a terrible story told very well

Based on a true story, it was interesting, but I found this too detailed and drawn out too long. At times it felt like a cross between a news report, textbook and novel. It was worthwhile reading, just not very exciting. And the pictures in the middle of the book, (that's where they showed up in the eversion I read, maybe did in paper?) totally gave away the ending halfway through. I,m sure some readers already know how it ends from being familiar with the news story of the time, but I didn't and it took away the little suspense it had.

es un viaje adrenalínico lleno de contratiempo de un grupo de norteamericanos escapando de irán.

Es un libro que si bien parte “lento” poco a poco va tomando ritmo en base a todo lo que pasa con respecto al cambio de gobierno y como la ideología “anti americano” empieza a tomar fuerza por todo irán.

Mis personajes favoritos sin dudas son simmons y coburn y strauffers. Ya que tienen solución para cada caso dentro del escape, poniéndose en los casos mas extremos de cosas que puedan suceder.

Another enjoyable read. I do prefer his fiction books to this one, and found it a bit odd that he wrote it. However, it was in many ways a classic Follett and I read it in just a few hours. The true story of how Ross Perot (and his money and connections) got his imprisoned workers out of Iran, back in the days when no one was safe there due to the revolution.

Follett steps away from his fiction thrillers to tell the real life story of two EDS employees working in Iran who were arrested and held in an Iranian jail without being charged with anything in 1979 prior to the Iranian hostage situation. I knew nothing about this till reading the book.

I also gained a new found respect for Ross Perot, who was the owner of EDS and later became a presidential canidate. The only thing I knew about Ross Perot was that he was a short guy with big ears. I found out he is a man of honor who cares for his employees enough to put his own life in danger. He organizes other employees, many of them who had a military background, and sends them to Iran to get his employees out of jail and back to the US. He also talks Bull Simons, a retired Army Colonel into training and leading these volunteers.

Follett does a good job of setting out what took place and keeps the large cast of characters familiar to the reader. It was interesting to see all the diplomatic actions that were attempted and the failings of our government to protect its citizens.

Well worth reading to learn more about Iran which continues to be a hot bed even today.

I was actually working at EDS when this happened. I knew may of the individuals in this book. I actually worked directly for Paul Chiapparone. I own a copy of this book which was signed by each individual. Having said this, I found the book very interesting and actually felt to be a part of it.

This is one of my favorite books. The first time I read it at 13 or 14, I read it because I was reading everything Ken Follett had written. It's very different from anything else he had done, but the idea that this was a TRUE story kept me going. Also, the election in which Ross Perot ran for president had occurred recently, so the fact that he was in it made me curious.

I cut my teeth on the Tom Clancy novels, so I was already used to the in-depth discussions of the layout of buildings, breakdown of seemingly inane events and how it all makes a difference once the action starts. But in this one, it really happened!

I knew nothing about the Iran Contra event when I started reading, but that didn't matter as I learned about this other world that was caught in the middle of trying to be like us and trying to keep their traditions and religion intact. Everything from the Iranian government's attempts at social security to the different tactics they had to use at the various security checkpoints had me riveted.

All in all, it just has everything this girl could want - action, spy stuff and the best part is that it's true!

O facto de se basear em fatos reais, torna este livro ainda mais interessante. Gostei bastante.

I never knew this story. Bravery and determination. I have now seen Ross Perot in a totally new light. Amazing piece of history.

Read the first two chapters and the last few chapters. I remembered this story and the title very well, as I watched the miniseries umpteen years ago. It was a remarkable, nail biting, armchair gripping story. This was based on a true story. I did not read the middle however.

This is an awesome book. Three reasons: 1) Follett is an excellent story teller, 2)It's an "espionage/thriller," sort of, 3) it is TRUE!
You all know Ross Perot. Well he owns EDS (Electronic Digital Systems). In 1979 he had a bunch of his guys in Iran putting together a Social Security system for them AND a Medicare system for them. At one point...the Iranians stopped paying. After about 6 months they were owing around 4 billion $$. About this time the revolution broke out and there was some political stuff I didn't understand; however, the matter came down to this - two of his top exec's were put into prison - right at Christmas time. Not a good place to be in prison at any time of the year. ---- Perot immediately took action - going through gov't channels trying to get his men back home. Nothing was working - even Henry Kissinger couldn't help him. At one point Perot looks at Skully and says: what are we going to do. Skully says - break them out!. Skully assembled a group of 6 EDS guys who knew Tehran and had been in Special Ops. Wow! What a thriller.

DNF