Point of Impact
by Stephen Hunter
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Book Reviews of Point of Impact
Book Review: Terrific Story Impact
Summary: 5 Stars
Absolutely Outstanding. I read Stephen Hunter's Point of Impact many years ago just as this type of genre was beginning to introduce itself. The lone, quiet Vietnam hero just trying to make it while caught up in the materialistic, overly complex, anything-goes-as-long-as-I-get-mine world of lies, deceit, and treachery. I kept the book in my "keeper" library and when the movie "Shooter" was due for release I decided it was time to once again visit Bob Lee Swagger of Blue Eye, Arkansas. All I can say is it was just as good if not better the second time around.
This is without a doubt so far the best of Mr. Hunter's novels. The plot is quick paced, tight, and filled with just enough techno-geewhiz that you can't put it down. At a healthy 569 pages it took me 3 days to follow the wonderful story. Character development was superb and lends itself to future Swagger books. The 4th is due sometime next year. Although there were numerous characters, Mr. Hunter did a masterful job of introducing and developing them as the plot moved along. Excellent use of action but no gratuitous violence or sex. Some graphic violence was a must to make the plot realistic but Mr. Hunter did what was required and no more. Some coarse language but again it was to make the story real.
All in all Hunter's best so far. A must read, especially for that long overdue vacation. I am very curious to see how the book fares in the movie. Somehow I just can't see how a 2 hour movie can do it justice.
I would really like to see Bob Lee Swagger meet up with Jack Reacher; I think they would really like each other!
Book Review: Portrait of a Compassionate Soldier
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen Hunter is a gifted author with the ability to put into words the heart and soul of his characters.He builds Bob Lee Swagger's character early and makes the reader want to know more by his description of a man, disgruntled by Viet Nam, who molded himself into the most efficient and deadly sniper of the war.
The reader learns early into the story that Bob Lee has character and is honest to a fault. He shows his compassion early also by helping the buck deer to survive by cutting off their antlers. There are several other instances throughout the story where he strengthens your belief that he is truly a honest and compassionate man.
The entire book, although it is a bit too technical for a non hunter like myself, is written to keep the reader motivated to learn what else can happen to Bob Lee in his quest to overcome the plot by his enemies to eliminate him. It is a story which becomes a classic confrontation between good and evil. It also depicts the dedication of a man who, although alone and outmanned by the bad guys, overcomes evil and eventually wins out over all those odds.
I am impressed by Mr. Hunters ability to keep all the facts straight in his writing. After reading the book two times I found only a few errors. I only found the one error on my third reading. On pg. 4 of the hard copy he depicted Jack Payne as carrying a cut-down shotgun under his left arm. Then on pg 17 the gun is described as a bulge under his right arm. So much for nitpicking.
I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and the enjoyment of waiting hopefully for Bob Lee to overcome the bad guys and get the girl in the end.
Book Review: "Bob the Nailer" hammers at your imagination from page one!
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen Hunter is a name Hollywood should have it's eager hands on. "Point of Impact" dazzles the intellect with a superb plot leaving one continually wondering "what's going to happen next" and leaving one amazed at the outcomes! At the same time, his characters are fantastically weaved such that one could place "Bob the Nailer" up with Paul Bunyan, Davy Crocket, and Judge Roy Bean. Imagine if you will, the movie "In the Line of Fire" by Clint Eastwood, and then imagine a story a hundred times more exciting and a hundred times more imaginative. That is about as close as can be compared in film to the enthralling and adventurous book by Hunter, "Point of Impact". So few books nowadays can authentically grab our attentions from the first page, hold our rapt attention, and piledrive us through to the last page with sheer exaltation and hunger like "Point of Impact"! This book among few in fiction is a true testament to "researching your topic" and pure, God-given story-tellin' talent! Stephen Hunter and his writings have taken me to Heaven and back with the sheer caliber of his plots, characters, and writing style. This book will earn a special place on the shelf in your den. This is the book that you will warn your friends not to crease the pages or the binding of. You'll treasure this read as you open to the first page again and again, perhaps smelling the book as you fan the book's edges. I guarantee you'll close this book a far different person than when you began it!
Sean Goodwin
sean.goodwin@dol.net
Elkton, MarylandBook Review: Where have all the Bob Lee's gone to?
Summary: 5 Stars
Just an outstanding read and one terrific story. Bob Lee Swagger is an anachronism. A loyal good old country boy of whom this country is producing too few. He served his country admirably well in Vietnam as a lethal sniper racking up over 87 confirmed kills second only to Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, who had 93 confirmed kills. We find Bob Lee now living in seclusion after a divorce and sober after years of heaving drinking. His only friends, Sam Vincent, a country lawyer and his loyal dog Mike.
Bob Lee is persuaded to come out of retirement to help pursue his old nemesis, a Russian sniper who killed his best friend in "Nam, Donnie and who fired the shot that wounded Bob Lee ending his military career. The Russian is now planning a hit on the president of the USA and Bob Lee has been asked to help foil the plot and apprehend the Russian sniper.
But, things are seldom as they seem and, of course, this is no exception. I will not ruin the rest of the book by divulging the story line but suffice it to say Hunter weaves a very credible and exciting tale. You will flat LOVE Bob Lee by the end of the book.
Another of Hunter's great characters is the hapless plodding loyal dogged FBI agent Nick Memphis, called "Pork" by Swagger, who adds enormously to the tale. This is just a fun exciting read. And don't be surprised if it doesn't manage to kindle in you an interest in guns whether you like them or not. And if it does, you should read John Ross' Unintended Consequences next.
Book Review: Point Of Impact
Summary: 4 Stars
I've become somewhat saddened by the garden variety thriller genre. Most of my disgust with the modern thriller genre is that it now seems to mimic popularity over originality as evidenced by adventure thrillers using historical relevance in the plot alas Dan Brown. So begrudgingly I recently picked up a copy of Point of Impact mainly for the upcoming release of Shooter. Doing so I discovered an amazingly technical thriller that is easily recommendable for a nicely convoluted plot, decent characterization, and a nice amount of action. Hunters Bob Lee Swagger is a good character to write a series on although I didn't like his constant showing up to the secondary character of Nick Memphis. The technical details of shooting shows someone with a great deal of knowlege in what He's writing about. Its also better to not watch promo material for Shooter as the book does contain some nice well choreographed suprises. If I had one complaint its that like other writers who do better with action, I didn't like the romantic involvement Hunter imparts upon his characters. His description of Swagger falling through floors was overly dramatic and somewhat boring in describing love making. Also despite being decent, the book goes on for too long after the main villains have been killed. Its at least sixty pages afterwards before the book ends which was too much in my opinion.
Other than a great read well worth it if theres nothing on your docket for a while.