Free Fall: A Sniper's Story

If you want to know about how it was during the Second Chechen War on the Russian side read this book! It tells the story of the author as a young conscript in a little known unit of the Russian army called the saboteurs and the various missions they performed during this war. Often brutal, with grueling descriptions of the facts, it is nonetheless a very well written account of this conflict as seen from a soldier's perspective, giving excellent details about the combat actions and how it was like during this time. A must read for anyone interested in the Chechen wars!

I enjoyed reading the book a lot.I knew before hand that they did not wanted to sell it anymore as a 100% real happened story, since they could no longer proof it was (the publisher). I did not wanted to read it as it happend for real, but reading it, that rule sometimes got forgotten.The way it is written, feels like it all happened for real, what is not a bad thing in my op-pinion. This effect (at-least for me) is because its written from the I experience, because he does not brag about him being a hero, because the detailed tactics and weapon description, because its written direct (talking way) and because he explains his standpoints always as a bit Neutral.Which in my opinion is the strong part of the book, you join a part of a team that has to do his function in the major army. The missions are always supporting a part of the plan and because he describe the plan well it is easy to live with this whole (army) organization and their plans. Even although he does not even write his side as the -right- side, by being part of the team you do want to accomplish every mission.To this their is also a down side. Since I did not read it as a true war historical memoir, I could not get around it that the whole story line itself is vague. The beginning looks like there is going to follow a straight forward storyline, since joining the army is detailed described. But then suddenly -a- mission start and he just jump from one mission to the next mission, without a real connection. Your teammates are becoming a bit closer to you and you know if he survived to fight the next mission, much more wont happen. Then its a bit hectic, since he can be in the middle of a mission and then think back of an other mission, that apparently was between the already described missions, somewhere?. The writing is all about war tactics and describing a war (horror) atmosphere, without a further well layout (deeper) storyline.So its not a historical book about the war itself (you wont learn anything, why the conflict happens historically and so on), its not a book where you learn how to set up your rifle and its not a real intense thriller where you wander who did what. But as I wrote before, the missions atmosphere itself are well written, like it all happened for real (and who knows parts did, since he was in the army). Next to that I did feel like I was part of that team, not that I was the "I" in the book, but on a way you know everyone well enough to see that they are not all angels and still wish them luck. How a mission ends you do wander while reading. So after accepting the change in writing style from the beginning, I enjoyed it as a good atmospheric book and divers between my normal thrillers. I am glad I read it.I gave it 4 star (cause I liked it and for me its more then just ok) but 3.5 stars would visually look better.

This book shows the cruelty of modern warfare. It shows also the world from a different perspective. You get immersed in situations that you would have never imagined but that are very real

Real life story from first hand of a sniper in chechnya! It's relly brutal and leaves nothing to imagination, it is packed with real life action which is far more brutal than anything seen in movies or fiction books. It portrays life in russian army to the fullest.Whole brutality of war is presented as it is, after reading this you can only be happy to live a normal life!

....some of the stories and events are quite remarkable and they do make you wonder whether they happened at all. Subsequent interviews with the author do appear to suggest that the book is not a memoir (as advertised), but a piece of fiction mixed with some truths and half truths. Decent read all the same.

I was surpsrised how easy and fast I could read this book. I personally know someone who fought in that war on Russian side so it was intresting to get some comfirmation about some rumors/facts I have heard before.

Somewhat entertaining read tainted by Russian imperialistic ambitions. The depiction of the Chechens does not even reach the level of being one-dimensional, they appear solely as shooting targets or war victims, which furthermore belong to the wrong religion, therefore may be skinned and burned alive. The pages turn quickly but this is certainly not great literature.

A very interesting book, I read it in three days (and I am a very busy person), better than an action movie. That Russia has survived to the chaos of the 90 is a test of its fortitude. The role of USA giving weapon sofisticads and all kinds of equipment to the Islamic and mercenary terrorists who were fighting against the Christian Russians is deplorable, as almost always that knows the behavior of USA across trustworthy sources. A very advisable book. I received information that it's not true that this is a real memoir's book, only an aventure novel. It's interesting to read but it's a fraud.[...]

A superb account of the gruesome realities of war written in a very vivid style. A story which leaves the reader breathless from the beginning to the end. It is life which after all takes the upper hand after war. A very deep profound reading, very difficult to imagine being better written.

Easily one of the best books l've read in the last two years. Wasn't really sure about it at first, but the author keeps you hooked with continued battles as they play out. Riveting and moving at times. A must read.

A few are born into what they be come. But most are moulded through the furnace of what surround their life

Great book

Très réaliste donne un vraie panorama de la situation en Tchétchénie et de l armée russe en campagne.Je le recommande à qui veut se faire une idée sur ce conflit