Exocet Stage Right (Exocet - Jack Higgins)

Member Name: samueltyler

Product:	Exocet - Jack Higgins
Date:	02/04/09 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great action, guilty pleasure

Disadvantages: Poor prose, bad romantic elements

War is a useful source material for any author. It is a time when emotions are heightened and actions take place. You can concentrate on how individuals deal with the pressure of conflict, or instead focus on epic battles. When it comes down to what war is good for, the answer could be fiction writing. However, it is important to remember that war is real and that actual people, including your readership, may have been involved. In the case of WW2 the combat touched everyone. How long do you wait to set a story during a war - whilst it's happening, 10 years later? In the case of Jack Higgins and the Falklands War he must have started writing it the first day a British Ship was attacked because 'Exocet' came out soon after the conflict had ended. Could a book so close to the real life events have succeeded by being more contemporary?

When the Argentinean's went to war over the Malvinas with Britain they felt that a combination of Air strength and missiles would lead them to victory. However, it was not long until the air force became depleted due to Britain's superior fire power. In Higgins' 'Exocet' the only option left is for the Argentines to purchase more Exocet Missiles. With a war between Argentina and Britain the Soviet Union can see potential in undermining their governments. Shadowy Russians set up a chain of events that will bring together a dashing Argentine airman and a British female spy. Gabriele must discover what Raul is up to before he can rearm his country. As a spy she is trained for almost everything, but not for falling in love.

'Exocet' is a quintessential Higgins novel and follows the pattern that he has recreated many times. Ever since he introduced the character of Brigadier Ferguson and his shadowy network of spies Higgins has produced the same book over and over again from the Villiers novels through to the later Dillon books. This is a good or bad thing depending on your love of the author. Personally, I have a soft spot for his silly action prose, but many people will not. With this in mind I will try to glean some specific positives and negatives from the book.

Setting a book in a war from 1982 and publishing in 1983 seems a little opportunist for my liking. In fact, the book almost feels like it has been rushed to press, or at least altered from its original setting to add contemporary action. The problem is that although the Falklands conflict is the reason behind the action taking place, very little actually occurs there. This book is all about how matters unravelled on the home front. Usually, Higgins is able to balance the action story with the spy story, in 'Exocet' I feel that perhaps too much emphasis was placed on the spy storyline.

To compound the problem with the spy storyline is the fact that it is also a romantic subplot. Frosty Gabriele soon has her heart melted by the dashing and honest Raul. What follows is a Mills and Boon style romance. Higgins is awful at writing relationships and seems to live in a world were women are independent until they fall into the arms of a real man! It was cringe worthy at times and added little to the plot as no matter what happened to Raul he would remain a decent chap. The only positive things I can say about the lovey parts of the book is that I got guilty pleasure from the way it concluded.

The much more successful parts of the book are the action set pieces. It is here that Higgins is in his comfort zone and is able to consistency write great action. The two stand out parts of the book are when Villiers covertly enters the Falklands and the final action sequence on a remote island. When there are bullets flying and men dying there are not many better writers that Higgins. As an author he is pure cheese, but every now and again you need a book were men shout their surnames at one another!

The quality of this book relies solely on the balance between the spy, romance and action sequences. For none fans of Higgins I cannot recommend the book as it is laboured in parts and does not have enough action to be worth it. However, as someone who has read almost all of the authors work I still enjoyed it. Like slipping on a pair of comfortable slippers I soon got back into the easy style and great action set pieces. The sub standard romance and awkward closeness to the war it reflects make this a below average Higgins novel, but one worth reading for his fans.

Author: Jack Higgins
Year: 1983
Price: Amazon uk - 0.01p (2nd hand)

P.S. One of the greatest covers ever : )

Summary: One for fans of the Higgster.