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Sir Ranulph Fiennes

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The Feather Men Hardcover – January 1, 1993

by Ranulph Fiennes (Author)

4.2 297 ratings

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The story of how a private British vigilance committee eliminated a group of contract killers who were targeting British soldiers for death

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

William Morrow & Co
Publication date

January 1, 1993
Dimensions

6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0688121349
ISBN-13

978-0688121341
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Founded in England in the late 1960s, the so-called Committee, otherwise known as the Feather Men, was a vigilante group dedicated to solving crimes that the police could not. This absorbing book details their 14-year struggle to capture the Clinic, a band of contract killers who murdered four former British soldiers. The background was this: Amr bin Issa, sheikh of a tribe in Oman, had lost four sons in his country's civil wars. Although tradition demanded that he avenge their deaths, he did nothing and was deposed as sheikh. Then he arranged with the Clinic to kill the servicemen believed responsible for the deaths of his sons. How the hired killers went about their task (making each murder look like an accident), how they were finally apprehended and how this case in 1990 also put an end to the Committee--or so Fiennes ( Hell on Ice ) contends its members have assured him--makes for a highly suspenseful tale. Readers will be given pause, however, by Fiennes's wont to romanticize vigilante justice and his assertion that for 20 years the British "have had good reason to be grateful for the Feather Men's protective presence." Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is the extraordinary story of a group of Englishmen who provide protection and rough justice for former members and their families of the SAS (Special Air Service). The group, known as the Feather Men because of their light touch, learned of a pattern of assassination of former SAS soldiers and attempted to avert further murders. The story is told from the point of view of both the Feather Men and the Clinic, an independent organization of contract killers. The narrative relates the chilling details of each execution, as well as the secret meetings, bloody guerrilla battles, and gradual discovery of the identity and purpose of the Clinic. The action ranges over half the globe, with such diverse landscapes as the mountains of Oman and the Welsh countryside richly evoked. The denouement reveals explorer Fiennes's very personal reasons for agreeing to tell the story and provides a justification for the vigilante activities of the Feather Men. Although at times stretching credulity, this enthralling page-turner will be a good addition to war and true crime collections.
- Ben Harrison, East Orange P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow & Co (January 1, 1993)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0688121349
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0688121341
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.57 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,829,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,114 in England History

Customer Reviews:
4.2 297 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

297 global ratings

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S. P. R.

Recently read . . . for the 2nd time

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2013

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This was a really good book and though I liked the movie, it would have had to have been a miniseries to colapse and condence the time and amount of content that the book offers. I found the book hard to put down. I did not want to stop reading it even when 1 AM rolled round and I had to be up for work by 5 AM.
You get a lot more character complexity in the book than the movie, you understand why the Sheik had conducted his revenge, Danny the assassin is not who you think he is, under the surface, the layers of his personality show through, Spike the Ex- SAS man tough as nails, God Save the Queen, sacrificing ALL for his beleif in counrty and Duty even after forced retirment(a quality many SAS men exude)
Ran Fiennes, is Ex-SAS and knows his stuff. there is even a nod to "Lofty" John Wiseman in the book (a 26 or 28 year veteran of the SAS and author of "The SAS survival handbook.) Do yourself a favor and read this book, a really Spy Vs. Spy, special ops, James Bondish, Queen and Country, book. Did I mention it is based in fact? I know, I know, based in fact is subject to conjecture but the events described in his book you can look up for yourself, because Ran Fiennes was there and was part of the operation that got the ball rolling with the assassins in the first place.

So in any event I thought it was a great book and I highly recomned it.

12 people found this helpful

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Torch

Read the book, Don't watch the movie

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2012

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I am very simpathetic to film makers that try to produce a movie out of a book. With that said it tires me to watch the buthery that goes on when 500 pages become 1.5 hours of film. Many a good book has been left on the cutting room floor. This is one such book. The movie IS LOOSELY based on the book. Is the story true or not. Not my problem. Were their holes in the movie big enough to throw a cat through, yes. I may have to stop watching movies based on books that I want to read. I'll stick to reading & watching stupid tv shows, the news takes enough artistic previlege as it is.

2 people found this helpful

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JC

As always, better than the movie

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019

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While some will inevitably argue the authors assertion of this being a factual accounting of the story and events in it, I found it none the less riveting and find myself wanting to believe it so.

Having spent the majority of my police career in investigative work, retiring a detective assigned in my last 10 years specializing in diplomatic/executive protection and conducting contract services doing the same for several years in active war zones - both in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I have had the honor of working with many men of some of the world's special forces.

While not knowing them to any degree approaching the way they knew each other, I nevertheless entrusted my life to them and they me. Their dedication to duty and sense of honor always impressed me & I thought it was well represented here leaving little wonder (to me anyway) why I find myself wanting to believe the accounts contained in this well written story.

While I understand that business is business and changing the title to capitalize on the highly commercialized Hollywood very loose rendering of this story made sense,
I find the original title far more appropriate and fitting.

8 people found this helpful

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Kari F.

Killer Elite

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2012

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I was pretty disappointed at first when I couldn't find the original copy of this book (The Feather Men) for under $50. However, this book is exactly the same (see inside cover) EXCEPT for the cover. The story follows the original exactly. Now, if you are buying this with expectations that it is going to be like the movie, you will be in for a surprise. There are parts that are the same but this is much more detailed, with many more/different characters and sub plots. This book was enjoyable (despite it's slower pace) and VERY well written with tons of details.

4 people found this helpful

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Terry Oreilly

Much stranger than mere fiction

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2012

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I was bored silly in a hotel and flipped on the movie version of this book because I recognized some of the actors.
Boredom left in a hurry as I began to also recognize some of the events. Some lawyer must have suggested the designation of a novel, because this is a true story first published many years ago in the UK. Foregt the absurd movie title. This is a chilling tale of ex-SAS killers on the loose in London in the Sixties. The Feather Men is impossible to put down.
Ranulph Fiennes is one of those English explorers whose life would be impossible to sell as a script. Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, his autobiography, reads like something Ian Fleming would have written if he were bored with Bond.
The Sixties were a time when a frustrated England, aware of its declining state as a world power, indulged in war off the books. See Duff Hart-Davis, The War That Never Was, Century 2011, which brushes accross the same topic as Fiennes. This may not have been published in the US.
Many of our problems in the Middle East are spinoffs from this era, particularly in the Yemen.
If you enjoy spy novels and thrillers, read this book and the next novel will seem tame by comparison. Reflect on why these men were being killed and you will know why peace in the Middle East is so hard to attain. Maybe impossible.

One person found this helpful

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Andy Davis

Between the lines.

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014

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It was said that if you can't tell truth then write a fiction book. The movie gives you more detrailed information; however, yhou need to read between the lines to know it actually hajppened. Governmesnts just don't want you to come right out and say so. This can show you what some particular "ragheads" can djo with the oil money they have. Truth is strrangaer than fiction. Enjoy.

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2021

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I first read this fantastic book in the mid-1990s, when it was published under its original title of "The Feather Men" (a far better title in my opinion) and over the years have recommended it to lots of people. I was reminded of it when talking to someone in October and decided to reread it. Still found it completely captivating and extremely well written. Strongly suggest you give it a go.

One person found this helpful

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Caith

Intriguing

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2020

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I plan to keep this fasinating book to re-read. I believe every word of it.

I have always felt many of the plane crashes worldwide were sabatage, not pilot or mechanical error. The target was at least one person on the plane. This book reinforces that.

This is a man's book, but as a woman, I appreciated the many thought provoking messages. Wow! What a book.

One person found this helpful

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otto

La cruda realtà

Reviewed in Italy on August 12, 2019

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Ho visto il film e mi è piaciuto anche il libro da cui ha avuto l'ispirazione, non male, anche perché basato su una storia vera

One person found this helpful

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R. Schwenk

Eine wahre Geschichte

Reviewed in Germany on January 22, 2017

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Eine Geschichte, die sich in etwa so zugetragen hat. Die staatlichen Dokumente unterliegen nach wie vor der Geheimhaltung. Sir Ranuph Fiennes ist in YouTube zu finden, eine beeindruckende Persönlichkeit. Das Buch ist, aus meiner Sicht, wertvoller als 1000 rein fiktive Krimis.

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AVINASH D HEMMADY

much much better than the movie

Reviewed in India on October 3, 2015

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Superlative book. Very well written, much much better than the movie,obviously. Delves deep into the world of special operatives, hired assasins etc etc. Even more hard hitting coz this happened in real life!! Superb

3 people found this helpful

Roger Dessagne

il y a de meilleurs romans

Reviewed in France on July 31, 2013

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Le contenu - Si comme moi, vous avez été déçus par le film, lisez le roman, certes ce n'est pas le meilleur roman sur ce sujet de troupes d'élite, les SAS, même si l'auteur en a fait partie, mais c'est plus clair que le film... La livraison de cet exemplaire "comme neuf" est irréprochable et à un prix plus abordable.

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JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ

No se indica correctamente el idioma en el que está escrito el libro

Reviewed in Spain on February 14, 2013

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No estaba en castellano, no indicándolo en la realización de la compra.
Mis expectativas no se encuentran satisfechas en su totalidad.

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