Customer Reviews

Quester

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an exciting action/adventure by a talented writer who knows his warfare, and he knows how to make it interesting for the reader. The dialog rings true; the characters are interesting. One of the guys is a Rambo-esque warrior who will really get your attention. I stayed up too late in order to finish this, and it's an extraordinary first novel. I hope there are more coming.

I wanted to entitle my little screed here "Keep your day job," but I decided that was too mean.

I don't think I need to give a summary of the story, the other reviews do an adequate job of that. I guess it's a good story, but in my opinion, it is poorly rendered. The writing is just awful. Call me a crank, a nitpicker even, but the author pushes all of my personal buttons: use of folksy dialog, misused words, misspellings, and poor use of grammar and (invented) punctuation. I don't believe there was a professional editor connected to this project. If there was, he should be blue-pencilled to death.

Do you want to know what bugged me most? I'll tell you anyway. The dots. It was the dots that brought me to this state of foaming dementia.

I...guess....the author...thought............they...were...ellipsises...........but.......they....aren't. There are dozens of these on every page. Every dialog is...full....of.....dots. Dozens on every page, literally thousands through the whole book. I am not exaggerating. And, my book was missing pages.

All in all though, it wasn't the worst Vietnam book I've ever read. Even though I give it a low rating, I'd still recommend it with a caveat that it ain't literature.

From the Author: I am pleased to inform all my readers that the novel QUESTER is to be a movie titled THE RIVER WARRIOR (RKO MIRAMAX). Look for it next year. I'm sure you will all want to see it!

Robert C. Powers

'Doc' Powers is more than a retired Navy Captain, War College Professor, Spec Ops boat builder, or Government Consultant and this book is PROOF! He's a warrior who's faced the only two kinds of REAL combat; Pentagon Office politics and kill-the-enemy before he kills you! Doc's real life experiences are in this exceptional BOOK! An outstanding read for active duty service people, military veterans and those who want to know what war is really like! We can only hope that Hollywood makes a movie of this STORY soon! You will not be able set this book down until it is fully read! I, for one,cannot wait for its sequel - 'The Mud Fox' to be published!

I'M A 32 YEAR NAVY VET IN FLORIDA, June 3, 2000,

I just finished reading Bob Powers book ,'Quester', and found myself meeting many of the 'Heroes' and 'DEVILS' I met during the war in Vietnam. I had flashbacks to those days when both sweat and chill ran down my flack jacket,when under fire at high noon. Powers truly captured the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Vietnam with a great story to back it up...It's about time someone put some of the atrocities of warfare in a story as well as remind us that not all the 'enemies' were in North Vietnam. The heroes and warriors were indeed believable. Bob Powers unique position as Aide to the Commander of Naval Forces Vietnam added significant credibility to his excellent writing...

QUESTER is a great book. Every USN river warrior will want to read it. It is accurate, realistic, and will take you back to your days on the rivers of Vietnam. I served as a SEAL Team Boat Officer in the "Giant Slingshot" area of ops where the story is set. The author has the environment, the feelings and atmosphere exactly right. Set in a real place and time, the fictional story line is enthralling. Fast paced, moving, and full of surprises. You'll have trouble putting this book down as the story develops. QUESTER would make a fabulous movie if Hollywood isn't tired of Vietnam themes. This book is highly entertaining and tells the story from the perspective of one who was there. I highly recommend it.

RADM Steve Smith USN (BSU ONE/MST TWO Vietnam)

WOW! As a Vietnam river vet I picked up QUESTER with some trepidation. However I found myself entranced by the vividness and detail of Powers' account and was actually transformed back 30 years to Hiep Hoa,Tay Ninh and the My Qui Canal. The last time I couldn't put a book down was a Tom Clancy novel--QUESTER falls in this category--a great read! Highly recommended. What's next?

Hal Amerau Coastal Division 13

Action packed from the first page. Brings the Viet Nam war into stark perspective as it explores the action in the "Brown Water Navy".....as the author puts it, a "dirty little war" which hasn't received much publicity. Powers writes with the obvious authority of one who has been there and the constant stream of combat action will keep you flipping pages furiously. The hero, Harry Quester, comes of age on the rivers of Viet Nam and his "quest" will enthrall readers of all ages. A terrific read which I'd recommend highly.

Dedicated to the memory of my recently deceased brother who became C.N.O. in 1970 after having served as U.S. Commander of Naval Forces in Viet Nam, 1968-1970, Quester is a gripping novel dealing with the brutality of war in the jungles of Viet Nam. It offers a fascinating account of the anger and frustration felt by American military personnel who resent the constraints placed on them by the nation's political leaders. I was particularly fascinated by the similarities between one of the main characters in the book, Admiral Zee, and my brother, Admiral Zumwalt. I enthusiastically recommend the book.

Jim Zumwalt

"Quester" is a terrific story that accurately portrays the life and times of U.S. Navy River Patrol Forces during the unglamorous conflict on the waterways of Viet Nam. The plot is superb, well developed, and well paced. All characters are certainly true to life. As a SEAL Team veteran of the river wars of Viet Nam myself, I can say with full confidence that the book paints the picture with exceptional detail. The twisting and turning story is compelling and accurately and portrays the unforgiving horrors and valiant heroics of combat. "Quester," however, goes the distance and provides a badly needed retrospective about the men who fought and died with dedication and courage, while individually and collectively committing themselves to assist the people of the Republic of Viet Nam. Robert C. Powers is to be commend for his exceptional first novel, and we should all hope it is not his last. He is a gifted storyteller.