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Last Night Another Soldier...: Quick Read
A new Quick Read title from the author of Bravo Two Zero .
Afghanistan, 2009. A Rifle section is halfway through their six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province. Sixteen men from their Battalion have already been killed. Forty-seven others have been wounded and flown back home.
The last three months have been tough and it shows. Their kit is in a bad way. They are in a bad way. Young men with tans, scruffy beards, peeling noses and lips burnt raw by the Afghan sun. Despite the hardships they are enjoying their time out here learning how to fight the Taliban. The lads are on their way to becoming the best soldiers in the Army.
Last Night Another Soldier ... is the story of four of the young men in this Rifle section, partly told from the point of view of eighteen-year-old squaddie, David 'Briggsy' Briggs.
Afghanistan, 2009. A Rifle section is halfway through their six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province. Sixteen men from their Battalion have already been killed. Forty-seven others have been wounded and flown back home.
The last three months have been tough and it shows. Their kit is in a bad way. They are in a bad way. Young men with tans, scruffy beards, peeling noses and lips burnt raw by the Afghan sun. Despite the hardships they are enjoying their time out here learning how to fight the Taliban. The lads are on their way to becoming the best soldiers in the Army.
Last Night Another Soldier ... is the story of four of the young men in this Rifle section, partly told from the point of view of eighteen-year-old squaddie, David 'Briggsy' Briggs.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
17 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Andy McNab
205 books1,168 followersAndy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 16, 2019
This book is told in first person about the British Army fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. It;s a short, graphic depiction of war and what happens first hand out in the battlefields. Raw and engaging and a great quick read.
June 7, 2019
An interesting but short and sad book which ended in Briggs being disabled and it was sad and it showed the horrors of the Afghanistan war where the taliban just tried to take one British soldier . However it was action packed and exciting .
March 10, 2013
Another Quick Read but one that ends too soon; I think that despite my avoidance of the war genre, I think Andy McNab's realistic and absorbing writing has got me hooked.
This book is the story through the eyes of an eighteen year old squaddie during a tough 24 hours; part of a life-changing tour of duty in Helmand, Afghanistan.
I found myself fully engrossed in the story, the drama of the action and its lack of glory. These fictional characters seem very real and soldering is given respect and the combatants a dimension that as a reader moved me where sometimes the news headlines fail to engage me. Perhaps we need this proximity via such a story to bring home some of the humanity war otherwise strips away.
The book carries a health warning 'contains strong language and violent scenes'. These are not reasons to pick this book up, nor pass over it for something more palatable. Rather to be aware you may be changed in the reading of this true to life account. A short book but one that will live long in my memory and consciousness, especially when the News next reflects some events in a foreign conflict.
This book is the story through the eyes of an eighteen year old squaddie during a tough 24 hours; part of a life-changing tour of duty in Helmand, Afghanistan.
I found myself fully engrossed in the story, the drama of the action and its lack of glory. These fictional characters seem very real and soldering is given respect and the combatants a dimension that as a reader moved me where sometimes the news headlines fail to engage me. Perhaps we need this proximity via such a story to bring home some of the humanity war otherwise strips away.
The book carries a health warning 'contains strong language and violent scenes'. These are not reasons to pick this book up, nor pass over it for something more palatable. Rather to be aware you may be changed in the reading of this true to life account. A short book but one that will live long in my memory and consciousness, especially when the News next reflects some events in a foreign conflict.
July 17, 2024
I picked this book up years ago and I finally got around to it. This is a short novella about four soldiers during the war in Afghanistan. It's interesting, looking at the different reasons people joined the Army but also how they get along in the army. It also gives a good look at army life, both in terms of the smaller stuff like how you keep clean, how to occupy your time and what you eat, but also the bigger things, like keeping going when a friend of yours has just been killed in front of you.
The ending was bittersweet but done really well. That said, this is not the kind of book I will probably pick up again.
3.5 stars!
The ending was bittersweet but done really well. That said, this is not the kind of book I will probably pick up again.
3.5 stars!
September 19, 2021
This one I have mixed feelings on. It felt a bit like propaganda, but I know soldiers like the narrator so maybe I'm just jaded. It was very much snapshots of a soldiers life deployed to Afghanistan, without a lot of analysis in my opinion. It was a quick read
January 3, 2023
An interesting short story, with story-telling typical of that of the longer writings of Andy McNab.
The main story itself is only about half of the book, as there's a few teaser pages from Bravo Two Zero (McNab's real life experience of being stuck behind enemy lines) and another story.
The main story itself is only about half of the book, as there's a few teaser pages from Bravo Two Zero (McNab's real life experience of being stuck behind enemy lines) and another story.
September 14, 2017
"Good" - McNab, but not - "Stunning"?! "Alright"?!..
July 4, 2020
easy read
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
January 13, 2023
Not my normal genre but I did enjoy for a quick read
April 22, 2013
Predictable, often inaccurate, cliched and a damn fine read. A basic insight into what soldiers in Afghanistan in 2009 went through, wrapped up in a story of a new soldier.
I'm not quite sure who this book is aimed at, it's written in a very basic style almost like a kids book (well, a teens book anyway) but the content certainly isn't for young people.
A nice quick read, that takes just a day, it's still worth a look even if there are a few factual inaccuracies...like a basic Rifleman having a pistol and burning long drop toilet drums.
But still, give it a go, particularly if this genre is not your normal one, and even more so if you want to try and understand what is going on in Afghanistan.
I'm not quite sure who this book is aimed at, it's written in a very basic style almost like a kids book (well, a teens book anyway) but the content certainly isn't for young people.
A nice quick read, that takes just a day, it's still worth a look even if there are a few factual inaccuracies...like a basic Rifleman having a pistol and burning long drop toilet drums.
But still, give it a go, particularly if this genre is not your normal one, and even more so if you want to try and understand what is going on in Afghanistan.
September 30, 2016
So this took less than an hour.
I'm used to my books like this being longer and more in depth so it felt especially short, but at the same time the amount that happened not just in the actual narrative to do with the main story but the emotional changes in the protagonists were impressive for such a short read.
There are numerous people all well personalised and with some good development, yet there's less than 150 pages.
If my main issue is it feeling short yet I'm praising what it did with such a limited page count I can't say too much in fault with it.
I'm used to my books like this being longer and more in depth so it felt especially short, but at the same time the amount that happened not just in the actual narrative to do with the main story but the emotional changes in the protagonists were impressive for such a short read.
There are numerous people all well personalised and with some good development, yet there's less than 150 pages.
If my main issue is it feeling short yet I'm praising what it did with such a limited page count I can't say too much in fault with it.
May 14, 2015
Nice, short and snappy. Follows a few days in the life of a new recruit in the British army. And for such a quick read it dips into everything about being a soldier and of course their brilliant sense of humour. It's a must read for people who like action and the military.
However would be nice if there was a sequel or a longer version.
However would be nice if there was a sequel or a longer version.
November 8, 2014
Better than expected. McNab's writing style is simple and direct, and surprisingly engaging. And as a former SAS man I guess he knows what he's on about. Some of the UK-isms went over my head; but I think I'll read Bravo Two Zero soon which I've got around here somewhere.
Contact! Half left! Tallies!
Contact! Half left! Tallies!
April 28, 2016
Really good story about soldiers life in Afgan. Plot is very interesting and there was few nice bites including PSDS and letter to unknow father. I recomend this book as good source improving English vocab. Book is very cheap in Poland only 12zl which is 2 pounds. This book is a way better than other mcnab book the grey man.
July 16, 2016
NB This book is not my usual cup of tea.
I gave it a try and I liked the writing style and it was easy to read. The ending was, in my opinion, a little bit obvious, there was a lot of not very subtle foreshadowing, but it was satisfactory.
if you love modern, armed forces, action books, this is for you, and probably a five star read.
I gave it a try and I liked the writing style and it was easy to read. The ending was, in my opinion, a little bit obvious, there was a lot of not very subtle foreshadowing, but it was satisfactory.
if you love modern, armed forces, action books, this is for you, and probably a five star read.
December 14, 2016
A nice short read packed with some good actions. The story follows a young British soldier named Briggsy fighting with fellow comrades against the Taliban in Afghanistan. It takes place over a very short amount of time, yet seems to exceedingly depict all aspects of a soldier fighting in the War on Terror.
December 21, 2016
NB This book is not my usual cup of tea.
I gave it a try and I liked the writing style and it was easy to read. The ending was, in my opinion, a little bit obvious, there was a lot of not very subtle foreshadowing, but it was satisfactory.
if you love modern, armed forces, action books, this is for you, and probably a five star read.
I gave it a try and I liked the writing style and it was easy to read. The ending was, in my opinion, a little bit obvious, there was a lot of not very subtle foreshadowing, but it was satisfactory.
if you love modern, armed forces, action books, this is for you, and probably a five star read.
September 14, 2011
great short story this, about a young soldier trying to cope with life in afghanistan, its set in helmund province of course, and its aquick all action book with an unsual twist at the end, i loved it but i'm a mcnab fan, but i would say give it a go.
July 2, 2012
this book was amazing, it gives a real insight to the traumas that our soldiers in afghanistan go through, mentally and physically, and the ever present danger of attack.
this is a great read which i strongly suggest to fans of war stories
this is a great read which i strongly suggest to fans of war stories
July 10, 2013
McNab is clearly not about craft but about story, so once you get over how simply it is written, it's not so bad. A little cliched and predictable, but possible to read in an hour which is always satisfying. Sort of makes me want to read more about PTSD too.
August 5, 2013
I got this book as part of the World Book Night promotion. Definitely a very quick and easy read.
Being an ex soldier myself I can relate to the 'squaddie' writing style. It was easy to empathise with the characters because of the honest way in which it is written.
Being an ex soldier myself I can relate to the 'squaddie' writing style. It was easy to empathise with the characters because of the honest way in which it is written.
September 23, 2013
It said all "Soldiers don’t fight for Queen or country, like they say on the telly. They fight for each other. It’s the job of a soldier to kill the enemy, and if that means getting killed or injured in the process, so what?"
September 30, 2016
Very quick read as you'd expect from the quick reads publisher!
Good book loads of action reads in the style of a biography rather than 3rd person perspective, wasn't expecting much but pleasantly surprised, didn't see the ending coming either!
Good book loads of action reads in the style of a biography rather than 3rd person perspective, wasn't expecting much but pleasantly surprised, didn't see the ending coming either!
September 2, 2011
A quick read that grips right from the start and has a bit of an unexpected ending
November 4, 2011
really good read this, its about a young soldier trying to deal with life in helmund province. it kept my interest throughout and has a twist to it at the end mcnab fans will love it.
April 16, 2012
A chilling account of SAS troops fighting in Hellmand Province, Afghanistan
December 1, 2015
i really enjoyed this short novel. it was descriptive and tense. it gave you a great insight into army life and the soldiers view on the war. it was emotional too and a great tale.
-NG
-NG
April 26, 2013
Realistic and down to earth first hand account of life as a first time soldier on tour in Afghanistan
April 28, 2013
Puerile, don't bother if you are looking for literature. It was given to me as part world book night 2013. Ideal for 12 year old boys who don't like reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews