Under Fire: A Novel of the Corps

I would love to know what it is about Griffin's books that holds me so well. He is the only Author I know that can get me to consistantly reread everything he writes. I must have read "The Brotherhood of War" series 5 times by now.This book is an excellent start for Griffin's Marine Korean War series. Two things I want to point out. The taking of the islands before the Inchon invasion was true, except that, of course, MacArthur knew about it. The interesting point to me was the failure of intelligence about the communist Korea invasion that Griffin uses at the sart of the story but does not document. General Singlubs book, "Hazardous Duty" does document the failure. It shows that the CIA knew about it, informed the top people in Washington, and that General Willoghby, MacArthurs Chief of Intelligence, had specifically downgraded it as "unreliable." This ties in exactly with the way that Captain McCoy is treated in the book.

Whenever a new volume in "The Corps" series is published my life is on hold until I finish reading it. I'm hooked and all of the characters are friends of mine or are people I really dislike. Griffin takes me, holding my hand all the way, to that segment of time when our Marine heroes are saving the world from (fill in the blank) and having fun in the process. This version fit the style and tone perfectly and was oh so well worth my time. But I have one serious complaint--apparently no one at the publishing house read this book before sending it to me. Beginning in the first chapter where our hero Captain (Former Major) "Killer" McCoy is repeatedly identified as Corporal McCoy there were just too many errors and typos. I have read rough drafts with fewer words left out of sentences and fewer factual errors (Factual errors of the kind that show up in early drafts and are dressed up in the final product--these were never identified). The author got it right but the editors at the publishing house must have been on vacation. I am distressed, disturbed and find myself in disharmony--the publisher owes me an apology for the lack of professionalism they exhibit in this product. Mr. W. E. B. FIRE YOUR PUBLISHER!

This is a detailed and tedious book, written not only for the military minded but also was intentionally planned to capture everyday readers wishing entertainment that is on the level. Starting in 1950 and moving forward this is the most detailed account of the Korean War I have ever come across, even accounts of General MacArthur are sharpened. I'm surprised with the effort put into this book, had to of taken a great deal of time. I say yes, read it. If you liked this, a similar very good military action entertainment book concerning the current war and terrorists, that uses logic to foresee and describe Armageddon in detail and the first account of the new F 35 in action is SB 1 or God By Karl Mark Maddox

UNDER FIRE, the 9th book of W.E.B. Griffin's "Corps" series, moves from World War II to the prelude and opening days of the Korean War. As in previous "Corps" and "Brotherhood of War" novels, Griffin uses actual historical events as background while skillfully putting his characters into the action.In UNDER FIRE, he uses the intelligence failure that allowed the North Koreans to mount a surprise attack, and the sad state of our military at that time, as the opening, following with an excellent description of the mauling our troops received during the early days of that war, finishing by using a highly fictionalized account of a little known, but highly successful special operation to clear the Inchon Approach Islands of North Korean troops prior to the Inchon Landing. To this end, Griffin uses many of his characters from previous "Corps" novels -- Ken McCoy, Ernie Zimmerman, Fleming Pickering and his daredevil son, "Pick" Pickering, and others.Overall, UNDER FIRE is a "page turner" that offers insight, via Griffin's well developed military fiction writing style, into the beginnings of the Korean War and Korean War special operations.

With this, his ninth crackling chronicle of Marine Corps heroes, popular author W. E. B. Griffin closes his accounts of World War II and transports his men to the devastation of the Korean War. Scott Brick, veteran voice actor, author and writer, whose stage credits include Cyrano, Hamlet and Macbeth, artfully carries listeners through the Unabridged version. Tony Award winner James Naughton (Chicago and City Of Angels) gives superlative voice to the Abridged versions. Few writers perceive the military stance as accurately as author Griffin, thus bringing pulse quickening reality to his tales. The year is 1950 as Under Fire opens. Despite its authenticity Captain Ken McCoy's warning of trouble in North Korea is largely ignored. Moreover, McCoy is dismissed from the Corps. Yet shortly, as history has shown, Korea becomes a deathly morass, and another challenging battle for the Marines. For those who enjoy military thrills and excitement Under Fire is 1A. - Gail Cooke