BOB.T

Hi

I was wondering if anyone had read or is in the process of reading the Nick Stone books by Andy McNab?

I've managed to get to 28 and not pick up a book since reading Kes at school! Whilst we were in Tesco Sal instructed to start reading so I grabbed 'Deep Black' off the shelf because it had a picture of an M16 on the cover!

I have to say that I've really enjoyed reading it, so much so that I've been on ebay (Then I realised that I'd started at 7 out of 8) and bought 'Remote control', 'Crisis Four' and 'Firewall'!

So what's the Scoobynet opinion, are they a good read or some tin pot crap, I should be reading....?

Gutmann pug

Ive read them all and always enjoy them. Not the best books in the world but they are certainly readable

I think McNab is probably the best of the Ex gulf type fiction writers. Cant really get on with the other guys, find them a bit OTT.

My other book worm loves are

Clive Cussler - Dirk Pitt books, kind of a james bond of the sea, good books, again read in order.

Wilbur Smith - brilliant epic books, again must be read in order. They come in series.

Gary

SWRTWannabe

I've read all of his books (the non fiction Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action included) and really enjoyed them all.

It might help to read them in order, as there is the storyline of how he came to look after the child, and how that relationship builds up, and there are a few bits of the main storylines that refer to previous stories.

Certainly a good read though

RRH

Chris Ryan and Jack Higgins write a good book too, must admit to reading an awful lot. sad old bstard I am

BOB.T

Cool!

I thought when I was reading 'Deep Black' that I was missing something, doh! I just put it down to not being a book expert, then it all became clear when I looked for other books, I was gonna read B20 but maybe I'll save that till I've finished this lot

Swen6

Yeah i've read them all too, i like them and again can't put them down once i start reading, finished the Aggressor [spelling] the other week, the latest one, again very good

john_s

iTrader: (1)

I liked McNab's books too.

There's always a feeling of "been there, done that" in his writing.

John.

fast bloke

Bob - go and buy yourself a Terry Pratchett - I read loads - a couple of books a week. Andy McNab is quite good, but if you think muppets is passable entertainment then Terry Pratchett is a your new god

Daz34

Plenty of evidence points to that being a work of fiction

WRX-NZ

Sure does, just have a read of "The Real Bravo Two Zero" - Micheal Asher or even "Soldier 5" - Mike Coburn (the one the MOD fought tooth & nail to stop being published)

warrenm2

The early Chris Ryans (in NI) are very good. The latest ones like Greed and Increment are absolute sh!te. The McNAbs are very good - reading Agressor atm... as said earlier - theres a definite feeling of someone talking who's actually done it. cussler isnt even close

OllyK

Read the early McNab and Chris Ryan. IMO Chris Ryan was better, but kind of lost interest in both of them. Plenty of operation detail but no real storyline. Moved on to completely unrelated John Grisham of late and also Wilbur Smith, in particular the series written around the Egyptian Slave "Taita".

Big a1

I agree with the last two comments about the later books losing their way a little.

Also they can be a bit cringe worthy with the macho style of writing that in particular the later ones have fallen victim to.

Account deleted by request

Read pretty much all McNabs books - I have enjoyed them all but to be honest I find them all quite basic in structure.

I rave about writers such as Nelson Demille, John Connelly, Martin Cruz Smith and my favourite author is Robert Crais. His Elvis Cole novels are superb reading.

chop

fitzscoob

McNab is very good, Chris Ryan has similar writing styles.

Also worth reading, some of the earlier tom clancy books, without remorse being a particular favourite.

Also take a look at Wilbur Smith, James Patterson, Jack Higgins to name a few.

Another great author, is Lee Child. If you like McNab you will like Lee Child. By far he is my favourite author.

Account deleted by request

Totally agree with Lee Child - his Jack Reacher novels are absolutely brilliant

chop

Gutmann pug

Excellent series of books.

RichWalk

Whatever you do, dont ask Daiscooby about McNab or Ryan

BOB.T

Thanks for the replies and suggestions!

'Firewall' and 'Crisis four' have just arrived, one's in mint condition, the other isn't!

danwrx1980

If any of you are interested in the Gulf War SAS books, read Sabre Squadron by Cameron spence, absolutely fantastic book about one of the other SAS convoys (A squadron) that went into the Gulf when McNab and his partol got lost.
Beats all the Bravo Two Zero books by miles.
McNab's books are all pretty good, but as said you need to read them in order.

Chip Sengravy

As said above, McNab,Ryan,Cussler, are all very good, rip-roaring reads..chew through them at an alarming rate on holidays..

Michael Crichton is also very good reading, Prey and Timeline are good, they made timeline into a film and basically made a complete ***** of it IMO, he also wrote jurassic park etc....


If you are into your special forces stuff, I can't recommend this book enough,I'd say its about the best of the non-fiction stuff I've read. Some truly amazing stories.

just to add, from memory, there is a brilliant tale of an excersise where the SBS retake an oil rig from terrorists, the way they get to the rig, and on the rig is ******* amazing ....and when they eventually make it on the platform, the SAS are there playing the baddies..

CyprusScooby

McNabs books are good, but Ryans are better.

Dont like how 'Nick Stone' keeps going on about his daughter all the time! I just want action!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I should right a book about my time in Iraq during the war.
4 months being bored sh*tless. Nah dont think it would be a good read!

darlodge

Sabre Squadron is great

Another few good ones are Close Quarter Combat and The Operators (SAS intelligence teams, they are like the SAS, work in small teams but are low-combat).

I can lend you them if you want.

Darren

Swen6

Sorry to ruin it but she was murdered and it was his god daughter

survey steve

i have read a few of Cameron spence's books and loved them, type of thing you just cant seen to put down untill you've found out the next bit and by that time the dam book is finished.

also if you like that kind of writing you should try Stephen Leather.
cant remember how many books he has out but there are quite a few and it's the same kinda deal of not being able to put the damm book down

furrydice79

starting with his non-fiction, bravo 2 zero, and immediate action, then read all his nick stone fictions in order, have just finished aggressor.

chrome

I have also just finished Aggressor.
Blitzed it in two days, imho- the best of his Nick Stone novels.
His writing has improved a lot.
Loved the 'disco hands' quips too kept me chuckling at the matey banter

One caveat is that you really need to read his NickStone books in order to have a clue as to what is really going on in the present AND the past.
Gives the character more depth.

Chris' Ryan's books have gone a bit off the boil lately.
'Greed' was ok, but the next one, 'The Increment' was out and out crap.
Only one of his I heartily recommend is 'Zero Option'.

I love my action books I do