This is the sequel to Guns of Navarone and also been made
into a movie. As usual I must say that the book is so much more exciting to
read. It is still set in the time of the World War 2 but in the region of former
Yugoslavia. Just as Mallory, Miller and Andrea finish the mission to blow up
the guns of Navarone and are on the ship for the return journey they get a
message from their boss saying they are urgently needed. This means returning to
the island of Navarone to pick up Andrea who they had left behind.
They are to be parachuted into Yugoslavia on the side of the
Partisans who were fighting for liberation from the Germans. The politics of
the place as well as its geography always leave me feeling lost for some reason
but the idea is that Mallory, Miller and Andrea along with 3 commandos are to
go and rescue the 4 people sent in earlier and to find out where the leak was
as the Germans got hold of the information of their arrival and captured them
as they landed. Along with that they had to convince the Germans that the
Partisans were expecting an attack from a certain place. Mallory however has
been briefed separately and so it leaves one wondering what the real agenda is?
They land and are immediately picked up by a group of
soldiers and after going some way they find that it is the Germans who have
captured them. Mallory and his group immediately pretend that they were happy
as they were runaways from Italy. They would help the Germans in getting the
information they want from the Partisans. The young commandos are not entirely
happy as they have not been given any information and keep questioning their orders.
They trek through the snow and mountainous terrain to reach the partisans and return
with the information. Their guides are a blind man and his sister who move
about without any fear as people are generally fearful of this blind singing
minstrel.
They have found out where the men they have come to rescue
are being held and capture the German commander and his next in command to help
them reach the prisoners. So how will they escape from the country? The story seems
to be coming to an end and you are still midway through the novel. It is then you
find out what exactly is the mission. Will the impossible task ever be
achieved? But then if anyone can achieve the impossible it is this team. I
think the phrase ‘mission impossible’ actually applies to the Guns of Navarone
and Force 10 from Navarone. How will they cope with the enemy chasing behind
them and need for speed as well as highly difficult task in the dead of night
and occasional bright moonlight which is not really helpful? Will they be able
to save the boxed Partisans from the German tank and artillery divisions’ assault?
This is a wonderful story and as per usual the writing of Alistair
MacLean is superb. The story grips you and does not give you a chance to breathe.
It rushes headlong but has lighter moments with the usual dry humour to stop it
being too intense. The wonderful description allows you to ‘see’ the places in
your mind’s eye clearly. The central characters are heroes of this war and they
are modest just doing their job which just elevates them into a league of their
own. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read
thrillers and mysteries.
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