The Fighting Agents - A Great W.E.B. Griffin Starter Series

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	• The Fighting Agents (Men at War) W. E. B. Griffin Jove, 2001 - 448 pages average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Classic Griffin Effort, but...

If you like W.E.B. Griffin, you will enjoy this book. It features two different OSS operations on opposite sides of the globe. Both stories are good and are told in classic Griffin style.

I was a bit disappointed, however, because I chose this book for the story of Wendell Fertig and his guerillas in the Phillipines. Despite indications to the contrary on the book jacket, the Fertig story represented only about 20% of the book. The balance was devoted to the story of getting scientists out of Germany through Hungary. That story was good, but it was not why I chose this book.

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Perpetuating a Myth

W.E.B. Griffin's books have been praised for so-called "historical accuracy." However, when he refers to branches of military service during World War Two, he repeatedly speaks of "Army Air Corps," the "Air Corps" and the "USAAC" (for Unites States Army Air Corps).

But, there was no such branch of service during World War Two.

It was almost six months BEFORE Pearl Harbor - and America's entry into World War Two - that the old reference of "Army Air Corps" was officially dropped, and this branch of the service became the "Army Air Force" (AAF). This happened on June 27, 1941.

So, some six months prior to America's entry into World War Two, the old "Air Corps" ceased to be. Those who served in the Army's air arm during World War Two actually served in the Army Air FORCE, and certainly NOT in the Army Air CORPS. (Touching bases with the historical branch of the United States Air Force would have clarified this matter prior to the publication of any of Griffin's books.)

If W.E.B. Griffin is to be praised for "historical accuracy," then he'll have to re-write his books and correct this mistake. As the publisher of his books, Penguin Putnam, Inc. should have caught this error long ago. It certainly detracts from the thread of authenticity that the author is obivously trying to impart. W.E.B. Griffin now has on the market a multitude of books of varying titles in which this glaring error continues to perpetuate itself. It's a shame that such fine stories have to be tarnished with such continued inaccuracies.

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Long overdue for another sequal

I started this series about 15 years ago when it was published under the nom-de -plume of "Alex Baldwin". W.E.B. Griffin's writing style was really evident at the time--too unique and "salty" to imitate. Now that the series is in print under the Griffin name I am wondering whether he plans to continue the the plot to a time-line conclusion. In this , the fourth volume of the O.S.S. saga , the major character Richard Cannidy , plans and executes the extraction of Eric Fulmar , Gisella Dyer , and Professor Dyer from Hungary. As a separate counter-plot , Captain Jim Whittaker returns to the Phillipines with aid for "General" Wendell Fertig who is attempting to conduct operations against the Japanese on the island of Mindinao. These operations are set against the background of the machinations of the O.S.S. hierarchy , the sexual/bedroom antics of the protagonists , and an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". I particularly liked Commander John Dolan as a character , and the cameo of Joe Kennedy Jr. seemed correct. In this series , tho' W.E.B. tries to compress alot of subplots into far too little space to be satisfying. If this is the end of the series , then the author needs to concentrate on The Corps , which I consider to be his "Flagship" series. The Wendell Fertig story was fleshed out pretty well in "Behind the Lines".
On the other hand , one more volume in "Men at War" could conclude this particular timeline in a satisfying manner.
Overall this particular volume was an enjoyable read ; not one of W.E.B.'s very best , but good enough for 4 stars.

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The Fighting Agents - A Great W.E.B. Griffin Starter Series

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.

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great

This book should be selling briskly. it's a stimulating read. While i'd hardly call it Pulitzer material it is a better book than I thought, and am surprised there isn't a strong marketing campaign.

I recommend this book. You'll be a better person for having read it.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

The Philippines, 1943: As the ragged remnants of the American forces stand against the might of the Imperial Japanese Army, a determined cadre of OSS agents becomes their only contact with the outside world-and their only hope for survival.

Written with a special flair for the military heart and mind. (Kansas Daily Courier

Shrewd, sharp, rousing entertainment. (Kirkus Reviews)

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