their story is more of the typical "I don't like you yet but I want you" sort of deal.
Trinity - I think a reviewer said there was some homosexual stuff in this story... umm I read a different story apparently. There are some jokes. If you have guy friends you've heard the jokes before... if not you may be fooled into thinking they are serious. In my opinion they aren't. These guys dig the ladies. There is some 3 way oral but only guy on girl and girl on guy. Sexy safe bondage that every girl could enjoy. This story highlights the men we would want vs. the men we really really really would not want.
The Thrall - This is the most erotic of the three with a villain we can hate. Bondage situations described with fem dom on a fem dom planet. But the main story is about the secret fantasy by a fem dom who really wants to be submissive and save her people. This story was played out nicely. Oral, straight, and anal sex - again done in a way that was safe and not overly aggressive.
Claiming Cassidy - The more romantic of the three stories and very interesting. Very sci-fi and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved this book be a full length novel. I like a bad a** woman that can handle a bad a** man. Oral and straight sex. Bondage and tension.
Excellent read.......2007-02-14
This is definitely a racier novel compared to 'Jane's Warlord' but a fanastic read. Three novellas about a group of mercenaries; Nathan, Sebastian & Cassidy. All great reads. Would recommend
Mercenaries.......2007-01-05
The first Angela Knight book I read was Jane's Warlord. I loved the title so I bought the book. I loved it and became an instant fan. I did a search on Amazon and bought Master of the Moon, Master of the Night and master of the Sword. Love them all. All togather, I have resd 11 books from Angela Knight. Mercenaries was the last book that I bought. This book is good if you like stuff about bondage and submissive, except for Claiming Cassidy. The hero in Claiming Cassidy was an unknown race that I hope she does another book on. My only disappoinment was that the stories were so short.
Excellent example of the genre.......2006-11-12
This book contains 3 novellas: Trinity (originally published as Mercenaries, Ebook short, heavily revised and substantially lengthened), The Thrall (also published as and Ebook), and lastly Claiming Cassidy. They are all set in the lost planets space. An interstellar war erupted and these planets have been cut off from the rest of humanity for 200 or more years. Some have been in contact for longer than others but all are somewhat skewed.
Trinity lives on Orville's Paradise and has been turning down all proposals of marriage (the local bachelors are more appalling than appealing) and the church elders are going to auction her off for mirage to the highest bidder. She finds Nathan (the captain of the mercenary ship Starrunner) and Sebastian his XO in the lone local bar (can't promote sin you know) and asks to join the ship. Nicely written plot some BDSM and Ds, humor as well as erotic scenes including a 3 some. This rewrite cleans up some inconsistencies from the original and shows how far the author has come as a story teller.
The Thrall takes place on Bedsem a colony founded by BDSM (note the phonetic match) aficionados. Al the rulers have titles based on dom. Sebastian goes undercover as a thrall (sub) to find the son of a ruler who has been kidnapped by another ruler because he turned her down on an offer of mirage to her oldest daughter. Nicely done BDSM, Ds, and erotic scenes as well as a nice plot and tongue in cheek humor.
Claiming Cassidy pits her (she's a fighter pilot from the Starrunner) against Rune a Dharani Tribesman pilot. They mutually shoot each other down (managing to craqsh on a habitable planet) and once Rune finds his opponent is female he decides he wants her for his wife. But he also realizes that he has to seduce her if he doesn't want to wake up one morning with a serious case of slit throat. This story is more romantic than the others but still has some nicely done BDSM, Ds, and erotic scenes and the story line is nicely done as well. The physics is a little off as Tachyons are not part of the standard model (particle physics and well accepted) but are beloved of the string theory folks. Tachyons have negative mass and move faster than the speed of light and are one of the puns that you get trying to reconcile General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics.
Even if you don't care for this genre this book might be the one to change your mind as the characters through out the book are well drawn and appealing.
Book Description
Clive Cussler debuted his new series, The Oregon Files, with the incredible adventure of Golden Buddha. Now he follows that triumph with Sacred Stone, a rollicking new tale featuring the enigmatic captain of The Oregon, Juan Cabrillo.
In the remote wastes of Greenland, an ancient artifact possessing catastrophic radioactive power is unearthed. But the astounding find puts the world at risk.
Caught between two militant factions bent on wholesale slaughter, Juan Cabrillo and his network of spies known as The Corporation must fight to protect the stone-and prevent the outbreak of World War III.
Customer Reviews:
Barely gets 1 star.......2007-10-10
I have read every Cussler novel before and after this. This is the only one that's taken me more than two days to read. Every new book, I look forward to sitting down on a quiet weekend and reading my way through the book. It was horrible. In fact, it gave horrible a bad name. I was crushed. Thank goodness this novel was an anomoly.
Another Juan Cabrillo Novel.......2007-07-04
Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.
Clive Cussler began his series The Oregon Files, with the adventure of the Golden Buddha featuring the captain of the Oregon, Juan Cabrillo. Now he follows on the series with the Sacred Stone a new adventure featuring Juan Cabrillo.
The whole world is put at risk when an ancient artifact that possesses enormous radioactive power in unearthed in a remote part of Greenland. Caught between two militant powers that are bent on using that power to commit wholesale slaughter, Juan Cabrillo and his network of spies known as The Corporation must do everything in their power to protect the stone from all the factions that are doing their utmost to obtain the artifact. Only in this way will World War III be averted.
Did Clive Cussler even READ this book??.......2007-04-11
Mr. Cussler, please don't lend your revered name to such poorly written stuff as "The Oregon File" series. Your name on the cover, and your pic on the back may sell books to your loyal fans, but will quickly destroy our faith.
Too many characters and plots.......2007-03-29
Ok, I bought the audio edition of this to listen to on my drive to work and back. This story almost made me fall asleep at the wheel. Too many characters or similar depths made it difficult to keep track -- in fact, I still dont know who half the characters were. Did Cussler write this book? Save your money and your sanity and get a different cussler book.
A great adventure, as expected from a Cussler book!.......2007-02-03
There has been much criticism surrounding the factual details within this book. Sure, the book clearly shows how the authors have likely never studied a map of the UK, and perhaps some British people might get annoyed at the inaccuracies of train station announcements or a barman being called a bartender, but these are just small details and can be forgiven seeing as this is not real life, but a work of fiction! (I wonder how many British authors get American places and expressions correct.). So what if the book puts Edinburgh west of Glasgow; it's not a geography book, but an adventure novel set in a make-believe world. Perhaps the writer was holding the map upside down? Either way, it would be nice if facts could be researched, but I feel that many publishers put such stringent deadlines on these mass paperback authors that they simply don't have the time to fact check the smaller things. It's also likely that most of this book was written by Craig Dirgo, but seeing as Clive Cussler invented the characters in a Dirk Pitt novel he owns the copyright and therefore the co-writer writes the book under his guidance. The style is very different from his Pitt and Austen novels, and it does tend to jump about and is sometimes hard to keep up. And it's true that there are far too many characters involved. However, all this aside, the book is a refreshing change from the standard Pitt and Austen adventures (Kurt Austen is in fact pretty much just another Pitt with a different name and some different hobbies (Instead of collecting antique cars he collects antique pistols)). The Oregon files introduces us to a completely different hero, the ever-inventive leader of a band of mercenaries with a conscience, who only go into battle for what they believe in and feel will have a positive effect on mankind (Sounds like another leader I know!). Sacred Stone is a compelling read and it did keep me wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next, which is always the mark of a good author. I put another unfinished book down to read this Cussler book, and did not regret it. This just goes to show that Cussler's books are still a cut above the rest.
Reviewed by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer & Photographer, author of four books, including Mysterious World: Ireland.
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