alan_n's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I'd find the example passages more helpful than they were. A list of phrases to go with each weapon would have been useful. I think I might end up making my own for quick reference.
But otherwise 5+ stars. Very useful.
But otherwise 5+ stars. Very useful.
cnorbury's review against another edition
4.0
A highly useful and informative book for fiction writers that has earned a permanent spot on my writing reference shelf. The book focuses mainly on guns and knives, which is a slight disappointment since I'd prefer to own one weapons reference that covers most of the practical and obtainable weapons currently available.
But the gun section is thoroughly detailed, which will cover probably about 90% of the weapon needs and questions for most writers. I got a bit tired of the author's characters--Maynard Solomon and Bill the Robber-- being inserted into the illustrative vignettes of good examples and flawed examples of writing weapons scenes because they were so over the top silly. But the core text of each example showed the subtle errors that most authors can easily make if they choose to gloss over their weapons scenes.
If you're a fiction writer who includes weapons in your work, check this out.
But the gun section is thoroughly detailed, which will cover probably about 90% of the weapon needs and questions for most writers. I got a bit tired of the author's characters--Maynard Solomon and Bill the Robber-- being inserted into the illustrative vignettes of good examples and flawed examples of writing weapons scenes because they were so over the top silly. But the core text of each example showed the subtle errors that most authors can easily make if they choose to gloss over their weapons scenes.
If you're a fiction writer who includes weapons in your work, check this out.
jacktaylor's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I'd find the example passages more helpful than they were. A list of phrases to go with each weapon would have been useful. I think I might end up making my own for quick reference.
But otherwise 5+ stars. Very useful.
But otherwise 5+ stars. Very useful.
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