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The Fighting Man
A former member of the British Special Forces, mercenary Gord Brown is hired by Guatemalan Indians to aid in an idealistic uprising against their country's military dictatorship and finds his destiny intertwined with that of an American opponent also scarred by war
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1994
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99 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Seymour
98 books284 followersGerald Seymour (born 25 November 1941 in Guildford, Surrey) is a British writer.
The son of two literary figures, he was educated at Kelly College at Tavistock in Devon and took a BA Hons degree in Modern History at University College London. Initially a journalist, he joined ITN in 1963, covering such topics as the Great Train Robbery, Vietnam, Ireland, the Munich Olympics massacre, Germany's Red Army, Italy's Red Brigades and Palestinian militant groups. His first book, Harry's Game, was published in 1975, and Seymour then became a full-time novelist, living in the West Country. In 1999, he featured in the Oscar-winning television film, One Day in September, which portrayed the Munich Olympics massacre.
Television adaptations have been made of his books Harry's Game, The Glory Boys, The Contract, Red Fox, Field Of Blood, A Line In The Sand and The Waiting Time.
The son of two literary figures, he was educated at Kelly College at Tavistock in Devon and took a BA Hons degree in Modern History at University College London. Initially a journalist, he joined ITN in 1963, covering such topics as the Great Train Robbery, Vietnam, Ireland, the Munich Olympics massacre, Germany's Red Army, Italy's Red Brigades and Palestinian militant groups. His first book, Harry's Game, was published in 1975, and Seymour then became a full-time novelist, living in the West Country. In 1999, he featured in the Oscar-winning television film, One Day in September, which portrayed the Munich Olympics massacre.
Television adaptations have been made of his books Harry's Game, The Glory Boys, The Contract, Red Fox, Field Of Blood, A Line In The Sand and The Waiting Time.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 13, 2023
Gerald Seymour has the knack of picking a good subject for a thrilling novel, populating it with characters you can recognise and relate to and weaving a tale that is topical, interesting, fascinating, tense, relevant and exciting.
In this one, three Guatemalan Indians are sent to recruit a 'fighting man' to help their in-exile-in-Cuba comrades start a popular revolution in the style of 1970s Communist groups. Their politics are almost irrelevant, however, because what they are trying to overthrow is not capitalism but terror. The 'legitimate' Guatemalan government rules through terror, a la Nazis/Stalinists: anyone who opposes the regime, even in conversation, is kidnapped, tortured and murdered. That is what they want to change.
The man they recruit is Gord, an ex-Special Forces loner (this is a bit of a theme in Seymour's plots) who is living a lonely life as a worker in a Scottish salmon farm - smelly, wet, cold work in a place with a small population he can keep his history from.
Gord accepts the offer, knowing that it is probably a suicide mission but that he is wanted and needed for his skills; the British Army no longer wants or needs him and he is lost, having no family worth the name.
The story accelerates as he travels to Guatemala vis Cuba and takes control of a slowly expanding rabble of an army, as more and more common people join up as they achieve successes against the regime. He has to push, persuade and cajole at every turn to make them work together and move fast enough to evade detection, while knowing they are only safe as the bad weather prevents the regime from using air power to find and destroy them.
Seymour builds the tension, describes the horror of the regime's methods and the story moves inexorably towards a satisfactory (in some senses) conclusion.
Another great story from Mr Seymour. It is the third of his novels I have read and I have enjoyed them all so far, although this one not quite so much. If you like military derring-do and thrillers, try this one.
Five stars.
In this one, three Guatemalan Indians are sent to recruit a 'fighting man' to help their in-exile-in-Cuba comrades start a popular revolution in the style of 1970s Communist groups. Their politics are almost irrelevant, however, because what they are trying to overthrow is not capitalism but terror. The 'legitimate' Guatemalan government rules through terror, a la Nazis/Stalinists: anyone who opposes the regime, even in conversation, is kidnapped, tortured and murdered. That is what they want to change.
The man they recruit is Gord, an ex-Special Forces loner (this is a bit of a theme in Seymour's plots) who is living a lonely life as a worker in a Scottish salmon farm - smelly, wet, cold work in a place with a small population he can keep his history from.
Gord accepts the offer, knowing that it is probably a suicide mission but that he is wanted and needed for his skills; the British Army no longer wants or needs him and he is lost, having no family worth the name.
The story accelerates as he travels to Guatemala vis Cuba and takes control of a slowly expanding rabble of an army, as more and more common people join up as they achieve successes against the regime. He has to push, persuade and cajole at every turn to make them work together and move fast enough to evade detection, while knowing they are only safe as the bad weather prevents the regime from using air power to find and destroy them.
Seymour builds the tension, describes the horror of the regime's methods and the story moves inexorably towards a satisfactory (in some senses) conclusion.
Another great story from Mr Seymour. It is the third of his novels I have read and I have enjoyed them all so far, although this one not quite so much. If you like military derring-do and thrillers, try this one.
Five stars.
October 19, 2024
The premise is pretty familiar. A down on his luck soldier volunteers to fight with a group of revolutionaries as they attempt to overthrow an oppressive regime. In typical Seymour style, the premise is less important than the cast of characters and how their various goals and fates end up colliding. With Seymour always expect a bunch of realistic, although unforeseen complications and never expect a predictable ending. The pace of this story is more relentless than is usual for Seymour as there is a time limit for the rebels to meet their goal. As soon as the rain stops, the Guatemalan security forces will be able to use the roads and their helicopter fleet to surround them. There is also more action than is usual for him as the rebels tangle with the security forces they encounter on the march. These action sequences are tersely described and chaotic. Some readers might prefer a bit more details on the planning and combatants dispositions but what is here is convincing and does not bog the story down.
How does one cover off the themes without cheapening them in the process? Seymour shows what he's trying to communicate through the narrative in a way that makes you experience what he's trying to tell you. I am not a huge believer in using lived experience when trying to argue a point. However, Seymour uses his in depth research to establish time and place so that the reader experiences the characters lives convincingly and so goes beyond what just the facts can communicate. The believable motivations for every character and their reasonable goals raise the stakes and propel the narrative as the reader is constantly trying to guess how they will all end up.
In a similar vein, the complicated geopolitics might put off some readers. Not in the sense that they are hard to understand, because they are explained clearly. The problem is there are no clear good guys and the Americans especially are acting in a way that while consistent with their goals during the war on drugs', are clearly not the heroes of the story. At the same time, their goals make sense and they are not cartoonish villains either.
Highly recommended.
How does one cover off the themes without cheapening them in the process? Seymour shows what he's trying to communicate through the narrative in a way that makes you experience what he's trying to tell you. I am not a huge believer in using lived experience when trying to argue a point. However, Seymour uses his in depth research to establish time and place so that the reader experiences the characters lives convincingly and so goes beyond what just the facts can communicate. The believable motivations for every character and their reasonable goals raise the stakes and propel the narrative as the reader is constantly trying to guess how they will all end up.
In a similar vein, the complicated geopolitics might put off some readers. Not in the sense that they are hard to understand, because they are explained clearly. The problem is there are no clear good guys and the Americans especially are acting in a way that while consistent with their goals during the war on drugs', are clearly not the heroes of the story. At the same time, their goals make sense and they are not cartoonish villains either.
Highly recommended.
March 27, 2020
I picked up this book with high hopes in a recent shopping splurge and it was the first one I selected to read. Perhaps in my anticipation I over hyped it in my own mind, so the two star feeling might have been my own fault.
The opening couple of pages were good and I was looking forward to a stonking good adventure. From there things went down hill for me. It was mainly due to the poorly defined characters. Sometimes they can be wooden and stilted, sometimes overdrawn cliches; but the ones Gord ran into were so see through, I had no idea who he was speaking to half the time. The author didn't even bother to give them names: Groucho, Zeppo, Harpo, had me watching the story in slapstick black and white. I never knew which brother was which in the movies either so that comparison flew right over my head. Vee, Eff, Zed; could have been one person and perhaps the story would have been better if they were.
This confusing soup of characters was really grinding my gears and by the time they crashed into the jungle I was hardly paying attention. I was simply flicking the pages because I thought I should...so I stopped.
Some will criticise me for leaving a review on a book which I only read a third of and perhaps they are right but a story should not be a chore to read, it should be a pleasure.
In The Fighting Man, I found little to tickle my fancy...sorry.
The opening couple of pages were good and I was looking forward to a stonking good adventure. From there things went down hill for me. It was mainly due to the poorly defined characters. Sometimes they can be wooden and stilted, sometimes overdrawn cliches; but the ones Gord ran into were so see through, I had no idea who he was speaking to half the time. The author didn't even bother to give them names: Groucho, Zeppo, Harpo, had me watching the story in slapstick black and white. I never knew which brother was which in the movies either so that comparison flew right over my head. Vee, Eff, Zed; could have been one person and perhaps the story would have been better if they were.
This confusing soup of characters was really grinding my gears and by the time they crashed into the jungle I was hardly paying attention. I was simply flicking the pages because I thought I should...so I stopped.
Some will criticise me for leaving a review on a book which I only read a third of and perhaps they are right but a story should not be a chore to read, it should be a pleasure.
In The Fighting Man, I found little to tickle my fancy...sorry.
December 27, 2012
The way in which the third person narration is written in this book is very offputting--it really keeps the reader at an incredible distance. There are some really intense things happening in this book but I always felt very clear that I was just reading / it doesn't give you a chance to really get sucked all the way in.
Gord is such an interesting character. I'd almost like to read it again written in his voice instead.
Gord is such an interesting character. I'd almost like to read it again written in his voice instead.
March 29, 2021
This is only a 4 because I reserve 5 for the greatest masterpieces. It’s another winner by Gerald.
Something I noticed is how he uses brachylogia, one of the tropes of rhetoric (condensed speech) often.
This sort of thing. Gord marched on. What he wanted. The flames.
It adds a kind of urgency and tension and he uses it a lot. As ever, it’s an intricate tale drawing many threads and lives together elegantly.
Something I noticed is how he uses brachylogia, one of the tropes of rhetoric (condensed speech) often.
This sort of thing. Gord marched on. What he wanted. The flames.
It adds a kind of urgency and tension and he uses it a lot. As ever, it’s an intricate tale drawing many threads and lives together elegantly.
November 11, 2018
The first Gerald Seymour I read and even though its probably 20 years ago, I can still remember how much I loved this book. A typical Seymour plot, but beautifully written. A real page turner from start to finish. Have read every Gerald Seymour before and since, but rate this as one of his best.
January 6, 2025
At His Best
Seymour has never written a bad book and this one is no exception.
Interesting storyline which moves at a decent pace, with well fleshed out characters. Not his normal style but still a good read.
Seymour has never written a bad book and this one is no exception.
Interesting storyline which moves at a decent pace, with well fleshed out characters. Not his normal style but still a good read.
September 1, 2019
507 pages
September 28, 2020
I will never hesitate to recommend a Gerald Seymour novel to people who enjoy military based thrillers. The Fighting Man is up there with his best work and has you wanting more.
May 3, 2021
9/10 23% SH. Another great yarn, good characters, could have been perfect with a stronger ending. Will buy more by Gerald Seymour who now enters my favourite author list. Worth Reading again.
September 22, 2021
Another classic action thriller from the ever-reliable Mr. Seymour. Revisiting the book over twenty five years after first reading brought home the author's strengths: a journalist's eye for time & place, credible action and a gradual build-up of tension leading to a tense finale. In essence a simple tale of Guatemalan exiles recruiting a British ex-special forces soldier to overthrow the brutal junta. There's no moral grey area here - the military dictatorship tortures the people into submission. We get a dose of realpolitik in America's support for the tyrants: their help in the war on drugs excuses a multitude of sins. I never get any sense of an agenda with Gerald Seymour, just a crystal clear "tell it like I see it" impartiality.
At times I felt like I was sharing every step of our heroes' arduous trek through the jungle - this is a real epic (507 pages in my paperback), perhaps a tad too long. Some of the secondary characters merge together but the plotting is superb and the customary bitter sweet conclusion highly satisfying. The author was on a fine run of form at this time, each story shedding light on the world's conflict zones.
I was rooting for our taciturn ex-SAS hero despite his unfortunate choice of name (Gordon Brown). The presence of the US chopper pilot seemed a bit un-necessary and his loyalty seemed to veer like a damaged Huey: there's also a coincidence of Dickensian proportions here, but let's not get into spoiler territory. Interesting to see a returning character in spy Percy Martins from "At Close Quarters", a rarity for this author. All in all, a well written adventure, definitely in my Seymour top five. Then again, that would be a tough list to compile as there's such a great choice.
At times I felt like I was sharing every step of our heroes' arduous trek through the jungle - this is a real epic (507 pages in my paperback), perhaps a tad too long. Some of the secondary characters merge together but the plotting is superb and the customary bitter sweet conclusion highly satisfying. The author was on a fine run of form at this time, each story shedding light on the world's conflict zones.
I was rooting for our taciturn ex-SAS hero despite his unfortunate choice of name (Gordon Brown). The presence of the US chopper pilot seemed a bit un-necessary and his loyalty seemed to veer like a damaged Huey: there's also a coincidence of Dickensian proportions here, but let's not get into spoiler territory. Interesting to see a returning character in spy Percy Martins from "At Close Quarters", a rarity for this author. All in all, a well written adventure, definitely in my Seymour top five. Then again, that would be a tough list to compile as there's such a great choice.
October 27, 2014
The plot to begin with was pretty standard, lone-wolf with a chequered past, full of integrity and searching for a cause. He finds a cause and again it goes according to the formula. I think it went on for a bit too long, some of the characters were well drawn, others a bit sketchy. Even Gord was a bit confusing. As it reached the end I couldn't see how he was going to bring it to a conclusion but to Seymour's credit I found the conclusion pretty satisfying. All in all, a down the middle 3 stars.
November 19, 2007
read 02.07.06
March 17, 2010
Excellent thriller. Thoughtful, with a message....a good read.
His books have different settings of war/conflict: this one Guatamala.
His books have different settings of war/conflict: this one Guatamala.
June 17, 2019
A bit far-fetched, but entertaining, a sort of Che Guevara in Guatemala.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews