The Fighting Agents

Half way through this book I realized that I read the exact book but titled "Soldier Spies":, word for word.

For those who have not tried W.E.B. Griffin because they don't wish to commit to reading 9 volumes in The Corps or Brotherhood of War series, I highly recommend trying this 4-book series (#1 Last Heroes, #2 Secret Warriors, #3 Soldier Spies, and #4 Fighting Agents). While I would love to see future installments of the Men at War Series, I thought that Griffin does a very good job of "wrapping up" with The Fighting Agents. I enjoyed it the most out of the 4 in this particular series because I felt that it was more operational and thus contained more action and suspense.

As always the weaving of historical fact and fictional characters continues to amaze me. I have read most of his war novels and they all are fine offerings. only one mistake, on page 243 the discription of D as dah dah dah is actually o not d. Only a Navy ex-radioman second class would have caught that and what would it matter with his rich discriptions of everything else.

Griffin does it again. Canidy is still tilting at windmills. Fertig is having a better day. You need to read this book. I recommend a hardcover copy, you will re-read it over and over again. I can't wait for W.E.B.'s next book.

As with, The Brotherhood of War series, the Men at War series is just as spectacular. I am sorely disappointed that this is the last in the series at this time. But, hope spings eternal that another volume of the lives of Richard Canidy, Jim Whittaker, Lt. Colonel Douglass, and Erik Fulmar and the women they love will continue the story of the OSS. After all another addition to the Brotherhood of War series is due out in January, 2001. Griffin is a wonderful storyteller with the experience that makes you want to believe that the stories really are more truth than fiction.

After some lackluster recent efforts, Griffin reminds us why he's considered one of the most capable military fiction authors out there.Excitement level is good; as is often the case, Griffin takes us to a new region (Yugoslavia/Hungary) and shows good area and language knowledge. He leaves the future and survival of one of the main characters of the series in real doubt throughout most of the book. The recent tendency of Griffin to be over-reliant on sex and infidelity as themes is absent. Either the original version (of which this is a republishing) lacked those themes, or it was rewritten. Either way, the romantic stuff doesn't detract from the storytelling, which is classic Griffin.As a bonus, we see some of the less-emphasized characters of the series gain development and fullness. The afterword, which I will not spoil for you except to say that it refers to Griffin's real world acquaintance with historical figures, is revealing and interesting.If you've read the first three, this is a strong continuation. If you have not, the whole series is worth your time and money.