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This ''Ghost'' May Not Walk Through Walls, but Walls had Better Not Get in His Way! A New Techno-thriller Adventure Series by a New York Times Best-Selling Author.Former SEAL Michael Harmon, Team Name ''Ghost'', retired for service injuries, is not enjoying college life. But things are about to change, if not for the better.When he sees a kidnapping a series of, at the time logical, decisions leave him shot to ribbons and battling a battalion of Syrian commandos with only the help of three naked co-eds who answer to the names ''Bambi,'' ''Thumper'' and ''Cotton Tail.''A fast-paced, highly-sexual, military-action thriller that ranges from a poison factory in the Mideast to the Florida Keys to Siberia, the novel will keep you guessing what twisted fate will bring next for the man once known as . . . Ghost. Keep an eye on him or . . . poof, he'll be gone.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2005
244 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
John Ringo
101 books1,831 followersJohn Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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January 22, 2016
A REPORT FROM ROBOT PLANET
TO: X-1 Prime, Supreme Overlord of Robot Matrix, Grand Endeavor Cmdr.
FROM: Scientific Analyst SLJLK92349UO, Earth Invasion Exploratory Unit
CC: Prince BOB, Holy Prior of the Negativ Legion
CC: Queen Kardeater of the Insectoid Empire
BCC: Shadowagent markmonday
ATTACHMENT 1: John Ringo, former Test Subject
ATTACHMENT 2: the novel Ghost by John Ringo
SUBJECT: Earth
___________________________________
Target: John Ringo acquired by Shadowpuppet A. Coulter using Tactic 7-B3: Invitation to Wild Sex Party at Dennis Miller’s Mansion.
Target: Ghost acquired via Amazon for $0.01 + $3.99 shipping & handling.
Subject A: John Ringo is former Specialist in 82nd Airborne Division of U.S. Army. Post discharge, subject became author of several series in several genres and occasional guest commentator on Fox News Channel (itself a Shadowagency of Robot Matrix). Subject A is currently non-organic due to extensive exploratory nature of Scientific Analysis.
[Shadowpuppet “John Ringo-1” has replaced organic target on Earth; no adverse reactions from Subject A’s peer or familial groupings have been noted regarding replacement.]
Subject B: Ghost is “Action/Adventure Genre Novel” and features exploits of government operative Mike _____, code name ‘Ghost’. Subject B is perhaps less-than-typical example of genre, due to extremely low technical ability of writing overall, including: flaccid narrative; profusion of racial/ gender/ political stereotypes; two-dimensional characterization; risible dialogue; incessant and misguided references to Sparta, Robert Frost, and "Goth" music; tedious preponderance of both military-grade weapons detail-pornography and graphic sexual pornography. Despite inferior quality of novel, it offers range of absorbing topics on Earth life to consider; in particular, Earth gender dynamics per author. Subject B: Ghost has tri-parte structure and so this report will analyze each section sequentially.
Part One: Winter Born
Narrative in Part One details attempts of Middle Eastern nation Syria to engage in terrorist acts towards United States of America. Plans include kidnapping of 50 young American college women, torture/ rape/ murder of women, and broadcasting of activities to American public. While stalking single young woman on college campus that they both attend (apparently typical pasttime for protagonist), Operative Ghost witnesses kidnapping, follows and then successfully engages kidnappers, secretly boards plane containing previously captured college women, and eventually destroys entire operation (his actions also include elimination of Osama bin Laden and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad).
Although narrative itself is trite and poorly written, there is much to be evaluated regarding mindset of reactionary Red-Blooded American Male aka RBA Male towards the female of the species (and, to a lesser degree, RBA Male’s nationalism and feelings towards educational institutions). In sum, protagonist and author appear to view female of species as worthy of protection and as target for sexual attention, but having little value in most other regards and suitable primarily for mockery. General and inherent stupidity of females who act as politicians, news reporters, and students is reported with extreme frequency. During rescue attempts, protagonist often engages in “cheeky banter” and “casual playfulness” with abused women, in particular by pointedly staring at parts of their naked forms that he finds sexually appealing, and by openly and repeatedly mocking their limited minds and thoughtless absorption into useless liberal edifices such as college. Throughout his rescue, Ghost suggests detainees reward him post-rescue with sexual activities including “blow-jobs” and encourages detainees to not hold terrorist actions against all RBA Males by "turning lesbian"; overcome by gratitude, detainees promise to engage in such rewards and reject all forms of liberalism. It should also be noted that author does include several examples of “useful” women: specifically those women who are members of college ROTC, are able to handle weapons, follow directions, and promise to reward protagonist with “blow-jobs” post-release. Irony of situation of protagonist - who self-defines by stating “I am a Rapist” (in thought but not yet deed) and who spends spare time stalking nubile students whom he despises - now being placed in role of rescuer, where he is sole source of succor to those he stalked and despised, is only slightly noted by protagonist and author. Perhaps irony (and ironic wish fulfillment inherent in situation) is implicit within story itself.
Throughout novel, author engages in striking form of character development for support players: prior to elimination by Ghost, each terrorist is given short history - including country of origin, level of education, level of antipathy towards Americans, personal thoughts and goals, etc. This is unusual tactic and purpose is unknown. Is this to provide a dossier to readers on wide range of potential terrorists and their personal background, perhaps to inspire reader suspicion towards all individuals hailing from countries in Middle East as potential terrorists? Unknown. Author also places epithet “Raghead” into mouths of many characters (including protagonist, U.S. President, others) and describes Middle Eastern countries as automatically dirty and filled with trash. “Liberals” are also given similar treatment; most notable is sequence where liberal American commentators blame predicament on kidnap victims themselves. Perhaps this is seen as typical “Liberal” behavior by author? If so, assertion is incorrect; Robot Matrix has noted Tactic Blame the Victim is also frequently used by “Reactionary” human demographic and associated institutions. Despite ongoing contempt displayed towards Middle East and Liberals, author and protagonist neglect to discuss positive elements of U.S. and instead appear content to solely describe negative attributes. Result is that author and protagonist appear to be apolitical and ignorant of various successes of many American institutions, both liberal and conservative. A curious kind of "patriot" in that genuine patriotism appears to be absent. This tunnel-vision and mindless vitriol bodes well for our Grand Endeavor; such individuals are often easiest for Robot Matrix to manipulate through well-tested “Knee-Jerk” Propaganda Campaigns and diverse Shadowpuppet Politicians and Media Commentators.
Part Two: Thunder Island
It should first be noted that section title is one of this Scientific Analyst’s favorite Earth songs, from classic “Easy Listening” era.
Narrative in second section is highly unusual. First two-thirds are concerned with Ghost’s new life as multi-millionaire living on yacht in Bahamas (due to reward from American President), his encounter with and subsequent seduction of two female college students (ages 18 and 19), large amount of water-vehicle detail-pornography, regular appraisal of Ghost’s apparently pleasingly muscular form by two teenagers, and introduction of students into rigorous and time-consuming world of sadomasochistic role play. There are many sexual encounters explicitly detailed throughout many pages. There is much discussion of “boundaries”, “safe words” and “safe sounds” (the latter due to gags), and “the high of complete submission”. There is discussion between Ghost and students’ mothers; both turn out to be “swingers” and “bottoms”, and both eventually encourage Ghost’s attentions – even consenting to request for daughters’ birth certificates. Dialogue in these sequences is of such amusingly unrealistic, artificial, and juvenile nature that at first this Scientific Analyst thought it may all be highly comic and stylized dream sequence. When this proved incorrect, this Scientific Analyst concluded that author had never actually experienced dialogue with teenagers, perhaps never engaged in “Flirting Ritual”, clearly had no skill in introducing individuals to sadomasochism, and may have generally experienced very poor results from prior sexual encounters resulting in awkwardly described fantasy sexual scenarios. Intensive questioning of Subject A: John Ringo on topic did not prove conclusive.
Remaining narrative in Part Two is concerned with sudden need for Ghost to disarm nuclear device that happens to be in vicinity of his pleasure-yacht, at request of American government. This activity – which interrupts sado-masochistic role play – proceeds at swift pace, with more military-grade weapons detail-pornography and more dossiers on individuals who will be shortly slain by Ghost. This Scientific Analyst must admit to skimming these rather monotonous pages.
Part Three: The Dark Side
Third section of novel’s narrative concerns buying and transporting of nuclear military device in and through Eastern Europe and Russia by Chechen terrorists, and successful mission for Ghost where he thwarts detonation of weapon in Paris (target: the Pope) and captures Middle Eastern terrorist responsible in Holland. There are also passages detailing rape of female minor in Eastern Europe by novel’s hero and various consensual sexual situations in Holland by novel’s hero and his colleague.
“Action/Adventure” portions of section were typical in their low-level writing skills, inability to sustain tension, and use of rote generalizations towards various individuals, institutions, and countries – in particular women, and France in general. If this Scientific Analyst were capable of human feelings e.g. “boredom” and human reactions e.g. “yawning”, such activities would have no doubt occurred. It may even be said that if this Scientific Analyst were human, s/he may have chosen to simply engage in self-pleasure while imagining his/her own personalized sado-masochistic fantasy – possibly involving Subject A: John Ringo – rather than being tricked into reading intense depiction of nonconsensual sex with minor that is shoehorned within puerile, unimaginative “Action/Adventure”.
It is important to focus briefly on lengthy and highly graphic sequence where Ghost rents, abuses, rapes, spoons and naps with, abuses again, rapes again, spoons and naps with again, and then rapes a third time an inexperienced 15-year old Eastern European whore with "very large breasts that were still high and full". Emphasis placed on fear, crying, and internal dryness of victim. At one point, novel’s hero punches purchased teenager in kidneys – her subsequent pain and surprise thus allowing him to make sudden anal entry. An unusual hero indeed!
Protagonist suffers some slight feelings of guilt, post rape and torture. Immediate action is to toss on victim's back amount worth half-year’s wage, upon which she replies "Is okay. Not like, much hurt, much… bad memory.” She got to the end of the quick count and looked at him again, curiously. “But for this, is okay. Would do again.” To which Ghost replies, "Yeah. But then you’d be acting. It wouldn’t be the same.” Later, Ghost feels more twinges of conscience and takes victim away from brothel, promising freedom and happier life. In Paris, victim finds older man as new associate and, after writing thank-you note to Ghost for her extraction, promptly leaves narrative. Important to note Qualifying Nature of various character reactions. Author clearly enjoys describing brutal rape (and protagonist Ghost enjoys repeatedly pointing out to victim that he is raping her, in order to better enjoy victim's emotional discomfort/ psychological trauma)... and also makes clear that victim's rape has lasting positive results through subsequent rescue of victim from squalid life in brothel. She has suffered, but is better off due to rape. And so Ghost’s conscience is allowed to rest, appeased. And so low-level human reader is also allowed to breathe sigh of relief and proceed through remainder of novel, guilt-free.
If such heroes are typical of RBA Male fantasies (and if such authors, and such readers who enjoy such novels, are also typical of human population), Robot Matrix should have no difficulty in drafting RBA Males to our cause of total subjugation of all Earth species/resources. Objectives of Robot Matrix and fellow Axis members' upcoming Grand Endeavor on Earth appear to be in line with RBA Male’s own personal goals/ideals. This Scientific Analyst recommends: (1) quickly acquiring valuable RBA Male assets; (2) activating Shadowagent markmonday; and (3) approving immediate escalation of Grand Endeavor/ Robot Matrix-Insectoid Empire-Negativ Legion activities. If this Scientific Analyst’s evaluation of RBA Male demographic is correct, our Grand Endeavor will soon find many natural allies on this planet Earth.
TO: X-1 Prime, Supreme Overlord of Robot Matrix, Grand Endeavor Cmdr.
FROM: Scientific Analyst SLJLK92349UO, Earth Invasion Exploratory Unit
CC: Prince BOB, Holy Prior of the Negativ Legion
CC: Queen Kardeater of the Insectoid Empire
BCC: Shadowagent markmonday
ATTACHMENT 1: John Ringo, former Test Subject
ATTACHMENT 2: the novel Ghost by John Ringo
SUBJECT: Earth
___________________________________
Target: John Ringo acquired by Shadowpuppet A. Coulter using Tactic 7-B3: Invitation to Wild Sex Party at Dennis Miller’s Mansion.
Target: Ghost acquired via Amazon for $0.01 + $3.99 shipping & handling.
Subject A: John Ringo is former Specialist in 82nd Airborne Division of U.S. Army. Post discharge, subject became author of several series in several genres and occasional guest commentator on Fox News Channel (itself a Shadowagency of Robot Matrix). Subject A is currently non-organic due to extensive exploratory nature of Scientific Analysis.
[Shadowpuppet “John Ringo-1” has replaced organic target on Earth; no adverse reactions from Subject A’s peer or familial groupings have been noted regarding replacement.]
Subject B: Ghost is “Action/Adventure Genre Novel” and features exploits of government operative Mike _____, code name ‘Ghost’. Subject B is perhaps less-than-typical example of genre, due to extremely low technical ability of writing overall, including: flaccid narrative; profusion of racial/ gender/ political stereotypes; two-dimensional characterization; risible dialogue; incessant and misguided references to Sparta, Robert Frost, and "Goth" music; tedious preponderance of both military-grade weapons detail-pornography and graphic sexual pornography. Despite inferior quality of novel, it offers range of absorbing topics on Earth life to consider; in particular, Earth gender dynamics per author. Subject B: Ghost has tri-parte structure and so this report will analyze each section sequentially.
Part One: Winter Born
Narrative in Part One details attempts of Middle Eastern nation Syria to engage in terrorist acts towards United States of America. Plans include kidnapping of 50 young American college women, torture/ rape/ murder of women, and broadcasting of activities to American public. While stalking single young woman on college campus that they both attend (apparently typical pasttime for protagonist), Operative Ghost witnesses kidnapping, follows and then successfully engages kidnappers, secretly boards plane containing previously captured college women, and eventually destroys entire operation (his actions also include elimination of Osama bin Laden and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad).
Although narrative itself is trite and poorly written, there is much to be evaluated regarding mindset of reactionary Red-Blooded American Male aka RBA Male towards the female of the species (and, to a lesser degree, RBA Male’s nationalism and feelings towards educational institutions). In sum, protagonist and author appear to view female of species as worthy of protection and as target for sexual attention, but having little value in most other regards and suitable primarily for mockery. General and inherent stupidity of females who act as politicians, news reporters, and students is reported with extreme frequency. During rescue attempts, protagonist often engages in “cheeky banter” and “casual playfulness” with abused women, in particular by pointedly staring at parts of their naked forms that he finds sexually appealing, and by openly and repeatedly mocking their limited minds and thoughtless absorption into useless liberal edifices such as college. Throughout his rescue, Ghost suggests detainees reward him post-rescue with sexual activities including “blow-jobs” and encourages detainees to not hold terrorist actions against all RBA Males by "turning lesbian"; overcome by gratitude, detainees promise to engage in such rewards and reject all forms of liberalism. It should also be noted that author does include several examples of “useful” women: specifically those women who are members of college ROTC, are able to handle weapons, follow directions, and promise to reward protagonist with “blow-jobs” post-release. Irony of situation of protagonist - who self-defines by stating “I am a Rapist” (in thought but not yet deed) and who spends spare time stalking nubile students whom he despises - now being placed in role of rescuer, where he is sole source of succor to those he stalked and despised, is only slightly noted by protagonist and author. Perhaps irony (and ironic wish fulfillment inherent in situation) is implicit within story itself.
Throughout novel, author engages in striking form of character development for support players: prior to elimination by Ghost, each terrorist is given short history - including country of origin, level of education, level of antipathy towards Americans, personal thoughts and goals, etc. This is unusual tactic and purpose is unknown. Is this to provide a dossier to readers on wide range of potential terrorists and their personal background, perhaps to inspire reader suspicion towards all individuals hailing from countries in Middle East as potential terrorists? Unknown. Author also places epithet “Raghead” into mouths of many characters (including protagonist, U.S. President, others) and describes Middle Eastern countries as automatically dirty and filled with trash. “Liberals” are also given similar treatment; most notable is sequence where liberal American commentators blame predicament on kidnap victims themselves. Perhaps this is seen as typical “Liberal” behavior by author? If so, assertion is incorrect; Robot Matrix has noted Tactic Blame the Victim is also frequently used by “Reactionary” human demographic and associated institutions. Despite ongoing contempt displayed towards Middle East and Liberals, author and protagonist neglect to discuss positive elements of U.S. and instead appear content to solely describe negative attributes. Result is that author and protagonist appear to be apolitical and ignorant of various successes of many American institutions, both liberal and conservative. A curious kind of "patriot" in that genuine patriotism appears to be absent. This tunnel-vision and mindless vitriol bodes well for our Grand Endeavor; such individuals are often easiest for Robot Matrix to manipulate through well-tested “Knee-Jerk” Propaganda Campaigns and diverse Shadowpuppet Politicians and Media Commentators.
Part Two: Thunder Island
It should first be noted that section title is one of this Scientific Analyst’s favorite Earth songs, from classic “Easy Listening” era.
Narrative in second section is highly unusual. First two-thirds are concerned with Ghost’s new life as multi-millionaire living on yacht in Bahamas (due to reward from American President), his encounter with and subsequent seduction of two female college students (ages 18 and 19), large amount of water-vehicle detail-pornography, regular appraisal of Ghost’s apparently pleasingly muscular form by two teenagers, and introduction of students into rigorous and time-consuming world of sadomasochistic role play. There are many sexual encounters explicitly detailed throughout many pages. There is much discussion of “boundaries”, “safe words” and “safe sounds” (the latter due to gags), and “the high of complete submission”. There is discussion between Ghost and students’ mothers; both turn out to be “swingers” and “bottoms”, and both eventually encourage Ghost’s attentions – even consenting to request for daughters’ birth certificates. Dialogue in these sequences is of such amusingly unrealistic, artificial, and juvenile nature that at first this Scientific Analyst thought it may all be highly comic and stylized dream sequence. When this proved incorrect, this Scientific Analyst concluded that author had never actually experienced dialogue with teenagers, perhaps never engaged in “Flirting Ritual”, clearly had no skill in introducing individuals to sadomasochism, and may have generally experienced very poor results from prior sexual encounters resulting in awkwardly described fantasy sexual scenarios. Intensive questioning of Subject A: John Ringo on topic did not prove conclusive.
Remaining narrative in Part Two is concerned with sudden need for Ghost to disarm nuclear device that happens to be in vicinity of his pleasure-yacht, at request of American government. This activity – which interrupts sado-masochistic role play – proceeds at swift pace, with more military-grade weapons detail-pornography and more dossiers on individuals who will be shortly slain by Ghost. This Scientific Analyst must admit to skimming these rather monotonous pages.
Part Three: The Dark Side
Third section of novel’s narrative concerns buying and transporting of nuclear military device in and through Eastern Europe and Russia by Chechen terrorists, and successful mission for Ghost where he thwarts detonation of weapon in Paris (target: the Pope) and captures Middle Eastern terrorist responsible in Holland. There are also passages detailing rape of female minor in Eastern Europe by novel’s hero and various consensual sexual situations in Holland by novel’s hero and his colleague.
“Action/Adventure” portions of section were typical in their low-level writing skills, inability to sustain tension, and use of rote generalizations towards various individuals, institutions, and countries – in particular women, and France in general. If this Scientific Analyst were capable of human feelings e.g. “boredom” and human reactions e.g. “yawning”, such activities would have no doubt occurred. It may even be said that if this Scientific Analyst were human, s/he may have chosen to simply engage in self-pleasure while imagining his/her own personalized sado-masochistic fantasy – possibly involving Subject A: John Ringo – rather than being tricked into reading intense depiction of nonconsensual sex with minor that is shoehorned within puerile, unimaginative “Action/Adventure”.
It is important to focus briefly on lengthy and highly graphic sequence where Ghost rents, abuses, rapes, spoons and naps with, abuses again, rapes again, spoons and naps with again, and then rapes a third time an inexperienced 15-year old Eastern European whore with "very large breasts that were still high and full". Emphasis placed on fear, crying, and internal dryness of victim. At one point, novel’s hero punches purchased teenager in kidneys – her subsequent pain and surprise thus allowing him to make sudden anal entry. An unusual hero indeed!
Protagonist suffers some slight feelings of guilt, post rape and torture. Immediate action is to toss on victim's back amount worth half-year’s wage, upon which she replies "Is okay. Not like, much hurt, much… bad memory.” She got to the end of the quick count and looked at him again, curiously. “But for this, is okay. Would do again.” To which Ghost replies, "Yeah. But then you’d be acting. It wouldn’t be the same.” Later, Ghost feels more twinges of conscience and takes victim away from brothel, promising freedom and happier life. In Paris, victim finds older man as new associate and, after writing thank-you note to Ghost for her extraction, promptly leaves narrative. Important to note Qualifying Nature of various character reactions. Author clearly enjoys describing brutal rape (and protagonist Ghost enjoys repeatedly pointing out to victim that he is raping her, in order to better enjoy victim's emotional discomfort/ psychological trauma)... and also makes clear that victim's rape has lasting positive results through subsequent rescue of victim from squalid life in brothel. She has suffered, but is better off due to rape. And so Ghost’s conscience is allowed to rest, appeased. And so low-level human reader is also allowed to breathe sigh of relief and proceed through remainder of novel, guilt-free.
If such heroes are typical of RBA Male fantasies (and if such authors, and such readers who enjoy such novels, are also typical of human population), Robot Matrix should have no difficulty in drafting RBA Males to our cause of total subjugation of all Earth species/resources. Objectives of Robot Matrix and fellow Axis members' upcoming Grand Endeavor on Earth appear to be in line with RBA Male’s own personal goals/ideals. This Scientific Analyst recommends: (1) quickly acquiring valuable RBA Male assets; (2) activating Shadowagent markmonday; and (3) approving immediate escalation of Grand Endeavor/ Robot Matrix-Insectoid Empire-Negativ Legion activities. If this Scientific Analyst’s evaluation of RBA Male demographic is correct, our Grand Endeavor will soon find many natural allies on this planet Earth.
December 1, 2012
There are quite a range of "rating reactions" to this book. I think there are probably several reasons for this. I have several friends here who have nothing good to say about this book. Then I have others who gave it 5 stars. Why the disagreement(s).
I think There are (as I said) several reasons for this. The main character (Mike) and I have somewhat different definitions of the word Paladin, LOL. Had the entire book been more like the first half I could probably have gone much higher on my own rating. I liked the first half.
Mike is a medically retired SEAL and he seems to have a penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the right time, or maybe the wrong place at the right time???? Whatever way you put it wherever he is it seems that some sort of terrorism is going down soon. (I only wish that my deteriorated joints could be made to work as well as "this Mike's" do when he needs to move, jump, run, drop from heights etc). The first half of the novel is a slam bang action story of terrorists and rescue. Mike's attitudes about himself come out. He talks about what a "bad guy" he is at heart, but in practice he always forces down his personal demons and does the "good guy" thing. Though of course he's not above being blunt, abrasive, politically incorrect and using shock to jolt hostages into fighting back.
The next quarter of the book leads us through an interlude that is a bit graphic in another way. Myself not being into bondage or kinky sex, I skimmed most of this section. So be aware it's there. As noted it can largely be side stepped if you can skim. This does however lead to another highly imaginative violent confrontation with terrorists.
The last quarter is more like the first half, though not as action packed.
So, first I read reviews of people who disliked the more sexual part of the book. I agree. It's not the worst I've read but it still bothers. For example the one Laurell K. Hamilton book I read was far more sexually graphic. Where there are around 3 graphic sex scenes in this book (as I said I skimmed through that section so I didn't take care to keep an actual count) Hamilton's book had them every other page. The kinky part was there though I'd say many to most will actually find them somewhat mild compared to what's out there these days. For example, I wouldn't go close to Fifty Shades of Gray and there is far more deviance in say the Jack Daniels crime books where they are told from the psychopath's point of view. So, while it drops my rating to 2 stars, I found that part of the book easy to simply skim (or skip)over getting what I needed for the story (very little in that section) and moving on.
There is another facet of the book that I suspect drops the rating to 1 star for some people. The protagonist here rescues people and saves the day while spouting over the top conservative rhetoric. The above books I mentioned along with multitudes of others are more violent and more sexually "adventurous" but the protagonist is speaking from a more liberal of left wing political view point so many will find that "over-the-top-ness" more acceptable.
Just my opinion.
I didn't hate this book, I like the first half and sort of liked the last quarter....but it does creep me out a bit. Yes it's over the top, it's "in your face", it's anything but politically correct. It's about a rough guy who does what's needed (usually getting himself shot up to the point of near death in the time of it) who likes Goth music, martial poetry, and plain speaking. The book is not literary nor does it claim to be. It's not written for the literati and comes with a warning that it's a bit raw and written for grown-ups. It's a Double Whopper with a side order of extra large fries and Coke-A-Cola...then desert. It's Pizza with a Jack and Coke, It's a deli sandwich of every smoked meat you can think of topped with cheese and served with a boiler-maker.
I'd say in short, but it's too late...It's a "junk-food book, not for nutrition but simply for a "brain rest". I'm planning to give the next a try as I've read it's lighter on the sexual component. I know the J. Ringo can write action (as I've read several books where he has).
So, to my friends who hated the book, I guess we can agree to disagree on this one. It'll not be a reread, but it's okay, even pretty good if I can just choose the parts I like. I will point out however that if you're an action hero and you constantly have push down thoughts of rape you should seek counseling immediately. The same goes if you're a reader and you identify with that portion of the protagonist's struggle. A very flawed book, one I can't truly recommend but one that's readable if you can skim and skip.
I think There are (as I said) several reasons for this. The main character (Mike) and I have somewhat different definitions of the word Paladin, LOL. Had the entire book been more like the first half I could probably have gone much higher on my own rating. I liked the first half.
Mike is a medically retired SEAL and he seems to have a penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the right time, or maybe the wrong place at the right time???? Whatever way you put it wherever he is it seems that some sort of terrorism is going down soon. (I only wish that my deteriorated joints could be made to work as well as "this Mike's" do when he needs to move, jump, run, drop from heights etc). The first half of the novel is a slam bang action story of terrorists and rescue. Mike's attitudes about himself come out. He talks about what a "bad guy" he is at heart, but in practice he always forces down his personal demons and does the "good guy" thing. Though of course he's not above being blunt, abrasive, politically incorrect and using shock to jolt hostages into fighting back.
The next quarter of the book leads us through an interlude that is a bit graphic in another way. Myself not being into bondage or kinky sex, I skimmed most of this section. So be aware it's there. As noted it can largely be side stepped if you can skim. This does however lead to another highly imaginative violent confrontation with terrorists.
The last quarter is more like the first half, though not as action packed.
So, first I read reviews of people who disliked the more sexual part of the book. I agree. It's not the worst I've read but it still bothers. For example the one Laurell K. Hamilton book I read was far more sexually graphic. Where there are around 3 graphic sex scenes in this book (as I said I skimmed through that section so I didn't take care to keep an actual count) Hamilton's book had them every other page. The kinky part was there though I'd say many to most will actually find them somewhat mild compared to what's out there these days. For example, I wouldn't go close to Fifty Shades of Gray and there is far more deviance in say the Jack Daniels crime books where they are told from the psychopath's point of view. So, while it drops my rating to 2 stars, I found that part of the book easy to simply skim (or skip)over getting what I needed for the story (very little in that section) and moving on.
There is another facet of the book that I suspect drops the rating to 1 star for some people. The protagonist here rescues people and saves the day while spouting over the top conservative rhetoric. The above books I mentioned along with multitudes of others are more violent and more sexually "adventurous" but the protagonist is speaking from a more liberal of left wing political view point so many will find that "over-the-top-ness" more acceptable.
Just my opinion.
I didn't hate this book, I like the first half and sort of liked the last quarter....but it does creep me out a bit. Yes it's over the top, it's "in your face", it's anything but politically correct. It's about a rough guy who does what's needed (usually getting himself shot up to the point of near death in the time of it) who likes Goth music, martial poetry, and plain speaking. The book is not literary nor does it claim to be. It's not written for the literati and comes with a warning that it's a bit raw and written for grown-ups. It's a Double Whopper with a side order of extra large fries and Coke-A-Cola...then desert. It's Pizza with a Jack and Coke, It's a deli sandwich of every smoked meat you can think of topped with cheese and served with a boiler-maker.
I'd say in short, but it's too late...It's a "junk-food book, not for nutrition but simply for a "brain rest". I'm planning to give the next a try as I've read it's lighter on the sexual component. I know the J. Ringo can write action (as I've read several books where he has).
So, to my friends who hated the book, I guess we can agree to disagree on this one. It'll not be a reread, but it's okay, even pretty good if I can just choose the parts I like. I will point out however that if you're an action hero and you constantly have push down thoughts of rape you should seek counseling immediately. The same goes if you're a reader and you identify with that portion of the protagonist's struggle. A very flawed book, one I can't truly recommend but one that's readable if you can skim and skip.
January 26, 2020
I hate this book. I normally have zero problems with wish fulfillment spy fiction. I also, if I don't like a book, just refuse to review it. Basically, if I'm not going to give something 3 and a 1/2 stars then there's not much point in me taking time to type out a response. The exception is if I really really hate something and feel the need to say why. So, if you liked the book, good for you but I need to state why I threw this one against the wall.
*WARNING - Talks about Sexual Assault, Rape, and Pedophilia*
Michael Harmon is a piece of crap. At one point, he describes himself as especially angry at rapists because he wants to rape women but doesn't--so he hates the people who give into the urge. At that point, really, does anything else need to be said about the guy? Yes, apparently, because he does eventually rape a woman in the book's third act. However, he justifies that as he bought her from her sex traffickers and set her free.
Okay.
Do I have to go on?
Yeah, yeah I do.
The book is divided into three stories.
Michael Harmon is an ex-Navy Seal who has gone back to college and then gets involved in beautiful Georgia U coeds (all explictly white) getting kidnapped by Al-Qaeda terrorists so they can be executed on-camera. Michael Harmon follows them back to Syria and kills Osama Bin Ladin (still alive at the time) as well as the President of Syria.
The latter seemed strange but the 1 star in this book (before I removed it for ACT III) is the fact Ringo was prescient that he was a piece of crap too. This is as close to an actual plot as the book may be and it's insane enough you almost overlook the worst elements. Even when a bunch of naked women in bullet belts start shooting up the place as Michael inspires them to fight terrorists. His price? 1. Don't let this incident turn them off men. 2. Give him a blowjob if he ever asks--including in public.
You know, honestly, that's deranged enough to almost be entertaining.
The second story has him get two women half his age to come to his private yacht for some BDSM but it's okay, as he gets their mothers' permission first. I am not kidding. Then he has to leave mid-sex session to stop terrorists from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Ridiculous enough to not take seriously and the telephone conversation is hilarious.
The third one is about raping the preteen girl he's bought as a slave.
Yeah.
No.
Screw the story even as ultra-right conservative wish fulfillment. My ultra-right acquaintances don't have any desires that way.
Bleah.
Remove all stars. It was one and a half anyway.
0/10
Edit:
I found this afterward and it summarizes my opinion even better: https://hradzka.livejournal.com/19475...
*WARNING - Talks about Sexual Assault, Rape, and Pedophilia*
Michael Harmon is a piece of crap. At one point, he describes himself as especially angry at rapists because he wants to rape women but doesn't--so he hates the people who give into the urge. At that point, really, does anything else need to be said about the guy? Yes, apparently, because he does eventually rape a woman in the book's third act. However, he justifies that as he bought her from her sex traffickers and set her free.
Okay.
Do I have to go on?
Yeah, yeah I do.
The book is divided into three stories.
Michael Harmon is an ex-Navy Seal who has gone back to college and then gets involved in beautiful Georgia U coeds (all explictly white) getting kidnapped by Al-Qaeda terrorists so they can be executed on-camera. Michael Harmon follows them back to Syria and kills Osama Bin Ladin (still alive at the time) as well as the President of Syria.
The latter seemed strange but the 1 star in this book (before I removed it for ACT III) is the fact Ringo was prescient that he was a piece of crap too. This is as close to an actual plot as the book may be and it's insane enough you almost overlook the worst elements. Even when a bunch of naked women in bullet belts start shooting up the place as Michael inspires them to fight terrorists. His price? 1. Don't let this incident turn them off men. 2. Give him a blowjob if he ever asks--including in public.
You know, honestly, that's deranged enough to almost be entertaining.
The second story has him get two women half his age to come to his private yacht for some BDSM but it's okay, as he gets their mothers' permission first. I am not kidding. Then he has to leave mid-sex session to stop terrorists from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Ridiculous enough to not take seriously and the telephone conversation is hilarious.
The third one is about raping the preteen girl he's bought as a slave.
Yeah.
No.
Screw the story even as ultra-right conservative wish fulfillment. My ultra-right acquaintances don't have any desires that way.
Bleah.
Remove all stars. It was one and a half anyway.
0/10
Edit:
I found this afterward and it summarizes my opinion even better: https://hradzka.livejournal.com/19475...
February 9, 2012
WARNING!!!!
If you are a liberal, do not read this book!
If you are a feminist, do not read this book!
If you are a Baptist, do not read this book!
If it weren't for the great action sequences, in this offering, I would think you could only find GHOST in an ADULT book store. The book tells three stories revolving around a former SEAL who doesn't candy-coat the fact that he is a bad man. He has two ways of venting his frustration and relieving tension--he has to kill someone...or he has to rape someone. Fortunately, he only kills bad guys...and he only rapes by contract. He is heavy into S&M, bondage, Goth, and patriotism.
GHOST is full of all of the above. The body count is high, the sex is plentiful and extremely graphic, and the action is nonstop.
And there's a sequel!!!???!!!
If you are a liberal, do not read this book!
If you are a feminist, do not read this book!
If you are a Baptist, do not read this book!
If it weren't for the great action sequences, in this offering, I would think you could only find GHOST in an ADULT book store. The book tells three stories revolving around a former SEAL who doesn't candy-coat the fact that he is a bad man. He has two ways of venting his frustration and relieving tension--he has to kill someone...or he has to rape someone. Fortunately, he only kills bad guys...and he only rapes by contract. He is heavy into S&M, bondage, Goth, and patriotism.
GHOST is full of all of the above. The body count is high, the sex is plentiful and extremely graphic, and the action is nonstop.
And there's a sequel!!!???!!!
March 7, 2011
Well, the author wrote his own review which I will quote:
"It is not PC. It is not PG-13. It is not understated. It is a raw, bawdy, kinky, violent, over-the-top story of an ex-SEAL who is approaching life, love and the pursuit of bad-guys with no-holds-barred. James Bond without the bedroom door closing. Dirk Pitt meets Harold Robbins. Jean Auel writes a Mack Bolan book. With details. Kinky, kinky details.
Since I had not previously been known for this sort of writing, I felt it germane to emplace a warning. Herewith: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here. Ghost has no brakes and no limits. The sex is as explosive as the nukes. You’ve been warned.
John Ringo
Chattanooga, TN
June 2005"
I'd read plenty of his Sci-Fi space operas before this and they were very exciting. This takes the excitement to a whole different level. I burned right through this whole series. You can get it free (legally) at http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/18...
"It is not PC. It is not PG-13. It is not understated. It is a raw, bawdy, kinky, violent, over-the-top story of an ex-SEAL who is approaching life, love and the pursuit of bad-guys with no-holds-barred. James Bond without the bedroom door closing. Dirk Pitt meets Harold Robbins. Jean Auel writes a Mack Bolan book. With details. Kinky, kinky details.
Since I had not previously been known for this sort of writing, I felt it germane to emplace a warning. Herewith: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here. Ghost has no brakes and no limits. The sex is as explosive as the nukes. You’ve been warned.
John Ringo
Chattanooga, TN
June 2005"
I'd read plenty of his Sci-Fi space operas before this and they were very exciting. This takes the excitement to a whole different level. I burned right through this whole series. You can get it free (legally) at http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/18...
January 2, 2020
6/30/17 3rd re-read.
October 5, 2014
I read this after disregarding the other reviews. Because honestly I am the only one fit to judge what I will like. That being said.
No.
Not no but hell no.
As long as Harmon kept his fantasies to the realm of fantasies and consensual scenes I was fine. The bdsm element was boring and written from the view of someone who has perhaps played, or watched but was not involved in the life. Fine no problems there and I did enjoy the action scenes.
The rape and beating of Magdelena was pointless and served no purpose beyond showing that the main character had no self control. His attitude toward females was rough but acceptable then degenerated into the realm of unacceptable.
Mr Ringo I adore your black tide rising series and am willing to try out a few more but this? Leave it where it lays there is no place for rapists in my world and trust me males are your target audience, do you really want them reading this and excusing rape because he "bought" her?
There is more I can say but I find the venting of my spleen leaves a bitter taste. I don't recommend this to anyone.
No.
Not no but hell no.
As long as Harmon kept his fantasies to the realm of fantasies and consensual scenes I was fine. The bdsm element was boring and written from the view of someone who has perhaps played, or watched but was not involved in the life. Fine no problems there and I did enjoy the action scenes.
The rape and beating of Magdelena was pointless and served no purpose beyond showing that the main character had no self control. His attitude toward females was rough but acceptable then degenerated into the realm of unacceptable.
Mr Ringo I adore your black tide rising series and am willing to try out a few more but this? Leave it where it lays there is no place for rapists in my world and trust me males are your target audience, do you really want them reading this and excusing rape because he "bought" her?
There is more I can say but I find the venting of my spleen leaves a bitter taste. I don't recommend this to anyone.
May 22, 2016
No, No, NO!! Basic premise, decent. Medically retired SEAL tracks terrorists who kidnapped 50 coeds from college town. Locates terrorist hidey-hole and calls for reinforcements. BTW, the girls are stripped naked and are being tortured to death while broadcast to the world. Much shooting, blood, guts, hero and most of the girls survive. After that, forget it. Nothing honorable in this guy. Feels like it was written by a bunch of 16 year old boys gorged on Gor novels but plenty of mindless cruelty, BDSM (not tepid 50 Shades of Grey kind either), misogyny, fantasy thrown in. Action scenes ok but sloppy writing throughout. Mind candy but mostly skunk-flavored jelly bellies. 1/2 Star
September 16, 2013
If there's one moment that sums up the entirety of Ghost, it's when our 'hero' kills Osama Bin Laden and cuts off his head for proof. Rather than being the cathartic finale of the novel, this is instead almost an aside to the main plot, which is the rescue of an entire army of kidnapped college girls. This minor plot element is an indicator of just what you're getting into with this novel.
Anyway, Ghost tells the story of Mike, an ex-Navy Seal who has the remarkable talent to fall over both nubile young women and terrorists as he travels the world . Mike is both the novel's main character and basically its only character, with everyone else being either an interchangeable sex object or some variant on cliché US military one-notes. This is a shame for many reasons, most of which are due to just how spectacularly unlikable Mike manages to be throughout this. Mike is supposed to be 'dark', a personal malaise that mostly manifests in a mix of an inexplicably inability to treat women as anything other than as sex objects and his love of rough, violent sex. 'Dark' would imply some desire to change or self-loathing, two things that Mike isn't interested is or seemingly capable of. Rather, Mike's 'darkness' is basically an excuse of a character trait that allows him to act like a jerk while seemingly characterful. In short, Mike isn't 'dark', he's a violent sexual predator with a good reputation who frequently demonstrates such a stunning lack of basic empathy that it's hard not to think of him as suffering from a borderline psychological problem.
Still, Mike's 'darkness' is only one of his more defining character traits. Mike's other defining trait is his astonishing breadth of knowledge. Mike is something of a know it all. If you're at all familiar with Ringo's novels (in particular The Last Centurion) you'll know he has a weakness for this sort of central character trait and like a few of his other characters, Mike manages to make a hash of this. In brief, while Mike often betrays a wide breadth of knowledge and insight, it's often wrong in real world context.
So in short, Mike's a poor main character, matching with rest of this dreadful novel.
So let's get into the basics of this novel. Ghost is actually three linked novellas, each revolving around one of the Mike's encounters with islamic terrorists. This should be your first warning sign. Mike's so one-dimensional that he really can't carry a longer narrative (Kildar, the sequel demonstrates this in spectacular style) and the novel really doesn't try, instead hurling him into a trio of paper-thin plots that read more like the porn movie synopsises than heroic narratives.
This is the point where the spoilers begin. If you still plan to read this after everything I've said, go for it.
So that's Ghost. It's a barrage of terrible plots, forgettable action and centres on one of the most horrific 'heroes' in fiction. Is there any good in it? Well there's two moments that are funny (a scene with some Seals in part one and the phone call in part two), but they're both moments where the main character is sidelined and that's kind of the problem. Mike is basically a monster, a rampant misogynistic rapist who has sex permanently on the brain and yet we're somehow expected to root for this particularly vile Mary Sue. He manages to spend the entire book not displaying a single ounce of compassion or empathy and the only reason he gets anywhere is that the 'right-thinking' world is in love with his brand of ignorant machismo and sociopathic misogyny. It's both boring and awful.
What really seals the deal is the 'message' of this book. It's supposed to be something like 'we need monsters to fight monsters' or 'the hero you deserve, not the hero you want', but the actual message is far worse. That message is simple: It's okay to be crude, it's okay to be a little rapey, it's okay to be a flat-out rapist, just so long as you shoot a lot of terrorists. That's not a message that can even vaguely be considered acceptable.
Look, in the final analysis, Ghost is simply bad. The action, what's supposed to be the main draw, is forgettable and 'inspired' by better stories. The sexual content averages out at 'creepy' and often descends to the truly horrific. The main character's at once both unlikable and boringly competent. The theme of the book is offensive and borderline sociopathic. Quite simply, there are better. If you want terrorist shooting, read Tom Clancy or one of his many imitators. If you want sex, search the erotica section of your local bookstore. If you want 'darkness', read Batman. Just don't read this pile of appalling, misogynistic rubbish.
Anyway, Ghost tells the story of Mike, an ex-Navy Seal who has the remarkable talent to fall over both nubile young women and terrorists as he travels the world . Mike is both the novel's main character and basically its only character, with everyone else being either an interchangeable sex object or some variant on cliché US military one-notes. This is a shame for many reasons, most of which are due to just how spectacularly unlikable Mike manages to be throughout this. Mike is supposed to be 'dark', a personal malaise that mostly manifests in a mix of an inexplicably inability to treat women as anything other than as sex objects and his love of rough, violent sex. 'Dark' would imply some desire to change or self-loathing, two things that Mike isn't interested is or seemingly capable of. Rather, Mike's 'darkness' is basically an excuse of a character trait that allows him to act like a jerk while seemingly characterful. In short, Mike isn't 'dark', he's a violent sexual predator with a good reputation who frequently demonstrates such a stunning lack of basic empathy that it's hard not to think of him as suffering from a borderline psychological problem.
Still, Mike's 'darkness' is only one of his more defining character traits. Mike's other defining trait is his astonishing breadth of knowledge. Mike is something of a know it all. If you're at all familiar with Ringo's novels (in particular The Last Centurion) you'll know he has a weakness for this sort of central character trait and like a few of his other characters, Mike manages to make a hash of this. In brief, while Mike often betrays a wide breadth of knowledge and insight, it's often wrong in real world context.
So in short, Mike's a poor main character, matching with rest of this dreadful novel.
So let's get into the basics of this novel. Ghost is actually three linked novellas, each revolving around one of the Mike's encounters with islamic terrorists. This should be your first warning sign. Mike's so one-dimensional that he really can't carry a longer narrative (Kildar, the sequel demonstrates this in spectacular style) and the novel really doesn't try, instead hurling him into a trio of paper-thin plots that read more like the porn movie synopsises than heroic narratives.
This is the point where the spoilers begin. If you still plan to read this after everything I've said, go for it.
So that's Ghost. It's a barrage of terrible plots, forgettable action and centres on one of the most horrific 'heroes' in fiction. Is there any good in it? Well there's two moments that are funny (a scene with some Seals in part one and the phone call in part two), but they're both moments where the main character is sidelined and that's kind of the problem. Mike is basically a monster, a rampant misogynistic rapist who has sex permanently on the brain and yet we're somehow expected to root for this particularly vile Mary Sue. He manages to spend the entire book not displaying a single ounce of compassion or empathy and the only reason he gets anywhere is that the 'right-thinking' world is in love with his brand of ignorant machismo and sociopathic misogyny. It's both boring and awful.
What really seals the deal is the 'message' of this book. It's supposed to be something like 'we need monsters to fight monsters' or 'the hero you deserve, not the hero you want', but the actual message is far worse. That message is simple: It's okay to be crude, it's okay to be a little rapey, it's okay to be a flat-out rapist, just so long as you shoot a lot of terrorists. That's not a message that can even vaguely be considered acceptable.
Look, in the final analysis, Ghost is simply bad. The action, what's supposed to be the main draw, is forgettable and 'inspired' by better stories. The sexual content averages out at 'creepy' and often descends to the truly horrific. The main character's at once both unlikable and boringly competent. The theme of the book is offensive and borderline sociopathic. Quite simply, there are better. If you want terrorist shooting, read Tom Clancy or one of his many imitators. If you want sex, search the erotica section of your local bookstore. If you want 'darkness', read Batman. Just don't read this pile of appalling, misogynistic rubbish.
January 5, 2009
This was a messed up book. I started reading it and LOVED the first part. Great action, a flawed, but interesting character, lots of boobs.
The second part was like 100 page BDSM porno that ended with action similar to the first book. Very similar.
The third part was more action, but the flawed, but interesting character went over way over the edge with sexual violence.
I kept hoping that the book would return to the awesome start it had, but wow... it sunk a bit too low for me.
The second part was like 100 page BDSM porno that ended with action similar to the first book. Very similar.
The third part was more action, but the flawed, but interesting character went over way over the edge with sexual violence.
I kept hoping that the book would return to the awesome start it had, but wow... it sunk a bit too low for me.
September 12, 2007
Don't be fooled by the author's other books. This first book of the series is neither Science Fiction nor Fantasy (at least not in the classic sense). Fans of Ringo know he has a soft spot for military/action adventures and the Ghost series is definitely full of adventure.
If you are easily offended by graphic battle descriptions, stay away from these books. If you are easily offended by graphic sex (lots), then stay away. I'm not so easily offended by either and found all five (so far) books to be entertaining and downright fun.
Ghost/Mike Harmon/Mike Jenkins is a hero who always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time. I like to think that somewhere out there, one or two just like him are watching out for us all.
If you are easily offended by graphic battle descriptions, stay away from these books. If you are easily offended by graphic sex (lots), then stay away. I'm not so easily offended by either and found all five (so far) books to be entertaining and downright fun.
Ghost/Mike Harmon/Mike Jenkins is a hero who always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time. I like to think that somewhere out there, one or two just like him are watching out for us all.
March 11, 2020
3/10/20 Notes:
DNF @ 20%
Maybe the MC is suppose to be like Dexter. Except, I can watch Dexter and enjoy the show. Here? There's nothing to like about the MC and the story dives straight into action with a kidnap/rape scene with a lot of trash talk by the bad guys. Thumbs up because rape didn't happen. Thumbs down for everything else.
I may try this again but it's sitting at: Bad Book, BAD!
DNF @ 20%
Maybe the MC is suppose to be like Dexter. Except, I can watch Dexter and enjoy the show. Here? There's nothing to like about the MC and the story dives straight into action with a kidnap/rape scene with a lot of trash talk by the bad guys. Thumbs up because rape didn't happen. Thumbs down for everything else.
I may try this again but it's sitting at: Bad Book, BAD!
June 17, 2012
This book is split into 3 short stories, full of kickass terrorist wasting awesomeness. Initally we find Mike 'Ghost' Harmon, a former member of the SEALS disrupting a terrorist operation taking place in Athens Georgia and Syria. Watching him kill some high level terrorists, and bank some serious cash in the first story. Then we see him catch some fish, take a swim, bang some coeds and have a nuclear device set off somewhere in the Carribian. Lastly, we find ourselves in Paris, Ghost being torn between trying to save it from a Nuclear Firestorm and the incredible urge to put up his feet and watch it burn. Too be honest, I'd have let it burn.
Ringo has an excellent understanding of small unit tactics, an obvious understanding of military disiplin and lingo. While I can appreciate sex scenes in a book like any young viral human, I wasn't prepared for the darkness Ringo intended to bring to the character. The 2nd short story is basicly 150-200 pages of BDSM followed by 30-40 pages of general asskickery. While it is akward to read the BDSM, as it's not a circle I've run in, it definately fits Ghosts character. I can appreciate the decision Ringo made to go that route and it is definately the road less travelled by authors. Using this unusal character trait it drives ghosts personal hangups home to the reader, but at the same time because of the taboo nature of the topic it instantly looses him a lot of readers.
Overall great book, and the series only gets better. Both in terms of combat, but general content as well.
Ringo has an excellent understanding of small unit tactics, an obvious understanding of military disiplin and lingo. While I can appreciate sex scenes in a book like any young viral human, I wasn't prepared for the darkness Ringo intended to bring to the character. The 2nd short story is basicly 150-200 pages of BDSM followed by 30-40 pages of general asskickery. While it is akward to read the BDSM, as it's not a circle I've run in, it definately fits Ghosts character. I can appreciate the decision Ringo made to go that route and it is definately the road less travelled by authors. Using this unusal character trait it drives ghosts personal hangups home to the reader, but at the same time because of the taboo nature of the topic it instantly looses him a lot of readers.
Overall great book, and the series only gets better. Both in terms of combat, but general content as well.
March 3, 2015
Some stupid, hormone-infused teenager must have written this book. Because that's the only way I can explain all the hot naked chicks in this story. Why'd they have to be naked? I mean yes, of course I want them to be naked. But is there really any reason for them to be naked? Not really.
This book tells the story of some fucked-up terrorist organization that kidnaps several hot college chicks. They strip the girls naked, and chain them to a few rows of benches in a hot, sweaty room.
The terrorists make a video, showing the hot chained up girls. Telling the United States government to go fuck themselves. "We gots all yer womens, motherfuckers. Suck a dick! Yeah! Fuck America!"
Enter Michael 'The Ghost' Harmon. He's a retired special forces guy, who gets his nickname 'The Ghost' because he's a sneaky motherfucker. You'll never see him coming.
Ghost witnesses one of the kidnappings, and trails the van all the way to the terrorist hideout. He hangs out in the vents of the warehouse, biding his time, just like Bruce Willis in Die Hard. "So this is what a TV dinner feels like..."
It's the Ghost against probably 50 or more bad guys. He takes them out one by one. Saves the naked girls, and gets a sloppy blowjob for a reward.
It's a very simple story. Not very much depth to it. Like I said, It's like a fucking pimpled-faced teenager wrote it. It's just trashy fun, with no substance. And I loved it.
This book tells the story of some fucked-up terrorist organization that kidnaps several hot college chicks. They strip the girls naked, and chain them to a few rows of benches in a hot, sweaty room.
The terrorists make a video, showing the hot chained up girls. Telling the United States government to go fuck themselves. "We gots all yer womens, motherfuckers. Suck a dick! Yeah! Fuck America!"
Enter Michael 'The Ghost' Harmon. He's a retired special forces guy, who gets his nickname 'The Ghost' because he's a sneaky motherfucker. You'll never see him coming.
Ghost witnesses one of the kidnappings, and trails the van all the way to the terrorist hideout. He hangs out in the vents of the warehouse, biding his time, just like Bruce Willis in Die Hard. "So this is what a TV dinner feels like..."
It's the Ghost against probably 50 or more bad guys. He takes them out one by one. Saves the naked girls, and gets a sloppy blowjob for a reward.
It's a very simple story. Not very much depth to it. Like I said, It's like a fucking pimpled-faced teenager wrote it. It's just trashy fun, with no substance. And I loved it.
Read
September 30, 2010This is handily the most astonishingly offensive book I have ever read. It is immensely xenophobic, terrifyingly misogynist and thoroughly jingoistic, hitting every right wing talking point - hating academics, hating tolerance groups, hating the French, and on, and on, and on. It is part Rambo-style glorification of one man's psychopathic violence (which is, of course, ok because it is visited on Muslims), part disgusting rape fantasy. Every woman in the book is either a total bitch or a literal whore, the former to be mocked and the latter to be beaten and raped. I sincerely wish I was exaggerating.
It is also laughably plotted, terribly written and utterly predictable, except for when sex enters the plot; in those times it not only defies prediction, but common humanity.
That said, it did provide a great amount of amusement to my girlfriend and I, who read it to each other, in the way that watching a painfully terrible horror movie does. There's a sick pleasure in wallowing in the filth, and I am certainly not above that.
I am leaving the rating blank, since it is the closest I can get to giving the book zero stars. I seriously cannot recommend this book to anyone, unless you go in knowing what you're getting into and are prepared to want to shower for a month straight when you're finished just to try to wash off the stench of it.
It is also laughably plotted, terribly written and utterly predictable, except for when sex enters the plot; in those times it not only defies prediction, but common humanity.
That said, it did provide a great amount of amusement to my girlfriend and I, who read it to each other, in the way that watching a painfully terrible horror movie does. There's a sick pleasure in wallowing in the filth, and I am certainly not above that.
I am leaving the rating blank, since it is the closest I can get to giving the book zero stars. I seriously cannot recommend this book to anyone, unless you go in knowing what you're getting into and are prepared to want to shower for a month straight when you're finished just to try to wash off the stench of it.
August 18, 2008
I've always laughed at romance novels, but I never imagined (naively) one would be written for a man. This is it. The male romance novel, personified. The story is ludicrous, the characters over the top, the sex sexy, the fighting fighty. If you're looking for something trashy to read, pick it up.
July 24, 2008
This is what you'd get if Laurel K. Hamilton wrote hardcore military fiction. Fantastic story line, with closer to realistic human reactions, and sex. Good enough that I'm reading the whole series through again.
April 1, 2011
Well written, as are all of Ringo's books, but this one was a very difficult book to read. The anti-hero main character has the mindset of a serial rapist. Can't star it higher, but do suggest it as research for anyone writing an anti-hero novel .
June 25, 2017
I enjoyed the first part of the book! I have mixed feelings about Mike, the hero and I could have done without reading his sexual exploits.
April 19, 2011
I'm not sure if it counts as "reading" a book when you only got through the first fifty-odd pages. For me, the point where this book just dove headfirst into the Grand Canyon was when Our "Hero" is fighting off hordes of Syrian presidential guards after killing the President of Syria and Osama bin Laden. While he's being awesome and manly, one of the dozens of naked American co-eds who had been kidnapped by al-Qaeda gets a live feed to Fox News (because that's the only network that Our "Hero" trusts to tell the story the way he likes it), and says that she used to be some kind of Democrat, but now, through the awesome power of Our Manly "Hero"'s Manly Manliness, she's now a complete and total Republican.
Of course, this is the breaking point after a load of cliched bullcrap about the way American college campuses are. You know, socialist professors indoctrinating their drone-students with Teh Librulism. Ringo's scenario is undercut slightly by the fact that the socialist college campus to which he refers is the University of Georgia. I mean, really? I know he lives in Georgia (where I grew up), but I don't think he's ever really been to UGA. When I was reading the descriptions of Our Manly "Hero"'s history classes, my mind was going "ARGLBARGARGLARGH...", and then "But that's not accurate at all!"
Absolute crap. And I'm glad to know that Ringo himself kind of agrees. If you must read something in this series, the second book, Kildar, isn't half bad. If you want to read a good John Ringo book, try his early Posleen work.
(P.S. Google "OH JOHN RINGO NO". You will thank me.)
Of course, this is the breaking point after a load of cliched bullcrap about the way American college campuses are. You know, socialist professors indoctrinating their drone-students with Teh Librulism. Ringo's scenario is undercut slightly by the fact that the socialist college campus to which he refers is the University of Georgia. I mean, really? I know he lives in Georgia (where I grew up), but I don't think he's ever really been to UGA. When I was reading the descriptions of Our Manly "Hero"'s history classes, my mind was going "ARGLBARGARGLARGH...", and then "But that's not accurate at all!"
Absolute crap. And I'm glad to know that Ringo himself kind of agrees. If you must read something in this series, the second book, Kildar, isn't half bad. If you want to read a good John Ringo book, try his early Posleen work.
(P.S. Google "OH JOHN RINGO NO". You will thank me.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2017
I actually reviewed each novella separately so I thought I hated the book by the time I got the third novella but I did not yet understand what a piece of shit John Ringo really is. There was no way I could until I read an entire fucking chapter of a man beating and raping a 15 year old sex slave over and over again. I don't have a joke for that. That is vile, contemptible filth. I had an entertaining time ripping the first two parts up one side and down the other but that last one... where do you go after that? Where do you go after a book spends an entire chapter glorifying the rape of a 15 year old girl? All that's left is to condemn the author and, by extension, all of the fans of the series.
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/07/0...
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/07/2...
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/09/2...
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/07/0...
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/07/2...
https://lostinthewoods.blog/2017/09/2...
June 7, 2019
The action was good but the main character was very misogynistic and that will upset and take away from the book for most people (including me)
June 27, 2019
holy hell. Incel's wet dream. Gross.
January 27, 2020
This has to be one of the worse books I have ever read. I enjoyed Ringo's Posleen books but this, well, our "hero" Mike Harmon is a former Navy SEAL-aren't they all? who has decided to go to college-evidently to stalk young women and rape them which is exactly what he is planning to do to a blonde woman he is stalking on campus-try this in real life-and they'll lock you up! Anyway, before he can put his fiendish plan into operation the girl is abducted by Arab terrorists and Harmon saves them.
This reads like some third rate porn film and it baffles me how the hell this was ever accepted for publication. It is mysoginist, sadistic and above all else will offend anybody who reads it. Sexually it isn't even stimulating, just offensive. Even the sex scene in Z-Comm KillPoint when the team Smurfette Domino gets lucky isn't as bad as this. My advice? If you like action novels, stick to The Executioner or Phoenix Force. I wouldn't even waste my time on this garbage.
This reads like some third rate porn film and it baffles me how the hell this was ever accepted for publication. It is mysoginist, sadistic and above all else will offend anybody who reads it. Sexually it isn't even stimulating, just offensive. Even the sex scene in Z-Comm KillPoint when the team Smurfette Domino gets lucky isn't as bad as this. My advice? If you like action novels, stick to The Executioner or Phoenix Force. I wouldn't even waste my time on this garbage.
January 26, 2020
This book is probably the most horrific book I’ve ever read. Misogyny, rape, racism, gore, badly written bdsm. If I ever meet John Ringo I may take a blow torch to some tender parts of him. Quite honestly. Don’t read it.
There are a couple of vaguely interesting sex scenes if you’re into hardcore bdsm and consensual-non-consent, although the power imbalance makes me very unhappy. That’s it. That is literally all I can recommend about this book.
There are a couple of vaguely interesting sex scenes if you’re into hardcore bdsm and consensual-non-consent, although the power imbalance makes me very unhappy. That’s it. That is literally all I can recommend about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2020
One of the worst books I ever read. The main character accidentally runs into a nuclear bomb on two occasions, gets shot a dozen times and survives, picks up girls to fishing on a boat... seriously? This is a book Trump would love.
September 8, 2009
The main reason I'm admitting to reading this is to warn people away from it. It reads like a male wet dream--and that's it's problem. It's too much like a wet dream. The action sequences are over the top--one man being able to do all that? But they're fun, and guys read these for fun. The problem is the second third of the book--pure, hardcore porn. I made the mistake of giving this as a Christmas present to my older brother, without having read it. He just told me he didn't like it and sent it to the used bookstore. Then I read it, and I was mortified.
I'm hardly a prude by anyone's standards, but the fact of the matter is the middle third of this book is completely unnecessary. It doesn't carry the story forward and only serves to show Mike Harmon as a lusty old guy.
Just like with Tom Clancy where a good third of all of his books can be shortened without damaging the plot the same goes for the middle third of this book. Why?
If you do want some sex in your action books, check out the early Executioner novels when Donald Pendleton was alive and still writing them. Action, action action, action, action, sex scene (maybe a page in length) action, action action.
This is just crap.
Makes me wonder what I'll get with his sci-fi.
I'm hardly a prude by anyone's standards, but the fact of the matter is the middle third of this book is completely unnecessary. It doesn't carry the story forward and only serves to show Mike Harmon as a lusty old guy.
Just like with Tom Clancy where a good third of all of his books can be shortened without damaging the plot the same goes for the middle third of this book. Why?
If you do want some sex in your action books, check out the early Executioner novels when Donald Pendleton was alive and still writing them. Action, action action, action, action, sex scene (maybe a page in length) action, action action.
This is just crap.
Makes me wonder what I'll get with his sci-fi.
September 28, 2011
Our hero, Mike Harmon AKA “Ghost”, is an ex-SEAL trying to get by. Through somewhat random circumstances, he ends up foiling a terrorist plot to kidnap and torture American college girls. Now rich with reward money, he moves to the Keys. And ends up foiling a plot to place a nuke on American soil. After that, he ends up in Russia, where he… You get the picture. The book is episodic, with three quite distinct parts. Constant are the visceral, brutal, violent action scenes as well as the explicit and kinky sex.
I came in expecting special forces action. And yes, there is a lot of that. Quite good too. What I didn’t expect was all the erotica. Which is also good if you’re into that sort of thing.
A fun read, but not for the liberal. The hero’s views are quite, ahem, “Republican” when it comes to terrorism and how to deal with it. There is in fact, and somewhat unexpectedly, quite a bit of deep thought between the lines.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1172
I came in expecting special forces action. And yes, there is a lot of that. Quite good too. What I didn’t expect was all the erotica. Which is also good if you’re into that sort of thing.
A fun read, but not for the liberal. The hero’s views are quite, ahem, “Republican” when it comes to terrorism and how to deal with it. There is in fact, and somewhat unexpectedly, quite a bit of deep thought between the lines.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1172
February 15, 2014
Wow! was all I had to say at first. First half of the book was an interesting action, military and espionage tale of a rogue operative working for the United States black ops group. That alone was enough to keep me coming back for more of Mr. Ringo's imagination. Then we moved on to the second half of the book...holy cow! Mr. Ringo's imagination took a definite left turn into the S&M bondage theater of war. I thought I had opened a different book! As it turns out this is the dark side of our hero Mike Harmon. It gets a bit rough and wild at times inside Harmon's dark side. It certainly throws a wicked wrench in the story line and I'm sure puts off a share of readers. If you can tolerate Harmon's dark side the rest of the book is very interesting and full of up-to-date action. I'm going to try out another book or two to see how this all develops.
December 15, 2007
I found this book so profoundly offensive I could not even finish it. Do NOT read or purchase this book. It is - at least the parts I managed to make it through - disgusting and astoundingly-misogynistic. This book has graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence. It oozed hatred and racism in multiple forms from nearly every page I read.
Frankly, I'm surprised and deeply disappointed Baen published this this piece of pornographic offal. I will not be purchasing any more of John Ringo's books. Watch on the Rhine should have been enough of a warning, but I'd decided to give Ringo one more chance. This book goes even further beyond the line of what is acceptable to any civilized human being.
Frankly, I'm surprised and deeply disappointed Baen published this this piece of pornographic offal. I will not be purchasing any more of John Ringo's books. Watch on the Rhine should have been enough of a warning, but I'd decided to give Ringo one more chance. This book goes even further beyond the line of what is acceptable to any civilized human being.
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