Hell's Highway

by John Antal

Book Overview

"With sharp insights into history, combat, and human nature, this enthralling novel can stand beside even the best chronicles of that fabled 'band of brothers.' " -Ralph Peters, author of Wars of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0073P96F0
• ISBN13: 9780345503374
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Presidio Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Learning what history books dont' tell you

Telling the story from different perspectives really exposes what was going on during this time. Not only do you learn about ally forces, but you get an insight into the Dutch resistance, as well as a torn German officer. Patriotism is a major factor in the decisions made by these characters, a trait sometimes forgotten by many people. The flow of the text really grabs the reader. Once the character introductions are done, the action picks up and never dies down. Impossible missions come out successful, while other missions have grim casualties. The related video game is great, but this text takes it a step further. I recommend reading this followed by "Hell's Highway: The True Story of the 101st Airborne Division During Operation Market Garden, September 17-25, 1944" to get even more accounts of these heroes!

Much More Than You'd Expect

When you pick up a book that's inspired by a computer game, you don't expect it to be full of accurate historical detail. You don't expect fully dimensional characters. And you don't expect a finely nuanced plot -- But if you're aware of Col. Antal's previous work, (Infantry Combat, Armor Attacks) you change those expectations, and Col. Antal delivers on all fronts in this sweeping novel of Operation Market Garden - when the Allies gambled they could cross the Rhine and win World War 2 by Christmas 1944. It didn't work out that way. Antal keeps the story personal and understandable, yet delicately woven though the actions of his characters, he also conveys the sweep of history and the attitudes of those who fought in this great undertaking. Read it. -Bradley Thompson

The Exploding Barrel's Review

From TheExplodingBarrel's Review of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway: A Brothers in Arms Novel We don't normally write about books here at the ole' Barrel, but since Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is a book based on a video game, I figured I'd make an exception. Although I didn't know it until picking up the 300 page novel, Col. John Antal [retired] (who has served as Gearbox's military advisor for many years) also happens to be a prolific writer who has published 80 articles and a half dozen military books prior to writing Hell's Highway. In his latest effort, Antal blends fact with fiction as he intertwines the struggles of series mainstay Sargent Matt Baker, the British XXX Corps, the German army (both SS and Wehrmacht), and members of the Dutch Resistance during Operation Market Garden. Hell's Highway illustrates the Allies' attempt to put an end to fighting in the European Theater of operations by reclaiming Holland and crossing into Germany in full force. It was the largest air-drop operation in American history, and the last major victory the Germans were able to muster. Initially, I was concerned that Antal's fictitious narrative could never provide the same level of authenticity and historical accuracy one would expect from strictly non-fiction accounts of the 101st Airborne. Still, my love for the Brothers series, and WW2 history in general, compelled me to give it a read regardless of my trepidation. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that by writing historical fiction, Antal capitalizes upon his artistic liberty to convey the inner worlds of his characters in a more personal light than other popular accounts of this conflict. For instance, protagonist Baker's post-traumatic stress disorder is explored with a level of sophistication and depth that strict non-fiction seldom approaches. Never does the story venture beyond the boundaries of the credible, and one gets the feeling while reading Brothers in Arms that the plot progression always has one foot firmly planted in actual history, which is the result of many years of research on the author's part. I was also a bit concerned that the novel would ruin the plot of the game, but I've watched practically every bit of Hell's Highway video available on the Internet, and as far as I know, many scenes, characters and set pieces portrayed in the promotional trailers never seem to pop up in the novel. Corrian, the assault team leader who has been in the previous Brothers titles, is present in the cut scenes Gearbox has released, but entirely absent (at least in name) from the text, for example. I may be wrong, but it seems like the novelization of Brothers in Arms is anything but, instead fleshing out the game's ancillary narratives with additional exposition. It's meaty stuff, but it doesn't appear to be the author's intent to spoil the game with a blow by blow account of the game's plot. Instead, much of Brothers focuses on the various soldi

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Absolutely the Best book I have read in years. John Antal is not only a Soldier and Leader - he is an insightful writer who places the reader on the terrain and in the action. You have received your orders, briefed your international Team and now the hard part begins. At each step you "feel" what Sergeant Baker feels and experience the exchanges between the Team and their seasoned enemy. John captures the little nuisances that soldiers understand - the hot coffee; the radio communications; the soggy field; the inerdependence between professionals; the pain they experience when a friend is lost and the professional courtesy shared between enemies. John takes the war away from the global map board and briefing room, and places it where the real war is prosecuted - in the field with Soldiers and their Leaders. If you are or were a soldier, or if you want to "see" what soldiers do and feel - this book is manditory reading! Sergeant Baker is a Leader and you will understand why his Team follows him through Hell. I can't wait for the next one.

A Superb WWII Action Adventure Novel

Like many others, I am a huge fan of the film, "Saving Private Ryan," and of the HBO series, "Band of Brothers." There is something amazing about stories of heroism during the Second World War that never tires or bores. But Colonel John Antal has managed to do something phenomenal in this setting by writing a fictional story based around historical events. With "Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway," Colonel Antal captivates and intrigues readers by shaping historical events through the eyes of fictional characters from the Allied forces, the Dutch resistance, as well as the truly fascinating perspective of the German forces. Without belittling the true story of the Allied heroes that fought in WWII, and without glorifying the evil Nazi regime, BIA:HH exposes the tremendously wide range of emotions soldiers from each side struggled with. The result of this exposure in the moments of victory and defeat the characters face make this novel not only educational, but captivating. Colonel Antal writes in a action-paced, cliff-hanger driven fashion, jumping from perspectives, ensuring that any reader will be on the edge of his seat. In fact, besides being billed as "the first official companion novel to the thrilling video game," BIA:HH would no doubt be a perfect fit as a feature film for the big screen.