Book Review: Guns Of Navarone

Novel: Guns of Navarone
Author: Alistair MacLean

Book Review - A lesson in adventure - Glory of the characters and the author - by Ujjwal Dey

Those guns are now very much part of our vocabulary, of our history, our popular culture. And this is the fictional novel that created it. It is so well written that you start to think of it as a historical fact rather than great fiction.

MacLean is a master at thrilling war adventures. He writes a page-turner masterpiece in a way of literary fiction writers. It is filled with danger and intrigue and great will of determined soldiers.

The glory is not just of these characters battling to bring down the Guns of Navarone but also of Alistair MacLean who made such an entertaining book which easily could find a worthy place in school and college libraries - right alongside the ancient classics. This is more than entertainment, it is a tutorial on writing a war novel with passion and courage infused with realistic drama and danger.

* Awesome action, deep into war zone from page one
* Realistic battle depictions, real people in real danger
* You would start to believe that the fictional Nazi guns of fictional Navarone were real - it is that good
* The details are blended into the story very well - the descriptions, the experience, the cruel land and worse sea.
* The scaling of that steep cliff face is most thrilling but that's just the beginning really of a gruesome thrilling adventure.
* The dialogue is very human - these special men with a special assignment are most special in their actions - but their words reveal more personality and character - especially the conversation between the injured Stevens with Capt Mallory and Andrea - nothing to worry, we are all scared
* Great humour from Corporal Miller - the explosions expert who can smile even if facing death
* Each character alive in spirit and displaying great grit and purpose in being here and now - each with a unique skill
* Fast paced thriller with each chapter pulling you in to the next with a gripping suspense
* Twists and turns of fate and nature and enemy wiliness
* Betrayal and luck and capture and courage - all affecting them but they keep moving forward and the story races past obstacles to survive by wit and human spirit - to save 1200 men on a remote island at siege from the Guns of Navarone

Just a brilliant read and it all happens in a matter of days, sleepless nights and in a few hours they will see if their blood and pain brings glory to the Allied cause in WWII. (The novel sadly out-of-print in USA, can you believe it?)

Superb war novel, even better as a thriller.

Wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_MacLean

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