Ranulph Fiennes, "The Feather Men".

[rash_decision]

Hi all. I watched a movie last night called 'Killer Elite'. At the end of the movie there's script stating that the movie is based on a true story, written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, called 'The Feather Men'.

I'm struggling to find this book for less than £30 for a second hand copy. I also can't see it available for download, which would be preferable being offshore for the next 12 days.

Some information I found tells me that the book was re-released as "Killer Elite". Is anyone able to tell me if the text is the same, and the book has just been renamed?

Thanks in advance, Jim.

[Fishtigua]

It was re-named to cash in on the film, same book beneath the covers.

It is not a true story, though based on certain truths. One or two characters have their real names used. A fun read for a thiller, I still have a copy somewhere.

[rash_decision]

Fishtigua said:

It was re-named to cash in on the film, same book beneath the covers.

It is not a true story, though based on certain truths. One or two characters have their real names used. A fun read for a thiller, I still have a copy somewhere.

Cheers! I'll defo keep in touch with you! Hopefully you can help me get into a position to enjoy the book bobbing about Loch Lomond in a boat that won't sink!! Haha.

I see Killer Elite available for download, I'll go for that during my lunch break.

[FiF]

I found it quite amusing that part of the strategy behind the "fact or fiction you decide" was to try and get it stocked in both fact and fiction sections of bookshops and thus get picked up by both sets of readers.

Sir Ranulph, my personal hero, is always a bit evasive about this book but maintains it is fiction which chose to use rather too many real names imo.

All the relatives of the dead men named personally signed off each page of the manuscript prior to publication. Ran still has those signatures.

[TonyTony]

I started reading into that after watching the movie too.

All I could dig up was that he originally said it was true then got pushed by the government to say its not.

Who knows! :P

[IroningMan]

David Mason, one of those named in The Feather Men went on to write himself: Shadow over Babylon is a good read.

[Ayahuasca]

£30 for a copy? ye gads! I bought the paperback years ago for a fiver or so. OK thriller, if a little far fetched.

[Zingari]

I have a signed first edition of the Feather Men. Fiennes was doing a book signing for his Mind Over Matter publication in 1993 and I took it along to see if he would sign it.

He was most engaging enquiring on my thoughts as he pointed to the 'Fact or Fiction?' sub-title. He 'implied' fact but cautioned he hadn't been sued or censored yet! More than happy to provide a dedication.

There is some truth to it but you first need to read 'Soldier I' by Micheal Paul Kennedy (ISBN 0-7475-0750-3) which gives you a better background in to the SAS storyline. The author has a chance encounter during an Outward Bound course bringing him into contact with 'Soldier I' from the Iranian Embassy siege.

[filetmignon]

FiF said:

All the relatives of the dead men named personally signed off each page of the manuscript prior to publication. Ran still has those signatures.

After watching "Killer Elite" I read something about a relative of the one who died in the Brecon Beacons still not being happy about the book or what it implies.