The Majors: Brotherhood of War 03

"Brotherhood of War" is, as another reviewer said of a different volume in the series, a "military soap opera." It's concerned, for the most part, not with battles but with the rhythms of Army lives and careers: changes of post, changes of assignment, promotions, decorations, unexpected reunions with old comrades, and so on. The series has, by now, upwards of three dozen significant continuing characters . . . six or eight of whom qualify as major (in significance, not rank). That's a lot of fictional lives to keep straight and a lot of storylines to keep in motion, but Griffin pulls it off with considerable skill. _The Majors_ keeps you abreast of all the main players from the earlier books, and adds several new ones. Its a fast, satisfying read, and left me eager to pick up _The Colonels_.

That said, _The Majors_ is a step down from _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_. There're a few gunfights, but no big combat scene like the mountain battle in Greece (Bk. 1) or the commando raid into North Korea (Bk. 2). Craig Lowell and Sandy Felter, whose growth as people and as officers gave the first two books much of their depth, are less compelling in _The Majors_. Felter has become more of a plot device than a person. Lowell is in danger of becoming what he threatened to be early in _The Lieutenants_: an insufferable twit with more money than brains. The rest of the main characters fare better, but none of them has the kind of life-changing story arc that Felter got in Book 1 or Lowell got in Book 2.

If you loved the first two books in the series, _The Majors_ will have plenty to keep you interested. If you found yourself wishing that the first two books had more shooting and less soap opera, you'll be even less satisfied this time around.


Vintage W.E.B, Griffin   January 8, 2000
Stephen Buford
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

If you're a Griffin fan, you've probably already read this book and series. The continuing saga of Lowell and company. It's still my favorite of all his series.


military novels   January 22, 2010
J. Macgregor (Australia)
W.E.B. Griffin writes an authentic military novel with great detail that is suitable for non military readers to understand too.
His "people" are real and very human in their endeavours.I highly recommend this Brotherhood of War series as well as his wonderful series about The Corps.


Historical Fiction at its Best   November 28, 2009
cpt matt (tanktown, DE)
Third in the series "The Brotherhood of War" this novel captures the time of French involvement in Vietnam, how the US came to be involved there and the development of US Army aviatation - helicopters. As with his other novels, WEB Griffin (pen name for William E Butterworth) was there when it was all happening.

Our Heros are back, Craig Lowell, Sandy Felter, Phil Parker, MacMillian. Through their eyes, Griffin provides insight what is like to be in the military, to form bonds this tight, to be in the thick of things and come through when it matters most. Griffin succeeds so well because he can put you there and make you feel what these characters are going through.

While each of these novels can stand on their own, it is definately better to read them chronologically. I have re-read this book many times, I enjoy the series very much and highly recommend this book.


Very pleased   November 2, 2009
William F. Reagan (Palo Pinto, Tx United States)
The book received was in better shape than I expected. It was received in a very timely fashion. Being one of a series written by W. E. B. Griffen,I needed this book to complete the series, but was having difficulty finding it.