Helpful Score: 1
Hunters best book as far as I am concerned. Realistic and a page turner and one to keep yoyu awake.
Another great adventure with Bob Lee. I found myself fascinated by the information on swords and the samurai. Excellent story.
What can I say? I just love Bob Lee Swagger, even if he is getting old. He hasn't lost it. Not that he's looking for trouble these days, he just attracts it. Taking care of trouble is what he does.
Another intense write. Swagger rocks
As always, the combination of Stephen Hunter (Author), Earl & "Bob" Lee Swagger as main characters, this is a great read :) If you like Stephen Hunteras an Author, you can't miss with this book :) Awesome read, fast read, exciting from beginning to end.
Stephen Hunter always tries to educate us a little with each book, and see history as we may not have seen it before. Enjoyed this Swagger as much as others
Excellent book - Hunter is a great writer and his books keep you very interested.
not the best one of his books. somewhat simplistic.
This book was quite entertaining but quite a departure from other Swagger books. I learned a lot more about Japanese swordsmanship than I really wanted to know and I found it difficult to decipher all the Japanese cultural jargon. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about this culture, but bring a Japanese dictionary.
Even though the main character is getting older he continues to solve problems as only a marine can solve them; with force. Bob Lee Swagger calls in favors from his past contacts in the intelligence community to seek justice for a new found friend and his family that were murdered. To seek the revenge he deems appropriate for the Japanese business man responsible for the murders Bob Lee gets training in the art of the Samurai and their sword fighting techniques and skills. Here is where the book relies on the reader's gullibility as Swagger, in only two weeks training, is able to face SIX Samurai and kill all of them except one, with a sword. The author tries to justify the slaughter by weaving the tale that Swagger was able to "trick" the Samurai with a drunken act. I did not buy it but the fight of six to one was necessary for future endeavors by Swagger. Still an overall good book and the Bob Lee character is one of my favorites at this time.
Diane P. (KentuckyReader) -
This is the book that Stephen Hunter brings together father-and-son: Earl Swagger, World War II hero and hard-nosed cop, and Bob Lee Swagger,ex-marine & Vietnam sniper. Until now, Earl and Bob have each starred in their own books. (Bob in the Bob Lee Swagger series & Earl in the Earl Swagger series: both by Stephen Hunter)
Yano's Japanese father was killed by Earl Swagger at Iwo Jima in 1945. More than sixty years later, Yano comes to America to honor the legacy of his heroic father by recovering the sword he used in the battle. His search has led him to Crazy Horse, Idaho, and Bob Lee, who pledges himself to Yano's quest.
Bob Lee finds the sword and then discovers it is not a standard WWII blade, but a legendary shin-shinto katana, an artifact of the nation. Suddenly Bob is at the center of a series of terrible crimes he barely understands but vows to avenge. And to do so, he throws himself into the world of the samurai, Tokyo's dark, criminal yakuza underworld, and the unwritten rules of Japanese culture.
This is probably Hunters most violent noveland thats saying somethingbut violence may have never been more integral to story than it is here. Hunter celebrates the samurai soldier while showing the appalling underside of the samurai way of life and the ideals that drive it.
Yano's Japanese father was killed by Earl Swagger at Iwo Jima in 1945. More than sixty years later, Yano comes to America to honor the legacy of his heroic father by recovering the sword he used in the battle. His search has led him to Crazy Horse, Idaho, and Bob Lee, who pledges himself to Yano's quest.
Bob Lee finds the sword and then discovers it is not a standard WWII blade, but a legendary shin-shinto katana, an artifact of the nation. Suddenly Bob is at the center of a series of terrible crimes he barely understands but vows to avenge. And to do so, he throws himself into the world of the samurai, Tokyo's dark, criminal yakuza underworld, and the unwritten rules of Japanese culture.
This is probably Hunters most violent noveland thats saying somethingbut violence may have never been more integral to story than it is here. Hunter celebrates the samurai soldier while showing the appalling underside of the samurai way of life and the ideals that drive it.
I picked this book up just to trade but was surprised with a thriller the that connected WWII with the legendary Samurai. Two sons of WWII veterans-one Japanese and one American- become involved a revered Samurai sword that leads to a fight between death and honor.
Mr. Hunter is second to none in any story with firearms as a major component. He takes his favorite character, Bob Lee Swagger, through a sword story this time and the story is quite entertaining. He touches on the mystical things normally attached to the Japanese Samurai sword which is, after all, just a piece of steel and wood. Undoubtedly a fine piece of steel and in the hands of a skilled swordsman a fearsome weapon for killing in close quarters, but mystical? The mystique, if any, lies in the hands of the operator. Very good story.
Like many of the once interesting characters in a book that becomes a series, Bob Lee Swagger has become an unrealistic superhero. Not much going for this book unless you are very interested in Japanese swords. I have read a few of the Swagger books and am a big fan of Stephen Hunter, I don't think I would enjoy Bob Lee's company... he doesn't have a lot going for him. The story in this one is a little over the top for me, the coincidences and storyline are just too much.
Half Bob Swagger and half Earl. Must read for a Hunter fan.
Almost as good as "Pale Horse Coming".
Almost as good as "Pale Horse Coming".
GRATE ACTION,WOULD RECOMMEND READER GO BACK TO SOME EARLIER BOOKS BY HUNTER,HE WEAVES
MANY CHARACTER INTO EACH NEW BOOK.
MANY CHARACTER INTO EACH NEW BOOK.
