Hostage of Paradox

A Qualmish Disclosure

By: John Rixey Moore

Narrated by: Dan Orders

Length: 24 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Few people then or now know about the clandestine war that the CIA ran in Vietnam, using the Green Berets for secret operations throughout Southeast Asia. This was not the Vietnam War of the newsreels - the body counts, rice paddy footage, and men smoking cigarettes on the sandbag bunkers. This was a shadow directive of deep-penetration interdiction, reconnaissance, and assassination missions conducted by a select few Special Forces teams, usually consisting of only two Americans and a handful of Chinese mercenaries called Nungs. These specialized units deployed quietly from forward operations bases to prowl through agendas that, for security reasons, were seldom completely understood by the men themselves.

Hostage of Paradox is a firsthand account by one of these elite team leaders. Moore is a highly decorated former Green Beret sergeant whose operations led him and a few Chinese, with whom he could barely communicate by hand signals alone, through a labyrinth of excruciatingly close calls and multiple woundings, miles deep in the jungles of enemy-controlled wilderness. His descriptions of these little-known missions crackle with fearful immediacy and the vivid imagery that only someone who has lived the experience can summon. To listen to his words is to be transported to the shadows of a small, murky corner of military history.

©2014 John Rixey Moore (P)2016 Bettie Youngs/Bettie Youngs Book Publishers

Great Story

Other reviewers claim that this book is fake. However, Vietnam Veterans association gives it a positive review, and as a veteran myself, I have noticed that when veterans challenge uncritical nationalism and the romantic war, then people on the extreme right tent to question their service. As a fellow Airborne Ranger, I endorse this book as a great read. Its extremely well written for intellectual audiences, and anyone who wants to understand the motivations and abilities of elite soldiers.

An interesting read

Would you listen to Hostage of Paradox again? Why?

No, I don't reread books

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's not the character, it's the story

What about Dan Orders’s performance did you like?

He made it through a long book

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. It kept me reading.

Any additional comments?

Good presentation of the late 60's and early 70's, military life and the effects of the Vietnam war on Americans.

A Phony Disclosure

I have read many books on spec ops and this is the worst one. This book is more fiction than reality.The whole story seemed surreal like a fairy tale. The farther I got in to the story the more it seemed phony. I finally had enough and quit reading it when the special rifle was found. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

This Guy Is A Documented Fraud

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Anyone who'd like to read the overly verbose fictional/fraudulent account of a "Special Forces" soldier in Vietnam.

What could John Rixey Moore have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not be a fraud.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator actually read/performed very well. It's just a shame that almost every word that he read was bullshit.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Trying not to go on a rant, so here's the short version. To say that he's guilty of embellishment is an understatement. He never graduated Ranger School. He only served 5 months total in SE Asia. He was awarded 1 Purple Heart & 1 Bronze Star, not the many other decorations including a DSC, that he claims. Basically 90%+ of this book is bunk. I've purchased over 40 audible titles and this is my first review. I was so disgusted by this mans lies that I felt I had to post a review. Please research this man and his book. Then do as I've done and contact Audible.com and ask them to remove this title. This book is a slap in the face to all the Special Forces Soldiers who served in SE Asia as well as before and beyond.

Any additional comments?

Trying not to go on a rant, so here's the short version. To say that he's guilty of embellishment is an understatement. He never graduated Ranger School. He only served 5 months total in SE Asia. He was awarded 1 Purple Heart & 1 Bronze Star, not the many other decorations including a DSC, that he claims. Basically 90%+ of this book is bunk. I've purchased over 40 audible titles and this is my first review. I was so disgusted by this mans lies that I felt I had to post a review. Please research this man and his book. Then do as I've done and contact Audible.com and ask them to remove this title. This book is a slap in the face to all the Special Forces Soldiers who served in SE Asia as well as before and beyond.