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HomeShop at BookSurgeFictionWar & MilitaryDe Oppresso Liber: De Opresso Liber Series |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 3 customer reviews )
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5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Well done, remarkable insight into the orgins of Special Forces Nov 24, 2009
By S. E. Southerland
"Piano Queen"
This novel is essentially about the nature of Special Forces and emphasizes incidents in SF history common to the 60's and 70's. It is told through the memories of Sgt. Gabriel McCarthy who starts off as a Junior Medic on a virgin A-Team, formed in 7th Group at Fort Bragg around 1971. The A-team detachment is made up of a mix of seasoned veterans and newly trained junior NCO's. The novel profiles a history of Special Forces and SF involvement during the Vietnam War through the building of senior NCO team member characters. It moves through an interesting series of field training exercises, involving a romance for one of the Junior team members, a communications NCO named Sgt. Ron Winkle. Each of the characters on the A-Team is profiled in some way and each has an interesting story to tell, ranging from the formation of C&C SOG Recon teams in the 60's to stateside contemporary incidents, such as the national guard shootings at Kent State. Somehow, the author manages to weave these events together in a lively, well constructed tale, which captured and held my attention throughout the reading of it. There are times when I was laughing on one page and sniveling on the next. Clearly, the book concludes on a venue which sets the stage for the next novel. I can hardly wait for it. All in all, it was a great book, one which I believe will become a classic in SF lore.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Page Turner Cliff Hanger Jan 15, 2010
By D. Parkhurst
I have just finished reading "De Oppresso Liber". I have unbridled, unreserved, exuberant enthusiasm for the book. I absolutely loved it.
Dr. Southerland has the soul of a poet and is an excellent writer. Above all, he is a captive story teller.
I revelled in the medical scenes.
I loved the romance scenes,the comraderie between the men,and the test mission was incredibly exciting. I laughed aloud at so many of the scenes: one in particular is the initiation of the brave young warrier by the tribal priest. That was hysterical and I won't spoil it.
The scenes with Kath - the kidnapping of the bride at the wedding and the remainder of the exercise where she is questioned - will play out beautifully in the movie which must be made.
The characterization is excellent: we get to know each of these people, we appreciate their relationships, we feel as if they are family.
But, we are left hanging. This was definitely a cliff-hanger: we know the beginning and we know the ending but we don't know the middle. And, given that this is a page-turner, it's extremely frustrating to have to wait for the next sequel, "A Thousand Autumns."
I recommend this book to two groups of people: those who remember the war in Viet Nam and those who do not.
Dr. Southerland is to be commended on weaving a mesmerizing tale that is entertaining, happy, sad, exciting, thrilling and downright entertaining.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent read Apr 23, 2010
By J Fassett
De Oppresso Liber is like a Nelson DeMille adventure, but with the detail of Sebastian Junger's 'The Perfect Storm'. Anyone who is in or associated with the military will appreciate this novel. Woven into the story is a bit of pivotal history that if heeded may have altered the political landscape of Southeast Asia. The joy of reading is not only to be entertained, but to learn something that remodels the way you think. 'A Thousand Autums' is up next.
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