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Brotherhood of War #7
The New Breed
From the blistering jungles of Vietnam to the far-flung battlefields of the African Congo, they faced the turmoil of a new era. It was a different kind of war. But the courage and skill of these young fighting men were an American tradition. Like their fathers before them, they rose up to the ultimate challenge of military valor, holding their own in a storm of clashing cultures. They were America's new breed. The proudest and the best...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 1987
344 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
W.E.B. Griffin
351 books1,305 followersW.E.B. Griffin was one of several pseudonyms for William E. Butterworth III.
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 28, 2011
It is difficult to write reviews for the books in this series because I am reading them so quickly. I bought all of them at one time and have been going non-stop so that as soon as I finish one I just start the next leaving me no time to pause and write a review.
However, I felt this book deserved a little bit of individual attention simply because, so far, it was the best of the bunch in not only this series but also of "The Corps" series which I read immediately before "The Brotherhood of War."
This book doesn't stand out because Griffin suddenly changed his formula either; it still features extraordinary soldiers and the women they love or lust after. This is the first book in the series that doesn't focus on Craig Lowell - instead it is really about the young private Portet drafted into the US Army from his expat home in the Congo where he fly's for his fathers fledgling airline. Portet, much like the rest of Griffin's characters, has an unusual ability to absorb languages - plus he is fairly well off financially though he isn't, as Lowell would say, "Comfortable." Portet, much like Lowell, however, isn't very pleased to find himself in the military and is just counting down the days until his obligation is fulfilled and he can return home. Home is the crux of his problem.
Griffin has changed the playing field, and the normal flow of time in the series, by focusing on the chaos that took place in the Congo during the mid 1960's. "The Generals", the book that precedes "The New Breed" in the series actually takes place later in the 60's, after the events of "The New Breed." Furthermore, the other books in the series focus on the Asian Pacific theater so being thrust into the Congo rebellion is a little bit jarring; but in a good way.
To tell the truth I was a little tired of Craig Lowell and his playboy lifestyle. I had tired of him a couple books prior; he never seemed to learn his lesson about screwing around. Craig's nephew, Geoff who is also featured in this book, is a more likable guy because he is both married and faithful to his wife Ursula. Furthermore, Private Portet, who was a bit of a ladies man before entering the Army, isn't simply a rich kid with an unusually successful love life. Instead he seems to have a little more depth than Lowell.
I have also really enjoyed learning more about the circumstances of the strife in the Congo. It is one of those engagements I haven't read much about even though I'm somewhat familiar with Joseph Mobutu and Moise Tshombe. One of my favorite aspects of Historic Fiction is that it provides me with a launching pad to learn more about the actual history behind the story. I am anxious to learn more about the people and the events that took place around the Congo in the 1960s' thanks to this book.
You can pick up any of Griffin's book and read them out of order because he does a pretty good job of providing the back story filler for each main character in each book. This is a little bit annoying when you read the books back to back - but it provides a casual reader with the perfect excuse to skip straight to "The New Breed" for an interesting and compelling story about the Cold War and our efforts to stop the spread of Communism through the world.
However, I felt this book deserved a little bit of individual attention simply because, so far, it was the best of the bunch in not only this series but also of "The Corps" series which I read immediately before "The Brotherhood of War."
This book doesn't stand out because Griffin suddenly changed his formula either; it still features extraordinary soldiers and the women they love or lust after. This is the first book in the series that doesn't focus on Craig Lowell - instead it is really about the young private Portet drafted into the US Army from his expat home in the Congo where he fly's for his fathers fledgling airline. Portet, much like the rest of Griffin's characters, has an unusual ability to absorb languages - plus he is fairly well off financially though he isn't, as Lowell would say, "Comfortable." Portet, much like Lowell, however, isn't very pleased to find himself in the military and is just counting down the days until his obligation is fulfilled and he can return home. Home is the crux of his problem.
Griffin has changed the playing field, and the normal flow of time in the series, by focusing on the chaos that took place in the Congo during the mid 1960's. "The Generals", the book that precedes "The New Breed" in the series actually takes place later in the 60's, after the events of "The New Breed." Furthermore, the other books in the series focus on the Asian Pacific theater so being thrust into the Congo rebellion is a little bit jarring; but in a good way.
To tell the truth I was a little tired of Craig Lowell and his playboy lifestyle. I had tired of him a couple books prior; he never seemed to learn his lesson about screwing around. Craig's nephew, Geoff who is also featured in this book, is a more likable guy because he is both married and faithful to his wife Ursula. Furthermore, Private Portet, who was a bit of a ladies man before entering the Army, isn't simply a rich kid with an unusually successful love life. Instead he seems to have a little more depth than Lowell.
I have also really enjoyed learning more about the circumstances of the strife in the Congo. It is one of those engagements I haven't read much about even though I'm somewhat familiar with Joseph Mobutu and Moise Tshombe. One of my favorite aspects of Historic Fiction is that it provides me with a launching pad to learn more about the actual history behind the story. I am anxious to learn more about the people and the events that took place around the Congo in the 1960s' thanks to this book.
You can pick up any of Griffin's book and read them out of order because he does a pretty good job of providing the back story filler for each main character in each book. This is a little bit annoying when you read the books back to back - but it provides a casual reader with the perfect excuse to skip straight to "The New Breed" for an interesting and compelling story about the Cold War and our efforts to stop the spread of Communism through the world.
October 9, 2017
After finishing "The Generals" (which ends with an epilogue in the style of Where They Are Now), I was a bit surprised when Book 7 in Griffin's "Brotherhood of War" series opened in 1963 with Sandy Felter in his first meeting with newly-installed President Lyndon Johnson. I thought the story in the first six books was wide-ranging and deep, with plenty of characters to keep the plot spinning along nicely. But I also thought that it would be hard to continue it, especially by going back in time.
However, I also thought that, after the focus on the antics and derring-do of Craig Lowell and Company, it might be interesting to get a clearer picture of Felter, a soldier who did most of his fighting in the halls of the White House, Pentagon, and in secret. Still, could Felter sustain a book--or three?
The short answer is yes. Felter is no less a weapon than the Green Berets who starred in the prior volumes. And in this novel, we get to meet the up-and-coming generation of soldiers, many of them the sons of men we met in earlier books. Jeff Craig goes from being a reluctant recruit to a highly effective Green Beret. We are also introduced to Jack Portet, another unwilling draftee. The book's plot also focuses on developments in the recently independent Congo, where the population is divided between how to exercise this new independence--i.e., how much "assistance" to accept from former colonists.
Any doubts I had about the vitality of the story flew out the window soon after PFC. Portet got himself tangled up with General Robert Bellman's daughter as well as with Colonel Felter's group of "colleagues". We're also treated to more in-depth explorations of the stories behind Karl-Heinz Wagner, a former East German officer who crashed through the Berlin Wall and joined the United States Army so he could "kill Communists" (he also gets tangled up with Felter), his sister Ursula (married to Jeff Craig), and plenty of others.
Yet again, the vitality, passion, and compassion for those involved in soldiering--both on the battlefield and at home--is clear on every page. I'm glad there are still two books left in this series and will definitely miss the characters who peopled these tales when I turn the last page in the last volume.
However, I also thought that, after the focus on the antics and derring-do of Craig Lowell and Company, it might be interesting to get a clearer picture of Felter, a soldier who did most of his fighting in the halls of the White House, Pentagon, and in secret. Still, could Felter sustain a book--or three?
The short answer is yes. Felter is no less a weapon than the Green Berets who starred in the prior volumes. And in this novel, we get to meet the up-and-coming generation of soldiers, many of them the sons of men we met in earlier books. Jeff Craig goes from being a reluctant recruit to a highly effective Green Beret. We are also introduced to Jack Portet, another unwilling draftee. The book's plot also focuses on developments in the recently independent Congo, where the population is divided between how to exercise this new independence--i.e., how much "assistance" to accept from former colonists.
Any doubts I had about the vitality of the story flew out the window soon after PFC. Portet got himself tangled up with General Robert Bellman's daughter as well as with Colonel Felter's group of "colleagues". We're also treated to more in-depth explorations of the stories behind Karl-Heinz Wagner, a former East German officer who crashed through the Berlin Wall and joined the United States Army so he could "kill Communists" (he also gets tangled up with Felter), his sister Ursula (married to Jeff Craig), and plenty of others.
Yet again, the vitality, passion, and compassion for those involved in soldiering--both on the battlefield and at home--is clear on every page. I'm glad there are still two books left in this series and will definitely miss the characters who peopled these tales when I turn the last page in the last volume.
March 21, 2024
Paper Pushers of Darkness
The New Breed should have been marketed as a spin-off series. The original protagonists play mere cameos, proving my thesis that the series would be better without the deadbeat father and serial adulterer Lowell. Instead, the ever-brilliant Felter masterminds various missions that would, in the future, be considered Special Operations. These occur parallel to events in The Berets and The Generals, focusing on the Congo Crisis of the 1960s. As always, the author excels at dramatizing less popular incidents of the Cold War.
The decolonization of Belgium Congo and the subsequent rise of Mobutu is a thriller on its own. Like the rest of the series, world events are mere window dressing to the character drama within the US Army. The author introduces another new main character, but the formula of taking ill-mannered youths and turning them into functioning patriots fell flat this time. I appreciate the realistic characters. They aren’t modern unlikable protagonists, but selfish, flawed personalities that one might encounter at a party. Unfortunately, this character-driven drama needed someone to rally around, and no one of such stature exists.
Let me take a moment to correct myself: the author’s excellent at crafting realistic male characters. I appreciate that Army Wives have a culture of their own, but every woman in this series starts strong-willed and ends up firmly attached to the hip of some soldier. Love is always instant, and their devotion is total. The fact that they all have the same large assets completes the sexual fantasy. Fortunately, their antics play only a minor role in the story. The New Breed offers the same amusing bureaucratic drama while raising the profile of lesser-known incidents of the Cold War. This self-contained novel offers an excellent taste of the series, warts and all.
Recommended, with reservations.
The New Breed should have been marketed as a spin-off series. The original protagonists play mere cameos, proving my thesis that the series would be better without the deadbeat father and serial adulterer Lowell. Instead, the ever-brilliant Felter masterminds various missions that would, in the future, be considered Special Operations. These occur parallel to events in The Berets and The Generals, focusing on the Congo Crisis of the 1960s. As always, the author excels at dramatizing less popular incidents of the Cold War.
The decolonization of Belgium Congo and the subsequent rise of Mobutu is a thriller on its own. Like the rest of the series, world events are mere window dressing to the character drama within the US Army. The author introduces another new main character, but the formula of taking ill-mannered youths and turning them into functioning patriots fell flat this time. I appreciate the realistic characters. They aren’t modern unlikable protagonists, but selfish, flawed personalities that one might encounter at a party. Unfortunately, this character-driven drama needed someone to rally around, and no one of such stature exists.
Let me take a moment to correct myself: the author’s excellent at crafting realistic male characters. I appreciate that Army Wives have a culture of their own, but every woman in this series starts strong-willed and ends up firmly attached to the hip of some soldier. Love is always instant, and their devotion is total. The fact that they all have the same large assets completes the sexual fantasy. Fortunately, their antics play only a minor role in the story. The New Breed offers the same amusing bureaucratic drama while raising the profile of lesser-known incidents of the Cold War. This self-contained novel offers an excellent taste of the series, warts and all.
Recommended, with reservations.
November 28, 2016
My favorite so far of the entire series. After the last volume, "The Generals" I really thought that they were finished, if you read it, you'll see why at the end of the book.
But this book brings back most of our beloved characters, and moves to the front many of the secondary characters of previous volumes. It also brings the Congo Independence to the fore front - a piece of American history greatly overshadowed by the rising conflict in Vietnam.
The level of suspense in this volume surpasses the others, showing Griffin's writing style is improving as you get deeper into the series.
I'd recommend this volume greatly, but you still need the previous volumes for all of the comradely and back story of the main characters.
But this book brings back most of our beloved characters, and moves to the front many of the secondary characters of previous volumes. It also brings the Congo Independence to the fore front - a piece of American history greatly overshadowed by the rising conflict in Vietnam.
The level of suspense in this volume surpasses the others, showing Griffin's writing style is improving as you get deeper into the series.
I'd recommend this volume greatly, but you still need the previous volumes for all of the comradely and back story of the main characters.
June 30, 2020
This one took a little longer. There was a lot of chatter and running around before we get to the action in Stanleyville and elsewhere in the Congo. It's bloody and horrific but also full of the courage of the professional soldier who stand up when called.
I was a little confused and maybe some disappointed when the author either forgot his own source material or just decided to up and change things. In this novel we're told our long time character Craig Lowell won his promotion on the battlefield in Greece when anyone who's read this series knows that's not true. Lowell was promoted because a general wanted him for his polo team and the French whom he was competing against don't mix with enlisted men.
Still, the story wax a good one, probably the bloodiest of the series so far but also a bit too talky inbetween the action sequences.
I was a little confused and maybe some disappointed when the author either forgot his own source material or just decided to up and change things. In this novel we're told our long time character Craig Lowell won his promotion on the battlefield in Greece when anyone who's read this series knows that's not true. Lowell was promoted because a general wanted him for his polo team and the French whom he was competing against don't mix with enlisted men.
Still, the story wax a good one, probably the bloodiest of the series so far but also a bit too talky inbetween the action sequences.
November 7, 2022
Most accounts of the military in the sixties focus on the War in Vietnam, but America was fighting against communist efforts to destabilize regimes in other parts of the world as well. One of those fights took place in the Congo—an incredibly complicated area struggling with the remains of Belgian colonialism, tribal conflict, and the aforementioned efforts by the Soviet Union and China to cause civil strife and destabilize the region. Lyndon B. Johnson didn’t want to get involved in the Congo, but he also didn’t want the region to blow up either, which is Griffin’s opening to write about espionage and Green Beret special operations in the region. It’s an exciting book, but especially interesting for focusing on a part of the world that I don’t know as much about as I would like too.
December 8, 2018
This book was a pleasant surprise on many levels. The seventh installment of the author’s “Brotherhood of War” series is a book that, I’m somewhat convinced, might not have ever had the intention of being written. Volume Six, “The Generals” was probably supposed to have been the last. That one was somewhat haphazard, took place during two different time periods (both stories seemed unrelated) and even had a “Where Are They Now” postscript at the end of the book. It was a definitely a letdown.
I’m guessing that the author realized that he still had more story to tell around his characters and their escapades, and decided to resurrect the series. For this book, we go back several years to 1964. The focus for this installment is the Communist uprising in the Congo. Most people nowadays are not really familiar with that event. We tend to remember this time, when speaking of military events, as the time when America was starting their escalation into Vietnam, so that event tends to be our focus when we think back.
I immensely enjoyed this book for two reasons. First, unlike the other books in this series, this book tends to focus more on the actual fighting and the incidents going on in the thick of the conflict. In the other installments, Griffin only talks about the major conflicts in a half-hearted way, choosing instead to focus on the main characters that are mostly far away from the battle. The earlier books take place during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, yet very little action takes place on the battlefield. Instead, Griffin focuses a lot on his principal characters, their love lives, their sex lives, their tendencies to imbibe a lot at cocktail parties, and so on. He still managed to tell a good story, it just got a bit old after a while. It’s somewhat refreshing to finally read a book about the military where the actual events that made history have a much more predominant role in the storytelling.
The second reason I enjoyed this book so much is somewhat related to the first reason. When we read about love lives, sex lives, and cocktail parties, Craig Lowell was always the lead character in the previous books and, after a while, the shtick got old. Lowell is one of those characters that fits in perfectly for an old 1940s style war movie. Incredibly good looking, incredibly rich, insatiable with every woman he meets, and incredibly rebellious against the military and its rules. Lowell always weasels out the consequences of his actions because, well, just like one of those handsome actors in those old movies, is an outstanding soldier. In this book, he’s featured rarely. Instead, his friend Sandy Felter gets the spotlight through most of the book. It’s Felter who convinces new President Johnson that the Congo is just as equally as hot as Vietnam, and action must be taken there as well.
So we meet a few new characters, revisit a lot of older characters that were introduced to us somewhere along the older books, and are treated to a very good story. I can’t say it’s the best of the lot. After reading so many of these, the timeline blurs for me when trying to remember what happened in every one of the books (especially when the author spends probably too much time revisiting events that happened in the earlier books. I guess he wants to make sure his reader remembers and/or doesn’t get lost).
It's par for the course. Perhaps I enjoyed it so much is because the author smartly realized that there were too many loose ends after the last book, and that particular one wasn’t as satisfying. A wonderful addition to a very good series.
I’m guessing that the author realized that he still had more story to tell around his characters and their escapades, and decided to resurrect the series. For this book, we go back several years to 1964. The focus for this installment is the Communist uprising in the Congo. Most people nowadays are not really familiar with that event. We tend to remember this time, when speaking of military events, as the time when America was starting their escalation into Vietnam, so that event tends to be our focus when we think back.
I immensely enjoyed this book for two reasons. First, unlike the other books in this series, this book tends to focus more on the actual fighting and the incidents going on in the thick of the conflict. In the other installments, Griffin only talks about the major conflicts in a half-hearted way, choosing instead to focus on the main characters that are mostly far away from the battle. The earlier books take place during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, yet very little action takes place on the battlefield. Instead, Griffin focuses a lot on his principal characters, their love lives, their sex lives, their tendencies to imbibe a lot at cocktail parties, and so on. He still managed to tell a good story, it just got a bit old after a while. It’s somewhat refreshing to finally read a book about the military where the actual events that made history have a much more predominant role in the storytelling.
The second reason I enjoyed this book so much is somewhat related to the first reason. When we read about love lives, sex lives, and cocktail parties, Craig Lowell was always the lead character in the previous books and, after a while, the shtick got old. Lowell is one of those characters that fits in perfectly for an old 1940s style war movie. Incredibly good looking, incredibly rich, insatiable with every woman he meets, and incredibly rebellious against the military and its rules. Lowell always weasels out the consequences of his actions because, well, just like one of those handsome actors in those old movies, is an outstanding soldier. In this book, he’s featured rarely. Instead, his friend Sandy Felter gets the spotlight through most of the book. It’s Felter who convinces new President Johnson that the Congo is just as equally as hot as Vietnam, and action must be taken there as well.
So we meet a few new characters, revisit a lot of older characters that were introduced to us somewhere along the older books, and are treated to a very good story. I can’t say it’s the best of the lot. After reading so many of these, the timeline blurs for me when trying to remember what happened in every one of the books (especially when the author spends probably too much time revisiting events that happened in the earlier books. I guess he wants to make sure his reader remembers and/or doesn’t get lost).
It's par for the course. Perhaps I enjoyed it so much is because the author smartly realized that there were too many loose ends after the last book, and that particular one wasn’t as satisfying. A wonderful addition to a very good series.
February 22, 2017
The New Breed is the sixth installment of the hardcover series “Brotherhood of War” by W.E.B. Griffin and is said to be the best one of all the other 8 books. The book is about 4 American colonels and their daily lives during the Congo crisis and the Vietnam war. Colonel Sanford, Colonel Rudolph George, Colonel Craig, and Colonel Philip, who were in all of the previous books, but in this one W.E.B. Griffin writes and introduces a new character to the series named Jack Portet.
The book takes a step into the past after the 6th installment of the series before the lives of the 4 Colonels have come to closure where some of them got a happy ending while the others did not. And it later continues on with Jack Portet story and his relationship with the other 4 Colonels. The book gives you a different perspective of war. Rather than the perspective of the government, it shows you the perspective of the people who fight the wars themselves, whether it's directly or indirectly.
Normally it would have helped if I were to read the previous books in order to get a better understanding of the story, characters and the style of writing W.E.B. Griffin uses. But with this book it is unnecessary to read all the other books as it still gives you good background information on all the other characters and their individual personalities. For example without knowing the previous books I know now that Colonel Sanford is the assistant to the president and has the hunger to back into the field of battle as he feels dissatisfied fighting the war indirectly.
Throughout all of this I feel like this series is one of the more interesting ones that I have read and I might even take the time to read all the other volumes.
The book takes a step into the past after the 6th installment of the series before the lives of the 4 Colonels have come to closure where some of them got a happy ending while the others did not. And it later continues on with Jack Portet story and his relationship with the other 4 Colonels. The book gives you a different perspective of war. Rather than the perspective of the government, it shows you the perspective of the people who fight the wars themselves, whether it's directly or indirectly.
Normally it would have helped if I were to read the previous books in order to get a better understanding of the story, characters and the style of writing W.E.B. Griffin uses. But with this book it is unnecessary to read all the other books as it still gives you good background information on all the other characters and their individual personalities. For example without knowing the previous books I know now that Colonel Sanford is the assistant to the president and has the hunger to back into the field of battle as he feels dissatisfied fighting the war indirectly.
Throughout all of this I feel like this series is one of the more interesting ones that I have read and I might even take the time to read all the other volumes.
March 7, 2019
Loved it again. Really enjoyed how the emphasis was more on Colonel Sandy Felter. Like to read more books through his character. I did notice though how he grew a few inches and adding some weight on this book in comparison to a couple of books back. They always call him the mouse, a midget, a very small person. On a couple of books back he was 5‘4“ and 130 pounds. On this book he had a growth spurt and is now 5‘7“ and 148 pounds. That is small but there is a good difference between the two. I know that doesn’t mean anything but still had to note it. One of my only concerns is on how his young prestige characters have attitudes and are able to pop off a little more. How Jack brought in his girlfriend Marge, general Bob’s daughter, and how the mother and the sun was able to find out about the top secret Mission with no repercussion. I know they have some family involved but they do not hesitate of talking back to authority. Talking more about Jack and Jeffrey Craig. Hope the next books done start getting a little too carried away with those characters. It seems like if you have prestige or money the book is giving them more of a leeway. With that being said, looking forward to the next book.
May 15, 2022
This one is leading to The Dragon operations in the Congo-Dragon Rouge and Dragon Noir, , hostage rescue missions of the cold war, Aimed at securing the release of nearly 2,000 European residents taken hostage during the Simba Rebellion in 1964, American aircraft projected a Belgian airborne. - Belgian–American success when most hostages rescued Rebels defeated.
The most industrail and profitable part of Congo did independence, 'till 1960 there was two congo states one Belian and one Frence. With Anglo-Belgian mining company. Its primary product was copper, but it also produced tin, cobalt, radium, uranium, zinc, cadmium, germanium, manganese, silver, and gold.
Cobalt was used in manufacturing arms, and president of Congo decided to play out the old game of playing out Wester power and Eastern power. In new form, at that time.
The most industrail and profitable part of Congo did independence, 'till 1960 there was two congo states one Belian and one Frence. With Anglo-Belgian mining company. Its primary product was copper, but it also produced tin, cobalt, radium, uranium, zinc, cadmium, germanium, manganese, silver, and gold.
Cobalt was used in manufacturing arms, and president of Congo decided to play out the old game of playing out Wester power and Eastern power. In new form, at that time.
December 10, 2018
His books are always fun to read. The recipe is the same: a couple of young soldiers (one of which is very rich and connected, the other one poor and self-made) involved in some military action with a bit of clean romance sprinkled on top. What I discover here is that the historical background is not fictional.
January 19, 2019
Very good, knows how the military mind works worts and all.
Anyone who has been in the military it will take them back to their younger days with a smile on the face and a lump in their throats
Anyone who has been in the military it will take them back to their younger days with a smile on the face and a lump in their throats
February 22, 2020
Excellent overall series with some flaws
This is my 5th re-read. Web Griffin was a master at weaving the military story through multiple generations, though his writing suffers from some obvious prejudices he carried (some veiled anti-semitism and racism).
This is my 5th re-read. Web Griffin was a master at weaving the military story through multiple generations, though his writing suffers from some obvious prejudices he carried (some veiled anti-semitism and racism).
July 4, 2021
Typical WEB Griffin novel. Same format and recipe.
New characters show up to replace those who died or retired in previous books. Some of the previous characters are still alive and serving their country in this.
Primarily about a Spec Ops mission to the Congo
New characters show up to replace those who died or retired in previous books. Some of the previous characters are still alive and serving their country in this.
Primarily about a Spec Ops mission to the Congo
December 30, 2022
WEB Griffin is the best
Nobody does a better job of capturing and explaining the eb and flo of military life. As a retired military officer with extensive experience in Europe and Africa, he captures the moment, the places, the people. Thank you WB Griffin again.
Nobody does a better job of capturing and explaining the eb and flo of military life. As a retired military officer with extensive experience in Europe and Africa, he captures the moment, the places, the people. Thank you WB Griffin again.
February 7, 2024
Fascinating inside track of a military op
Each character comes to life like an old friend. The behind the scenes insight provides a look at the political side of a military operation.
Each character comes to life like an old friend. The behind the scenes insight provides a look at the political side of a military operation.
September 11, 2017
One of my favorite series, I started reading it when we were stationed in Germany in 1987. I reread the series probably once a year just for fun.
December 5, 2017
W.E.B. Griffin's Brotherhood of War series is wonderful. He understands that individual military members have different ways of coping with the constant stress they experience.
April 29, 2018
As usual this is a great book.! Can hardly put it down.
I would recommend this book to all my friends. I 'm reading this series for the second time. I as good as the first time.
I would recommend this book to all my friends. I 'm reading this series for the second time. I as good as the first time.
November 6, 2018
I hat that I am all must done with them.
December 21, 2019
Possibly the greatest war series of all time. My father read this and passed it down to me. Great reading.
December 31, 2019
Above average for W.E.B. Griffin, better characters with some development
January 17, 2020
Great book
It's as good as the rest of his books and I love how it goes to the next generation I wish there were more
It's as good as the rest of his books and I love how it goes to the next generation I wish there were more
February 3, 2021
And they keep marching on! Great series with a great cast!
March 21, 2021
Griffin tells the US Army story. Always a good read
February 15, 2022
Very disappointed. Usually with Griffin's books I can't put them down, this was actually a chore to finish.
March 17, 2022
I have enjoyed these books. The characters are very interesting. I also like history in it. Well written books.
Read
June 12, 2022excellent
Read
July 12, 2022loved it
March 2, 2023
What is a person to do when they have devoured all of an author's work, only to have no more coming?
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