Call to Arms

If you buy a W E B Griffin novel looking for shootin' and lootin' combat action, you'll probably be a little disappointed. For new readers, I strongly recommend the first two volumes of The Corps series. As an ensemble, the characters are the most compelling of Griffin's works and the stories follow a mostly historical time line. Readers whose view of WWll comes from old B & W movies may find the carousing a little rugged although the "Platoon" and "Apocalypse Now" generation will find the sex and drinking pretty conventional. Griffin provides his readers a slightly different angle or angles, offering multiple intertwined stories which are more or less connected within the context of the whole. Sometimes, this works well, sometimes less so, depending really upon how well he manages to tie the whole thing together in the last few pages. If this appeals to you there are a couple of other things you may want to consider before beginning your journey into Griffin's micro version of history. The most obvious is that the books are written in series form, "The Corps", Brotherhood of War", "Honorbound", etc, and while you probably will want to read them in their proper order, (numbered for your convenience, Book l, Book ll, and so on), you may find reading them straight through a bit wearisome. This is due to the Author's practice of bringing new readers up to speed on the reoccurring characters, (reading the story on Ken McCoy's nickname for the third or fourth time, if done in too short a time frame, is off putting). Another artistic conceit is Griffin's love of the "small world phenomena", (think Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon), all of his primary cast not only know each other through family, or business associations, or mutual friends or a shared experience, they somehow manage to be tied to famous persons of the time. To enjoy the Griffin books you'll just have to suspend reality a bit and just go with it. Get used to guest appearances by "Dugout Doug MacArthur and FDR. You also may be a little impatient with some of the editing and although most folks who read these as military or history buffs won't mind the routine technical references to uniforms, weapons, rations, and other gear, the casual reader might. I found the earliest "Corps" and "Brotherhood" stories strongest and his later work, and the "Badge of Honor" series to be a little less focused.

I'm a thirteen year old that like to read and this is one of the best sequals that I have ever read. Usually the first book is really good but the second one stinks. Not in this case I finished this book last week and started the third book which seems to be every bit as promising as this one. I highly suggest that you read this book even if you aren't that familiar with this era; after this book you will be.

This was an awsome book. I enjoyed it very much, it is a good story as well as giving some history too.

This is the first volume of eight in "The Corps" series by W.E.B.Griffin , and is probably one of the best volumes. It is without doubt a wonderful intro to the writings of Mr. Griffin.The setting of the novel is Shanghai, China in early 1941 , before the onset of U.S. involvement in the hostilities known as World War II. We are first introduced to corporal Kenneth McCoy , a bright 21 year old Marine who has just "shipped over" for a second enlistment in the Marine Corps. After McCoy defends himself from the assault by a group of Italian Marines , by skillful use of a knife , he becomes known as "Killer" McCoy. Captain Edward Banning enters the series as the intelligence officer of th 4th Marines assigned to help McCoy as his defense officer at a Court Martial for killing the Italians. After "Killer" McCoy is cleared , Banning enlists Ken as an assistant in collecting intelligence on the Japanese army that is occupying China. Sergeant Ernest Zimmerman is a motor pool NCO who operates convoys to various Marine installations in the vicinity of Shanhai ; McCoy is subsequently assigned to the convoys to collect information for Banning , using his lowly status for cover. The Japanese provoke another incident wherin McCoy kills a number of "Chinese baandits" with Zimmerman , which results in his transfer back the the U.S.Unbeknownst to McCoy , he was selected by Captain Sessions , who met Ken on the convoys ,to be run through an officers's course at Quantico. While at Quantico, Ken meets Malcom "Pick" Pickering who continues to play a major role in later novels, as well as his romantic interest in the person of Earnestine "Ernie" Sage.As one may have concluded at this point , the volume is crucial to anyone contemplating reading any of the later episode in the series , since almost all the major characters are introduced in "Call to Arms".I have read this book 3 or 4 times over a ten year period and never tire of it. Well written with excellent character development. Briskly paced with good continuity. All in all--one of my favorite books. Five stars plus!

Call to Arms is a finely crafted novel, a very compelling tale which weaves a stunning plot much in the style of recent war novels like "The Triumph and the Glory" or suspense tales like "Black Notice", or even books of a more techno-thriller bent like "The Devil's Teardrop." Four stars and a high five.