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The Glasshouse Gang
Vulpile desertului
The Glasshouse Gang swore to settle their account with the screws at Sharafim Prison—and they did. Then thirty-six men and four Chev trucks vanished into the sandstorms and the emptiness of the Sahara, to lie low and let the Eighth Army and the Afrika Korps fight the official war.
Now John Offer’s Glasshouse Gang are on the run, and not only from the British. The Germans are at their heels, with one man in particular intent on exacting a very special vengeance on their commander. But the men of the Glasshouse Gang have arms and equipment, a growing knowledge of desert warfare, and no intention of being either captured or killed.
Desert Marauders continues the story of a unique collection of scoundrels whose exploits set the Western Desert alight.
“An exiting, tough, fast and moving novel” – Times Literary Supplement
“It has everything…supremely good characterisation, descriptive brilliance, and masterly in its simplicity" - Birmingham Post
"A punchy tale coupled with plenty of action - an engaging read!" - Philip McCormac
Gordon Landsborough was a publisher, author and bookseller. In the 1950s to 1980s, the publishing industry went through significant changes. Landsborough found himself at the forefront of this and used this opportunity to bring forth his innovative ideas. Other works by Landsborough included, The Violent People (1960), The Dead Commando (1976) and Black Death
Now John Offer’s Glasshouse Gang are on the run, and not only from the British. The Germans are at their heels, with one man in particular intent on exacting a very special vengeance on their commander. But the men of the Glasshouse Gang have arms and equipment, a growing knowledge of desert warfare, and no intention of being either captured or killed.
Desert Marauders continues the story of a unique collection of scoundrels whose exploits set the Western Desert alight.
“An exiting, tough, fast and moving novel” – Times Literary Supplement
“It has everything…supremely good characterisation, descriptive brilliance, and masterly in its simplicity" - Birmingham Post
"A punchy tale coupled with plenty of action - an engaging read!" - Philip McCormac
Gordon Landsborough was a publisher, author and bookseller. In the 1950s to 1980s, the publishing industry went through significant changes. Landsborough found himself at the forefront of this and used this opportunity to bring forth his innovative ideas. Other works by Landsborough included, The Violent People (1960), The Dead Commando (1976) and Black Death
315 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1976
About the author
Gordon Landsborough
63 books9 followers(1913-1984)
Landsborough was a publisher, author and bookseller. Writing tales about the exploits of gun-toting cowboys fighting out on the arid sands of the Wild West, Landsborough was himself a pioneer in the English paperback publishing world of the 1950s.
Landsborough was a publisher, author and bookseller. Writing tales about the exploits of gun-toting cowboys fighting out on the arid sands of the Wild West, Landsborough was himself a pioneer in the English paperback publishing world of the 1950s.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 6, 2017
Enjoyable read on a rogue group of AWOL soldiers who somehow manage to blow up Rommel's biggest oil reserve in Africa, during the Second World War. I have a soft spot for these kinds of stories because I grew up on Hassel's war novels, where a simmilar band of highly experienced but completely insane soldiers fuck, drink, kill, maim and sometimes save everything they can. It's an absolutely fascinating psychological blend in character where a man will not give a flying shit about his army's code or even if they win the war, but will save his comrades and choose the hardest battles to fight, where the odds of survival are at best zero. Landsborough wrote for the British side, whilst Hassel wrote for the Germans. I must say I prefer Hassel, but that comes down to my stylistic preference for absolutely foul-mouthed and deeply-rotten characters, which he very well writes about. Good read for everyone interested in this kind of literature.
December 23, 2022
WARNING: The current reprint of the Glasshouse Gang books lists "Desert Marauders" as Book 4 in the series. This is incorrect. It is Book 2 and literally picks up the action where Book 1 leaves off.
But the publisher messing up the series order doesn't distract from the quality of the book. Set in North Africa during World War 2, it recounts the adventures of Captain John Offer and his Glasshouse Gang Commando Unit. Except Offer isn't really a captain and the G.G.C.U. isn't a real unit. Instead, it's a ploy used by Offer and his men (all deserters and former residents of brutal military prisons called Glasshouses) to avoid being captured by the authorities.
But it turns out Offer is a really good tactical field commander and--when forced to do so--his men can do real harm to the enemy.
The book is filled with superb action set pieces as they finish an escape from the German army started at the end of the last novel and, later, find themselves shooting up a German airbase when they run across it by accident during a rain storm.
By this time, they've acquired an arch-enemy in the German army and the British army has figured out who they are. But Offer is given temporary immunity from prosecution if he and his men can pull off an apparently suicidal raid on Rommel's oil depot, deep in German territory.
This leads to an extended climatic action sequence that is literally edge-of-your-seat stuff.
Like the first novel, there's an interesting thematic tension existing just underneath the action. Offer and his men despise the British army because of the brutal treatment they were subject too in the Glasshouse. But to survive the war and stay free, Offer has to recreate a system of military authority within the G.G.C.U.--replicating what he has supposedly rejected. And, when the British finally tumble to what he's doing, a particular major general doesn't react with the same arrogant authority Offer usually sees from the Top Brass. Instead, the general respects what Offer has accomplished and, though he's quite straightforward about his willigness to sacrifice Offer's men on what is probably a suicide mission, he does so out of strict military necessity.
So is the series anti-authoritarian or simply critical of abuse among otherwise necessary authority figures? Is Offer a criminal (stealing vehicles, supplies and payrolls without a qualm) or does his skill, courage and the loyalty he shows towards his men lift him up into something more?
In the end, it doesn't matter. "Desert Marauders" works primarily as a cracking good wartime adventure novels. Thematic issues underlying it make for worthwhile discussions, but we come to the novel mostly to watch stuff get blown up.
But the publisher messing up the series order doesn't distract from the quality of the book. Set in North Africa during World War 2, it recounts the adventures of Captain John Offer and his Glasshouse Gang Commando Unit. Except Offer isn't really a captain and the G.G.C.U. isn't a real unit. Instead, it's a ploy used by Offer and his men (all deserters and former residents of brutal military prisons called Glasshouses) to avoid being captured by the authorities.
But it turns out Offer is a really good tactical field commander and--when forced to do so--his men can do real harm to the enemy.
The book is filled with superb action set pieces as they finish an escape from the German army started at the end of the last novel and, later, find themselves shooting up a German airbase when they run across it by accident during a rain storm.
By this time, they've acquired an arch-enemy in the German army and the British army has figured out who they are. But Offer is given temporary immunity from prosecution if he and his men can pull off an apparently suicidal raid on Rommel's oil depot, deep in German territory.
This leads to an extended climatic action sequence that is literally edge-of-your-seat stuff.
Like the first novel, there's an interesting thematic tension existing just underneath the action. Offer and his men despise the British army because of the brutal treatment they were subject too in the Glasshouse. But to survive the war and stay free, Offer has to recreate a system of military authority within the G.G.C.U.--replicating what he has supposedly rejected. And, when the British finally tumble to what he's doing, a particular major general doesn't react with the same arrogant authority Offer usually sees from the Top Brass. Instead, the general respects what Offer has accomplished and, though he's quite straightforward about his willigness to sacrifice Offer's men on what is probably a suicide mission, he does so out of strict military necessity.
So is the series anti-authoritarian or simply critical of abuse among otherwise necessary authority figures? Is Offer a criminal (stealing vehicles, supplies and payrolls without a qualm) or does his skill, courage and the loyalty he shows towards his men lift him up into something more?
In the end, it doesn't matter. "Desert Marauders" works primarily as a cracking good wartime adventure novels. Thematic issues underlying it make for worthwhile discussions, but we come to the novel mostly to watch stuff get blown up.
June 25, 2023
This book is actually the SECOND book in the series, which I found out the hard way by reading them in the numbered order. Why it's mis-numbered I have no idea, but if you plan on reading the books, I'd suggest reading them in the follwoing order: Book 1, 4, 2 & 3. Sadly, there are only the four books in the series, and the ending leaves the series open with no resolution.
The Glasshouse Gang are escaping from Siwa Oasis, after the Germans take it over, and are being chased by a German Captain who wants to catch them. While making their escape, the Gang sets up an ambush, and manage to kill quite a few of the Germans while they try to avoid quicksand. The German commander thinks it's deliberate, but it's unintentional.
So the Gang escapes, makes it to Kufra Oasis, and settles into a quiet life that is only disturbed when the GHQ start asking too many questions about who the Gang really are. So they decide to head off into the desert again, but ultimately end up in Benghazi. While there, GHQ tries to get in contact with them again, because a Major-General wants them to attack Rommel's oil supplies at Al Ageila.
Captain Offer goes to GHQ under amnesty of arrest, looks into the plan, and decides they can probably do the job, but they need new jeeps to do so. So once again, they head off into the desert, and survey the town trying to find a way to destroy the fuel dump. After a cunning plan, using a captured Italian fuel tanker, they succeed, but end up getting chased by the German officer they were chased by before, with only half the Gang surviving to return to Benghazi.
It's a cracking adventure, and well told. I'm looking forward to reading some of Landsborough's other books.
The Glasshouse Gang are escaping from Siwa Oasis, after the Germans take it over, and are being chased by a German Captain who wants to catch them. While making their escape, the Gang sets up an ambush, and manage to kill quite a few of the Germans while they try to avoid quicksand. The German commander thinks it's deliberate, but it's unintentional.
So the Gang escapes, makes it to Kufra Oasis, and settles into a quiet life that is only disturbed when the GHQ start asking too many questions about who the Gang really are. So they decide to head off into the desert again, but ultimately end up in Benghazi. While there, GHQ tries to get in contact with them again, because a Major-General wants them to attack Rommel's oil supplies at Al Ageila.
Captain Offer goes to GHQ under amnesty of arrest, looks into the plan, and decides they can probably do the job, but they need new jeeps to do so. So once again, they head off into the desert, and survey the town trying to find a way to destroy the fuel dump. After a cunning plan, using a captured Italian fuel tanker, they succeed, but end up getting chased by the German officer they were chased by before, with only half the Gang surviving to return to Benghazi.
It's a cracking adventure, and well told. I'm looking forward to reading some of Landsborough's other books.
Read
August 3, 2026UNa din lecturile ce mi-au definit imaginația copilăriei!
O aventură de război în stil clasic, directă, alertă și fără prea multe ocolișuri. Autorul surprinde foarte bine tensiunea confruntărilor din deșert, unde căldura, distanțele și lipsa resurselor devin adversari la fel de importanți ca inamicul. Nu caută subtilități psihologice extraordinare, dar oferă acțiune, suspans, totul bine documentat și ancorat în realitățile războiului din deșert. Plus umor britanic!
O aventură de război în stil clasic, directă, alertă și fără prea multe ocolișuri. Autorul surprinde foarte bine tensiunea confruntărilor din deșert, unde căldura, distanțele și lipsa resurselor devin adversari la fel de importanți ca inamicul. Nu caută subtilități psihologice extraordinare, dar oferă acțiune, suspans, totul bine documentat și ancorat în realitățile războiului din deșert. Plus umor britanic!
October 3, 2021
First Glasshouse novel read
Desert warfare with an abundance of action. A British version of a “Dirty Dozen” jailbirds taking on Rommel’s Africa Corp. Looking forward to the other books in this series.
Desert warfare with an abundance of action. A British version of a “Dirty Dozen” jailbirds taking on Rommel’s Africa Corp. Looking forward to the other books in this series.
Read
January 19, 2021Fine read
An excellent story. The characters are believable and the author has researched his later well. An altogether really good series of books.
An excellent story. The characters are believable and the author has researched his later well. An altogether really good series of books.
June 2, 2021
Books numbered incorrectly
Loved reading the books but spoilt by the incorrect numbering and description, book 4 should be read second followed by 2 & 3
Loved reading the books but spoilt by the incorrect numbering and description, book 4 should be read second followed by 2 & 3
June 14, 2025
Woohoo
Another adventure with the exciting Glass house gang! Lots of action and suspenseful episodes
Looking forward to the next in the series
Another adventure with the exciting Glass house gang! Lots of action and suspenseful episodes
Looking forward to the next in the series
December 17, 2025
Excellent Book 2
Very good second book. Emergence of Glasshouse John into commando leader. Good plot building of an efficient battle hardened officer
Very good second book. Emergence of Glasshouse John into commando leader. Good plot building of an efficient battle hardened officer
June 11, 2020
Desert conmen
5 stars covers all 4 books, this book explains the reference to El Agheila in the previous novel, a mighty blow against the axis forces indeed
5 stars covers all 4 books, this book explains the reference to El Agheila in the previous novel, a mighty blow against the axis forces indeed
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews