Soldiers Without Borders: Beyond the SAS

by McPhedran Ian

What happens to the elite, close-knit soldiers of Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment after they leave the Who Dares Wins world of special forces? For some, there are highly paid jobs in the world's war zones and trouble spots protecting global corporations from terrorism, sabotage and violence. Others become powerful government advisers, many join foreign armies to train their special forces and expand the global brotherhood. Most risky of all, is the shadowy world of deniable 'black ops'. Guarding a deadly secret military cargo - a new missile system brokered through a spook under the guise of a Middle Eastern arms dealer - is all in a day's work. These are the risky yet vital jobs that governments will never admit. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Africa and Asia, award-winning defence writer Ian McPhedran uncovers a virtually unknown network and tells how Australia's top soldiers are forever linked in a seemingly borderless world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, Australia

375 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Terri]

This is the second book I have read so far of Ian McPhedran's. The first one was the Amazing SAS and in my opinion, is one of the best modern war books you could find. Of any country, not just Australia. I unfairly expected more of the same in this book and while it was enjoyable, it was not quite as good as The Amazing SAS.
As with The Amazing SAS, Soldiers Without Borders is a collation of interviews. Brought together into a highly readable style, which is mostly quoting direct comments from the men profiled, with some background from McPhedran thrown in. This is why these books by McPhedran work for me, because nobody says it better than the men themselves.
For me, the reason the book did not quite work as well as the former SAS book is this....for many ex-SAS guys, life gets dull once they leave the service. Many amble about through life wondering what they should do as a career now that are out of the high drama world of Special Forces. They become business executives, salesmen, security officers in varying forms. They confess to being bored out of the service, that these jobs that bridge their past to their current careers were boring, well, it should come as no surprise to McPhedran then that this is pretty bloody boring to read about at times also. On occasion it read like a 'what we all did after highschool' book.
In its favour however, it was not always boring office jobs and jetsetting executives or sitting at desks dreaming about the good old days of physically and mentally demanding training regimes, high risk covert ops and humanitarian work in foreign lands. The book is still loaded enough with the good stuff to help me along the way to really liking the book.
This will not be my last McPhedran book, not by a long shot.

[Chris]

Absolutely horrible! It's like he phoned this one in. Nowhere near the calibre of The Amazing SAS. This book is like a collection of poorly edited, individually written fluff pieces, mashed together into roughly themed chapters. The informal writing style detracts from the credibility of the subject matter, leaving me feeling neither educated nor entertained. Total waste of time.

[Genevieve]

Ian McPhedran brings such a unique writing style to the table which made a book like this so compelling. Much of the book is in the words of the former SAS members who moved on to other career paths— some exciting and some not. In particular, the profiles of some former members who have taken security and even military posts in the UAE were fascinating. I found this book to be so insightful and a joy to read.

[Scott]

This one wasn’t as good as the first SAS-focused book. It follows the lives of many men who have left the SAD in pursuit of other careers, and although some are interesting, the writing doesn’t allow for a flow and it seems very clunky.

[Bruce Campbell]

Better than the first book. McPhedran took his fan-boy goggles off for this work to some degree and It has worked for him. If there is a story written about the Australian SAS I have read it (and often been disappointed). But not with this book.

[The Villan]

Although it was initially interesting as to what happens to these specialized soldiers after leaving the Regiment but I enjoy more the books about their experiences to get into the Special Forces and so I didn’t finish the book.

[Matt]

A poor version of the "Forgotten Voices" series of books. It is a collection of tales and secondhand dits from those who have served with the Australian SAS.
I just couldn't take to the book, it just seemed to be cobbled together and lacked any real substance.

[Mark]

Very easy reading. Very absorbing. Another of those great books that you can and want to finish in one reading. Great stories. Great soldiers and man.

[Anna]

I had to give this book back to the library before I had finished it but I was really annoyed by the informal writing style. It felt really unprofessional.

[Sharon]

Really good book, it is not usually a question I think about "what do SAS members do when they retire?" This book gives some answers and I really enjoyed this read.