Customer Reviews

Iron Tigers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michael Farmer's first book Tin Soldiers was the best armored warfare book I had ever read! Iron Tigers is just as good.

When Russia's fragile democracy fails, a hard line former communist takes over. In Saudi Arabia, the new peaceful Iraq begins to answer the oil needs of the West leaving the Saudis in the cold. The Saudis seek a new ally. With a powerful new alliance the Russians and Saudis move to dominate the world's oil reserves by conquering Iraq, Kuwait, the UAR and Qatar. The only thing in the way is the M1A2-SEPs of the 1st Cavalry Division and Patrick Dillon's tanks of Cold Steel.

This book was excellent. Patrick Dillon, Dave Bennett and Colonel Jones all return. New characters like Rolf Krieger and Luke Dodd are great additions to the storyline. Farmer returns with the same technical detail and descriptive writing that made me think once or twice I was crawling around the desert. I love these kinds of books so I have read quite a few and can tell you this book will be in your top five. If you enjoyed Tin Soldiers this book is for you, and can't wait for the third book. READ THIS BOOK!

Michael Farmer has surpassed the great authors of modern warfare such as Harold Coyle and Tom Clancy with his book "Iron Tigers". For once a book has been written that reflects the 21st century battlefield and the solders themselves, written by an author who's been there and can relate his experience to the readers. I couldn't put "Iron Tigers" down. As a Gulf War veteran and Cavalry Scout, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a feel for today's battlefield and those who serve on it.

If you are looking for an extremely serious "what if" alternative history selection or a U.S. Military Senior Service School case study of a potential event, this is the wrong book for you. However, if you are looking for an entertaining, page turning, technically accurate story, this is definitely worth a look. I am always in search of well written, historically based alternative history books, but with the lack of such books in the genre, I have begun reading many more straight fictional military action stories.

I have been a military history buff, specifically WW II, since I was a child and I have read alternative history accounts from Conroy to Gingrich. Micheal Farmer spins a tale that is exciting, albeit at times predictable, and will do all John Wayne fans justice. His military background and understanding of tactics, weapon systems and their capabilities enhances the story's "believability factor."

While many of his characters, their interactions and their developments will make Hollywood proud, that does not detract enough from the overall story to diminish its entertainment factor. Again, as long as you enter into this book reminding yourself that is an military thriller and not a closely disected/researched alternative history event, you will enjoy this book.

As a former military member and veteran of SW Asia, the premise was intriguing. Farmer didn't delve too intricately in the overarching strategic picture and the geo-political events that would be ongoing, but he did add enough to answer the reasons why certain tactical events were occurring. I would have liked to have seen less "Vince Flynn" and that energy put into the military events, but it didn't detract from immensely from the story.

Again, this was a light, page turning, entertaining story that was grounded with enough technical and tactical accuracy to allow me to add an additional star in my evaluation. Keep your expectations a little more "Hollywoodish" and not "think tank" based and you should enjoy this book as a nice break from the heavier selections. I will read Farmer again.

With Michael Farmer's 1st. Hit Tin Soldiers and now Iron
Tigers you get the feel of what is is to command a M1A1 Tank
and be part of a top notch crew of Tankers.
Michael has an insite that is to the point and makes both books
an enjoyment to read. Both books are a must for those of
you into the operations of Tanks in battle.

Before I started Iron Tigers, I reread Mr. Farmer's first novel, Tin Soldiers, and found it just as good as the first reading. Iron Tigers was at least as good as his first effort, if not better. I recommend both of these novels to anyone who desires to escape into an armor combat scenario for a while. Enjoy!

The emergence of a stable and democratic Iraq has greatly shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. As a consequence, Saudi Arabia has found itself all but marginalized. When hard line elements in Russia, promising to return their nation to its former glory, come to power the Saudi's see an opportunity. A Russo-Saudi alliance is formed with the goal of driving the United States from the region and gaining control of the worlds oil reserves. Standing in their way are elements of the Unites States military and the battle hardened Iron Tigers.

That is the premise behind Michael Farmer's military thriller "Iron Tigers". It is a straight forward, get to point war story. While not on a par with Tom Clancy's World War III masterpiece "Red Storm Rising" or works by Larry Bond (Vortex and Red Phoenix) it is nonetheless a fast paced, enjoyable read.

As an active duty member of the military serving with CENTCOM Farmers knowledge of tactics and tank combat is clearly seen within the pages of "Iron Tigers". His writing reminds me of Harold Coyle (Team Yankee and The Ten Thousand). He also does a nice job of taking the reader into the halls of power in Washington and Moscow to observe some the statecraft and brinkmanship involved in waging a war.

The characters in "Iron Tigers" are fairly one dimensional and standard for a novel of this type. There are two exceptions. Rolf Krieger is a Schwarzenegger-esque type character, the son of parents from the East Germany he has a burning hatred of Russians and is delighted for an opportunity to confront the Russians in battle. The other is a Jack Russell Terrier named Phantom who survives a run in with a brutal Russian Colonel to fight another day.

The story while fast moving and entertaining does feel a bit rushed particularly a cloak and dagger B plot inside the Kremlin itself. This B plot alone could make a great read. Fans of the movie "Patton" will appreciate the climax of "Iron Tigers" be it a bit farfetched.

A few faults aside "Iron Tigers" is a nicely conceived, well-executed military thriller and well worth a look.

This book is one of the best military fiction books that I have ever picked up. I read the book three times in the first two weeks. Iron Tigers has the perfect mix of action, politics and technical info. Major Farmer has a way of bringing making you feel as if you know the character and feeling his emotions alongside him. Michael Farmer is the best author that I have read in many years and ranks up there with Harold Coyle for land warfare. I eagerly anticipate his next work.

I gave just finished reading IRON TIGERS and couldn`t put it down till finished, very good reading for all ages especialy former tankers.
The only drawback I could find was the duel between two tanks, it would just not happen otherwise a very good book. just hope Michael keeps on writing.

After the events in Tin Soldiers, the new Iraqi government is a friend and ally to the US. The political ground in the Middle East has shifted, with the Saudi government distancing themselves from Americas political sphere to ally themselves with Russia.

The Russian government has turned hardline again and is looking to expand their sphere of influence. The Saudis, having lost prestige and power with the new Iraqi regime taking center stage in OPEC and the Middle East, are desperate to regain their former position. It is an alliance destined to take that part of the world into the flames of war.

The same cast of characters are back for this book, with the addition of a few new people. Most interesting is Rolf Krieger, an East German immigrant with a burning hatred of Russia and Phantom, a Jack Russell Terrier, that has fight and spunk. His story is an integral part of the book.

Yet again the tactics and story are sound and enjoyable. The pacing is fast and the action hard hitting. Another good read for fans of military fiction.

This is not a techno thriller - it is a modern war novel about soldiers and the situations in which they find themselves.
Granted, the reasons for the war improbable, but not necessarily implausible. And anyway, when you're a soldier, it doesn't matter - you're there to do a job, and this book is about that. Notable points:
1) I liked the characters and found the dialogue interesting and realistic. That's the way soldiers talk. LANGUAGE WARNING: RATED R.
2) I found it easy to read. Unlike other novels, whose pages number nearly 1000, it didn't take half a year to read. And there is enough about modern armor tactics to be interesting. This novel was different from Tin Soldiers (Farmer's previous book) in that it spent more time describing the Recon Scouts, and the action they saw, as well as the destruction wrought by the modern tank company and other modern weapon systems.
3) There's intrigue and high level diplomacy. This part I could take or leave, but it made for an interesting read. However, the best action happens from the soldier's perspective.
4) The story is told both from the officer's perspective (battalion level meetings and politics), as well as the soldier's perspective. Mistakes are made, commanders are relieved, and soldiers perform feats of bravery and daring.
5) There's a love interest as well.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.