Customer Reviews
Sober and sensible, despite the cover - By: Eric Ambleside, 17 Aug 2008 
Patrick Bishop has now written several accounts of specific units or servicesin wartime, including the excellent "Fighter Boys" & "Bomber Boys", both about WW2 British fliers.
At first glance, this foray into contemporary conflict doesn't look promising; the paperback version is decorated with tawdry tabloid marketing blurb (and the statutory McNab/Ryan rave review) which makes it seem like another of the sensationalist glorifying accounts of recent conflicts that now seem to be cluttering the bookshelves of the nation.
Fortunately, Bishop is a better writer than that, so I persisted & was rewarded with a fascinating account of the British Armyin Afghanistan, which focuses on the detail of day to day fire-fights without being the cheap tat that the cover suggests. Bishop remains sober & sensible throughout.
Don't expect balance from Bishop however - that's not what he does. As with this WW2 books, he starts from the assumption that the subjects of his research are the good guys, generally heroic, & that the enemy are pretty much invisiblein human terms. Whilst he is clearly partial, it should be noted that he appears to be entirely objectivein his reporting of the other side - he's not writing for The Sun & seems to ensure that accounts are factual & honest. As he makes no pretence of approaching the bookin any other way, that's fine. As with previous books, he pulls together primarily first hand accounts & some other sources to draw a picture of the fighting from the sharp end, almost entirely from the viewpoint of the guys doing the shooting. The result is a down to earth narrative, that feels real & honest, & as accurate as first-hand accounts ever can be within the wider battle.
3 Para are painted as tough, straightforward & generally decent guys, if rough & ready below the familiarly standard British officer class (Sandhurst training must be pretty effective - they all look & sound/read the same!).
General conclusions on the warin Afghanistan: probably an understandable mission to begin with, but as usual, nobody learned the lessons of history, & are now therefore repeating the mistakes of same. Don't pick a fight with the Afghans - you'll never entirely win.
A view of the fighting from the other side would be fascinating, although due to the nature of that opposition it may be unlikely to ever surface.
Overall an excellent book, another well-written & clear-minded contribution from the author.
Not first hand.. - By: Mr. S. Stevenson, 09 Aug 2008 
I bought this book & like many others who had read 'Sniper One', 'Eight Lives Down' & other similar books, found this quite disapointing.
I expected it to be a first hand account where you feel like you are there with the actual soldiers, but this is nothing like that at all.
It is all a sort of mix up of whats going onin different places at different times, & is altogether quite confusing to be honest.
It seems as though the author has got loads of information of what happened from people who were there & decided to make a book out of it, but quite frankly it would have been one hundred times better if it was written by one of the soldiers themselves.
If you want a good military read then I advise buying the books mentioned above.
A truly moving account instilling patriotism - By: Wadster, 18 Jul 2008 
I was doubtful about purchasing this book as I have never really been into war books, but I am so glad I did. This book is writtenin an excellent manner giving a direct & truthful account of the bravery, courage, discipline & honour of our British professional troops. At one point reading this on the train commute into London I had to put the book down because I was welling up & any book that can do that to me is a worth read. I was saddened but not surprised to see on TV last night that Colnel Tootal has retired from his command, but to be honest not surprised when you read how difficult it was for himin 3 Para. I can't rate this book highly enough & I would just like to say this is one British citizen who fully supports our ladsin Afganistan.
High quality read - By: Mrs. P. Burton, 04 Jul 2008 As a fan of this genre, the facts are totally believable. In fact for me this is the best written book of its type - I read it 2 1/2 days. Theres even the admission that a 'deal' with the enemy took place to preserve life. Great reading for all armchair squaddies & I guess some real ones too. There are some high quality maps included plus many photos to break up the text.
A 'must read' volume.
Not First hand - By: RocKtheCasbaH, 13 Jun 2008 
I'm afraid I couldn't finish this book. I bought this after finishing the excellent 'Sniper One' & was hoping for a similar first hand account from someone who was there, on the ground. But what this is is more of a series of anecdotes. A collection of other peoples stories bolted together to make a book. It just wasn't what I expected - or wanted at all.
