Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb)

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Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb)

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Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/19/2014 9:53:34 AM

jds1978

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Just finished reading this little gem and found it blows the other 80's novels out of the water. The characters aren't 2D action figure caricatures and Forrest-Webb has the balls (and the literary chops-he was both an ex tanker and a journalist) to admit that things were likely to go tits up for everyone involved.

No spoilers on the ending here...but I'm going to say it is quite shocking (and controversial...many readers don't like it.)

It's long out of print, but has been released for E-Book readers

Long story short: Go find this one

Post #: 1

RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/19/2014 4:46:20 PM

Enigma6584

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Joined: 9/23/2010
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jds1978

Just finished reading this little gem and found it blows the other 80's novels out of the water. The characters aren't 2D action figure caricatures and Forrest-Webb has the balls (and the literary chops-he was both an ex tanker and a journalist) to admit that things were likely to go tits up for everyone involved.

No spoilers on the ending here...but I'm going to say it is quite shocking (and controversial...many readers don't like it.)

It's long out of print, but has been released for E-Book readers

Long story short: Go find this one

Read this myself last year. Was able to find a nice brand new copy or slightly used, can't remember. I thought it was a great read as well. The ending isn't typical, that is for sure.

(in reply to jds1978)

Post #: 2

RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/19/2014 7:34:43 PM

jds1978

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Joined: 10/1/2010
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I was checking out reviews of this one online....people were totally polarized about the ending. To me, it all made sense in hindsight.

(SPOILERS)

(SPOILERS)

(SPOILERS)

1. The BAOR were facing Category 'A' Red formations on the first and second day. That is evident by the gear described: all T-80's and T-72's. The last day, they are facing T-62's/T-55's: that either means the Poles or Soviet Category 'B' divisions. While the British casualties are high (over 50% in some cases) the Soviet casualties on the 1st/2nd day are called 'astronomical'.....they are forced to commit their reserves well before they thought they would be needed. Those reserves get trashed bad on the 3rd day with very few British casualties right after Brunswick.

2. The subtly implied escalation of violence. On the first day, their are unconfirmed rumors of CW use. By the second, the Soviets and British are dosing each other good with nerve gas. What's creepy is when the main character drives through Brunswick on the 3rd day and it is implied that there had been a mass civilian casualty event in Brunswick involving CW. which leads to.....

3. The release of tactical nuclear weapons at the end. Did you notice the foreshadowing on that one? At the end, Davis & Co. notice that NATO units appear to be spreading out. For the first time, they don't see other units AFV's on their flanks indicating that the NATO commanders were anticipating nuclear weapons use.

(in reply to Enigma6584)

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RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/19/2014 8:44:20 PM

mikeCK

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Polarizing or not I have a hard time imagining a World War III scenario of a conventional war in Europe that doesn't end up with one side or the other bringing in nuclear weapons. whichever side starts losing is going to switch to them; why wouldn't you?

(in reply to jds1978)

Post #: 4

RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/19/2014 9:44:18 PM

jds1978

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Joined: 10/1/2010
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mikeCK

Polarizing or not I have a hard time imagining a World War III scenario of a conventional war in Europe that doesn't end up with one side or the other bringing in nuclear weapons. whichever side starts losing is going to switch to them; why wouldn't you?

Exactly. Clancy's solution is far fetched. The Red Army would never pull a coup. Hackett's ending to 'The Third World War' is the only weak part of the book with the world's least believable nuclear exchange (kill two cities; call it a day)

Bond, Clancy, Coyle, Hackett and Peters where all in a bind. How do you write an entertaining story that ends with global suicide?

(in reply to mikeCK)

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RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/24/2014 12:39:34 PM

ChortleBuffer

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I read the book after seeing your post. It had previously been recommended to me but I'd forgotten about it. I hate the ending, as you say that some others do. Perhaps it would have been better if that Rambo Colonel (that was very silly!) had started walking back to allied lines, taken cover while a large convoy of Russian tanks pass, and been blown up by one of the subterranean nuclear mines which he mentioned. The result could have been seen from a distance by the chieftain crew. What actually happened in the book came out of the blue, which was a disappointing end for me. I felt like there were still loose ends of the story to clear up - like what happened to the Colonel.

I'm glad I never joined the TA. The infantry in that book had a hell of a time!

(in reply to jds1978)

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RE: Invasion Literature: 'Chieftains' (Bob Forrest-Webb) - 3/24/2014 3:30:23 PM

jds1978

Posts: 114
Joined: 10/1/2010
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Not knowing what happened to the Colonel upset me too (and was the only thing that really bothered me)

The ending seems abrupt....but I think it's justified because of the novel's POV. We aren't given the big picture, just the experiences of a handful of tank crews. When the nuclear attack comes, we are just as shocked as the characters.

(in reply to ChortleBuffer)

Post #: 7