The Fifth Angel

I'm a latecomer to the Wiltse genre and have sort of worked backwards, but, boy, there's nothing backwards about this book. This author seems to be able to take any material whatsoever and invest it with a depth and authenticity and characterization and dialogue and humor...well, the list goes on, but check it out for yourself, read the rest of his stuff, including the plays. I have been overhwhelmed and this story of a highly-trained soldier gone amuck is just another example of his excellence. If Rambo had been anything like as complex and honest as this, he would not have become a joke.

If this is the Fifth Angel, who were the other 4 before him, because I'd love to read them, too. This story of a highly trained soldier who goes amuck after being nearly killed, seems all too possible, if not prophetic. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that Wiltse does not present his "hero" as some kind of Rambo killing machine, but as a real, confused, and very human being. Just superb, start to finish.

I just finished Heartland, the last by David Wiltse and ran to the library to get this, one of his early works. Wow, can this guy write a story. There's more depth and characterization and personality in his stuff than just about anyone else around. Plus a highly inventive plot that seems particularly relevant after September 11.

Well when I read this book I thought it was really great how Mark Sitzer was a man that you could never now what he's gonna get up too. He had no fear and that wasn't the only thing this guy had the brains of many and also the reading he did in the institute mad him more of a man to fear. I reackon David Wiltse did a great job in writing this book.

What a fabulous book! Having spent six years as a medic in Special Operations in the Army, this was one of the few books that present the hero in a believable light. Sergeant Mark Stitzer isn't some sort of superhuman, bullet-proof, "kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out" type. He is, however, wholly believable, and the story itself, highly plausible. An edge-of-the-seat, white knuckled suspense novel from cover to cover! Congratulations on a job well-done, Mr. Wiltse