SAS-books!

[ortlieb]

This has perhaps been posted before. If it has, I apologize.

Nevertheless, I've read quite a few books written by ex SAS personell, and I recommend the following:

(Everybody's read Andy McNab's and Chris Ryan's non-fiction and ficion-books, so I'm not touching those now).

All Necessary Measures by Cameron Spence
His second book after Sabre Squadron. He tells about his actions in Bosnia in 1993, as commander of a team of SAS-men posing as UN-observers.

Ghost Force by Ken Connor
Although at times a very dry read, it gives the impression of being a more authentic account of the story of 22 SAS. It touches most known (and unknown) events, and also provides an interesting angle regarding the British politics that eventually put the SAS into action in various hotspots. Especially interesting is the chapter covering Gulf War 1.

Eye of the Storm by Peter Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe, ex RSM, puts his version of now well-known events between pages. Besides being a auto-biographical account, he gives his version of B Squadron's Bravo Two Zero-op (Andy McNab: Bravo Two Zero. Chris Ryan: The One That Got Away) and his direct involvement with A Squadron's Alpha One Zero op (Cameron Spence: Sabre Squadron. Peter "Yorky" Crossland: Victor Two).

The Real Bravo Two Zero by Michael Asher
Asher, a supposedly ex 23 TA SAS (I say supposedly because Chris Ryan - being former member of 23 TA SAS - denies Asher's existence in the unit in Codemaster's audio-interview for the computer-game "Project IGI-2") does research in the Iraqi desert, searching for the truth of the Bravo Two Zero story. There's a TV-documentary-version out there as well (includes interview with Ratcliffe).
I find it an interesting read, but I doubt Asher's credibility.

[RobT]

I find it an interesting read, but I doubt Asher's credibility.

Asher was in 23 and a member on these forums did serve with him. 23 hasn't just one location and Asher was at Leeds and Ryan was located somewhere in Northumbria(?) Its a very good book and pisses on a fair of the shite, hype and spin that Andy McNob and Chris Ryan put on B20.

[ortlieb]

I find it an interesting read, but I doubt Asher's credibility.

Asher was in 23 and a member on these forums did serve with him. 23 hasn't just one location and Asher was at Leeds and Ryan was located somewhere in Northumbria(?) Its a very good book and pisses on a fair of the shite, hype and spin that Andy McNob and Chris Ryan put on B20.

OK. Appreciate the heads up.

[Jon]

The Real Bravo Two Zero by Michael Asher
Asher, a supposedly ex 23 TA SAS (I say supposedly because Chris Ryan - being former member of 23 TA SAS - denies Asher's existence in the unit in Codemaster's audio-interview for the computer-game "Project IGI-2") does research in the Iraqi desert, searching for the truth of the Bravo Two Zero story. There's a TV-documentary-version out there as well (includes interview with Ratcliffe).
I find it an interesting read, but I doubt Asher's credibility

You have to remember that Asher wouldnt have been able to write the book if he agreed with Mcnab and Ryan. I think that the book is a decent read but how can we be sure that it is still the truth. I cant understand how 8 SAS soldiers fire off thousands of rounds of ammo, dozens of grenades, and anti-tank rockets without harming anyone, let along killing them.

Although Ryans and McNabs versions conflict each otherso obviously someone is lying. I disagree with Ryans interpretation as the responsible one as he makes out and that the others, especially Phillips, were incompetant. Mike Coburns book out soon though will add weight to the arguments.

Sabre Squadron is another exceelent book.

[pondlife252]

Turning Pedantry into an art form................

Asher wrote in good faith from the information and evidence of apparent eyewitness accounts provided in Saddam's Iraq. His credentials as an Arabist are without doubt impressive and hisintegrity should not be doubted. However, he also investigated T E Lawrence "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" to prove that Lawrence was correct in his account and was buggered by reality when he tried to reenact the Wadi Rum to Aqaba journey.

Conclusions might be that (a) All men see identical things from a different perspective hence the discrepancies between Geordies and Mitch's accounts. (b) The phrase never let the truth get in the way of a good story rings as true as ever. (c) Even men of great integrity can be confused as to the actual truth when depending upon eye-witness statements (see A).

Don't take my word of course: Ask any copper....the most unreliable accounts of an incident are those of an eye witness.

Aye.

[pomplemous]

I'm always reading people's opinions on the various SAS books that are churned out and how they are not the real thing, or how they dont cross reference with other people's accounts of the same thing and so on, and yeah, I began to start thinking that once I had read enough of them - but something that I saw on that SAS Survival programme I caught the end of - with Eddie groan stone and his mate Mickey Mousie (the mustachioed man) - and it was something that persoanlly I had not really thought of before - about how when they come out of the SAS what else is there for them to do and alot of them commit suicide. That was a bit of a shock although when I first read Andy McNab's Immediate Action book, I had had in my mind that, yeah he's spent his life in the forces and it's his life and acnt let go yet.....etc

But having seen that snippet of the programme, it's certainly altered my perception of these books now. We are seeing so many new SAS programmes and all the books and accounts are coming out left right and centre and so it is slowly jading people's dazzle of the SAS. But if writing a book once you come out of the forces helps you to exorcise ghosts, make sense of the chaos you've maybe not had time to think about til now, if it brings back memories and feelings of teamwork or brotherliness or whatever, if it gives you the get up and go, and the life in you to keep you going and keep you alive, then do it. Crap or not - just do it.

And besides - these books are one person's perceptions of things that have happened - they'll always have differing stories because they are just the truth as that person knows it - it's their life. You cant scoff at that.