Customer Reviews

The Feather Men

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sir Ranulph Twisleton Wickham Fiennes BT, OBE (and holder of the Polar Medal with Bar!) is undoubtedly the greatest living British explorer. He also served as an officer with the Special Air Service Regiment in the early seventies at a time when I was attached to that Regiment as a corporal in the Pay Office. We met briefly then and again in the late eighties when I was involved with Operation Raleigh. Though "Ran" - as he introduced himself on the latter occasion, has no reason to recall either meeting, I will always remember this man as someone with great presence who has come to symbolise great things and great achievements. In many ways he is the most British of men.

In his book "The Feather Men," the reader is left wondering whether or not it is a work of fact or fiction. It is an enthralling and exciting read and I am surprised it has not yet been made into a film.

Throughout the world there are certain "standards." For example, people might refer to a specific make of car, as that country's equivalent of a Rolls Royce. This is because Rolls Royce has become the standard for excellence in the making of cars. Similarly, when describing the world's Special Forces, they often refer to certain elite organisations as that country's equivalent of the SAS.

I had the privilege of serving with the SAS over 30 years ago but was never SAS trained. Ran Fiennes was and, therefore, knows what he is talking about. That is why you will be left wondering.

Altogether and excellent book.

NM
British Army Major (retired).

This is a marvellous account of derring-do, very skilfully related. I was living in Oman, the setting of most of the story, whilst reading the book. Discrete checks of many of the facts and visits to Christian cemetries in Muscat where some of the characters lie convinced me that the story is in fact true despite its incredible tortuosity. Unputdownable, and also disturbing.

There are very few books that I have read and some time later wanted to buy it and read again. This book has made me think more about what it is telling me than any other book. I must get it again. I have lent the book out and have never seen it again. I must get it !

When I read the feathermen, I had to keep looking up to remind myself of the real world around me. The description of the feathermen's 'warning' to drug dealer in Bristol is typical of the 'speak softly and carry a big stick' attitude of the British SAS. It is surely a book for our times and one that reminds us of the dangers around, whether hidden or on view to us. I highly recommend the book and urge all readers to push for the fim to be made!!

This is an amazing book, both informative and entertaining! The adventure throws you through much history and culture, I learned a lot from this book.

Its too good of a story to be real. That said, the story is too good to be made up.

At times it feels too theatrical to be real, but then again much of the story is choppy, random, filled with holes, you don't get all the answers you want. Certain things you get no information about, while other parts are extremely detailed. This makes it seem more realistic.

I think it is mostly true, but I definitely want it to be true, so I am biased as heck.

Someone is secretly murdering SAS veterans. The killings are carefully arranged to look like accidents. The Feather Men, a secret organization of SAS vets, suspects that something is up. The trail leads to a band of contract killers, who are under hire from an Arabian sheikh exacting traditional tribal vengeance against the _ingleezi_. Oh, and the author himself narrowly escapes being hit by the hired killers, shortly before the Feather Men contact him to write this account of these events. They do not tell him what happened to the surviving killer once he was caught, so the book has several loose strings. A genuinely disturbing tale of how terrorism strikes even the bravest and savviest of spec warriors.

Could not simply place the book down. Had me gripped from start to finish. Quite a lot to take in with various names being slung around the place early on but if you bare with this and keep concentrating it is greatly rewarded.
I had the pleasure to ask Sir Ranulph Fiennes whether the book was fact or fiction, he said that was up to the reader to decide and he would not say or comment.
great book, great man.

I am absolutely confounded as to why this allegedly true story has never been memorialized on film. I'd bet my entire portfolio on its mega-box office success. True or not, this book is a gripping, stunning story, that, if conjured by ANY other modern day novelist, would surely be his/her defining epiphany. Fiennes is large, a mighty oak amongst wilting thistles. Clancy and LeCarre must demur when Fiennes raps his lectern. This soldier beat these staid pros in short order--about 300 pages. The other reviews have already told you too much. Just get it and be prepared. A MIND BLOWER!!!

I constantly had to remind myself that "The Feathermen" is NOT fiction. However, I'll take the word of a man who has walked across some of the worst terrain in the world.

Ranulph Fiennes is a former member of the elite British commando unit, the Special Air Service (SAS). It is brought to his attention that three members of his former unit have died mysteriously (just think how hard it would be to kill an SASman!). Enter the Feathermen, shadowy members of a group sworn to help out ex-SAS soldiers.

Fiennes goes into great detail how the Feathermen battle a group of mercenaries called "The Clinic", who have been paid by someone to kill veterans of a long-forgotten foreign war. Then ending is as shocking as any book of fiction, and Sir Ranulph (he is a baronet), builds the suspense in a way that you will probably lose a bit of sleep staying up reading it

Great delivering time. The book was a bit more "used" than expected, but since it was a soft cover, I didn't have any high expectations.