The Veteran

by Frederick Forsyth

A miracle in war-torn Siena that begins with the persecution of a young nun in the turbulent days of the sixteenth century and culminates in the bitter German retreat from Italy; a drug-smuggling heist on an international flight where the knock are only one step ahead of the smugglers; a ruthless urban murder, where a brilliant QC decides to defend the killers, resulting in a startling act of justice; an incandescent art scam at a famous London auction house, and a brilliantly plotted revenge that shatters the elegant world of Old Masters - each story is a remarkable tour de force.

And above all here is a brilliant novella, 'Whispering Wind', which begins with the single survivor of Custer's Last Stand at the battle of Little Big Horn. It follows the defense from rape and murder of a Cheyenne girl and a flight across the mountains and forests of the West, ending in a savage present-day manhunt in the wild lands of Montana.

Whether his theme is international espionage, miraculous events in war-torn Italy or a Customs drug bust, these stories all share Forsyth's trademark for compulsive storytelling, his clinical eye for authentic detail and an unnerving sense of suspense.

Not since his New York Times bestselling story collection No Comebacks has he crafted such remarkable work.

Five breathtaking tales from the greatest storyteller of them all.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Short Stories, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Audiobook

462 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Frederick Forsyth, CBE was a English author and occasional political commentator. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, and more recently, The Cobra and The Kill List.

The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.

Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.

Reviews

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of five “short” stories;
Every story is well plotted & engaging. But the interesting and surprising twist at the end of each story (one which you will never see coming) is what makes them truly satisfying to read.
A special mention for the background, minor details & extensive research behind every story which was truly remarkable.
The Veteran: A story of crime & justice beyond a court of law.
The Art of the Matter : A delightful story about Cons & Con jobs.
The Miracle : A magical story.. till reality hits you in the end.
The Citizen : A crime story which keeps you guessing till the end.
Whispering Wind: Feels more like a Bollywood movie, still it has it's moments & is quite enjoyable.
Overall 4 stars

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legendary for his command of thrillers, Forsythe provides yet another demonstration to his storytelling expertise in ‘The Veteran: Five Heart-Stopping Stories’. This assortment vehicles his capacity to interlace suspense, drama, and intrigue into solid narratives that leave a long-lasting impact. Each story is a jewel in its own right, proving that Forsyth's command of the short story format rivals his brilliance in full-length novels. The title story, ‘The Veteran’, is a gripping courtroom drama with a twist that takes the reader by surprise. Forsyth uses his hallmark narrative economy to set up a seemingly straightforward tale of justice, only to pull the rug out with an ethical and emotional dilemma that lingers. In ‘The Art of the Matter’, the author ventures into the world of art forgery, where greed, cunning, and wit collide. It’s a clever narrative where every character is a player in a high-stakes game, making the reader marvel at Forsyth’s ability to craft polygonal characters in a small span. The third story, ‘The Miracle’, is a departure from Forsyth’s usual terrain, this story is a poignant exploration of humanity and faith, with a touch of mysticism. Set against the backdrop of a historical conflict, it delivers a powerful message of redemption and hope. The story entitled ‘The Citizen’ brings us to the familiar Forsythe. It’s a classic Forsythian espionage tale, this one plunges into the world of smuggling and crime. The tension builds steadily, and the climax hits like a hammer, leaving the reader in awe of the author’s knack for misdirection. ‘Whispering Wind’, the final story is a romantic yet haunting piece set in the Wild West. A poignant tale of love and loss, it blends historical fiction with a supernatural element, showcasing Forsyth’s versatility. When one considers the quality of this anthology, one finds that Forsyth’s range is on full display here. Whether he’s researching into legal drama, historical romance, or enthralling espionage, each story feels new and unique. Each story packs a punch, with not a word misused. Forsyth’s prose is slender but suggestive, immersing the reader in intensely drawn settings and situations. True to Forsyth’s style, every story here, delivers unforeseen spirals that challenge expectations and keep the reader predicting. But the shortness of the stories, while a strength in terms of pacing, might leave some readers wishing for more complexity in character development or plot exploration. Furthermore, fans of Forsyth’s longer works might find the changeover to shorter accounts less sustaining. In conclusion, this collection is a showcase of Frederick Forsyth's storytelling adaptability and his talent for fashioning tales that linger long after the final page. It’s a must-read for fans of suspense and anyone who appreciates the art of short fiction. Forsyth proves once more that whether he’s writing a 300-page novel or a 30-page story, his aptitude to charm, enchant and hypnotize remains unparalleled. You’d have to say: wah Ustaad, Kudos to you in the end. Trust me. Give it a go, by all means.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains five “short” stories; however, I would more correctly call them short novellas. What a wonderful, entertaining, suspenseful writer Forsyth is. My husband reads most all of his books, but I haven't read one since “The Day of the Jackel” as I don't really enjoy 'spy' novels. This book was EXCELLENT. I could not stop reading.

The Veteran deals with justice beyond a court of law and the honor of former comrades.
The Art of the Matter covers greed, swindlers and pay back in a very satisfying manner.
The Miracle is a great story that sucks you into its wonderful magic just before the door comes crashing down.
The Citizen tells you exactly what is going to happen, but you don't see the truth until the final pages.
Whispering Wind is part ghost story and part morality tale.

All five stories have unbelievable endings – one actually made me gasp....

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially pick this up, thinking this is a Forsyth novel I'd missed, but found it to be a collection of 5 novellas...usually I'm not a fan of short stories, but these were wonderful...everything from swindles, to a police procedurals to a Western story of Native-American mysticism...all with twists at the end you never see coming...these 5 show why Frederick Forsyth is one of the best-selling another's in the world...highly recommended!!!

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and i enjoyed it..

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the book long-long ago, recently I had gone back to this collection out of desperation. I really wanted to assure myself that even out of simple and formulaic plots, one can create truly memorable pieces - if the tools are handled by a master.
The book contains following stories:
1. The Veteran
2. The Art of the Matter
3. The Miracle
4. The Citizen
5. Whispering Wind
These are tales of revenge served cold and someone coming back from the cold to complete a circle begun long back.
I repeat, if you are looking for dazzling plots or wordplay, please look elsewhere.
But if you are simply yearning for the pleasure of reading a crisp tale told in simple, elegant, effective prose - look no further.
Recommended.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vetran, a collection of 5 short stories all have a link to being a war veteran, a murder revenge, a con and a double con, terrorism or not, and a wild west mystism slash love story, intriguing loved it great stories.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five O'Henry-esque short stories/novellas by Fredrick Forsyth that will change the way you think about the short story format. By that I mean I've always preferred long form novels because they extended the story. Short stories by definition, well...fall short. Not so here as the talented Forsyth proves in his lead story, "The veteran", a novella about revenge with an elegant twist ending. The other four stories are all equally well written, compelling and enjoyable........Ed

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth is a great story teller. Each of these novellas was engrossing. Though the endings of these stories was not completely unexpected, they were satisfying.
"The Veteran" - Shows how a clever defense attorney can turn the tables to set the guilty free. But what is the real motive?
"The Art of the Matter" : Story of revenge in the world of art. This reminded me of Jeffrey Archer's story. But this was not as pompous and I liked the clever comeback by the nerdy curator, his hacker girlfriend and the actor.
"The miracle" - Or not?
"The Citizen" - The customs officials get a tip off about smuggling of drugs on board a flight from Thailand. The author packs in enough details about air travel and drugs in this one.
The last one - 'Whispering Wind' was a big surprise. It started as a historical fiction, I was not interested in the details of the fights between the Red Indians and the White men. I found it boring and thought this would bring down the rating of the collection to 4 *. But then it turned to fantasy/ time travel and just hooked me.

His other short story collection 'No Comebacks' and the novella "Shepherd" are my all time favourites, and this collection "Veteran" is not far behind.

[Knigoqdec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Първата дума, която ми хрумна за Форсайт беше, че е... педантичен.
Подреден, последователен и доста интересен разказвач. Останах много и приятно изненадана. Разказите (които да доста дълги всъщност) бяха с интересни обрати, в най-различни посоки. Имаше история с фантастични елементи, истории с изпечени мошеници, които я ги хванат, я не. Въобще, беше пъстра книга... а самите разкази всъщност са само пет. Малко, но определено запомнящи се.

[Xevi, Catalunya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Per mi és dels llibres més fluixos d'en Frederick Forsyth, juntament amb el Fantasma de Manhattan.
L'estil és diferent de tots els altres ( excepte el llibre : El Emperador ) , són 5 relats curts independents.

Para mi es de los libros más flojos de Frederick Forsyth , conjuntamente con el Fantasma de Manhattan.
El estilo es diferente a los otros libros ( excepto el libro : El emperador ) , son cinco relatos cortos independientes .

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, most of which I had already read in other collections. Some with good twists.

[Dan Sihota · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read a couple of Frederick Forsyth novels, I was greatly impressed by his ability to write something so gripping. Even more impressive is his attention to detail which makes a story feel so real. So when I came across this book "The Veteran and Other Stories", I was looking forward to an enjoyable read. Firstly, although this book was listed as a collection of short stories, and while these stories are much shorter in length than Forsyth’s other novels, they are a lot longer than what one might expect a "short" story to be. There are in fact five stories which might be better described as short novellas.

As expected, there is great attention to detail in these stories, and at times it can make the reader question where the story is going. One of the things that makes Forsyth such an enjoyable read is the belief that in the end there will be a satisfying conclusion, one where everything makes sense. This is very true of the first story, The Veteran, where two men are arrested for beating an old man to death, and a great deal of time is devoted to describing police procedures, only for a defence lawyer to take apart the police's case. But in the end, it all comes together and makes sense.

The second story, The Art of the Matter, describes the unscrupulous world of Art, and is a great tale of revenge. The next story, the Miracle, is a story where one of the main characters narrates a miraculous story, and at first it's a difficult to understand the point it's trying to make, but once again, in the end it all makes sense.

The penultimate story, The Citizen, I enjoyed a little less than the previous ones. A great deal of time is devoted to describing in great detail the world of air travel and smuggling illegal goods. My problem with this story is that I just didn't find the subject matter interesting.

The last story in the collection, Whispering Winds, is a strange one to have been included in this book. First of all, it's far longer than any of the other stories, something of this length would be better as a standalone book. Even the subject matter feels out of place in this book, events surrounding the Battle of Little Bighorn. And to matters worse, the main character is miraculously transported a hundred years into the future. This sounds like something which might be better suited to an episode of the Twilight Zone. And while the other stories in this book have an ending where everything comes together and things make sense, unfortunately, this one doesn’t.

So as one might expect with a collection of stories, some work better than others. On balance, this is an enjoyable collection of stories and I’m sure anyone who enjoys reading Forsyth will enjoy the first few stories, even if they have reservations about the last one.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories by Frederick Forsyth was engagingly vivid, well plotted, and displayed Forsuth's ability to write excellent short stories outside of the thriller genre. The stories are all written, to the extent that the fact that they were short stories didn't bother me (I usually prefer a novel over a short story.) The first story, The Veteran, was a interesting mystery story which gave me a new found appreciation for ability to create amazing word pictures using details. The second story, The Art Of The Matter, was pleasantly different tale of revenge. The Miracle, the third short story, had a rather wrenching ending, which gave me quite a surprise. The Citizen, was the forth short story, and besides having a good secret kept hidden till the end, I quite enjoyed the opening passages, because they showed how Forsyth can keep me interested simply describing mundane occurrences using splendidly verbal imagery. Whispering wind, the fifth short story, was the most unique story in the collection, and the most unusual (being a historical fantasy of sorts.) Altogether, a short story collection worth reading.

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many 'like'able reviews ...
Multiple re-read, consider 'Veteran' a five+ star story. Definite recommend.

[Gu Kun · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 - all stories way too long.

[Mark Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection of short stories, especially the last one which at first seems a forensic description of Custer's last stand, exploding a few myths but then goes in a completely unexpected direction. Didn't realise Forsyth wrote stories in this genere.

[Marcia Chocinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth is a great writer and has produced a series of short stories or novellas which take place in different places and times. I especially enjoyed Whispering Wind about a scout that was with General George Custer at Little Big Horn. This is the longest story in the book and takes a surprising twist after the battle at LBH. All the stories are enjoyable and are highly recommended.

[Jim Puskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is clearly the best of Forsyth's collections of shorter stories; two within this set stand out: The title story and The Art of the Matter. Both of them feature delicious forms of revenge, whereby a villain gets his just deserts -- and no one does vengeance better than Forsyth!

[Arnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/201...

[pbeatricev · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5⭐️
"Weteran" to zbiór opowiadań, które posiadają zupełnie różną od siebie tematykę. Szczerze mówiąc, o wiele bardziej podobały mi się poprzednie tytuły tego autora. Prawdopodobnie było to spowodowane faktem, że zarówno w "Dniu Szakala", jak i "Aktach Odessy" autor miał możliwość lepszego rozbudowania akcji oraz wykreowania bohaterów, z którymi czytelnik mógł się zżyć emocjonalnie. Trudno mi ocenić tą książkę jako całość, ponieważ opowiadania były na naprawdę różnych poziomach. Kompletnie nie przypadło mi do gustu opowiadanie pt. "Cud". Sam pomysł nie był zbytnio przekonujący, a koniec tragiczny. Miałam ochotę odłożyć książkę, bo nie spodziewałam się, że kolejne opowiadania będą choć odrobinę lepsze. Ale w ostateczności dobrze, że tego nie zrobiłam, ponieważ kolejne były całkiem znośne. Najbardziej podobało mi się opowiadanie "Szepcący Wiatr", które było ostatnie w całym zbiorze, więc musiałam chwilę sobie poczekać na coś dobrego.

Uważam, że Forsyth powinien raczej pisać dłuższe książki, gdzie potrafi naprawdę dobrze rozbudować akcję, która wciąga czytelnika, a nie tak jak w tych opowiadaniach, gdzie przez większość czasu sprawdzałam ile zostało mi jeszcze do końca.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this (needed a borrowed book for Popsugar 2018 challenge, plus like Forsyth's writing) thinking this was a novel I'd missed. Turned out it's a series of 5 very different novelas (too long to be short stories in my mind). They are all very different, but all very well written and suspenseful, with a twist at the end. Most are set in England, but the last one which is almost long enough to be a novel, is set in the old west, with a little time travel element. Definitely a fun way to spend a few hours!

[cool breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection consists of four shorter stories (34-78 pages each) and a 140-page novella. They all show signs of Forsyth’s fine research and writing and all have twists in their resolution. The first four stories are about 3.5 stars, but not quite enough to round up to four stars.

The novella, Whispering Wind, is unusual and charming, a solid 4 stars. It is the first time Forsyth has written something like a Western, and revolves around the events of Custer’s last stand. They are all quite readable and enjoyable and do credit to his reputation as a master storyteller.

[Darsana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of 5 rather long stories,which are very dramatic ones.
I would love to see each of them in screens.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five short stories by Forsyth. The first four are stories where Forsyth displays his intense knowledge of whichever subject he has taken up, with step by step details of such things as the British justice system, art house auctions, World War II, and drug smuggling. The endings give them the Forsyth punch. The final story is a virtual science fiction tale covering Custer's Last Stand, with the regular Forsyth level of detail.

Good reading and well written, as usual.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An army veteran is mugged and kicked down outside a local shop in London and ends up in a coma in hospital. Strong novella.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories from a master. I really enjoyed this.

[Rushabh Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disclaimer to begin with, I am a huge fan of Frederick Forsyth.
This book contains five short stories and as many have claimed, they could very well be short novels on their own. Mr. Forsyth's trademark wonderful writing and artistic story-plotting are there to see and I can vouch for the fact that each of those stories are so well written, that it would be difficult to put the book down midway.
The Veteran, The Art of the Matter, and The Citizen are excellent stories with a twist right at the end. I personally didn't like The Miracle - the anti-climax was too disappointing. At the same time, while the end of Whispering Wind was remarkable if not eyebrow-raising, the story was dragged on for too long in my opinion and there were several moments when I wished it would come to an end soon.
If not for the two disappointing stories, I would have certainly considered this book to be a 5-star must-read.

[Filip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Samo opowiadanie „Weteran” jest fantastyczne i niespotykane, ale niestety pozostałe 4 są po prostu nudne i nieciekawe. Jedynym delikatnym odstępstwem jest „Obywatel”, ale niestety tylko delikatnym.

[⚔️Kelanth⚔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il veterano, in originale "The veteran", uscito nel 2001, è un libro di Frederick Forsyth che è uno scrittore britannico, noto come autore di spy-story come "Il giorno dello sciacallo", "I mastini della guerra", "Dossier Odessa", "Il pugno di Dio" e "Il quarto protocollo".

Questo volume raccoglie cinque racconti, che furono pubblicati per la prima volta su Internet. In questi racconti, per lo meno in quattro di questi, lascia per un attimo il suo genere di spy-story che lo ha reso celebre in tutto il mondo per avventurarsi in altri:

- Il veterano: il thriller, il migliore. Ricerca degli assassini di un veterano di guerra, ucciso da delinquenti comuni, per un furto. Doppia sorpresa finale.
- Una sottile distinzione: carino. Si narra di un colpo ad una casa d'aste.
- Il miracolo: Bello. Un racconto "storico" del "miracolo" di Siena.
- Il cittadino: Forse il più debole dei quattro, si fa dimenticare in fretta.
- Vento che sussurra: Il racconto più lungo. Storia di un amore inestinguibile, quella fra il bianco assoldato come scout nel Settimo Cavalleria del leggendario generale Custer e la bella squaw di una tribù Cheyenne.

Suspense, svolte impreviste a poche righe dalla fine, l'ironia beffarda di chi ama sovvertire i pronostici. Ho trovato questo libro veramente ottimo, all'insegna di un grande scrittore come Forsyth.