tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14699361.post112644984917835834..comments2007-02-25T13:18:42.940-05:00Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02306629254346417455noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14699361.post-1153173888705116872006-07-17T18:04:00.000-04:002006-07-17T18:04:00.000-04:00I'm glad to hear that you both enjoyed his book so much! Thanks for posting your comments.tampabookbuzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783964525515246038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14699361.post-1152449036298078852006-07-09T08:43:00.000-04:002006-07-09T08:43:00.000-04:00Out of the Ashes is written very well and the story is very intriguing. The book contains so much wonderful description and details about Costa Rica that the reader comes to know the country even having never been there. <BR/><BR/>At times in the middle of the book, I had to remind myself that al Qaida were the bad guys. Mr. Allen seems to know a lot about the fundamentals of Islam by revealing the thought processes of the terrorist recruits - he definitely did his homework. I was slightly disappointed that Christianity only plays a negative role in the story, but that is attributed to how well Mr. Allen conveys the terrorist frame of mind. The bad guys aren't nice people afterall. <BR/><BR/>I really, really loved the final 100+ pages of the book with the exciting action and the great twist I didn't see coming, but it completely felt natural. Again, I think Skip Allen writes very well. I don't regret reading Out of the Ashes at all. <BR/><BR/>As I read Out of the Ashes, I imagined it being played as a movie in my head. Hollywood producers should give Mr. Allen a call, I am certain that it would make a successful movie. Hollywood could use some new material instead of re-making all those same old movies. <BR/><BR/>I for one will certainly be checking out SkipAllen.com to look out for the sequel.Michaelhttp://www.HopliteRenegades.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14699361.post-1151754475111386622006-07-01T07:47:00.000-04:002006-07-01T07:47:00.000-04:00I just finished reading Skip Allen’s very thrilling, enjoyable, wonderful read. At the end, I was left<BR/>yearning for a sequel.<BR/><BR/>Allen’s writing style is superb. He writes very succinctly, yet conveys much meaning.<BR/><BR/>The characters are very well fleshed out. I especially like how the author goes straight to the root causes of how al Qaida managed to recruit 3 young red-blooded Americans. The family backgrounds, the painful upbringings, the torn emotions...all are very believable, intriguing, while<BR/>at the same time very scary indeed.<BR/><BR/>The technicalities and subplots woven throughout this tapestry of a novel are intriguing; especially the descriptions of weapons, computer/encryption descriptions, military procedures, etc. Very<BR/>interesting indeed.<BR/><BR/>Other highlights are: detailed descriptions of biological agents, the luscious landscape of Costa Rica<BR/>so beautifully described, and Allen’s arresting ability to tell the story from all sides, all perspectives<BR/>and enter the chilling, obsessive and complex world of al Qaida.<BR/><BR/>In summary, I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more exciting work from this<BR/>author.Catherinenoreply@blogger.com