New Stephen Hunter Book
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Nanook
Member
Thanks for the tip, I'll be looking for it later this week. The man puts together a good read, that's for sure.
And, as a nice bonus, he does his research and is pretty accurate when it comes to guns.
And, as a nice bonus, he does his research and is pretty accurate when it comes to guns.
MikePGS
Member
The only books i've read by him so far are Point of Impact and Dirty White Boys. Both were pretty good (i liked the latter better personally) and had a lot of nice technical information about guns that i always like to read about. As a matter of fact, Point Of Impact had too much technical details for me personally, but to be fair i'm more into handguns than i am than rifles atm.
New Hunter Novel
After the movie Shooter came out, I decided to go back and re-read Point of Impact. That got me started on re-reading some of the other Hunter books, and some new ones I had not read yet - the Earl Swagger line, Hot Springs, Pale Horse Coming and Havana. I am right in the middle of Havana now. I am excited about the new book and have a copy in at my local store that I pre-ordered. I did not get it today as I was out of town, and am not in desperate need as I am still in the middle of Havana.
An interesting side note: I was psyched up when I saw a synopsis, as it involves Bob the Nailer going to Japan, having some contact with traditional Japanese arts. I have been studying Japanese martial arts for 35 years, including sword arts since 91. I was at a large sword event on the west coast last week, and noted several correlations: many, if not most sword folks also shoot (not surprising, as many are current or ex-military) and many of these are also Hunter fans. I wasn't the only one there eagerly awaiting the new book!
After the movie Shooter came out, I decided to go back and re-read Point of Impact. That got me started on re-reading some of the other Hunter books, and some new ones I had not read yet - the Earl Swagger line, Hot Springs, Pale Horse Coming and Havana. I am right in the middle of Havana now. I am excited about the new book and have a copy in at my local store that I pre-ordered. I did not get it today as I was out of town, and am not in desperate need as I am still in the middle of Havana.
An interesting side note: I was psyched up when I saw a synopsis, as it involves Bob the Nailer going to Japan, having some contact with traditional Japanese arts. I have been studying Japanese martial arts for 35 years, including sword arts since 91. I was at a large sword event on the west coast last week, and noted several correlations: many, if not most sword folks also shoot (not surprising, as many are current or ex-military) and many of these are also Hunter fans. I wasn't the only one there eagerly awaiting the new book!
gunfighter45
Member
It's good. Little gunplay (swords replace guns for the most part in this one). I got an ARC.
I am thrilled it's a Bob Lee yarn, but expected little gun play, so that make me sad....but any Bob Lee Swagger story is better than none...just picked it up today and will start asap having read all his books, including the lesser known early books.
TimboKhan
Member
Pale Horse Coming is my personal favorite. It has gunplay, brawling and a little mystery.
Rich K
Member
I am currently reading the 47th Samurai. So far, so good. And my personal favorite is Pale Horse Coming.
ShunZu
member
A week or so ago I posted a msg here in the general discussion forum talking about novels for us "gun guys". I wrote a novel in the mid-90's (pre-Sept-11) but never had it published. I'm going to post Chapter 1 tomorrow (Tuesday AM). Look for it in the General DIscussion forum, titled 'A MATTER OF TIMING".
Also a big Swagger fan... I hope y'all enjoy the novel that took me over 2 years to write -- followed by a major heart attack (yes, I survived) and a bank-breaking divorce (still surviving).
Also a big Swagger fan... I hope y'all enjoy the novel that took me over 2 years to write -- followed by a major heart attack (yes, I survived) and a bank-breaking divorce (still surviving).
mudstud
Member
I am currently about half way through "The 47th Samurai". I've been very hooked up lately, or I would have read it in one or two sittings! I've read, and have 1st edition hard cover copies of every Bob Lee and Earl Swagger novels ever published. This is because I've been reading Stephen Hunter's novels for some time now. And I love 'em.
About 5 years ago, I was in a small gun shop in Laramie, WY, and on the way out, noticed a box of old books for sale. They were mostly Gun Digests and such, but I noticed a hard cover book, with a camo dust cover that caught my eye. It was a copy of Stephen Hunters first novel, "The Master Sniper", priced at five bucks! I nearly broke my arm whipping out a five spot for Stephen Hunters first novel! The dust cover is a bit raggedy, but the book itself is in excellent condition. While the novel is not up to Hunters later efforts, it occupies a proud place in my library alongside the rest of it's brothers!
About 5 years ago, I was in a small gun shop in Laramie, WY, and on the way out, noticed a box of old books for sale. They were mostly Gun Digests and such, but I noticed a hard cover book, with a camo dust cover that caught my eye. It was a copy of Stephen Hunters first novel, "The Master Sniper", priced at five bucks! I nearly broke my arm whipping out a five spot for Stephen Hunters first novel! The dust cover is a bit raggedy, but the book itself is in excellent condition. While the novel is not up to Hunters later efforts, it occupies a proud place in my library alongside the rest of it's brothers!
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
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THE STEPHEN HUNTER NOVELS:
The Master Sniper--
A WWII fanatic German sniper on a secret mission at the war's end, armed with a MP-44 and the "Vampir" sight.
The Second Saladin--
An Arab infiltrates the US/Mexican border to attack America. So-so.
A Tapestry of Spy's--
A Spanish Civil war spy story. So-so.
The Day Before Midnight--
A take-over of an impregnable missile site, a key to Hell, an impervious multi-ton block of titanium, a kidnapped master metal cutting expert, and two Vietnam era tunnel experts; one an American tunnel-rat, the other a Viet Cong woman.
Point of Impact--
Retired Marine sniper Bob Lee Swagger is framed for attempting to assassinate the President. The plotter's mistake.....failing make SURE Swagger is DEAD.
A far-reaching plot, one of the legendary Winchester "Black Kings", a failed FBI SWAT member, and a Bob Lee who's "unhappy" with how he's been treated.
Be sure to catch the Safety Deposit Box "hook" at the end.
Black Light..
Bob Lee goes home to Arkansas to find out just how it was his hero State Trooper father came to die in a corn field shoot-out with two punks.
There were only three guns at the site, a .357, a 44 Special, and a rare .38 Super. So how come Earl died with a 110 grain .30 bullet in his heart?
Somebody doesn't want him to find out, and uses the Southern Mob to stop him......BIG mistake.
Time To Hunt--
The Russian sniper responsible for wounding Bob Lee and killing his Vietnam spotter comes after Swagger years later.
Something doesn't add up.
Swagger does his math, and starts to subtract people.
Two statements to remember...."Daddy's Home" and "Front Toward Enemy".
Dirty White boys--
Three escaped Oklahoma convicts go on a murderous crime spree, and the State Trooper who they left for dead.
He isn't a Swagger, but that doesn't matter to the escaped killers, he'll do....for them.
Hot Springs...
1940's Hot Springs Arkansas, the gambling capital of America. Earl Swagger, retired Marine Medal of Honor winner decides to clean up the town.
The town doesn't want to be cleaned up.
Swagger and Jelly take out the trash.
Pale Horse Coming--
Earl Swagger is asked to look into odd events at a notorious Southern Prison farm.
People don't like him sticking his nose into their business and do something about it.
As is common with the Swagger family, they sorely regret not making SURE he's DEAD.
Earl goes back to "settle up", taking along the most famous and deadly American gunmen in history. Among them, a young, baby-faced Medal of Honor winning Army vet-turned actor, who just happens to have brought something called a "MP-44" home.
Havana--
Earl Swagger is hired to provide protection to a sleazy Arkansas Congressman on a "fact finding" tour of 1950's Cuba's sex scene.
The Cuban Secret police, the American Mob, the CIA, the Russians, and the Cuban Communists are all involved with a young, rather stupid activist and baseball player named Fidel.
To all their regret, they get Earl involved in their convoluted plots.
Earl doesn't do convoluted, and gets back to basics real fast.
The 47th Samurai.
A fellow warrior, a Japanese SDF officer asks Bob Lee to help him find the cheap issued sword his father carried on Iwo Jima.
Bob's dad Earl may have had it, so Bob Lee tracks it down and returns it to the family.
Sleeping off a rare slip back into the bottle, Bob Lee awakens to find the entire family slaughtered and the sword gone.
Bob Lee's not a Japanese, but he understands Honor and Duty, and decides to set things right.
The authorities and the Japanese Yakuza mob don't want Bob Lee interfering, but that's never stopped a Swagger before.
This is one time guns won't help, so Bob Lee takes up the sword.
The Master Sniper--
A WWII fanatic German sniper on a secret mission at the war's end, armed with a MP-44 and the "Vampir" sight.
The Second Saladin--
An Arab infiltrates the US/Mexican border to attack America. So-so.
A Tapestry of Spy's--
A Spanish Civil war spy story. So-so.
The Day Before Midnight--
A take-over of an impregnable missile site, a key to Hell, an impervious multi-ton block of titanium, a kidnapped master metal cutting expert, and two Vietnam era tunnel experts; one an American tunnel-rat, the other a Viet Cong woman.
Point of Impact--
Retired Marine sniper Bob Lee Swagger is framed for attempting to assassinate the President. The plotter's mistake.....failing make SURE Swagger is DEAD.
A far-reaching plot, one of the legendary Winchester "Black Kings", a failed FBI SWAT member, and a Bob Lee who's "unhappy" with how he's been treated.
Be sure to catch the Safety Deposit Box "hook" at the end.
Black Light..
Bob Lee goes home to Arkansas to find out just how it was his hero State Trooper father came to die in a corn field shoot-out with two punks.
There were only three guns at the site, a .357, a 44 Special, and a rare .38 Super. So how come Earl died with a 110 grain .30 bullet in his heart?
Somebody doesn't want him to find out, and uses the Southern Mob to stop him......BIG mistake.
Time To Hunt--
The Russian sniper responsible for wounding Bob Lee and killing his Vietnam spotter comes after Swagger years later.
Something doesn't add up.
Swagger does his math, and starts to subtract people.
Two statements to remember...."Daddy's Home" and "Front Toward Enemy".
Dirty White boys--
Three escaped Oklahoma convicts go on a murderous crime spree, and the State Trooper who they left for dead.
He isn't a Swagger, but that doesn't matter to the escaped killers, he'll do....for them.
Hot Springs...
1940's Hot Springs Arkansas, the gambling capital of America. Earl Swagger, retired Marine Medal of Honor winner decides to clean up the town.
The town doesn't want to be cleaned up.
Swagger and Jelly take out the trash.
Pale Horse Coming--
Earl Swagger is asked to look into odd events at a notorious Southern Prison farm.
People don't like him sticking his nose into their business and do something about it.
As is common with the Swagger family, they sorely regret not making SURE he's DEAD.
Earl goes back to "settle up", taking along the most famous and deadly American gunmen in history. Among them, a young, baby-faced Medal of Honor winning Army vet-turned actor, who just happens to have brought something called a "MP-44" home.
Havana--
Earl Swagger is hired to provide protection to a sleazy Arkansas Congressman on a "fact finding" tour of 1950's Cuba's sex scene.
The Cuban Secret police, the American Mob, the CIA, the Russians, and the Cuban Communists are all involved with a young, rather stupid activist and baseball player named Fidel.
To all their regret, they get Earl involved in their convoluted plots.
Earl doesn't do convoluted, and gets back to basics real fast.
The 47th Samurai.
A fellow warrior, a Japanese SDF officer asks Bob Lee to help him find the cheap issued sword his father carried on Iwo Jima.
Bob's dad Earl may have had it, so Bob Lee tracks it down and returns it to the family.
Sleeping off a rare slip back into the bottle, Bob Lee awakens to find the entire family slaughtered and the sword gone.
Bob Lee's not a Japanese, but he understands Honor and Duty, and decides to set things right.
The authorities and the Japanese Yakuza mob don't want Bob Lee interfering, but that's never stopped a Swagger before.
This is one time guns won't help, so Bob Lee takes up the sword.
MikePGS
Member
Since my last post in this thread, i've started on the Earl Swagger books and i have to say that I enjoy them even more than the sole Bob Lee Swagger book i've read so far, Point of Impact. Hot Springs was nice, but i absolutely loved Earl and his Seven Against Thebes who just so happened to be a gentleman who loaded the .44 special to velocities higher than many others, a Medal of Honor winner turned actor who goes by the name of Audie, a guy named Jack who loves the .270 rounds, two border patrolmen, one who sees kills as another notch in his belt, the other who can draw a pistol and fire it in a quarter of a second, and an older gentleman, near his seventies who just so happens to be the fastest draw who ever lived. Any of these guys sound familiar? Is it just my opinion, or does Mr Earl Swagger bear a similarity to another Ex-Marine who is fond of his colt 1911?
I'm currently reading Havana and i like it so far, but Pale Horse Coming is still my favorite (so far).
Is it just my opinion, or does Mr Earl Swagger bear a similarity to another Ex-Marine who is fond of his colt 1911?I'm currently reading Havana and i like it so far, but Pale Horse Coming is still my favorite (so far).
DRZinn
Member
Somebody should sell all the Swagger novels as a box set in chronological order.
As mentioned above, I have read all his books. Just finished 47th. Was really disappointed with this one. As to not be a spoiler, I will only say that Swagger as sword wielding samurai did not work for me, and went way past my willing suspension of disbelief. If you are a Hunter fan, it’s still worth reading as even a bad Hunter book is still better than most, but he pushed Swagger as super man past my tolerance levels and I didn’t find his usual brilliant character development there either, though he clearly did an extensive amount of research on the whole samurai mystique etc… This would be the first Hunter book I have ever gotten close to putting down half way through and if not for my love of all things Bob Lee Swagger and respect for Hunter, would have done so… Oh well…
Griffin1340
Member
Little known, but covered by defariswheel was "The Day Before Midnight." One very exciting book [a bit far fetched but...]I could barely put it down.
I still think "Dirty White Boy's" would be a fantastic movie...
I don't know, Havana kinda lost me.
I still think "Dirty White Boy's" would be a fantastic movie...
I don't know, Havana kinda lost me.
swords and Bob Lee
As noted above, I started off to or re-read all of the Hunter books this summer and fall, and got them all, aside from Tapestry of Spies.
I really liked The 47th Samurai, although as a long time student and instructor of Japanese Sword Arts, it was probably more appealing to me. I am familiar with many of the areas in Japan where the action takes place, so it was a good read for me.
I found his descriptions of Japanese training and swordsmanship pretty much dead on - aside from the idea that a man, even an extraordinary man such as Bob Lee, could accomplish much in the short time described. I was very interested to find out that his source material was movies and a selection of good texts. I don't remember exactly, and the copy of the book is out in the carriage house, but I recall that he used Obata's work on Shinkendo, which is related in terms of lineage to the Toyama Ryu that I practice. I had expected that he had a "guru" advising him regarding the sword stuff.
One thing I like is the threads that really link all the books, even the non-Swaagger ones. IMHO, I am not sure you can say Dirty White Boys in not a Swagger novel. For example, The Second Saladin is not a Swagger book, right? Except the protagonist, Chardy, was brought into the CIA by Frenchy Short, and mentored by Frenchy, so we see some more of Frenchy's background, along with more about his death. Similar links with characters from The Master Sniper continuing in Havana.
As noted above, I started off to or re-read all of the Hunter books this summer and fall, and got them all, aside from Tapestry of Spies.
I really liked The 47th Samurai, although as a long time student and instructor of Japanese Sword Arts, it was probably more appealing to me. I am familiar with many of the areas in Japan where the action takes place, so it was a good read for me.
I found his descriptions of Japanese training and swordsmanship pretty much dead on - aside from the idea that a man, even an extraordinary man such as Bob Lee, could accomplish much in the short time described. I was very interested to find out that his source material was movies and a selection of good texts. I don't remember exactly, and the copy of the book is out in the carriage house, but I recall that he used Obata's work on Shinkendo, which is related in terms of lineage to the Toyama Ryu that I practice. I had expected that he had a "guru" advising him regarding the sword stuff.
One thing I like is the threads that really link all the books, even the non-Swaagger ones. IMHO, I am not sure you can say Dirty White Boys in not a Swagger novel.
For example, The Second Saladin is not a Swagger book, right? Except the protagonist, Chardy, was brought into the CIA by Frenchy Short, and mentored by Frenchy, so we see some more of Frenchy's background, along with more about his death. Similar links with characters from The Master Sniper continuing in Havana.
Nanook
Member
I recently finished the 47th Samurai, and I enjoyed it as well. I have an interest in martial arts from years ago, so that might have helped in my enjoyment.
Hunter is an excellent writer, and I look forward to his books.
It does stretch the belief by having him pick up the sword so quickly, but it is fiction after all. A good read.
Hunter is an excellent writer, and I look forward to his books.
It does stretch the belief by having him pick up the sword so quickly, but it is fiction after all. A good read.
Stevie-Ray
Member
I thought many of Hunter's books quite memorable, and some purely sucked. The Master Sniper was pretty bad along with Tapestry of Spies and The Second Saladin. Dirty White Boys was good and the wife's personal favorite. The Earl books were quite good until Pale Horse Coming, when Hunter renamed all the famous figures, I thought it got rather silly. (Audie Ryan?) I'll probably give his latest a go, though I would prefer Bob Lee with his finger on a trigger.
) I'll probably give his latest a go, though I would prefer Bob Lee with his finger on a trigger.Completely agreed. The Day Before Midnight rocked... I almost never fall for gimmicks that are shown in the prologue and rely on being forgotten by the reader by the last chapter, when they reappear, but he got me in that one. (Where's MIRV?)
IIRC, Dirty White Boys was concieved as being part of Point of Impact, and was arguably his very best. Black Light tied everything together. After that, my impression is that he decided that he had a firm grip on the teats of the cash cow, and everything after Hot Springs was zipping downhill to the Mac Bolan/Phoenix Force sub-basement.
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