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The Outlaws (The Presidential Agent #6)
The former Presidential Agent's Office of Organizational Analysis has been disbanded. Charley Castillo and his colleagues have retired, and there is an adversarial Commander-in-Chief in the Oval Office. But just because Castillo is out of the government doesn't mean he's out of business. And when a barrel of nightmarishly lethal material is shipped to an Army medical lab,...more
ebook, 432 pages
Published
December 28th 2010
by Not Avail
(first published January 1st 1960)
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Sometimes the Butterworths get the titles wrong. In about half of this book they refer to someone as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In fact, the title is Director of Central Intelligence. Period.
And there is no need to spell out Russian titles we can't understand anyway. Why not call someone a lieutenant colonel instead of the full Russian title?
On top of that, there's the incorrect use of German titles (this happened in earlier books, too). Once you have called someone Johann...more
And there is no need to spell out Russian titles we can't understand anyway. Why not call someone a lieutenant colonel instead of the full Russian title?
On top of that, there's the incorrect use of German titles (this happened in earlier books, too). Once you have called someone Johann...more
I listened to this on CD while commiting. 15 CDs! I only gave it 2 stars because it was too much talk and not enough action. The story, except for about 2 chapters, was mostly told characters describing what happened in previous chapters. Very annoying way to stall the plot, and disappointing because there was a good farfetched story there about the Russians using a secret bioweapon to blackmail the U.S. into returning a pair of Russian spies/defectors. Farfetched in that why would the Russians...more
Feb 25, 2013
Lizabeth S. Tucker
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-adventure
Disbanded, Charley Castillo and his team find themselves privately searching for bio-terrorist materials that escaped the destruction in the Congo as well as dealing with a death order from Putin. The new President is willing to turn over Dimitri and Sweaty to the Russians as well as Castillo, causing problems for some of Charley's old friends and allies.
I loved this entry into the Presidential agent series. But I really, really recommend that anyone interested in this series start at the beginn...more
I loved this entry into the Presidential agent series. But I really, really recommend that anyone interested in this series start at the beginn...more
For those not keeping up with the series or those of you who have possibly lost track for whatever reason, this is number six in the series. Yes, I have read them all and yes, I have also enjoyed them all. Did I enjoy this one as much as the others? No not as much, but I am a fan of the character and W.E.B. Griffin. Here is what Charlie has against him this time:
“Charlie Castillo's secret unit has been disbanded-but that doesn't mean he's out of business. As experience has painfully shown him, t...more
“Charlie Castillo's secret unit has been disbanded-but that doesn't mean he's out of business. As experience has painfully shown him, t...more
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Griffin's Presidential Agent series has been hit or miss with no room in between. Unfortunately for The Outlaws, it falls to the bottom of the 'miss' category. I felt obligated to read The Outlaws out of respect for a couple of the earlier Agent books that were excellent. I now consider that obligation fulfilled and don't plan to continue with any future Agent books. The Outlaws should have been a 40 page final chapter to Black Ops instead of a 400 page novel. Spread out, I'd wager that at least...more
Mar 14, 2011
Gregory Lim
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2011
I'm going to begin by saying that after starting the Presidential Series by Griffin, I feel compelled to finish it. I know that most, if not all of the books are not going to be great works of military fiction. With that said, I'm going to say that I enjoy the books, mainly because there's a nice blend of humor and plot building and action sequences throughout the book. This book however was definitely different than the others. I understand that things have changed within Castillo's world, and...more
Jan 03, 2011
Richard
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Richard by:
I read a review.
422 pages relating a simple story over and over from various points of view, many of them with incorrect assumptions or facts not in evidence.: jumped conclusions, false premises, lies and desperate hopes. With maps as endpapers, a three page dedication and pertinent quote from George Washington.
I don't know why I read past page 57. The story is told very tongue-in-cheek, in an unbelievable light hearted fashion. Most of the book is about too many people having too many meetings; sitting around...more
I don't know why I read past page 57. The story is told very tongue-in-cheek, in an unbelievable light hearted fashion. Most of the book is about too many people having too many meetings; sitting around...more
Venturing further away from believe-ability as Castillo and his gang essentially kidnap military officers and government officials to explain why they are right and the president is wrong. This being a newly inaugurated president since the one that first dreamed up the OOA died while in office. Sort of a Harry Truman moment where the new president learned of things one would think he should have known the former president was doing (this was referenced in the book). So not only are US military o...more
This was better than I thought it would be, basing my opinion on previous Griffin/Butterworth IV efforts in the Badge Of Honor series. I still think these collaborative efforts between the two are mostly written by the son, but he seems to show a knack for picking up this series and continuing it with it's sharp attention to detail while adding another unforeseen twist in the Presidential Agent Series. Characterization remains strong in this novel, and I really liked how the president was just a...more
Charlie Castillo is going through a bit of a professional shake-up. His top-secret government unit, the mildly named Office of Organizational Analysis, has been disbanded. Charlie and his team have been expelled from government. And the new president (taking over after the former president dropped dead unexpectedly) is distinctly antagonistic toward Charlie and the work he did for the government (something about all those bodies he left behind). It seems like Charlie is down and out, but when se...more
This was definitely not one of his best in this series. Dont get me wrong, i love the series but this one was the telling, retelling, reretelling and the rereretelling of what happened in the previous books from different perspectives.
This author is great at coming up with convoluted, and hard to believe story lines filled with great characters and great action sequences. This one just could have been a 100 page novella with the repetitive conversations it held.
I wont stop reading the series unl...more
This author is great at coming up with convoluted, and hard to believe story lines filled with great characters and great action sequences. This one just could have been a 100 page novella with the repetitive conversations it held.
I wont stop reading the series unl...more
I have to say I am hooked on Griffins books but his style irks me more each time I read it.
Starting with the constant repition of the events from the first 5 books, which could have been summarized in 1/10th the time, then moving on to constant rehashing of people's names, ranks, and titles like we have the attention span of a 5 year old. I swear Griffin is paid by the word.
In the Outlaws, the Russian SVR agent Svetlana is a perfect example. There is no one in the world who would fawn and coo ov...more
Starting with the constant repition of the events from the first 5 books, which could have been summarized in 1/10th the time, then moving on to constant rehashing of people's names, ranks, and titles like we have the attention span of a 5 year old. I swear Griffin is paid by the word.
In the Outlaws, the Russian SVR agent Svetlana is a perfect example. There is no one in the world who would fawn and coo ov...more
The latest, and I believe the best, of Griffin's Presidential Agent series. Maybe it's not the best. Maybe it's just been a while so those of us who enjoy Griffin were starved for some.
Carlos Guillermo Castillo a.k.a. Karl Wilhelm von und zu Gossinger a.k.a. Charley is back and saving the world again--this time the problems being (a) the President wants to give him to the Russians and (b) there's more of that bad, bad biological agent stuff around, and someone has to deal with that.
Carlos Guillermo Castillo a.k.a. Karl Wilhelm von und zu Gossinger a.k.a. Charley is back and saving the world again--this time the problems being (a) the President wants to give him to the Russians and (b) there's more of that bad, bad biological agent stuff around, and someone has to deal with that.
This Presidential Agent novel by Griffin picks up where Black Ops left off. Charley Castillo and his merry band of Outlaws have left the government service but the Russian still have some of the deadly chemical agent that they thought they destroyed in the last book CongoX. The Russians leave some of it out and make the offer to the Americans give us Charley Castillo and the two Russians who defected and we will give you all of the Congo X. Castillo and his team try to nullify the threat while...more
A surprisingly engaging read. I have read some reviews about other works by the son, William E. Butterworth IV, and came into this installment of the Presidential Agent series with low expectations. That being said, aside from a few errors in continuity, the book was a quick read that was hard to put down. I had to stay awake one night to finish it - I had to find out what happened next.
We'll see what the next installment in the series holds, but I count this one as one of the better of the ser...more
We'll see what the next installment in the series holds, but I count this one as one of the better of the ser...more
I love this series, the characters and the story. I'm just finding that it is getting predictable and wordy. I read books like these to "see" things blow up and people get shot. That happens in these books, but they're probably more than 75% dialogue, and the dialogue has gotten predictable and repetitive. I'm wondering if it's because he's been writing with Butterworth, because the first couple books were AWESOME! Still a great series though.
I really enjoyed this WEB. It followed the format of his most recent books - lots of talking and planning, and then a frenzied flurry of action at the end. So different from his earlier works like the Corps and Brotherhood of War series where the action was more constant through the entire novel. Anyway, I liked this because all of that talking and planning was interesting, and I've come to love the recurring characters in this Presidential Agent series. Plus I like the smart ass attitude. I thi...more
So good old WEB spent a lot of time rehashing old history I'm this book. I wasn't a fan of more than a reference due to how much he did it. But I thought this book brought out the political ridiculousness and human ego which abounds across our national leadership today. I can actually see politicians making calls for similar reasons just because they had their egos bruised because they reacted before they had their facts straight.
This book was entertaining and easy to read, but the inaccuracies and attempts at wit and irony made it somewhat annoying in parts. Overall however, the story was interesting enough to make it a quick read. Unfortunately the author relied too heavily on character development from previous novels in the series. The lack of character development in this book, along with the 600+ pages of text and an extremely predictable plot made the book drag. Regardless, it was enjoyable to read although probab...more
I should have started a list of characters and all their names and job titles, it was like reading a Russian novel, very detailed and sometimes was to much. But it was all worth it, when you got to the last 75 - 100 pages you couldn't put the book down. The book also showed how weak people in high power can be and abusive of their their positions. If youare a fan of W.E.B. Griggin you ill like this book.
I picked this book up because I always wanted to read this author and I found this on my library's Lucky Day shelf. Definitely NOT an "easy" read, what with the HUGE cast of characters and their long, assorted titles. To be honest, I'm not sure why I kept reading it...maybe because the story is simply that compelling.
I'll be reading Griffin again...just not when I'm looking for an escapist, fluffy piece.
I'll be reading Griffin again...just not when I'm looking for an escapist, fluffy piece.
It was afun read, although I am finding that the plots are getting a bit fantastic and beginning to follow the standard Griffin formula, while the Outlaws was dangerously close to jumping the shark so to speak I do hope that in whatever Griffin decides to throw the antagonist Castillo against in the next book is not so over the top as to lose credibility in the story line.
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Even though a full third of the book is dedicated to filling in the past for first time readers I am a sucker for WEB Griffin, I am the ultimate fan. I do not get tired of the style and have read and reread everything he has ever written. He is the John Wayne of fiction writers I cannot believe so few have ever heard of him. Wake up world and snap out of it....start at the beginning Read "The Lieutenants"...begin a journey.
Charlie/Carlos/Karl is such a bad ass. Too bad that this book didn't show it. I have read all this series and this is my least favorite. I felt like the first 2/3 of the book was review of the previous books and there was really no big plot development until the last 1/3. I also feel like I needed a flow chart to keep all the characters straight. I'm sure I will still read future books in the series though. I do love the parts about Russian history, but isn't it kinda unethical/bad taste to writ...more
I really have enjoyed this series from Griffin. Modern setting makes it a nice change from WWII. This book, however, begins to show some problems. The number of characters just keeps increasing, and they're all have their own backstory, which requires repeating. A lot of extra info, then, for the reader to wade through. Worth reading, but only for real fans.
All the Congo-X virus was not destroyed and the president has died. The new preident wants to give the two Russian defectors and Carlos Castillo to the Russians to keep the Russians from using Congo-X. Castillo and members of the cabinet learn that the new president can not be trusted.
I listened to this on a road trip with Tom. It was pretty good type of action/suspense story. I had listened to one of his earlier ones, which has the same heroes. I little James Bondish (imposiible heroics) but a nice break from all my book club books.
I'm up in the air about whether I'll finish this one--the writing is really pretty bad--if I finish it it'll be because the story pulls me along.
here's an example of the kind of crap writing that may cause me to dump this one.
here's an example of the kind of crap writing that may cause me to dump this one.
If one has read enough of one author, especially of this type, one pretty much knows how the story will run. Even with that said, I do enjoy his Presidential Agent series and Charley Castillo once again saving the day.
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W.E.B. Griffin is one of several pseudonyms for William Edmund Butterworth III.
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin is the author of thirty-six epic novels in six series, all of which have been listed on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and other best-seller lists. More than forty million of his books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chine...more
More about W.E.B. Griffin...
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin is the author of thirty-six epic novels in six series, all of which have been listed on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and other best-seller lists. More than forty million of his books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chine...more
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