Amazon.com: THE VETERAN (9780593048955): FREDERICK FORSYTH: Books

More About the Author

Frederick Forsyth is the author of fifteen novels and short-story collections. He lives in England.

Customer Reviews

40 Reviews

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (40 customer reviews)

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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Work of Fiction, July 29, 2002

By

Newt Gingrich (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
("THE")

This review is from: The Veteran (Hardcover)

What do a young art dealer who was cheated by his boss, an unknown murdered man in a British public housing project, an American couple in Sienna at the Palio (a race going back to the 13th century), a family returning from vacation in Thailand, and the only man to survive Custer's last stand all have in common? When Frederick Forsyth writes about them, you will find yourself following every word and turning every page.

This is an absolutely remarkable collection of short stories running from the very realistic through the surprising to the supernatural. His portrait of a saint in Sienna is brilliant and compelling, and the outcome of the story is stunning and memorable. He provides a very satisfying explanation of who a murdered unknown person really is and how his identity affects the thugs who killed him. The life of the only scout to survive Custer's last stand is told so grippingly that I could not stop from finishing it.

Forsyth simply has the wonderful knack for writing fiction so it seems real, personal, and meaningful. His writing carries you into a world of possibilities and will stretch your own thinking and enrich your understanding of life's possibilities.

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the best book (of 500 !!) I've read this year, December 16, 2001

By

Gerald M. Bull "Jerry Bull" (Fairview, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Veteran (Hardcover)

(...) The Veteran is a compilation of five novellas: 78-, 70-, 34-, 36-, and 140-pages in length, to be exact. They have several things in common -- gripping story telling, enough flesh and detail to get involved and hooked in, and a strong twist at the end to surprise and delight. Whether it's vigilante justice, the scammee scamming the scammer, or a delightfully evocative tale about native America, Forsyth may be at his very best as he spins these five yarns spanning gullible tourists to drug smuggling. As a voracious reader, it's rare anymore I turn the pages with such delight and entertainment. This one goes on my top shelf, the one with little company ! Get it -- read it -- enjoy!

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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forsyth's short works, March 15, 2003

By

Douglas De Bono - Author of No Safe Harbor (Minnetonka, mn United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Veteran (Mass Market Paperback)

Frederick Forsyth never disappoints. This is a collestion of 5 short stories where characters are developed quickly, and you keep reading to find the tales' final twist.

The Veteran deals with the justice beyond a court of law and the honor of former comrades. It is worth the price of the entire book.

The Art of the Matter covers greed, swindlers and pay back in a very satisfying manner. In fact all of the stories deal with payback in some form.

The Miracle is a great story that justs sucks you into its magic just before the door comes crashing down.

The Citizen tells you exactly what is going to happen, but you don't see the truth until the final couple of lines.

However, Whispering Wind is the finest story. It is part ghost story and part morality tale.

Highly recommended.

Douglas De Bono
Author of ROGUE STATE

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars The last story was terrible

First time i 've read the author with short stories. 3 Stars and well spaced out in terms of believablity and holding one's interest. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Terrance L. Thrasher

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining and well written collection of short stories
When I came across this collection of short stories, I was aware of Fredrick Forsyth and some of his most famous books, including The Day of the Jackal, but I had never actually... Read more

Published 19 months ago by acwrite

3.0 out of 5 stars Samples from a master
These five stories, ranging from weak to strong, are nevertheless the unmistakable craft of a master storyteller. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Joe Garris

4.0 out of 5 stars Dusted-off odd bits
The only relevant thing you really need to know about THE VETERAN, especially if you buy it, as I did, thinking it a single story, is that it's a compendium of five shorts. Read more

Published on November 30, 2008 by Joseph Haschka

5.0 out of 5 stars The Veteran

The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth is by far my favorite author and I may be therefore biased. However, this is a collection of short stories which are captivating as well as... Read more

Published on October 8, 2008 by C. Ware

3.0 out of 5 stars Pot Luck Forsyth
Usually authors' careers follow predictable patterns of good patches and bad. One decade might bring greatness, another competence, another bare professionalism... Read more

Published on June 13, 2007 by Bill Slocum

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story
Please read this book. I believe that you will go out and buy all Forsyth has written when you read this book.

Published on January 24, 2007 by Floyd Hickerson

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Short Stories
Forsyth is a master story teller and can spin a yarn cleverly which keeps you coming back for more. All five of these short stories are clever with the outcomes not necessarily... Read more

Published on November 5, 2006 by Robert A. Remey

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read on a trip
A series of short stories, each is well written, exciting and with a twist. Since none is too long they can be read in a short time while travelling.

Published on November 4, 2006 by Bruce C. Williams

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but no payoff
I like this author's novels, but this collection of short stories was disappointing. I can see that the ending of each is supposed to be a shocking twist, but there's really not... Read more

Published on February 21, 2006 by Joey Edwards

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
beefy one, limping man, buckskin suit

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ben Craig, Peregrine Slade, Whispering Wind, Sheriff Lewis, House of Darcy, Benny Evans, First Class, Tall Elk, Trumpington Gore, Dover Street, Red Lodge, Bill Butler, Jack Burns, Old Masters, Little Bighorn, Royal London, Jack Bums, John Higgins, Linda Pickett, Miss Sundaran, Paradise Way, Plains Indians, Sebastian Mortlake, Hugo Seymour, Jonathan Stein

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