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2.0 out of 5 stars
not Forsyth's best, July 8 2003
If you're new to Frederick Forsyth and looking for a place to start, begin with something other than The Dogs of War. The book starts off well, setting up a creative grand scheme for Sir James Manson to make it big in a newly-discovered platinum site in a newly-independent African state. The historical context of the decolonization of Africa in the 1960s mixed with the experiences of mercenary fighters provides an interesting backdrop, but once the plot is set, the book becomes disappointing. Much of it is devoted to preparations made by Cat Shannon, Manson's hired gun, to stage a coup in the country in question. There is too much unnecessary detail here; so much so that the reader just wants Shannon's men to just get to Africa (finally). It soon becomes uninteresting whether the guns come from Spain or the boots from England, or what Shannon eats in one European capital while setting up hotel reservations in another to complete his plans. The final scene, once delivered, is satisfactory, but it is not enough to make up for the drawn out middle portion or to fulfill the promise of the book's opening chapters.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Forsythes best, Sep 24 2008
This is the definitive merc novel. Well researched, in fact based on his experiences as a journo during the Biafran war of the 60s. Also a good education in the world of mercs.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A novel about a mercenary coup de etat in Zangaro., Feb 21 2004
I think this is an interesting read even if it a novel. I read this after a reference to this book in a news story about the coup de etat in the island nation of Comorros. At that time, some South African mercenaries overthrew the crazed rule of the African ruler of Comorros. That is where the reference to the Dogs of War was made. One of the previous reviewers thought it was bad for Forsyth to spend so much space on how the coup was organized. The procurement of all the arms with the export license was very fascinating. What Forsyth revealed was that coups could be done privately witout the knowledge of governments. One only had to know how to procure and organize for the overthrow of a government. I think Forsyth did this well. This is an interesting read. This may not be on the level of his previous books, but it is still a good read.
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