Talk:Andy McNab

"...is quite likely that the SAS squad inflicted no more than several casualties..."

_Several_? How many?

Strange choice of words

Agree with previous comment.

"no more than several casualties, if any at all" is ambiguous at the very least.

Considering the clandestine nature of the subject, it might be impossible to cite published references, but still... :)

Andy McNab went to my school 13/11/06

I see one major flaw in the critick

Quote:

"Due to the extremely sensitive nature of his work with the SAS, Andy McNab is the only author who has to submit his fiction to the British Ministry of Defense for review, and he is still wanted by a number of the world's terrorist organizations. He is therefore forbidden to reveal either his face or his current location. These last claims appear difficult to believe. Numerous other former SAS members, including Chris Ryan, Johnny "Two Combs" Howard and Shaun Clarke have also published fiction, with Ryan having also participated in the Bravo Two Zero patrol. Chris Ryan, and the former US Navy SEAL Richard Marcinko, are public figures with media careers, Ryan regularly appearing on television, most notably utilising his skills on one of Derren Brown's psychic stunt shows."

This part of the article says that Chris Ryan are a public figure, but if you click on the link [[1]] and read his Wikipedia entry it states: "It should be noted that Chris Ryan is a pseudonym."

I rest my case --Reddox 09:43, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

Fair point. I wrote the quoted text, and assuming that's right I'll concede that. You'll note that Ryan and the others don't put such claims on their bios. Myself, I'd love to see some verification on his works being vetted by intelligence, or that he was the most decorated serving soldier at any time.

It seems pretty clear that he's trying to cultivate a mystique.

Well are you going to edit the text I pointed out? --Reddox 02:34, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

chris ryan is not a pseudonym, he shows his real face all the time on tv.

Indeed he does, and I'm fairly sure McNab once appeared as a Newsnight guest (subject the role of disabled men/women in the forces). I think the business of never showing your face etc. is overdone; retired SAS blokes crop up on tv all the time. "he is still wanted by a number of the world's terrorist organizations. He is therefore forbidden to reveal either his face or his current location." I'm not sure about that - as a writer doesn't he do book signings? Hakluyt bean 03:37, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

he does do book signings but apparently only employees of the book store are allowed to go and its usually held in the store room or below where the public cannot see him (i cite a contestant from last season of countdown on ch4 in the uk as my source for that, he worked in a bookstore where mcnab did a signing, not the best of sources i know but its the best i can do) user:aragami

McNabs career as an author is more successful than Cris Ryans, that could be because he was basically the first to release a book after the Gulf War 1, or it could indeed be that he has better advice and a better business manager etc. If he has good advisors behind him, then maintaining that element of mystique certainly will do his career no harm. With regards to the book signings, I'm reminded of a claim that a book signing was cut short because his security team found an "IED" (Improvised Explosive Device) in a book in a store where he was due to appear. Again this is probbably bollocks, but it does the "Andy McNab" brand no harm. Finally, McNab writes in detail about his missions in 14 Det. in Northern Ireland "during the troubles" and I guess we can forgive the guy the idea that the IRA might want revenge. Having said all that though, I'm a total Cris Ryan fan, and throughly enjoyed "Hunting Cris Ryan". Tommo148

Truth?

Nobody knows the truth.

• Wrong people know the truth, the question is do they want to? 84.92.246.41 21:52, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Re The Truth - Michael Ashers Comments.

Michael Asher in "The Real Bravo Two Zero" claims that the passenger in a taxi hijacked by McNab knew McNab's real name................... if you ever have any idea of his real name you never release it, however right or wrong you may be, MCNAB is a pseudonym for a reason. he has done wonders for the forces and this should be respected, Thanyou Johnny

regardless of the above, mcnab spent hardly any time in the force choosing to leave, make money, hes nothing more than a fake.

=== How then was he the most decorated soldier in the British armed forces when he left?

Well, I don't know about the immediately above, but the reason some SAS authors use pseudonyms is marketing. Peter Ratcliffe for example doesn't. Hakluyt bean 00:15, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Fansite?

Is it me or does this article seem as though it could've been lifted directly from a fansite? As it contains more 'weasel words' than references, this article is quite vapid. Probably a result of 'Brand McNab' no doubt. SlopingFlange (talk) 19:11, 24 February 2008 (UTC)