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by Al Bohl
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by Darwin Porter
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by Cherie & Shirley Parenteau
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by Doris R. Meredith
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by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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No Comebacks
by Frederick Forsyth
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Bantam (1983-03-01)
ISBN: 0553199854
EAN: 9780553199857
Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: 1983-03-01
SKU: mon0000014791
Condition: Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Deception, blackmail, murder, revenge – these are the themes of stories that move from London to the coast of Spain, from Mauritius to Dublin to Dordogne. Whether his subject is assassination by stealth, the cruel confidence trick or the cold shock of coincidence, Frederick Forsyth is never less than compulsive, the detail always authentic.
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Customer Reviews
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Meticulous, able, satisfying
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-02-10
Forsyth's method is almost formulaic. These stories are carefully planned, then meticulously realised. You can see how he has an idea, researches and/or thinks it through, then spells it out precisely, neither skipping nor wasting words. There's no ebullience or flights of wit, surrealism or insight. The characters are all described dispassionately, at a distance, and are frightfully British - reserved, self-controlled, non-demonstrative. A strange way to describe a book that includes several murders, blackmail over illicit sex, and even big game fishing, but Forsyth, while professionally conveying detail, doesn't write in order to make our heart beat faster.
However, he does write with an addictive slow burn. These stories aren't flashy, but they are satisfying and meaty. The twists are generally potent, and occasionally you have the added bonus of the little man surprisingly overcoming.
I first read this collection over twenty years ago, and it says something for the lasting impact of these stories that I could still clearly recall several of them: the irony of `No Comebacks' and `There are no snakes in Ireland'; the epic metamorphosis of `The Emperor'; and the delightful justice of `Privilege' have all stayed with me through the years.
It could be seen as dated, but I'd more see it as an able time piece: you can feel, for example, the 70s society so wonderfully pilloried by the Monty Python TV shows in these pages. Moreover the ideas for these stories (except, perhaps, `Sharp Practise', the weakest of the series: an (obvious) accomplice is hardly a shock twist) are consistently strong, and ably presented.
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The Best Short Stories I've Read
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-01-29
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
Forsyth is a master of detail, encased in tight, fine prose. In this collection of short stories, his hallmark of fine fiction derived from real-life situations prevails in an assortment of unexpected, even surprising, tales mostly of ordinary people leading ordinary lives. Several command re-reading, especially "The Emperor", which women will hate and men will adore.
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Don't Believe What You Hear."
Rating  (3)
Date: 2006-08-11
In 'No Comebacks,' Mark found more than he bargained for when the Corsician assassin told him to strip. He had his public and 'professional' life, his private life, and his secret life -- none of which matched the London tycoon personna he projected. In his kind of fast lane wheeling and dealing, there are no comebacks, but he did not see this one coming. As in any kind of business, even radio, there are no comebacks from scandal. On air pranks and stunts are not acceptable at any time, and yet a group of incorrigibles got away with it free and clear. At least, they thought so, until a stranger entered their world with a mission of revenge.
In another story, there is a libel victim exacting sweet revenge. 'A Careful Man' wasn't careful enough as he wandered around his meek neighborhood for his usual two-block walk. 'There Are Some Days' and 'There Are No Snakes in Ireland' regardless to what you've heard are strange and different. "You are not obliged to say anything, but anything you say will be taken down and may be used in evidence." He can write on many diverse subjects, even in French. Writing is magical. The empty page is where you start to put together the disparate parts of your life. Once you put it down on paper, you can figure out how all your plans can start to come together. Most writers are clearly aware of this unless they have the so-called writers' block.
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Awesome
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-08-01
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I loved the twist endings, some were funny, some insighrful, others a little boring, but the overall effect was good. Great writing style, and interesting enough plots for short stories and the irony of life.
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Like Ten Shots From a Semi-Automatic
Rating  (4)
Date: 2005-09-07
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Very few writers are equally good at both novels and short stories. I will not leave you in suspense - Frederick Forsyth is a better novelist. That is not a problem, however, as his novels are strong enough that he can dip a bit below that level and still be quite good. NO COMEBACKS demonstrates this.
As one would expect from Forsyth, the stories in this collection often have either a violent or malicious undercurrent to them or explore the inner recesses of man's psyche. Many of the stories have a bit of a twist at the end, with some easy to see, others a bit harder, while still others appear to be apparent only to take a last minute swerve to somewhere else. My personal favorite is Money With Menace because it illustrates one of my favorite principles - you should not mess with someone even if he looks to be a sap because you never know when that other guy is tougher and nastier than you. The story Duty is out of place, which Forsyth acknowledges in a footnote. But as it is claimed to be true, I am glad it is included and the story did stay with me for a while after reading it.
Forsyth unfortunately tends to be far too technical with some of his descriptions. Usually this is easily overlooked but becomes irritating in the story The Emperor with its details of fishing equipment. I suppose, however, that one does not earn Forsyth's reputation without an eye for detail and one cannot blame a man for showing it. Get the book to read a story or two between larger and heavier books and you will not be disappointed.
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