The Amazing SAS

By: Ian McPhedran

Narrated by: Peter Byrne

Who dares wins. For the soldiers and officers of Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment‚ this is not just their professional motto‚ but a creed that shapes their lives. The SAS is among the world's most respected special forces units‚ a crack team of men from the Australian Defence Force who can be relied upon to handle the most difficult‚ strategically sensitive and dangerous of military tasks. Now The Amazing SAS provides a thrilling insight into the way this country's SAS soldiers are selected and trained‚ and reveals fascinating details about recent SAS deployments: East Timor‚ the 2000 Olympic games‚ the Tampa‚ the Afghanistan campaign and the regiment's action-packed mission in Iraq.©2005 Ian McPhedran and Verona Burgess. Ian McPhedran and Verona Burgess assert their moral right to be identified as the authors of this Work. (P)2009 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"A snaphot of Australia's elite fighting force in the field." (Australian Defence Magazine)

"Gripping reading." (The Sun-Herald)

"This is a comprehensive history of three campaigns ... A well-paced and fact-packed account." (The Canberra Times)

"Since 2001, the Australian SAS (Special Air Service), which is patterned after the British original, has earned itself a reputation for toughness and effectiveness in the mountains of Afghanistan and, since 2003, in the deserts of Iraq. Before 9/11, among other missions, they had been deployed in East Timor and were trained for anti-terror missions during the 2000 Olympics. To some, the Australian accent, while providing authenticity to this topic, sounds a bit harsher on the ear than the generic English accent – so listeners will need to take that into consideration during this 12-hour narration. Nevertheless, Byrne's reading is as no-nonsense as the text – bordering on the blunt at times but nuanced enough to keep one's attention." (AudioFile Magazine)

E.

Great insight into Australia's special operation.

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i liked it

being ex-military I understand that they didnt put in finer detials about how they cleared room ect. it was there over all stratgie this book give you a inside view off. reading this is probably the closest you will get to knowing the SASR with out joining.
the main review fits the book perfectly, and you get a few recount of the diggers them selfs. what more could you possibly want?

A touch too much self glorification

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, it praises how good the Australian SAS is over and over again. There is no real 'heros journey' or great loss to over come in this book. Every character is so 'good' and 'unreal' that it becomes one big 'aren't we 'f#*king awesome.

What was most disappointing about Ian McPhedran’s story?

The criticism is one sided. If there is any negative, then it is outside the SAS. There is no real insight into this secretive organisation and no history to speak of. I think Ian McPhedran is in love with the SAS.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narrated by Peter Byrne who can't break his style from saying only a few words at a time even if the sentence needs to run through. Very tedious. His accents are clique and swearing seemed fake.

Could you see The Amazing SAS being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Perhaps an Anime Cartoon with any of the actors playing James Bond as the characters.

Any additional comments?

If you want a book to portray the emotion and hardship then Peter Fitzsimons is your author, if you want the history; Paul Ham, if you want a level handed review of the subject then get David McCullough. Entertaining then Michael Palin is your man. Ian McPhedran should stick to writing for his master, Murdock.

Bloody Awsome

What made the experience of listening to The Amazing SAS the most enjoyable?

Peter Byrne is a fantastic narrator.

What other book might you compare The Amazing SAS to and why?

I purchased it because I of the book, Vietnam, The Australian War. It was narrated by Perter Byrne and I enjoyed it.

Have you listened to any of Peter Byrne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

As above

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

A great insite to a great regiment of blokes.

Not as interesting as the title suggests!

The narrator seemed like he was SHOUTING to the listeners! "...this is a great unit you have got to believe me...!" The writer seemed to be trying to get the world to know how GREAT these men & their training IS/ARE...!

I have no doubt SAS is a
GREAT military unit & if I were younger and a citizen of Australia I would join TODAY!

Very GOOD BOOK FOR RECRUITING!