Follett, Ken

Average customer rating:

Great Summer Read
An unabridged recording
Fantastic
Prepare To Put Your Life On Hold...
A Truly GREAT Historical Novel that EVERYONE Should Read!

The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451207149

Book Description

Ken Follett had long been a staple of the bestseller lists for his novels of intrigue and espionage. Then came The Pillars of the Earth, a grand novel of epic storytelling that readers and critics quickly hailed as his crowning achievement. Now, The Pillars of the Earth is available for the first time to a new audience of readers, in this attractive new trade paperback edition.

In 12th-century England, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral signals the dawn of a new age. This majestic creation will bond clergy and kings, knights and peasants together in a story of toil, faith, ambition and rivalry. A sweeping tale of the turbulent middle ages, The Pillars of the Earth is a masterpiece from one of the world's most popular authors.

"A novel of majesty and power...Will hold you, fascinate you, surround you." --Chicago Sun-Times

"A towering tale...There's murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust...A good time can be had by all." --New York Daily News

"Touches all human emotions...truly a novel to get lost in." --Cosmopolitan

Customer Reviews:

Great Summer Read.......2007-06-25

Not sure how I missed this book when it came out, but what a great find! I just finished it (after the deacon of my church told me about the novel - which is funny after reading it)! If you like epic, historically based fictional novels, you'll love The Pillars of the Earth. Though it occasionally gets bogged down and frustrating, this is a wonderful novel that anyone is sure to love.

An unabridged recording.......2007-06-20

Too long this magnificient book languished unfinished on my nightstand. It had been recommended to me by so many sources, all correct. For years the library only had the abridged, four cassette tape version (I'm dyslexic, I listen faster than I read). Excuse me, four cassettes for a book nearly 1000 pages, please.

With the sequel coming out in October, my timing was perfect! (and while I wait, I'm catching up on all of Mr. Follett's other books!)

As an unpublished writer of medieval historic fiction, the research and details were outstanding. Following each step in the conception, design, and well planned construction of a cathedral was very gratifying. As close as one could get to hearing the stones speak themselves.

The characters are well developed. The "good guys" are complex, unusual, and richly portrayed. The "bad guys" are villanous, Bigod has more complexity than the Hamleighs.

Plots, intrigue, memorable characters set against a fascinating period in English history. My favorite type of book. I wonder if I will be able to get an authographed copy of this and the new book some time soon???:

Fantastic.......2007-06-13

I just re-read this book. Absolutely beautifully written, he is a great author.

Prepare To Put Your Life On Hold..........2007-06-05

Just re-read this wonderful book after six years, and it was just as impossible to put down this time! A masterful historical novel: riveting, enlightening, and eminently enjoyable.

A Truly GREAT Historical Novel that EVERYONE Should Read!.......2007-05-31

Mr. Follett, the first thing I would like to say here is "Thank You." What a wonderful and entertaining and enlightening read you have given us. I have read this book 3 times, and the third time was as great as the first. I eagerly await "World Without End."

The Review:

Of all the historical novels I have ever read this ranks up there with the best of them. I do not remember when I have read a modern-day writer's work that so completely captivated me, and hung onto me until the end. At nearly 1000 pages this tome is "time consuming", but it is so wonderfully crafted that it just skips along, and one really has a hard time putting it down. I have carried it with me everywhere each time I have read it! It currently exists on my bookshelves in three editions, and I will always have a copy of it, in some form, in my personal library. I cannot say how many people I have talked to and recommended this book to, but it is several dozen, and those who I have talked with, after they have read it, agree with me that it is a phenomenal work. It truly is. Of course, we have the equally great "Eye of the Needle", "Key to Rebecca", and "Night Over Water" from Mr. Follett also, among many others.

If you are unfamiliar with Ken Follett's work, you will also want to try these others, mentioned above, as well. You will not be disappointed in the least, trust me.

This fall (2007) brings the "sequal" to "Pillars of the Earth", "World Without End". According to his website, Ken says that he could not really do a direct sequal, but has come forward some time to a few centuries later and picked up with descendants of the original characters from "Pillars". I am sure that there are a couple million other fans out there of Ken's that are eagerly awaiting this new book!

Hoping this has "helped" those searching for a great read. Enjoy! ~operabruin

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World Without End
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525950079
Release Date: 2007-10-09

Book Description

Ken Follett has 90 million readers worldwide. The Pillars of the Earth is his bestselling book of all time. Now, eighteen years after the publication of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett has written the most anticipated sequel of the year-World Without End.

Book Description

His name was Feliks. He came to London to commit a murder that would change history. A master manipulator, he had many weapons at his command, but against him were ranged the whole of the English police, a brilliant and powerful lord, and the young Winston Churchill himself. These odds would have stopped any man in the world-except the man from St. Petersburg...

Customer Reviews:

A good read all around.......2006-07-04

Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others

THE STORY:
Its WWI and England faces the fact that Germany may invade France and eventually England. They turn to an alliance with Russia in order to avoid this but people like Feliks don't want to see Mother Russia pulled into a fight that will leave the common man killed and the old regime in tact. So Feliks, the Man from St. Petersburg, sets out to stop the people trying to make the alliance.

THE SETTING:
When most World War stories take place they seem to revolve around WWII, not the first one. It was a nice change of pace and even "funny" on some levels to see characters like Winston Churchill play a part in the plot.

THE CHARACTERS:
Feliks - the anarchist who sets out to stop the alliance
Stephen Walden - a British aristocrat asked to help negotiate the alliance
Lydia - Stephen's wife with a past
Charlotte - Lydia and Stephen's 18 year old daughter who is starting to discover a world that her parents have isolated her from

All the characters are vivid and one's we can relate with on some level. At no point are you left wishing a scene with a specific character would hurry up and end because the reader gets engaged by them all.

THE PLOT:
A bit of cat-n-mouse story during a historic periods of time. The story presents information ("lessons") in philosophy and history, both of which I wished my school books presented the same theories in such fictionalized writing in order to make it interesting and not boring or slow as with this well paced, easy to read story. The book also has plenty of action for those that just want to get to it.

CONTENT:
Little memorable vulgarity. Some sex, though not as descriptive as most books, but definitely not shy either. The violence is mostly "off-screen", leaving it to your imagination.

OVERALL:
I've read 3 books by this author (Eye of the Needle, Hammer of Eden and this one), and this was more enjoyable for me on several levels than the other two. My experience with this book was going to be the deciding factor if I ever read a book by this author again as I was ok with the other two books. I'd be willing to read more from this author after this read.

An oldie but a goodie.......2006-05-16

I bought this book when it was first published oh so many years ago. It's one of Follett's best and I must have re-read it 20 times. It's that good.

This isn't one of those exciting page turning books that keep you up til 2am. To use the words of one of the reviwers below, it's a character driven book. And the characters are fully fleshed, right from the first time you meet them. That's why you can re-read these books. With most thrillers, you can only read them once because once you know how it ends the excitement is gone. But with books like this (which it seems authors don't know how to write any more) you can keep reading them again and again because the characters are old friends that you revisit each time you re-read the book.

I must admit the plot is a little simplistic compared to best sellers of today, but it doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of this book. If you are a true book lover who loves character driven drama you must buy this book.

This is one of Follett's early books and he hasn't written like this ever again.

not his best, by far.......2006-05-14

Thin plot, thinly developed characters, not the author's best. The Pillars of the Earth, Eye of the Needle, and Dangerous Fortune stand out as by far his best. The Man from St. Petersburg is interesting, but not nearly the suspense, drama or richly developed characters of Follett's best... not worth a read in my opinion.

Character-Fueled Storytelling.......2005-10-12

Follette's best characters in the "political intrigue" stage of his writing career are to be found in this lightning-paced novel. Set in England in the year before the outbreak of the First World War, this story concerns an anarchist named Felix, and his efforts to assassinate a Russian Prince, who is visiting England to cement a treaty of mutual protection in the event of hostilities with Germany. The anarchist, a Russian who has endured much injustice in his life (so much, in fact, he has somehow lost the capacity to feel fear in his plummet from idealistic pacifist to hardened killer) is no purposeless psychopath. Though he has come to regard himself as "lost" Felix holds out hope that if the chains of tyranny can be lifted from the peoples of Europe, then peace and goodness might rise. He sees no need for governments or for law. He feels humans can best direct themselves and authority is by definition corrupt. It is to the end of disrupting the treaty between the two powers, England and Russia, that Felix travels to London in 1914, intent on stopping the alliance and making war that much less attractive to the great powers. Opposing Felix is an English Earl named Walden, who, unknown to both men, has a unlikely mutual connection with Felix from the past-the Earl's wife. This novel moves at a brisk pace and flashes through the underworld of post-Edwardian London, as well as its halls of government. Winston Churchill is a minor figure in this book, although most others, including the memorable eighteen-year-old Charlotte Walden, at the time of the novel, supposedly a ninety-two-year-old friend of Follette's, are fictional constructs. I found this novel skillfully rendered and immensely enjoyable. It is possibly the best of the novels Ken Follette composed before his turned out his 1989 masterpiece: The Pillars of the Earth.

Very Emotional.......2005-07-13

The best part about this book is that halfway through the story, I couldn't figure out what ending to hope for. Follett does an excellent job of creating sympathy for each character, even the evil ones, a characteristic found in some of his other novels as well. All of them are in very precarious situations and each possible outcome spells disaster for some other character in the book. On the one hand, I wanted the assassin to carry out the murder for his own sake and for the prevention of WWI(even though it did happen), but I also wanted the Russian prince to survive because he is a good character and it would be disastrous for the entire Walden family. Rarely does an author present such a conflict, most resort to the hope of a happy ending which the reader knows is inevitable but this one is definitely unique. There is no true happy ending.

This is an all-around solid book. You really do feel for the characters and their dilemmas. The story never drags, each chapter has some kind of contribution to the overall quality and the high stakes involved ensure the reader's attention for the duration of the book. Worth the $8.

Average customer rating:

How Israel Got The Bomb
A hair-raising read

Triple
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451212088
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Book Description

There is no other author like Ken Follett. And there is no other book like Triple. This classic tale of international suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author strikes a chord of fear-as the Middle East explodes into a high-stakes game of espionage that could be ripped out of today's headlines...

Customer Reviews:

How Israel Got The Bomb.......2006-09-11

Follett intertwines history with imagination and tells the story of how Israeli secret service agents out-conned the Soviets, Arabs, and just about everybody else, to get the nuclear weapons technology needed for their nation's survival. Set in the time between the 1967 and 1973 Mid-East wars and revolving primarily around an Israeli agent and concentration camp survivor named Nat Dickstein, Triple is big on thrills and carefully-presented plot twists, and nowhere is it even for a moment boring. Nat Dickstein is one of Follett's best and most sympathetic creations. Entirely human, no whisperings of James Bond or Superman within him, the emotionally-vulnerable Dickstein falls in love with the daughter of a western intellectual whose sympathies lie with the Arab cause. Opposing Dickstein are Palestinians sworn to Israel's destruction, and elite KGB agents with special dispensation from none other than Yuri Andropov to do whatever it takes to keep plutonium out of Jewish hands. The story slips in and out of a number of settings, from the "neutral ground" of western Europe, to mafia family strongholds in New York, to the killing grounds of the Middle East, and in a few cases it even returns in flashback form to the horrors of Nazi death camps in the 1940's. Triple, though written a generation ago and set a decade before that, by no means seems like historical fiction. Its stories of a small-scale nuclear arms race, espionage, and passionate hatred threatening liberty, are every bit as pressingly current today as they were almost forty years ago.

A hair-raising read.......2006-05-23

25 years after its first edition, this book is still topical. It takes its readers into a violence and explosive world of espionage, alternated with love, passion, desire, hate, confidence/faith and deception. This book is certainly a compulsive and satisfying piece of art.

Average customer rating:

I keep coming back to this one
not upto Ken's standards
Ambition And Corruption Beneath A Well-Mannered Social Facade
This is a solid entertaining read
Very enjoyable!

A Dangerous Fortune
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Island Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440217490
Release Date: 1994-11-01

Book Description

In 1866, tragedy strikes at the exclusive Windfield School. A young student drowns in a mysterious accident involving a small circle of boys. The drowning and its aftermath initiates a spiraling circle of treachery that will span three decades and entwine many loves... From the exclusive men's club and brothels that cater to every dark desire of London's upper classes to the dazzling ballrooms and mahogany-paneled suites of the manipulators of the world's wealth, Ken Follett conjures up a stunning array of contrasts. This breathtaking novel portrays a family splintered by lust, bound by a shared legacy... men and women swept toward a perilous climax where greed, fed by the shocking truth of a boy's death, must be stopped, or not just one man's dreams, but those of a nation, will die...

Customer Reviews:

I keep coming back to this one.......2007-02-13

I keep coming back to this book because of the connection between homophobia and crime which Follett develops in the relationships among Micky Mirnada, Augusta Pilaster (the family matriarch) and Edward Pilaster. I have always felt that Follett presents realistic characters, and this book is no exception.

Follett is also a master at portraying the era whenever he writes historical fiction, and Dangerous Fortune does not disappoint in this regard.

Dangerous Fortune is also a work I would call Economic Fiction and Follett does an excellent job of portraying the finacial and banking industries of Victorian England.

not upto Ken's standards.......2006-11-03

easy reading...good character descriptions..but not a very gripping plot or storyline like the usual follett style...an overnight time-killer read though

Ambition And Corruption Beneath A Well-Mannered Social Facade.......2006-09-12

In the late-1980's as the Cold War was nearing its end (go, capitalism!) and the once red-hot market for espionage fiction was entering a downturn that is still in evidence today, British spy-thriller writer Ken Follett had the good luck to feel his muse taking his novels in another direction: toward the historical genre. First there was The Pillars of the Earth, an all-time great book set in Medieval England, and next came this one, an equally well-received if slightly lesser tale of dueling factions within a great banking house.

Set in mid-Victorian times in and around the financial district of the City of London, this novel begins with a questionably accidental and hauntingly consequential drowning at an exclusive public (aka boarding) school and wraps around a large cast of characters whose conflicting efforts to control the destiny of a great fortune make up Follett's storyline. The hero of A Dangerous Fortune is Hugh Pilaster, born into the "lesser" side of the Pilaster clan, nephew of the corrupt Augusta Pilaster, a woman who has grown used to her role as the true power behind the Pilaster family. By all rights Hugh's honesty, sharp intellect and enterprising nature should place him as logical choice to head the family bank after the death of the elder Pilaster who held that position for many years, but Augusta seeks to maintain her control by placing her own wastrel son in that role, and will use any means necessary to see that this happens, even if it means destroying Hugh and anyone else who stands in her way. Hugh also has a vulnerability Aunt Augusta is more than pleased to exploit. Hugh loves a young woman unacceptable to his social milieu and it is the subplotted tragedy of this love that cannot be that underpins Follett's commentary on the emotional suffocation Victorian morality often imposed on those who lived through it.

In its nearly 600 pages, A Dangerous Fortune introduces readers to murderous social climbers, fallen women, the privileged and lordly, and those who, though worthy of fullest recognition, dwell below the fullest heights of standing, owing to birth-status, religion, or gender. (Queen Victoria's was a flawed world of mandatory inequities and inescapable caste status.)

One thing that is satisfying about Ken Follett is his ability to make everything right as he wraps up a long book. With few exceptions, from The Eye of the Needle to his current works, in the end every character in his tales basically gets what he or she deserves. Although I won't give it away, I will note that nowhere in Follett's output has the ending to a despicable villain ever been more cringe-inducing or deserved than the awful fate he reserves here for one in particular.

A Dangerous Fortune is not a great novel, it's true, but it is a satisfying one that delivers the story it promises, and does not disappoint.

This is a solid entertaining read.......2006-05-21

I have read a few of Folletts books now. Dangerous Fortune is not the worst Follett that I have read, but neither does it come close to supplanting "Pillars in the Earth" from what I would consider the best of his work.

The story here is about a banking family, the Pilasters, and a lifetime of events that stem from a drowning when all of the protagonists are children in school. The reason I am only giving this book three stars is that the entire arc of the story follows a predictable and weary plot line. Follett introduces his evil side of the family lorded over by the contemptable Augusta Pilaster and never gives the reader a single instance in which to understand their motives. Follett builds up Augusta, her son, and others as idiots and shallow and you know that they will bring ruin on the family somewhere down the line. On the other hand, Hugh Pilaster and his side of the family are set up as puritan saints. The whole book is very black and white, good and bad.

Other than the lack of other than a superficial development in the clash between sides of the family, Follett does not flesh out his characters very well. If you were to read a Russo book like Nobodies Fool and then were to pick up Dangerous Fortune the characters would relate to each other like the garden of Eden against the Mojave Desert.

I have been slaming this book pretty hard. I think that it deserves it too. Follett was sort of phoning this one in. I would not ever recomend it to anyone, though I would with his book 'Pillars...' All of that aside it was not a total disaster and managed to keep me entertained for quite a while. So you wont be unsatisfied with 'Fortune' if you are a Follett fan.

Very enjoyable!.......2006-04-15

I have read a few of Follett's books and really enjoyed them. This book was equally enjoyable but didn't fit into the "spy" genre like the other ones (i.e.; JackDaws). It really shows that he is a versatile writer that he can change genres successfully.
You can read a summary of the plot in other reviews. I'll simply tell you that it was a page turner and worth the read.

Average customer rating:

The brutal reality of life in the English colonial world
Our Values, Their Times
not nearly as good as Pillars, Eye or Dangerous Fortune
An informative historical adventure
Satisfyingly fast read.

A Place Called Freedom
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517701766
Release Date: 1995-08-28

Amazon.com

With action that spans two countries on opposite sides of the Atlantic, making a credible audio version of this epic tale is no small feat. Victor Garber, the talented actor of stage and screen (Sleepless in Seattle, I'll Fly Away, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), does an admirable job. Garber presents the narrative passages in a clear, confident tone and uses his extensive acting experience to create believable voices for the many diverse characters. Follett has thrown in a confusing array of regional accents and disguised characters, but the range of Garber's voice helps keep things straight while heightening the considerable action and communicating the powerful emotions expressed by the very large cast that gives this drama its grand sweep.

This intriguing novel hinges on the courageous struggles of the hero, an indentured coal miner who declares, "I'll go anywhere that is not Scotland--anywhere a man can be free." Getting anywhere else is easier said than done, especially when he's caught up in an entanglement of familial responsibility, forbidden love, official deceit, trickery, and violence. Even though there are plenty of breathless moments when proper ladies are tempted by bare-chested hunks, this is much more than just another adventure-filled love story. It's also an intriguing journey into the social and political realities of the late 18th century, when the rising influence of the American colonies was first taking hold and the shining glory of the British Empire had begun its long, slow fade. (Running time: four hours, four cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

A PLACE CALLED FREEDOM begins in the infernal coal mines of the Jamisson family, in the Scottish highlands, where twenty-one-year-old Mack McAsh spends most of his waking hours. Bound to his employer for life, Mack burns with an insatiable desire to escape.

He finds an unlikely ally in Lizzie Hallim, the beautiful, willful young aristocratic woman who yearns for independence in a male-dominated society.

Mack's hunger for freedom brings him into conflict again and again with the harsh rulers of eighteenth-century Britain. Accused of riot--a capital crime--Mack becomes one of the thousands of convicts who are shipped to the American colonies, to work as slaves for seven long years.

With its vivid, fascinating portrayal of the colorful streets of London and the endless landscapes of the New World, plus an unforgettable cast of heroes and villains, lovers, and rebels, hypocrites, hell-raisers, and whores, A PLACE CALLED FREEDOM is a magnificent epic of love, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Customer Reviews:

The brutal reality of life in the English colonial world.......2006-10-02

The lives of Mack McAsh and Lizzie Hallim become ever more intertwined over the course of this novel, as the story progresses from the coal mining towns in the mountains of Scotland to London and finally across the ocean to the American colonies. This book provides an unflinching description of the brutal conditions of life for the working poor in both the United Kingdom and its colonies in the years leading up to the American war for independence. McAsh's passionate search for his own personal freedom parallel the colonial struggle to determine their own fate. The love story between McAsh and Lizzie seems a bit contrived, but it does provide a powerful tool for the author to contrast the way of life for the rich and poor during this period.

The author has clearly done a great deal of research, and at least in his descriptions of colonial Virginia, has gotten his details correct. In particular, his descriptions of Williamsburg were spot on. This book is both an entertaining diversion and a powerful glimpse into history.

Our Values, Their Times.......2006-07-18

A Place Called Freedom is a little like the primetime soap opera "Dallas" set in the 18th century. "Passion, betrayal, infidelity, revenge, titillation, greed, business deals gone awry..." I think the author imposed many 20th century manners and attitudes on 18th century society, which might be entertaining but historically inaccurate nonetheless. I was expecting something a little more historically enlightening, but there were times when I thought I was reading one of those "bodice ripping" romance novels. Overall it's an OK book, especially if you turn a blind eye to the repeated "chance meetings" among the book's star-crossed lovers.

not nearly as good as Pillars, Eye or Dangerous Fortune.......2006-05-14

Thin plot, thinly developed characters, not the author's best. The Pillars of the Earth, Eye of the Needle, and Dangerous Fortune stand out as by far his best. A Place Called Freedom is interesting, but not nearly the suspense, drama or richly developed characters of Follett's best... not worth a read in my opinion.

An informative historical adventure.......2005-07-17

Follett's 'A Place Called Freedom' was one of the most requested books when I worked at a now-defunct used book store more than 10 years ago. I finally got around to reading it and I can see why it was in such demand.

Follett introduces the reader to the turbulent politics on 1760s England, Scotland and America. He throws in a liberal dose of romance and the reader will be reminded of the Tom Cruise / Nicole Kiddman epic movie 'Far and Away'. There are plenty of similarities - both feature poor, rural heroes who fall in love with the landlord's spunky daughter. Nevertheless, it's a great read and unique enough to stand up in its own right.

I recommend it to anyone who is interested in a view of England's politics and turmoil on the eve of the American Revolution - it puts America's arguments for revolution in a clearer context - it even strengthens them.

Satisfyingly fast read........2005-07-12

Ken Follett channels John Jakes. That was my thought while reading the book. It's Follett's take on the historical fictional epic that Jakes has done so well with the last 30 years or so. Follett is a superior writer, but many of the elements, including a broad sweep of locations, the appearance of the main characters at various pivotal events and the overwrought passions of the lovers.

The book follows a poor Scottish miner in the 1770's (Mack) and a gentrified lady (Lizzie) who lives near the mine. He's young, headstrong and determined to chisel out a better life of freedom for himself and those close to him. Lizzie is young, headstrong and determined to live a life with more choices than usually offered to a lady in her position. Lizzie and Mack's paths cross continously throughout the book. It starts in the mines of Scotland, and Follett paints a vivid portrait of the horrific lives these virtual slaves led in that time. We can feel the danger and the huge exhaustion they must all have felt.

Mack escapes to London, where he tries to make a place for himself, but becomes a leader in the stevedores labor movement, almost by default. Naturally, this lands him in trouble, and eventually he ends up in Virginia, under not very nice circumstances.

I don't want to say a lot more, because this is a story driven by plot. Although the characters are vivid, and there are lots of heroes for us to root for and villians to hiss at, its what happens that makes the book enjoyable. We learn a bit about the culture and society of the times...particularly the just emerging yearning of workers (be they in Scotland, London or America) to have a bit more say in how they're treated.

Follett once wrote the three best spy novels ever: EYE OF THE NEEDLE, KEY TO REBECCA and TRIPLE. They were unbelievably exciting, rich in detail, featured sympathetic villians and some very hot sex scenes. His LIE DOWN WITH LIONS and MAN FROM ST. PETERSBURG were nearly as good, but with NIGHT OVER WATER, his work began to suffer a bit. I suspect he was just beginning to go through the motions some. He also wrote the fantastic historical novel PILLARS OF THE EARTH and showed he had the chops for such work as well. But his recent efforts have simply felt a bit pedestrian. I miss the Follet of old.

But A PLACE CALLED FREEDOM is good clean fun. It's a fast read, builds some suspence when its called for, and manages to inform your view of the world. It won't stay in my memory the way EYE OF THE NEEDLE has, but I do give it a modest recommendation.

Average customer rating:

The ultimate WW2 thriller
one of the best suspense novels ever written
D-Day
Eye of the Needle
Die Nadel This, George Patton

Eye of the Needle
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006074815X
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Book Description

One enemy spy knows the secret to the Allies' greatest deception, a brilliant aristocrat and ruthless assassin -- code name: "The Needle" -- who holds the key to ultimate Nazi victory.

Only one person stands in his way: a lonely Englishwoman on an isolated island, who is beginning to love the killer who has mysteriously entered her life.

All will come to a terrifying conclusion in Ken Follett's unsurpassed and unforgettable masterwork of suspense, intrigue, and the dangerous machinations of the human heart.This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Customer Reviews:

The ultimate WW2 thriller.......2007-06-15

Ken Follet is a master of suspense and great story telling. This is the ultimate in WW2 espionage . . . we came so close to losing. An amazing read.

one of the best suspense novels ever written.......2007-06-01

Eye of the Needle is clearly one of the best suspense novels ever written. I recently re-read it, and enjoyed it even more the second time.

I read it again as part of a self-education project (which you can find by searching the web for "lew weinstein's novel writing blog"), so my comments are organized around various "writing topics" which are important to me.

In a technique that I used in my new legal thriller A Good Conviction, (although I don't presume to have done it as well as Follett did), Follett employs what he calls a "ping-pong" structure, alternating between the characters, switching focus abruptly at the end of scenes, and leaving the reader in suspense for many pages before resuming the thread.

This structure was, according to an essay by Follett appended to the end of my copy, developed in the author's original story outline and then rigidly adhered to, and it worked splendidly, forcing him to consider the impact of each character's actions on the other, and offering ample latitude for enriched attention to character, landscape and emotion.

Eye of the Needle is also a historical novel, and as a writer of historical fiction myself (The Heretic (Library of American Fiction), my first novel, is set in 15th century Spain), I am particularly impressed with Follett's ability to write a suspenseful story despite the fact that we know D-day succeeded, and thus that Faber failed.

Follett draws the distinction between fact and fiction with a one page historical preface about the D-Day deception. He ends the preface ... "That much is history. What follows is fiction. Still and all, one suspects something like this must have happened." We're immediately intrigued.

Follett brilliantly, and necessarily, transfers his fictional tension away from whether Faber will succeed ... to how he will be foiled. In the process, he creates a superb heroine who rises to larger-than-life status in the greatest two days of her life.

In this regard, Eye of the Needle is much like Frederick Forsythe's The Day of the Jackal, where we know that De Gaulle was not murdered by a sniper but are carried into exquisite tension anyway, again over how the also enormously competent Jackal will be stopped.

Follett's two main characters are complex and well developed.

Faber of course is the villain. But he is also patriotic (to Germany), quite competent, and even capable of feelings, which he must repress in order to carry out his mission. He is a wonderful lover, which he could not be if he were truly devoid of feeling. This complex character must be admired even as we hate and fear him. A remarkable achievement.

Lucy starts out as a dominated young woman, who chooses to escape to her father-in-law's island rather than live among people. But in her virtual solitude, she develops an unexpected resolve, and when faced with the ultimate challenge, she rises to it. Is what she does believable? Maybe not, although in wartime people do extraordinary things. In any case, it doesn't matter since Follett portrays this larger-than-life character in a way that fully engages the reader's emotions as we root for her to succeed against the far stronger and better trained Faber. The final scenes and epilogue drew tears from this romantic reader, but then I'm always a sucker for melodrama.

Godliman (What a name! I'd love to know where Follett got it.) is the enabler of the story, providing the narrative links that show lead Faber to Lucy. But how much better to provide these through an interesting character than through narrative prose. Godliman's growth from passive professor to razor-sharp spycatcher is done a little quickly. We can believe it, but we would like to know more about him. Perhaps as the third character, he doesn't warrant more attention.

Follett uses several writing techniques that I found quite instructive.

At least once in the story, the omniscient narrator speaks in his own voice, providing a foreshadowing that sets the stage while piquing the reader's interest. The narrator interjects "Faber ... Godliman ... two-thirds of a triangle that one day would be crucially completed by ... David and Lucy."

Follett has Faber ask himself questions about what he should do ... should he bury the five dead men? ...what should he do with the boat? ... should he jump on a passing train? This technique allows the exploration of options within the context of the story instead of more clumsily by the narrator.

There is also a short flashback scene where Faber dreams about his first arrival in London. We first think it's a true dream, but soon learn it is not. This allows us to learn both how Faber actually arrived in London and also how terrified he is about being discovered.

There' much more in this great suspense story, but I think this review has gone on long enough. If you want more, I invite you check my blog.

D-Day .......2007-04-12

Take a trip back in time to D-Day in this historical novel. This spin on that fateful day tells about the Allies' deception of Germany and the attack at Normandy.

Eye of the Needle.......2007-04-12

Die Nadel/Henry Faber, a Nazi spy placed in London, England, was the best German agent. He was supposed to go to a large base in southern England. The base was just a fake, an attempt to try to fool the Germans into an attack at Calis, France. The invasion really took place in Normandy.

I really enjoy reading about World War II, especially anything involving the Allies. This book put me into Faber's shoes and I wanted him to succeed. I recommend this book very highly. It was really hard to put down.

Die Nadel This, George Patton.......2007-03-11

This is an older Ken Follett book that I only now had the chance to read. It is a fascinating account of the story behind the story at D-Day. Some may disagree, but I think D-Day was the most important day in 2000 years. Men whose countries were not occupied, e.g. US, Britain, and Canada made incredible sacrifices to free the occupied countries. Unfortunately it seems to have not been appreciated or remembered.

It is true that General George S. Patton of the US First Army was playing a dramatic role in convincing the Germans that the attack would come at Calais, and not at Normandy. Follett runs with that fact, and constructs a fascinating story of how the Allied subterfuge was built and maintained. In Eye of the Needle, one German spy, a sleeper living in London for years, discovers the truth.

Not surprisingly, the British hunt him down, chasing him all over England and Scotland. Fortunately for the Allies, the German spy ultimately meets his match in a love-lorn English housewife living on a remote island.

This is one of Follett's earlier works. It is clear that he has improved with each book. His first works were unreadable. This is a good story concept with great characters, but the transitions are very rough, and almost everything happens in the last 10 pages. Key to Rebecca is better, but read this also.

Average customer rating:

Welcome Aboard the Pan Am Clipper
Pretty good...
Childish plot and thin characters - maybe his worst book
Absolute fluff, but enjoyable
Fictional tale about the last flight of a Pan Am Clipper as WWII begins

Night over Water
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451173139

Book Description

1939. The world's most luxurious airliner is heading straight into a storm of international intrigue, violence, war, and betrayal...

Customer Reviews:

Welcome Aboard the Pan Am Clipper.......2007-03-17

I read this 544 page paperback in 3 days. Its "Ship of Fools" meets the Pan Am Clipper in 1939 at the very beginning of WWII. Everybody on the legendary flying boat seems to be running away from something and their stories all intersect during the 40 hour flight from England to the U.S. Its an easy and fun read, and the closest we'll ever get to experiencing the golden age of travel by flying boat.

Pretty good..........2006-11-28

Ok, this was no Pillars of the Earth, but it was a decent read anyhow. Just before the outbreak of World War 2, a Clipper - a large luxury plane akin to the Spruce Goose - is taking off from England for America. Some passengers are ordinary people, some are upper class people, some are movie stars, some are police, some are criminals, and some are Nazis. Moreover, someone has kidnapped the wife of a crewmember, and will kill her unless he brings the plane down in the Atlantic and release one very special passenger.

There are many characters, with many intertwining plots, and Follett does a decent job in managing it, however, there were times when he would quit switching points of view, and continue with the more interesting characters. Also, the ending is a tad forced, in that everything ends a little too prettily, otherwise this book would have gotten 5 stars for being a real page-turner.

Get this one next time you have a long flight.

Relic113

Childish plot and thin characters - maybe his worst book.......2006-11-14

This is a great setting and a good theme - badly executed. It reminds me of a plot of a Tom Swift boys adventure book from the '20's - but without the excitement and adventure. Maybe Follett hired someone to grind out the hundreds of pages of bad dialog and the all too predictable plotlets and final wimpering big bang climax. In the end, the book lays there dead, motionless and emotionless, like the dead cardboard cutout Scotland Yard Special Branch detective.

Absolute fluff, but enjoyable.......2006-09-27

"The Eye of the Needle" is on of my favorite novels set during World War II. Subsequent works by Ken Follett have always disappointed me, but for the reader who is looking for an escape and is willing to accept implausible plot development, "Night over Water" is an engaging read.

Characters are two-dimensional at best, and the storyline melodramatic. Where Follett succeeds is in his descriptions of the Pan Am Clipper and the almost claustrophobic sense of the many hours (30 total) that it took for the journey across the Atlantic. At one point, a scene described the morning meal served on the trip, and I thought "how many more meals can these passengers eat?" Within a paragraph, there was a reference to how tired one of the characters had become of the endless food and luxury of the trip, instead simply wanting the trip to be finished.

The book is enjoyable in the way a 1940s movie would be - slightly dramatic and almost campy, but engaging as an escape.

I beg to differ with one reviewer who felt the sex scenes "steamy" - if you want steam, don't expect it in "Night over Water."

Fictional tale about the last flight of a Pan Am Clipper as WWII begins.......2006-09-16

If you like airplanes, intrigue, World War II stories, and good writing, you'll enjoy this novel by Ken Follett. Follett always does his homework and I always learn from him. This story takes place at the beginning of England's entry into the war against Nazi Germany in 1939. It is about the last flight of the flying boat, the Pan American clipper (Boeing 314), from England to America. The luxurious, short-lived air ship began life in the summer of 1939 and ended a few weeks later when Hitler invaded Poland.

On board is a troubled aristocratic British family; an American actress; an Englishwoman running off with another man, leaving her husband; a young jewel thief; a criminal being returned to the states by authorities; a grumpy, demanding old princess; a German scientist and his companion; and others. This mix of characters and the situation in which they find themselves, make for an excellent story, especially considering the terrifying news flight engineer, Eddie Deakin, receives shortly before takeoff.

The writing is tight, the suspense builds with every page (as events in a well-crafted story should), and the wartime events are accurate within the scope of a tale of fiction. I found it enticing, riveting, and plausible. I cared so much about some of the characters that at the end of the book I wanted there to be a sequel. I wanted to know what happened to Margaret and Harry, Diana and Mark, Nancy and Mervyn, young Percy, and even Margaret's sister, Elizabeth, who left the story fairly early on. The only problem with this book was that the copy I received from Amazon had 32 missing pages! I had to borrow a copy to read the missing text!!

Another good Follett book with airplanes and a World War II setting is Hornet Flight (November 2003).

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Average customer rating:

Likeable characters, exciting twists, Good read.
The World's Best Book
Jackdaws
a thriller
The Women Who Won The War

Jackdaws
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525946284
Release Date: 2001-12-03

Amazon.com

Penzler Pick, November 2001: Each book by Ken Follett, one of the most successful suspense writers of our time, is a welcome event. With Jackdaws, he returns to his most successful era, the darkest days of World War II.

It is 1944 and the Allies are preparing for the invasion of Europe. In the occupied town of Sainte-Cecile, the French Resistance is preparing to blow up the chateau that now houses the crucial telephone exchange connecting the French telephone system to that of Germany. Bombers have been unable to inflict enough damage on the chateau to disrupt communications for more than a few hours at a time, but the Allies need to make sure that communications is down for longer so that there will be as little warning of the invasion as possible.

Felicity Clariet, known as Flick, is a British secret agent patrolling the streets around the chateau waiting for the first explosions that will give the signal for the attack to begin. She is married to Michel, a Resistance fighter. When the operation goes horribly wrong, they barely escape with their lives and Flick returns to her home in London--but not for long. When Flick returns to France it will be as part of an audacious, quickly assembled plan to put female spies in the chateau as telephone operators and cleaners, enabling the Allies to destroy the ability of the Exchange to warn Germany in advance of the landing on the beaches of Normandy. The twists and turns of the plot will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Follett tells us that Jackdaws is based on a true story. The Special Operations Executive sent 50 women into France as secret agents. Thirty-six survived. --Otto Penzler

Book Description

D-Day is approaching. They don't know where or when, but the Germans know it'll be soon, and for Felicity "Flick" Clariet, the stakes have never been higher.

A senior agent in the ranks of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) responsible for sabotage, Flick has survived to become oe of Britain's most effective operatives in Northern France. She knows that the Germans' ability to thwart the Allied attack depends upon their lines of communications, and in the days before the invasion no target is of greater strategic importance than the largest telephone exchange in Europe.

But when Flick and her Resistance-leader husband try a direct, head-on assault that goes horribly wrong, her world turns upside down. Her group destroyed, her husband missing, her superiors unsure of her, her own confidence badly shaken, she has one last chance at the target, but the challenge, once daunting, is now near-impossible. The new plan requires an all-woman team, none of them professionals, to be assembled and trained within days. Code-named the Jackdaws, they will attempt to infiltrate the exchange under the noses of the Germans-but the Germans are waiting for them now and have plans of their own. There are secrets Flick does not know-secrets within the German ranks, secrets among her hastily recruited team, secrets among those she trusts the most. And as the hours tick down to the point of no return, most daunting of all, there are secrets within herself....

Filled with the powerful storytelling, unforgettable characters, and authentic detail that have become his hallmarks, Jackdaws is Ken Follett writing at the height of his powers.

Customer Reviews:

Likeable characters, exciting twists, Good read........2006-10-02

I like Ken Follett, and this is no exception. The characters are interesting, the story believable, and there are enough twists to make this whole story an enjoyable read.

In this book, Follett's villain was a likeable character. In other books, Follett's portrayal of the villain caused the reader to dislike him. But in this one, Franck was a likeable villain, and the reader almost cheers for him, especially with his clashes with the Gestapo.

If I was forced to criticize the book, it would be regarding the ending. Of course we know that the good guys win before even starting, but the sabatoge story and the subsequent stories (details omitted so as not to ruin the story), went too fast, and without many things going wrong for the Jackdaw team.

But I enjoyed it. It was an entertaining read.

The World's Best Book.......2006-05-09

It is about Adolph Hitler and what he did. This book is for mature readers because of things he did to other people and what happened to him to make him hate the Jewish religion. This book is an historical biography. I like the book because it is about history. I would recommend this book to people that like history and reading about the Holocaust. The book's title is Jackdaws by Ken Follett.

Jackdaws.......2006-03-18

Good book, it keep my interest. I belong to a book club and this was one of the books that was on the list.

a thriller.......2005-10-08

i really enjoyed this novel. it was suspenseful right to the end. seems to be a renewed interest in World War II for both authors and readers, for good reason. we cannot know how to protect our future unless we know what happened in the past, and the author weaves some history of the French Resistance and English underground assistance, Gestapo torture tactics into this intrigueing novel. Some outcomes you figure too good to be true, but that's what makes it a good read. 5 stars from me.

The Women Who Won The War.......2005-06-22

"Jackdaws" is a thrilling historical novel set inWorld War II. Author Ken Follett tells the story through Major Felicity "Flick" Clairet of the Special Operations Executive. Her story is based on the real life of Pearl Witherington. The novel begins in Sainte Cecile, France where the Germans have taken over a château to use as their main telephone exchange. The resistance force fails miserably in their attack due to poor intelligence. Back in London, Flick puts together an all women cleaning team which succeeds in blowing up the château. This in turn allows D-Day to be a success. Unfortunately, out the original six women on the team, only two returned from the mission.
Through "Jackdaws," Follett is able to convey the unseen importance of women in the war effort. Flick and her team are a prime example of this. Through her snap decisions and ingenuity, Flick is able to outwit German Major Dieter Franck. Other members of her team are also cited for their bravery, including Jelly, an explosives expert. Despite her age of forty seven, she volunteers to be a member of the team conquering her fear of parachuting. In real life Pearl Witherington is given the civil MBE award after she is rejected for the Military Cross, given only to men. Saying she had done nothing civil, Witherington returned the award. It is women like Flick who have allowed other women to advance to where they are today.
I find Follett's book to be a stimulating novel filled with adventure and the empowerment of women. The adventures comes from Flick and her team sneaking through enemy territory. One of the heart stopping moments occurs when two members of Flick's team disobey orders and go to the Ritz for dinner. Flick barely escapes the clutches of Major Franck by killing a guard and commandeering a car. The two members of her team eating dinner are captured by the Germans. The trials which Flick and her team face are a true representation that women are skilled and equal to their male counterparts. I believe that stories such as this allow women to believe in themselves and others. A masterful work of historical fiction to be enjoyed by World War II fans and many others - "Jackdaws."

Average customer rating:

First rate thriller
GREAT story, and it's true!
Best book in over 30 years, except of course for The Bible which has no equal
Why Ross Perot Couldn't Get Elected Dog Catcher
Narrative Non-Fiction At Its Best

On Wings of Eagles
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451213092
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Book Description

Number-one bestselling author Ken Follett tells the inspiring, true story of the Middle East hostage crisis that began in 1979, and of the unconventional means Ross Perot used to save his countrymen.

Customer Reviews:

First rate thriller.......2007-03-07

A very exciting and well-wriiten book. I couldn't put it down till I have finished the last line.

While it is true that two EDS employees were rescued and smuggled out of Iran, the details were obtained from EDS men and Poss Perot. Whether they were completely true and authentic is an open question. Thus far, I have not heard from anyone challenging the facts.

Mr Follett, you did an excellent job.

GREAT story, and it's true!.......2006-12-24

Ken Follett captures in his unique, exciting style the true life story of Ross Perot's refusal to let the Iranian government hold two of his employees in captivity when they had done nothing wrong. The book follows the actual events through the capture of the the two employees, the ineffectual US government attempts to release them through diplomatic channels, and the assembly and training of the recovery team. Follett does an excellent job of profiling the team, detailing their military and professional backgrounds, as well as their personal situations and motivations for volunteering for the rescue mission. The author also gives an excellent profile of Ross Perot, the friendly, seemingly soft-spoken millionaire with a will of steel. This book is easy to read, with plenty of adventure and the occassional humorous story to keep it personal and human. An absolutely outstanding story, it not only tells a true story but teaches important lessons about leadership and loyalty.

Best book in over 30 years, except of course for The Bible which has no equal.......2006-09-30

Book Review: "On Wings of Eagles" by Ken Follett; published by William Morrow, New York in 1983; Non Fiction.

I read quite a few books, usually one or two per week on average, and my selection varies widely from the latest murder mystery fiction novels to the more mundane non fiction biographies of ordinary people that lived through extraordinary situations hundreds or even thousands of years ago. I am a firm believer that almost every book is worth reading especially if the alternative is not to read at all. I like reading so much that when left alone in an environment with no other suitable distraction I will often read the labels on product cartons including tissue boxes, furniture cushions, and even the tiny shampoo bottles found in hotels. Reading is educational, entertaining, and therapeutic while also being quite inexpensive, flexible, and completely portable. Like most readers I have developed a preference for a number of topics and acquired an addiction for a few select authors yet one book stands out among all others as by far the best book I have read in over 30 years of persistent study.

The book currently at the top of my list is "On Wings of Eagles" by Ken Follett. This book reads like a non-stop action thriller and it competes with the finest of the wild and dramatic novels out there yet the most incredible aspect of the story is that it is 100% true as recounted to the author first hand by many of the original subjects. I know this for fact as I have researched the story several times, at first in disbelief and then later out of admiration and a passion to find out even more about the origins of this unique situation and the amazing people that were involved. My research included querying numerous news archives, reviewing public profiles of several large corporations, communicating with a few veteran book collectors, and eventually to direct contact with the author who was kind enough to correspond with me on several occasions.

The story takes place in that late 1970s. It starts innocently enough when EDS, a large computer processing company based in Dallas, wins a contract from the Iranian government to provide computer hardware and software that will administer the Iranian social security system including taxes, finances, and payouts to the citizens of Iran. The company assigns hundreds of employees to the project and many of them are relocated to Iran where they setup a typical corporate office complete with cubicles, meeting rooms, typewriters, secretaries, etc. They install and maintain a massive mainframe computer system and live relatively normal lives including a Monday-Friday work week with shopping, social events, and errands on the weekends. A number of the main executives even brought their families with them to eliminate the burden of long term separation that often accompanies massive out of town projects. The wives furnish and decorate their houses and apartments, they buy cars and appliances, and the kids go to school just like they would back home in Dallas. Several families even have pets including dogs, cats, and birds.

For a while everything seems to be going well and the contract is worth many millions in revenue so the company is looking forward to a substantial profit as the deliverables are completed and payment is made. This is where the trouble starts. The Iranian government becomes unstable and they withhold payment on all invoices due to the company despite the significant work that has already been completed. Various fanatical groups emerge to stir up trouble in their desire to take over from the local government. Demonstrations are held in the streets, protests and vandalism become common, and civil order begins to erode. Eventually it becomes unsafe for the Americans to travel after dark and a curfew is imposed. The EDS workers and their families are concerned but they assume this is a temporary situation that will blow over in time once the political arguments are resolved. They are initially confident of their safety since they are providing a critical service to the Iranian government which in turn provides a valuable service to the Iranian citizens, so of course it would be unwise for Iran to turn on the service providers that are supporting them.

Unfortunately the opposite happens and in just a few short months the entire country is thrown into a full scale revolution which includes severe restrictions on travel. Violence, gunfire, and civil unrest are common place and there is now a much greater threat to Americans in particular. At this point the US government issues orders to evacuate all non-essential US embassy staff and American citizens living in Iran, so of course the company decides to evacuate the employees and temporarily shut down the project. Most of the employees put their belongings in storage or hire Iranian friends to look after their homes and possessions in anticipation of returning once order has been restored. A small skeleton crew of top executives and core employees volunteer to remain behind and maintain the system in hopes that the Iranian government will be restored, pay the outstanding invoices, and welcome the Americans back to resume their work on the lucrative contract.

Unbeknownst to EDS, the Iranian government was running out of money thus they were not able to pay the invoices however they also needed to keep the system running to maintain critical services if they were to eventually recover. To solve their dilemma one of the government officials decides to have two of the top executives arrested, interrogated, and jailed on false charges of corruption. The official refuses to pay the invoices and insists that the remaining crew continue to maintain the system. The executives are found guilty without a trial and bail is set at $13 million dollars. The entire process is quite unusual given the normal laws and legal processes in Iran so EDS immediately engages a team of top lawyers and US government officials to get their employees released from prison and returned to the US.

A long battle ensues driven primarily by Ross Perot, the EDS President, and his extensive network of powerful corporate and political allies. All options are considered including payment of the outrageous bail however nothing works. The US government is not willing to risk creating an international incident since the employees initially appear to be safe in jail, the legal advisors recommend against paying the bail since there is no assurance that the employees would be released and it could encourage further arrests or increased demands, and all attempts to reason or bargain with the Iranian government end in total failure. At this point Ross makes a bold move which would have been viewed as completely insane by many and actively thwarted by all government officials had they known about it at the time.

Ross decided to form a small team of his top executives by selecting those that were closest and most loyal to him. By coincidence they also just happened to be ex-military soldiers formerly assigned to Special Forces duty for the US Army. Ross then hired an old friend of his, a legendary retired military colonel and former Green Beret known as Col. Bull Simmons, to lead the newly formed commando team. He gathered the group in his Dallas headquarters, swore them to secrecy which included cover stories for their families, and charged them with doing whatever it took to rescue the imprisoned employees and bring them back to the US. He provided unlimited funds, transportation, and valuable connections to certain influential parties that could get things done. Then he stepped out of the way and let the team get to work.

Col. Simmons trained the team, conducted reconnaissance, obtained the proper gear, and arranged for the team to be smuggled into Iran. The remainder of the story is quite exciting and will keep you turning page after page well into the early morning hours as you fight off sleep and struggle to keep your eyes open for just one more paragraph. I won't ruin the surprise by relating the outcome but suffice to say it is quite an adventure that serves as a reminder of how strong the bonds can become between team members when they are led and motivated by the best and then made dependent on each other for survival against all odds.

In closing I recommend that you buy not one but several copies of this book. You will want one to read, one to keep in safe storage with your permanent collection, and several to give to your family and friends. In the past several years I have purchased more than a dozen copies and given them all away except for one which is an original first edition hardback that was signed by Ken Follett, Ross Perot, and 7 of the top executives that were involved in the rescue operation. That copy is safely stored away with my most treasured possessions where it remains for many months at a time until I get the urge to pull it out and read it again or show it to friends as I highly recommend an item for their shopping list on their next trip to the bookstore.

Why Ross Perot Couldn't Get Elected Dog Catcher.......2006-09-15

This is an enjoyable book. Follett is a great writer. Read it, you'll enjoy it.

What I found most interesting is that even though Perot hired Follett to write this book, it still makes Perot look like the most paranoid, wannabe, egomaniac out there.

Read this book with that in mind and you'll love it.

Narrative Non-Fiction At Its Best.......2006-08-19

I picked this book up to read after visiting Mr. Perot's office. The book is a testimony to the commitment of a boss and fellow workers to risk it all to take care of your people and your friends. Whatever the debate within the State Department about Perot not giving diplomatic measures time to work, Perot realized time was of the essence and decisions could not wait.

A side lesson, apropos for today, was the rescue teams requirement to negotiate with government officials, tribal leaders, mullah's, and anyone toting a gun to achieve objectives or make progress.

This is a book about men who were selfless, placing their lives in great danger, adapting on the fly, and then returning to America to work in their buisness suits. A rare group indeed.

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Authors

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