Customer Reviews

The 100th Kill: A Novel of Vietnam

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up this book knowing it was fiction and was expecting no more than light entertainment. The first few chapters started out well enough.

I recognized serveral character whom Mr. Sasser drew from real life: Capt. Bill Lange was really Capt. Jim Land, founder of 1st Marine Div. sniper school, and certainly Pablo Rhoades was Gy. Sgt. Carlos Hathcock ,one of this nation's best marksman and sniper. I thought maybe Sasser's John Able was an combination of other real life characters J.T. Ward and/or Charles Mawhinney. The other characters, Kragel and Brigette Nguyen, were comic book like, but so what.

Then as the book progressed, I started to cringe. Sasser perpetuates the myth held by many that snipers was either psychopaths or otherwise psychologically unfit, who had to allay their traumas by killing and counting scalps.

Ok, other fictional snipers are bent, Hunter's Bob Lee Swagger certainly isn't the picture of mental health. But, Hunter's book are at least grounded in reality. Anyone familiar with sniping or military operations will spot numerous glaring errors.

Every cliche is here, stone cold killer with a soft center, whore with a golden heart, world weary journalist who finds redemption in war.

I certainly wasn't expecting Crane's Red Badge of Courage, but I was surprised to get Mack Bolan's The Executioner.

Mr. Sasser claims in the end page that he was a "Green Beret Medic", I would ask Mr. Sasser this. Do you think your book would be a fitting reflection of men such as Medal of Honor winners, Sgt's Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart, snipers, Delta Force C Squadron? (These two heroes, upheld the highest traditions of the Special Forces, when they died in order to save their team members in Mogadishu, Somalia.)

To the two young men who wrote the other reviews. I would recommend that you read "Marine Sniper" by Gy. Sgt Carlos Hathcock, II.

Gunny Hathcock was a real-life hero, who was not only a shooting champion and battlefield sniper with 93 confirmed kills. Most importantly, he was a man willing to risk his life to save his fellow marines.

Warning! This book is only for a person that loves military tactics. Watch as a world class Marine sniper goes for his 100 kills. This book is not really a strong-plot reading book, but an almost Jeffery Chaucer sort of book. It has a little bit of everything to represent war. If you read this book, remember characters aren't all that they seem. They may be more. This book has everything from ARVN aircraft, to Huey gunships. My father is a Vietnam Era Air Force Veteran, and this book has everything the military does. A great read. Not for kids.

I'm in 9th gread but that makes no diffrence. The book had me reading it whenever I had time. I couldn't put it down! I'm not a big reader but this novel is differnt... I like to read this one. No other book has done that for me. Read it and you will see!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it doesn't necessarily create a realistic view of sniper strategy nor of the Vietnam war, it has unique psychological aspects that I found intriguing. Surprisingly complex view of personal attachment woven between a stylized interpretation of marine culture.

I was misled by the 4.5 star average rating of the book reviews. Even as fiction, the story was totally unbelievable. It was a complete waste of my time and money.

Im a 7th grader from Michigan. Well I thaght your book The 100th kill I give it the best rating and all of your other books are cool and I have read all of your books and the Shoot to kill and see you lator.