Customer Reviews

The Fighting Agents

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

This is the fourth and final book in the series originally published under the nom de plume, Alex Baldwin. Griffin does his usual excellent job of writing a compelling piece of fiction in a setting of historical events. Bitter, Canidy, Whittaker, Fulmar and company continue their exploits, now in the middle of WW II. The question is, now that the publisher has run out of books to reprint, will Mr. Griffin give us something new in the series -- I've been waiting since 1986 to see this series continue.

This was a great book, but it was definately the weakest of the series. Splitting Whittaker and Canidy into seperate story threads may have made sense, but it diluted both stories and the breaks between the two threads seemed contrived.

The treatment of minor characters like Lt. Cdr. Dolan and Joe Kennedy is, once again, one of the major draws to this series. The main characters are excellent, as always, but it is usually the secondary characters who flesh out the story lines.

I would have to say that Griffin's treatment of women is uneven, at best, in this series. The emergence of Charity Hoche as a genius/super analyst is unbelievable, due to the lack of a convincing setup, and is quite irritating. Her whole character seems to be contrived, and it seems Griffin makes her a "genius" to make up for using her as a sex object. While it might be possible to put those two characteristics together, Griffin fails.

Griffin also continues his theme that his hero is always right, especially, if the big wigs disagree with him. Canidy's "rogue" actions rank right up there with Killer McCoy (in The Corps). Just once, it would be good if the over cocky hero would screw up really bad.

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.

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.

This book was origanally publish in 1987 under the pen name "Alex Baldwin". It is a good story in the series about OSS agents Canidy and Whittaker, and the forces in the Philippines under Brig. Gen. Fertig.

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.

I think the best feature of W.E.B. Griffin's books is the way he mixes fact with fiction. In "The Fighting Agents", he does this very well in telling us the story of Wendell Fertig. I never heard this story until I read about it in Griffin's book.