Hostage to Fortune [Paperback]

Ted Mason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

A mercenary invasion? A coup d'tat? Civil War? Or maybe it's all an elaborate plot to discredit the American Embassy in the island republic of Sharqiya.

Ambassador Hal Potter was once a professor, and an expert on French colonialism. Now he will need all his knowledge--and diplomatic skill--to hold his fractious team together in the face of the dangers that threaten to destroy them all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ted Mason is a retired Foreign Service and Army Reserve Officer, with overseas postings in Europe and in the Third World. As a political analyst for the Air Force and later the US European Command Headquarters, he covered the tumultuous events leading to independence in France's former colonies. As a Public Affairs Officer he directed American Cultural and Information activities at U.S. missions overseas. A graduate of Yale University, he now lives with his French-born wife Genevieve in Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Bartleby Pr (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910155380
• ISBN-13: 978-0910155380
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,542,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book With a View, November 29, 2000

By 

Larisa Holloman (Stafford, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostage to Fortune (Paperback)

I found the book to be very tight, although with a few errors easily fixed by a good copy editor. The author doesn't waste words, unlike so many "popular" writers - no wading through pages of unecessary decriptions. Anyone who's been involved in diplomatic circles can easily recognize many of the characters and thier motivations, and for those who haven't, you may see many aspects of some regular old people you know. The local colour is indicative of the author's familiarity with his subject, and is very easily fit into the story. The plot is not a new one, but who's seen anything in the news lately which hasn't been there before? There are twists and turns, some anticiapted and many not. It's overall a good, well written story with the ability to take you into the pages, and with an uncomplicated, un-Hollywood, plot - just like real life.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well Written Story, June 3, 2008

By 

Alexey Braguine author of Kingmaker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostage to Fortune (Paperback)

I have spent enough time overseas to recognize when people write with authority. Ted Mason certainly does. He weaves plot, characterization and setting into a seamless story, which is a pleasure to read. The conflicts between the characters are amusing and keep the plot going until the action finale.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average, October 14, 2000

By 

joel417 (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostage to Fortune (Paperback)

The book's plot was not original; character development could have been better. Suspense was lacking all the way through. Books by former Peace Corps volunteers tend to be more insightful than books by former Foreign Service Officers since Peace Corps volunteers were closer to the mainstream population as oppposed to the 'power elite'. The setting of the book is apropos of current events in this region.