Hostaged Vatican

Man, I really had to suspend all disbelief on this one. You mean to tell me that over 200 terrorists are able to take over the vatican. Bring in weapons Explosives and a jeep with a 50 cal mounted on it and also drilling equipment. Were the Italian security forces asleep!! It would have been nice if the Author could have taken 2 or 3 pages to explain how all the terroists aquired the weapons and equipment. Maybe the terrorists got them from a local black market dealer. I can understand the negative reviews. That being said, this book kicks assssss. Thought the scene with the Pope was freakin Epic!!! The only reason I give this book 8 stars is for the lack of explaination by the aurthor about the terrorists bringing in the weapons and equipment

A really good book, my only complaint is how they got into the Vatican, a distraction, and the fact the terrorists just didn't kill all the hostages then and there. And the whole Ninja thing is a little over done, other than that it is a really good book, lots of action and well written, check it out!

Firstly let me say I am stunned at how many 10 reviews this title has received as I am wondering if I am actually reading the same title as these reviewers were but hey each to their own. Okay so there are so many 10 reviews so why isn't mine one of them? The Vatican has been taken over by terrorists with hundreds taken hostage and Phoenix Force have been called in. By Whom ? Doesn't matter as the author doesn't tell us so it is obviously not important. The team make their way into the Vatican through a distraction and the rest of the title follows. What follows well there are 200 odd terrorists faced by the team so for the next 150 odd pages 2/3/4/5 terrorists come around the corner and are blown away. Terrorists charge the team and are blown away. Some of these attacks actually result in some of them getting through and of course the weapons being held by the team members are dislodged from their grasp by whatever means. So the terrorists are disposed of by hand or other means until the next wave attack. And it happens again. And again. And again. And again and bloody again.................. How many bloody times can you write where a weapon is dislodged from the fingers/grasp of one of the team obviously from this title every second or third page is okay? This titles gets two extra stars purely for the torture scene inflicted on James and Encizo some rugged stuff but apart from that this is a forgetable title. Didn't like it at all and after the last two titles I am hoping the next is readable or you would have to agree with the publishers decision to look at this series for cancellation.

The multi-national anti-terrorist team Phoenix Force goes up against a multi-national terrorist group. We have the Basques, the Ninjas and the Muslims seize control of the Vatican. And they brought their earthquake machine with them… If I do not suspend disbelief, it would have been a disaster. But for some reason, I bought into this adventure. Encizo comes back. Hahn should have been hired permanently, because where is it written in stone that Phoenix Force has to be only five guys? After all, John Trent returns in this novel to be the temporary sixth member. The action scenes more than make up for the plot and dialogue. The torture scenes and terrorist tactics with the hostages are brutal. But I am more enamored with the concept, a prolonged campaign inside enemy territory confined to one geographic location. Phoenix Force is alone and they suffer serious setbacks. Ladies and gentleman, this is the first Die Hard. With mixed reservations, I declare this the best book of the Phoenix Force series.

Basque terrorists (all dressed the same & using the same weapons), ninjas, and Muslim extremists? It just doesn’t make sense! The plot was terrible as was the dialogue. I’ve certainly read better than this.

This was the first PF I read earlier this year to get myself back into these books after many years of being away from them and Mack Bolan. I chose this one to start back with because I remembered it as being really good. My memory wasn't too far from the mark. The whole idea of the Vatican being taken over by terrorists is a great idea. The one point in the book that I really didn't like was the bad guys. I found them to be a little thin, cheesy is a better word I guess. John Trent was a character I always liked and still do. I loved the planning by the hostages and the way they pulled it off. The scene with Calvin and Encizo being tortured gave a shot of realism. The good guys don't always get away before the hot pokers,hot coins and pliers in this case, get used on them. The ending with Trent being shot make one want to jump right into the next book. See ya around.

One of my all-time favorites, though I haven't read it since I was a kid. I did, however, read it two or three times by the time I turned twelve. This has some of the biggest and baddest action scenes William Fieldhouse ever wrote and that's REALLY saying something. And yes, it's possible that there are a couple of plot holes and a little bit of faulty logic.... But who cares? This was pure adrenaline, with Phoenix Force as pulp action/adventure hero gods. That's the way I like 'em.

Well... It had quite lot of action and very little sense in it. Composition of villains in this book is ridiculous. This one should not get high ratings on solely be chose John Trent is in it. Ninja blood is much better book which involves Trent. One special thing that annoyed me was that reader was constantly informed how deadly opponents Ninjas are, but when any member of the Phonix Force encountred one the ninjas they were disposed with ease.

One of my all time faveorite Phoenix Force books. As with all of Mr. Fieldhouses' books, he shows action, drama and emotion all together with well times humor so that the book isn't all run and shoot. It was a well written scene between the team and the Pope and you got to see a rare religious side to Rafael. A Great book.

This is the best damn Phoenix Force book ever written. Damn the eyes of the man who sees flaws in this classic in modern action adventure. This outdid Die Hard, Under Seige, every movie. Phoenix Force is the only choice you're going to make when the center of the Catholic world is under threat. Phoenix Force is a planet-saving force, tossing back killer germs and city-obliterating superweapons. They make The Executioner seem like a slacker for going on his more personal missions and preventing the world from coming to the brink of disaster - and Hostaged Vatican spread this across the heavens best and loudest. If the world needs saving, then here's the five bad boys who can do it!

This PF novel had it all! This is the one PF book that should've been made into a movie. This story held my attention from beginning to end. Classic PF all the way.

One of the best in the PF series. The assault on the vatican is one of Fieldhouse's best action writing. I loved the scene where Encizo and James escape from the torturers, one of the coolest moments in this series.

Unbelivable! This was an amazing adventure...so fast paced your head spins...and John Trent was a great addition to this mission! One of my all time favorites! A keeper can't wait to read #27...

There were some nice moments here and some great action scenes, but too much of it seemed incredible, as in not believeable. Overall a good effort but hardly worth the 10 stars so many people gave it.

Where do I begin with this one? to start with, I specially ordered this book based on all the positive reviews that have been posted for it. What a mistake. I think that this is one of the biggest pieces of tripe that I have ever read, and at the moment I want to hurl the book into the waste paper bin. There was no storyline for this one, it was just none stop senseless violence from beginning to end that left me bored stiff with it. Apparently, over two hundred terrorists managed to capture the Vatican by entering Rome without the Italian police or Vatican security noticing until it was too late. Enter Phoenix Force. Who exactly asked the Americans to intervene? The Pope certainly did not (and that is Pope with a capital P and not a lower case p as used by William Fieldhouse throughout). So Hal Brognola just sends the guys in any way. No, wait, let's first fly three thousand miles to San Francisco to pick up Trent, when a phone call would have sufficed, and then fly six thousand miles back to Italy. Nothing like wasting time when hostages lives are on the line. And then we have the odd mixture of terrorists and their unclear motives. We have the mad typecast Iranian ragheads, the dishonourable ninjas, and Basque terrorists. According to Fieldhouse, all Basque terrorists dress in peasant trousers, sheepskin vests, red berets and all carry a shepards crooks. Really?? And yet the French and Spanish police have never caught on to this. There are a lot more negative things to say about this book, but to keep it short, I hated it. On the positive side, and this earns the two stars, Gary did have a conscience when he killed some of the terrorists, and Calvin and Rafael did feel fear at the hands of their captors, but otherwise that's it. My book is now going to be recycled into toilet paper, which is what it deserves.

Loved everything about this book. Even John Trent

I'd have to disagree with Allan Hunt on Rafael turning out to be a weak link in this book. Indeed, he showed himself to be of stronger stuff than anyone. I'd love to see the new hick TJ show half the testicular fortitude in the face of smelling himself cook. However, all told, this book had more action, more satisfaction, and more coolness about it than any ten Stony Man books nowadays. This was Phoenix Force at their mightiest, burning brightly and blazing through their enemies with every ounce of courage and skill that makes them the best goddamn fighting force in modern literature, bar none! BOOYEAH!

This was an awesome book. A mission blessed by the Pope is not something you see every day. John Trent helps out with the ninjas and there's a lot of Rafael in this. All members had great scenes and this is one very memorable book. Just hearing the title reminds me what happens inside!

My favorite Phoenix Force book. I like John Trent and He was a main character.

One of my all time favorite Phoenix books. I love the hostage plots, and this was an exceptional adventure, with Encizo and James almost buying it bigtime. It kind of got scary there for a moment.

I agree with Gunslinger this is also my all time favorite Phoenix Force book. The action is intense, the personal development excellent, and the crisis well thought out. Also loved the Ninja touch and the creative ways the resolved the conflict.

If I was to ever give away or sell my collection, this would definitely be among the ones I'd refuse to give up. As a matter of fact, when I moved to college, I made sure I took this one along with me. I couldn't imagine (and still can't!) PF meeting the Pope, but that's just one of the many scenes that make this a supreme standout. I thought for sure Trent would become a full-time member after this one -- I didn't think Encizo and James would make it.

I agree that this is one of the finest stories. My belief is that Rafael showed what a weak link he is on this team. He returned too quickly and was not ready for the dangers that lurked ahead. He should have been relegated to an administrative post on Stony Man farm.