Semper Fi

The Corps, Book 1

By: W. E. B. Griffin

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

From Shanghai to Wake Island, the Corps was America’s first line of defense as the winds of war exploded into the devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. This is the story of the men of the Marine Corps, their loves and loyalties, an elite fraternity united by courage and honor, as they steel themselves for battle, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice....

©1986 W.E.B. Griffin (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Action-packed...Difficult to put down.” ( The Marine Gazette)

I'll be back for more

For whatever reason, I thought this was non-fiction/history when I bought it. I probably jumped at an audible daily special without reading the full description. Despite a little initial surprise, I certainly wasn't disappointed. This is great historical fiction in the vein of Michael Shaara (and later, his son Jeff), and I'm glad there are 9 more books in the series to follow.

Great book!!!

I read this book series back in the mid 90's. It was on the Marine Corps commandants reading list. I still love the series.

The reader

The person who performed this is great. I love his voice just like I have on other Griffen books.

epic fantastic story telling,very real character,<br />

fantastic story telling ,realistic characters,an epic read.Griffin does it again very enjoyable through and through.can't wait for more

anything he writes is great.

As a former marine this story really hit home. great story, well read thank you

Good listen.

I was sorry when it ended and will definitely be getting the next in the series. Definitely sounds like something a military guy would write. This is my first military book- I decided to take a chance and was very pleased. One reviewer had said something about his hatred of religion (?) I didn't see anything like that. Only a pious zealot would be offended. Ridiculous. The rough language is pretty typical of a war vet spinning a good yarn. I think it's great. The narration was good as well.

Semper Fi

Very well written, brought back memories of boot camp and OCS with the marines. Very true to life war scenes also brought back bad memories of the war and the terrible things that happen to us in it.

So That's Where Dad Got That Saying

I picked this book up in one of the many sales Audible has during the year mainly because I thoroughly enjoyed the Presidential Agent Series by the same author. I didn’t want to put it down (figuratively, actually I didn’t want to remove the earphones). The next book in the Corps series was being purchased before the one prior ended and I even had to go to the library & actually read the 2 books that were missing from audible (I got absolutely nothing done for 4 days while I was consumed in the pages).

This series inserts several fictional characters in the middle of historical events & people. My dad & his brother participated in the Pacific during WWII and it was fun to hear some of the quotes & sayings/proverbs dad has made throughout the years in this series along with the background as to why that saying or quote originated.

The Corps Series is superb!

Great book, Great series, horrible narrator.

I read the first few books as they came out, and gave them to someone to read. Then a few years later bought them again, and re-read them. And bought the others as they were released.

I love this time in US History, and the stories are great, if maybe a bit repetitive in the re-telling of the prior books.

Eric G Dove does The Brotherhood of War series, and does a great job. Dick Hill is pretty bad. I am not sure if he has a speech impediment, ESL, or if it is something else. He sounds like a drunken version of Yogi Bear impersonating Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes. Every statement is emotional and passionate! He describes a bathroom with unbelievable passion. The description of a hat is an incredible experience. No one in these books has any control of their emotions. That does not seem like the military I know. I love these books and am very disappointed with the narration. I will not buy any more of them.

A nice book but not complete in itself

If you could sum up Semper Fi in three words, what would they be?

Nice but incomplete

Would you be willing to try another book from W. E. B. Griffin? Why or why not?

yes, I guess so, since without reading the other books of the series you get an unfinished history.

Have you listened to any of Dick Hill’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He's a very good narrator

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No. But the Pearl Harbor and Philippines parts are very interesting