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Seven Troop | 
 enlarge | Author: Andy Mcnab
Publisher: Bantam Press
Category: Book
List Price: £20.00
Buy New: £9.95
You Save: £10.05 (50%)
New (23) Used (10) Collectible (4) from £5.49
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 956
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.7
ISBN: 0593059506
EAN: 9780593059500
ASIN: 0593059506
Publication Date: September 12, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Stories of laughter and others of sorrow September 22, 2008
Mr. I. Roberts (UK)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
After reading Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action a long time ago as a young soldier, I still cannot bring myself to read a fiction book from Andy McNab; not because they might not be good but because of the first two books being non-fiction. However, as soon as I discovered that he had created a new book of his personal stories I broke my pledge of "no more war stories" and bought it.
The book does build upon Immediate Action but it has an underlying and consistent message, one that I unfortunately witnessed in some ex-Falkland paras. Without telling the lay of the book and thereby removing the enjoyment for other readers, what I will say is that the story follows a young trooper meeting "brothers in arms" and what can result from years at the hard edge. Like Andy's first two books; I read this one in under a week (I spend some time at airports!)
The message is simple; the reality of war is hell and those that return can suffer from physical and/or mental injury. Both types of wounds can be very deep and life threatening; the latter is extremely difficult to heal. The book concludes with open emotion and I take my hat (well, beret as an ex-para) to anyone who can put that onto paper.
A HAUNTING TOUR DE FORCE September 15, 2008
Admiral6004 (London & LA)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
This book does much more than just take over from where Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action left off. It traces Andy McNab's military career from the time he joined 7 Troop, SAS, to the time he left, but covers many other aspects of his subsequent life as and when they overlap with other members of the Troop. In many ways, this is as much their story as his, and McNab is man enough to give centre stage from time to time to giants like Frank Collins, Al Slater and Nish Bruce. Nor does he try to sweep bad news under the carpet; the events of 1998 when Dr Thomas Shanks gunned down his former girlfriend with an AK47 in a Leeds car park are given a full airing. This is a reflective, almost sad, book, but it's none the worse for that. The reality is starting to hit home about the time-bomb of PTSD, and McNab champions the cause of counselling, even for rough, tough SAS lads. This book might be harrowing, but it still carries all the McNab hallmarks of a brilliant sense of (dark) humour, and dialogue and action that crackles with authenticity. I loved it. I just hope the powers that be take heed of what men like McNab are saying.
High personal price of special forces soldiering October 11, 2008
cryingfreeman (UK)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
A sad but very much needed work on the nasty realities of soldiering, this book recounts the very moving descent into unhappiness and despair some of McNab's best mates endured in the aftermath of service.
From this book it seems clear that the Regiment is an unnatural substitute for normal family life for young men, i.e., wife and kids are replaced by comradeship, which perhaps becomes foundational for a subsequent dysfunctional life for some of the guys. It means that when they leave there is a sense that they've lost the focus or foundation of their daily existence. And of course, the exposure to the cutting edge of modern military adventurism is the other key factor destabilising the mental health of special forces soldiers, with the inevitable horrible sights, sounds and loss of beloved friends. I couldn't help but conclude that, all the prestige notwithstanding, making it into the SAS is just not worth it for a lot, maybe even most, of the lads who manage it.
A few errors apart (i.e. Kesh RUC station was in Fermanagh, not Donegal, as the latter is part of the Republic of Ireland), the book is replete with fascinating anecdotes and occasional operational accounts, most notably in my native Northern Ireland, where, among my own community (the Protestants), the SAS are revered for their work at Loughgall in particular and against the IRA in general. Many of us would have liked to have seen them given a freer hand during the Troubles, as we are sure that had they been, there would be fewer of our friends and family lying dead in graveyards around the Province.
In closing, I am very pleased McNab wrote this and especially glad he disclosed so much of Frank Collins' story therein also. I was moved to tears at the kindness and sincerity of Collins as accounted in the book, so credit to McNab for not shying away from relating the man's religious convictions. In sum, this book shows us that even the elite forces are just human beings, amongst some of the most noble on the face of this earth. Highly recommended reading!
The Realities of Soldiering November 12, 2008
fuente6914 (La Pinilla Spain)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Like his other non-fictional books, Seven Troop is an excellent read. In my opinion, his best to date. McNab describes in vivid detail, from his own experience, and that of his "Brothers in Arms" the reality of fighting "at the sharp end", and the effect it has on those individuals once they are no longer exposed to those dangers. His unselfish accounts of Frank Collins, Al Slater and in particular, Nish Bruce and Thomas Franks, highlight the problems surrounding PTSD, and the need for those in a position to do so, to provide the help and counselling these guys so desperately need.
 Not entirely a new book, but a great read. September 19, 2008
Edward G. Murphy (Stirling, Scotland)
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
If you've already read Immediate Action, this book will contain a lot that's familiar. In a sense, if the book were re-released as a revision to Immediate Action it wouldn't be far wrong. A great read in it's own right, and as the other reviewer suggests Andy has taken a lot of time to touch on the more sensitive aspects of soldiering - in particular the "after" of that career. And that's a good thing. Hopefully in the future Andy and other ex service writers look at the long-term effect of that way of life on the families & relationships that support them too.
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