The Dogs of War (Mass Market Paperback)

by Frederick Forsyth (Author) "There were no stars that night on the bush airstrip, nor any moon; just the West African darkness wrapping round the scattered groups like warm,..." (more)
Key Phrases: five mercenaries, assault craft, bearer shares, Keith Brown, Cat Shannon, Crystal Mountain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A super thriller. . .as instantly  enthralling as the day of the  Jackal."--Publishers Weekly.


"There is  no doubt about it. Frederick Forsyth can write  spellbinders."--Bestsellers. -- Review

Review
"A super thriller. . .as instantly  enthralling as the day of the  Jackal."--Publishers Weekly.


"There is  no doubt about it. Frederick Forsyth can write  spellbinders."--Bestsellers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; First Edition edition (September 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553268465
• ISBN-13: 978-0553268461
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,900 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Book is Definitely Not a Canine, May 4, 2007

By	!Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Dogs of War (Paperback)

The time: the early 60's. Successive British governments are shedding their empire. The place: Africa where regimes are emerging through barbarism and chaos. Mercenaries are fighting on all sides. Some work for the highest bidders and some work for leaders they believe will bring stability, justice, and freedom. Mercenary Cat Shannon, former royal marine, is on one of the last planes out. His side has been overrun.

In the African hills of Zangaro, a British miner takes soil samples in the belief that it holds copper, but the samples reveal a rich deposit of the rarest ore in the world--platinum.

Once his employer discovers the real value, he hatches a scheme to get the mining rights. He will hire mercenaries to overthrow the regime and install a puppet who will give him the mineral rights to the mountain. Reenter, Cat Shannon who is hired to do the job.

Shannon recruits the best. He knows how to gather what he needs in secret, getting large sums of money out of the country, and acquiring the weapons and equipment he will need without arousing suspicion, fending off jealous competitors, but he has to speed up the operation.

His employer discovers the Soviets have also found out about the platinum and are sending a ship of surveyors and mining experts of their own, and the current Zangaro regime is far more inclined to do business with them. It has become a race against time.

Shannon and his men land off the coast and begin their operation, but there is a twist that even his employer did not count on. It is worthwhile reading this book to find out.

Forsythe manages to introduce an amazing amount of detail about mining, finance, smuggling and Africa to the point that you believe he is expert in each. He weaves these details into a story that builds with suspense and intrigue. The climax, as usual, will surprise you.

Cry Havoc! Let slip the Dogs of War. But, don't let the book slip away from your shelf.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Semi-classic tale of the ruthless., May 22, 2002

By	Chadwick H. Saxelid "Bookworm" (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A routine analysis of an African Republic's mountain's ore content uncovers a motherlode of one of the most rare metals on the planet, platinum. However the African Republic's government is a ruthless dictatorship, rabidly anti-western and pro-communist. Facts that do not intimidate Sir James Manson, chairman/managing director of Manson Consolidated Mining Company Limited, in the least. Not surprising when, even at dirt cheap prices, the mountain is worth ten billion dollars. Eager to snag the mining rights, Manson quickly sets forth a rather unique plan. Hire mercenaries to help overthrow the government, replace it with a pro-west puppet dictator, have a shell company buy up the mining rights to the mountain, have ManCon buy the shell company, and rake in the cash by the basket full. Easier planned than done, as others quickly get their eyes on the same prize.

Frederick Forsyth narrates with a reporter's deadpan voice and backs up the seemingly outlandish story with a huge amount of detail that makes it all seem credible. While the book does crackle with energy and keeps the pages turning, it lacked that something special to lift it up above the average page turner. But fans of Cold War era Men of Adventure tales will be sure to love this, recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A How-To book, October 27, 2006

By	CV Rick (Minneapolis, MN, USA) - See all my reviews

The Dogs of War is a how-to manual for setting up a mercenary coup of a third-world African country. The detail was impressive and shows that Frederick Forsyth really researched the ins and outs of arms smuggling and mercenary deals while a BBC journalist in Africa.

The main character, Cat Shannon, disseminates just as much information as is minimally necessary for each and every component of his operation so that he's exposed no more than necessary. He's an experienced mercenary who lives the life of danger, whether brandishing weapons in the jungle or obtaining end user certificates for arms shipments in Yugoslavia. His life is exciting, yet he's in control all the time and the reader learns that this is why he's lived as long as he has.

The country in question, Zangaro, is home to a platinum reserve that could rival known deposits in quantity and British mining magnate, James Manson, wants it all to himself without the fuss of dealing with the existing dictator. Where Cat Shannon is meticulous in setting up arms purchases, transportation issues, and hiring experienced killers, Manson is a master craftsman at avoiding legality in the business world through setting up shell companies, forging scientific surveys and filing false reports to government agencies.

The detail is both the strength and the weakness of this book. It's not an action/adventure. It's a how-to, as I pointed out earlier. That works to a point, but somewhere in the fourth or fifth iteration of end-user certifications, I got bored and just wanted them to get to Africa and kick some ***. For that reason, I can't give it a high rating even though Forsyth writes so beautifully I'd read his "What I Did on my Summer Vacation" essay from fourth grade. This just isn't his strongest work.

But, if you're going to overthrow a nation-state, please read this book.