One of my Top 3 Favorite Books of all Time!, 24. Juni 2000

On The Wings of Eagles is destined to be a classic. It is the true life story of Ross Perot trying to save members of his corporation who are being held hostage by the Iranian government. He first tries using his clout and influence in Washington but when that does not work he hires a team of mercenaries to go to Iran to free the hostages and return unharmed to the United States.

The book reads like a fictional spy novel; however, it is a true story. Not "based on a true story" but 100% nonfiction, according to author Ken Follett. Nevertheless, this is one book that you will just not want to put down.

The maps, pictures, and cast of characters list makes the book even easier to follow.

Furthermore, the book also gives insight into the real life character, ex-presidental candidate, Ross Perot.

       Ken Follett made sure that he got it right!!, 29. August 1999

Once Ken Follett decided to write the book, On Wings of Eagles, he took two years to carefully research every date, place, person and other key fact in the story. This is exactly what you would expect an ex-newspaper man to do, especially one who is writing his first major non-fiction novel and wants to protect his reputation as a successful writer. Ken spent months researching the Iranian Revolution and the EDS rescue mission. He spent weeks individually interviewing everyone who participated in the rescue (except Colonel Bull Simons who unfortunately had died several months after the rescue ended). Follett crossed-checked his facts with the State Department, including staff stationed in the American embassy during the Revolution, with Iranians familiar with the events that had transpired in their country, and with many other people to make sure he got the story right.

To the extent that his literary goal was achievable, the book speaks for itself. Anyone who was in Iran during this period of time, and who was familar with the overthrow of the Shah's government, knows how accurate Ken's story is compared to the events that transpired.

It was indeed fortunate for the hostages that Ross Perot formed an employee-based rescue team that was successful in their mission. Follett describes this part of the story in great detail. He also relates the other strategies that were employed in an attempt to free the two executives, including the extensive use of lawyers in Iran, the lobbying for assistance at the State Department and the White House, and the exploration of several military-oriented solutions. Follett also documents EDS'attempts to pay the $12,750,000 bail (ransom?)for the two hostages. Unfortunately, none of these solutions worked.

If Follett has any problem with his story, it is the vast quantity of source material that he has to manage. Where does he start, where does he stop?? Which people and which incidents are worth including, which are not?? And, does he praise Ross Perot?? Of course he does. Ross is the person who led the rescue, who put his own life and personal reputation on the line. Ross actually went to the Gasr jail to see it for himself, to personally tell the two hostages to keep their faith and to gain first-hand knowledge of the Revolution taking place in Iran. How could Follett tell the story and not praise Perot. Actually, the facts do it for him.

In truth, the bottom line measurement of the success of an author's work lies in how many copies of his book are sold. In the case of On Wings of Eagles, the results are staggering. More than twenty years later, the paperback version of the story is still being sold in a dozen languages on bookshevles all over the world.

In case, you are wondering how I know all this to be true, I lived the story as one of the hostages who was rescued. I gave the book five stars for accuracy and excitement.

      "US embassy bashing at its worst", 8. August 1999

This is in defense of the U.S. embassy staff. In defense of Ambassador Sullivan I am sure he would have done something for the 2 illegally detained EDS employees if he didn't have to worry about the eventual evacuations of EVERY OTHER AMERICAN AND THEIR CAT AND DOG (for if he didn't a lot more AMERICANS would have become ILLEGALLY DETAINED) since the whole thing took place in an atmosphere of POLITICAL UNREST in 1979 and if Mr. Perot were really worried about his employees he would have had them contact some other Ambassador like Ken Taylor or Tony Parsons.

      terrible cliches make it boring and uninteresting, 14. April 1999

The story itself, as it really happened would have been interesting, had it not been for the way Follett wrote this whole thing. I admire him otherwise and love his books, but this one wasn`t quite worth buying. Good and clever American guys defeating the stupid and uncivilized Iranians, the whole book is about praising Uncle Sam.

       Fiction can't compare, 25. Februar 1999

Another company now owns the site, but I work in the exact building on Forest Lane that stood as EDS headquarters in that era. Ross's office is all mahogany, custom-made, polished, still. 1960s building code limits to 7 floors but Ross built 8, calling the 1st floor "Ground Floor". I enter the actual room where the incursion was planned each day. Let me tell you mister, the history is literally palpable each time you step inside. This book is better than fiction - True action stories always are.