Rating: 
Summary: Hits and misses...
Review: Starts off with a bang and the promise of action and intrigue, but is dulled by the halfway mark, when I realised two painful truths:a) The titular secret weapon, at the end of the day, is really nothing spectacular; and b) An experienced reader will have guessed the identity of Jericho way before it's finally revealed. The exact same trick was used a decade ago by another British author, Gordon Stevens, but with more subtle clues. Apart from that, Forsyth should really have exercised some restraint. The narrative frequently halts for passages of pedantic detail. Also, some threads are needlessly long, the worst offender being the Israeli intrigue in Vienna, which is largely inconsequential. This really hurts the pace later in the book when brevity and smart use of narrative shortcuts would have helped in fostering the sense of urgency that the situation deserved.
Rating: 
Summary: Edge of Your Seat Thriller with Fascinating Plot!
Review: Before commenting, let me indicate that I am reviewing the abridged audio cassette version of this book performed by Mr. Simon Jones. This audio cassette version clearly deserves more than five stars. It is the most enjoyable one that I have ever listened to. In addition, this is my favorite of the Forsyth novels. Frederick Forsyth is a masterful plotter. In this case, he has woven a story that unusual complexity with delicate balance of perspectives using real details. I remember reading about everything mentioned in this book in some press report related to the Gulf War against the Iraqis after the invasion of Kuwait. The plot is so well done that it will add new depths to your understanding of the political considerations that played such a large role in the Gulf War. If government studies were written as interestingly as this novel is, all college students would be government majors. There is fascinating technology in the story, but the novel is reined in by large doses of realism that make the material more interesting for its relevance. If you are like me, you have often wondered about the following questions: (1) Why did Saddam Hussein survive the successful prosecution of the war by the allies? (2) How might target planners determine where weapons of mass destruction were being developed and housed? (3) Why did Saddam Hussein prepare so poorly for the U.S.-led attack? (4) Why did the Iraqis stop with Kuwait, when the more attractive target of Saudi Arabia lay just ahead essentially undefended? Mr. Forsyth offers a number of plausible and interesting possible answers to these and other questions you surely have had and may still have. To me, the drawback of a Forsyth novel is that they can become bogged down in too much detail. Foreign names can also quickly cause the eyes to glaze over as well. You will be pleased to know that this abridgement (approved by Mr. Forsyth) overcomes both of those potential problems. The elegant plot is tautly maintained, and moves along rapidly. Mr. Jones takes all of the tongue-twisting, unfamilar names and pronounces them in accented ways that capture the lyricism inherent in the various Middle Eastern and European cultures displayed here. I have only one complaint. Unfortunately, Mr. Jones chose to characterize many Americans as "cowboys" so those characters' raw, harsh accents will be the least attractive to listen to for you. Some of the most interesting aspects of the book for me included Major Mike Morgan's (of Britain's Special Air Service) operations behind enemy lines in Kuwait and Iran, the psychology of the inner council that served Saddam Hussein, the complicity of Western sources in making dangerous weapons available to the Iraqis, the methods by which many different types of intelligence sources can be used to build a composite picture of an issue, the morality of trying to save lives in combat, and the political agendas of the Americans. Israelis will find the operations of the Mossad described in ways that are highly complimentary about that country's intelligence operations. One of the really intriguing thoughts you will have after reading this book is what secrets are still being kept about American intentions towards Iraq. After you finish enjoying hearing this book read to you, I suggest that you find a veteran of the Gulf War who feels comfortable taling about it, and ask what her or his impressions are of what happened there. Although most of us watched this nightly on CNN, we have perhaps become too distanced from the fundamental horrors of war. This will be a good way to be sure that we learn the lessons that should be learned from this experience, and also honor those who served the world in the desert. May the fist of God always be relaxed into the open hand of God's peace.
Rating:
Summary: The Master's Masterpiece
Review: Frederick Forsyth is The Master of spy litterature. Forget Ludlum, Follet, and specially Clancy. No other writer manages to assemble the level of research - technical, historical, and biographical - that support and illustrate his stories. He is absolutely believable - he draws amazing plots and solves them without calling the reader stupid - Forget the sci-fi gadgets, rambo actions, and other easy way-outs that the Clancys of life plot to escape their own literary traps. Forsyth is subtle, smooth, classy - and yet you just can't drop the book. He knows all the tricks of the trade on spying. This book is the Master's masterpiece. Placed within a real context (as in Day of the Jackal, Odessa File, Fourth Protocol, etc.), with real, and accurate historical bacground and people, Forsyth's makes you believe that the underlying story he devised to account for the Gulf War has indeed happened . At a certain point, there is a mention of Bibi Netaniahu, former Israeli prime minister (even though Bibi had only a marginal appearance in the story), with full, accurate, biographical information (such as his brother commanding and dying at the Israeli rescue at Entebbe in the early 70's). The interesting part here is that the book was written much before Netaniahu took ofice and became well known - such is the degree of research and realism that Forsyth manages to assemble. A classic book, a must read. After Forsyth, you will find Ludlum OK, Follet nice but simplistic, and Clancy poor. Sure, Clancy knows military equipment like no one else. But having read Rainbow 6, I felt treated like stupid (people who want to exterminate civilization, Rambo scenes with superman in action, etc. - a whole trap he assembles - and well, indeed - but can't escape with due class).
Rating:
Summary: One of the best of the genre.
Review: There is a reason why so many other reviewers rave about this book. Just like his earlier works, from "The Day of the Jackal"' to "The Devil's Alternative", he keeps the reader turning the pages. Even though we know going in that Iraq loses in the end, it is an incredibly compelling story. It may be Forsyth's best read ever. F. Forsyth is a master of suspense novels, taking factual bases and turning them into riveting stories. This is as great as any of his earlier works. The plot twists are stunning. His research is the equal of Tom Clancy's. His writing style is so much tighter, and there does not seem to be a single wasted word. If you have an early morning meeting, or something else that must be done, DO NOT start this book.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding!
Review: I loved this book, it's definetely one of Frederick Forsyth's best. It's about the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait and refuses to pull out. Why? Why risk an almost certain defeat....or is it? Is there something he knows that we don't know? This is the question bugging the allies. Enter Mike Martin, a brilliant SAS major who can pass as an Arab due to skin colour, hair and fluent arabic. The allies send him to Kuwait and then to Baghdad to run the Iraqi spy Jericho and seek out information. In here are the vintage Forsyth trademarks:great detail, engrossing plot and great blending of fact with fiction, combining to produce his greatest books since "The Dogs of War"! I hope that they make a mini-series instead of a movie as a 2-hour movie cannot do the book justice, it is simply one of the best books I have ever read! 10 out of 5 stars, definetely! A must-read!
Rating:
Summary: Forsyth Does It Again!
Review: In his novel 'The Fist of God,' Forsyth tells the story of the gulf war with the (fictional?) threat of Iraqi nuclear capability. The story is multi-leveled and centers around British and American attempts to sabotage the production of an Iraqi atomic bomb. The characters range from a British commando behind the lines in Kuwait, to a Mossad agent romancing a European banker, to the butcher of bagdad himself, Saddam Hussein. Along the way, the reader is treated to Forsyth's unique style that keeps the pace moving from page one. Like the novels of Tom Clancy, this one makes you wonder just how much the author knows about the inner-workings of Washington, London, and other centers of power throughout the world. How much of this novel is true? I don't know. But I do know that for anyone who loves great action and well thought out thrillers this is a novel that is sure to please.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent blend of fact and fiction...
Review: I don't normally read spy thrillers of this type, and this was the first of Forsyth's books I've read, but I loved it! I grabbed this book from my husband one day when I was bored, and was drawn in immediately by the tense prose and gripping plotline. I won't give a synopsis, you can get that above. But I will say I read this almost straight through from start to finish. No one seems to know how much of this novel is really true, and in the end, that doesn't matter, because it's writen so well that it might as well be true. The plot is crafted around a war that really happened, and the author spoke with those who had taken part in the war, giving his work an authenticity hard to match. If you're looking for an intelligent novel of this genre, then this one is hard to beat. Don't hesitate!
Rating:
Summary: Terrifyingly true fiction...or is it?
Review: I've been reading a few of Forsyth novel such as 'The days of the Jackal', Odessa File and Dogs of war. But this one has to be my favourite. Being a former military man myself, it really interest me how accurate and knowledgable the author was on the military intricate strategy in mass desert warfare which are made up of alot of separate operations which have the same objective...to make sure the fist of god was never operational. There was really no hard concrete evidence it exist, but there was also no hard concrete evidence that it didn't. As the saying goes 'Absence of evidence, is not evident of absence. I watch and observed the gulf war event with great interest and as much as possible with out prejudice and bias to any side. This book does bring the other (fictionally ?)missing puzzel which make up the bigger picture of how the conflict was negotiated with extreme prejucide. On the books, the character build up of the key people in the novel was most impressive, giving the reader an almost sympathetic attachement with the character along the journey of the story. The author's ability to tie in all the individual character to one plot in the end, produces an adrenalin climax and a good closure. Highly recommended to those who missed the actions, you know who you are.
Rating: 
Summary: A mesmerizing book
Review: A true classical espionage story.The Allied forces launch a desperate search for Saddam's secret weapon. Their man behind the scenes finally comes through. A very good depiction of the Gulf war.The ending is worth the price of the book. Another winner from Forsythe.
Rating:
Summary: Masterful!
Review: Frederick Forsyth has for a long time been the hand that has penned some of the greatest espionage thrillers ever written. But with the Fist of God, he definitely defines himself as the master of his craft. He weaves fact with his own fiction so deftly that you never know whether the Gulf War might actually have been the way it was in his book. The escapades of Mike Martin will keep you turning the pages right until the end, a brilliant climax of the best literary tension blended with credible action. A definite read for all Forsyth fans.
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