 | | |
| Point of Impact | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephen Hunter
Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $7.98 (100%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  (182 reviews)
Sales Rank: 11585
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 592
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 0553563513
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780553563511
ASIN: 0553563513
Publication Date: December 1, 1993
Release Date: November 1, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 A guilty pleasure March 24, 2007
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
A techno-thriller similar to the early Tom Clancy - the technical details are the strength. The "thriller" isn't - it is something that I tolerated as a contrivance to get from one riff on the technology to the next.
The characterizations range from the one-dimensional to the cartoon-ish. The hero is super-human, not only in his performance, but in his ability to calculate in detail what unknown adversaries will do.
Its a good read, although you will likely find yourself groaning at times at the characters, the artificial situations, and implausible plot twists.
Terrific Story Impact March 17, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Absolutely Outstanding. I read Stephen Hunter's Point of Impact many years ago just as this type of genre was beginning to introduce itself. The lone, quiet Vietnam hero just trying to make it while caught up in the materialistic, overly complex, anything-goes-as-long-as-I-get-mine world of lies, deceit, and treachery. I kept the book in my "keeper" library and when the movie "Shooter" was due for release I decided it was time to once again visit Bob Lee Swagger of Blue Eye, Arkansas. All I can say is it was just as good if not better the second time around.
This is without a doubt so far the best of Mr. Hunter's novels. The plot is quick paced, tight, and filled with just enough techno-geewhiz that you can't put it down. At a healthy 569 pages it took me 3 days to follow the wonderful story. Character development was superb and lends itself to future Swagger books. The 4th is due sometime next year. Although there were numerous characters, Mr. Hunter did a masterful job of introducing and developing them as the plot moved along. Excellent use of action but no gratuitous violence or sex. Some graphic violence was a must to make the plot realistic but Mr. Hunter did what was required and no more. Some coarse language but again it was to make the story real.
All in all Hunter's best so far. A must read, especially for that long overdue vacation. I am very curious to see how the book fares in the movie. Somehow I just can't see how a 2 hour movie can do it justice.
I would really like to see Bob Lee Swagger meet up with Jack Reacher; I think they would really like each other!
 Point Of Impact March 14, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've become somewhat saddened by the garden variety thriller genre. Most of my disgust with the modern thriller genre is that it now seems to mimic popularity over originality as evidenced by adventure thrillers using historical relevance in the plot alas Dan Brown. So begrudgingly I recently picked up a copy of Point of Impact mainly for the upcoming release of Shooter. Doing so I discovered an amazingly technical thriller that is easily recommendable for a nicely convoluted plot, decent characterization, and a nice amount of action. Hunters Bob Lee Swagger is a good character to write a series on although I didn't like his constant showing up to the secondary character of Nick Memphis. The technical details of shooting shows someone with a great deal of knowlege in what He's writing about. Its also better to not watch promo material for Shooter as the book does contain some nice well choreographed suprises. If I had one complaint its that like other writers who do better with action, I didn't like the romantic involvement Hunter imparts upon his characters. His description of Swagger falling through floors was overly dramatic and somewhat boring in describing love making. Also despite being decent, the book goes on for too long after the main villains have been killed. Its at least sixty pages afterwards before the book ends which was too much in my opinion.
Other than a great read well worth it if theres nothing on your docket for a while.
Hunter's Impact! March 8, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Since the movie is coming out soon, titled "Shooter" instead of the novel's name, I thought I'd read this book. I've seen this author's name and novels for over a decade, but for some unexplicable reason, never tried them.
My bad.
Stephen Hunter is an extraordinary writer. Point of Impact proves it.
It has everything a classic novel of this type has. Even though I loved this book, and know the movie will not be nearly as good, I will still see the movie and have purchased four more of this author's novels.
It is too bad that this novel could be made into a better television mini-series to do it justice. That's what it would need to tell the full story.
But if you haven't tried a Hunter novel, this is a great place to start. Highly entertaining.
The best suspense thriller March 5, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I read or listen to 75-100 books per year. I originally read this book in hardcover when it was first published and thought it was the best of its genre that I had ever read. I just re-read the book. I enjoyed it even more the second time. I have read all of Hunter's books that feature the hero of this book, Bob Lee Swagger, and those that feature his father Earl. All of them are entertaining. This one is the best. It has great characters and clever plot twists. If you like thrillers, read this one. You will be hard pressed to find a better read.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| | |