Booklist

Series Review: The books in the Elite Warriors series (6 titles) carry out a straightforward mission: to provide a basic introduction to U.S. Special Forces and their work. Each book follows the same structure. The section “In Action” describes an instance of members of one of the Special Forces completing an exciting mission. For example, Air Commanos opens with the commandos assisting in hurricane rescue and recovery in the Philippines. Army Rangers starts with soldiers destroying an enemy landing strip in Afghanistan. Delta Forces begins with soldiers catching a suspected terrorist. Marine Raiders Regiment depicts the marines working with local forces in Afghanistan to fight terrorism. The focus widens in “Many Jobs, Many Places” to include the jobs the force does and where it operates. The third section, devoted to “Weapons and Gear,” neither shies away from describing nor overly emphasizes violence and military weaponry. The final section, “Tough Training,” tells what recruits must do to be accepted into the Special Forces. The text highlights the heroism of the Special Forces uncritically, and the photos reinforce that image. These books may not draw in readers who are not already interested in the topic. For readers already fascinated with the military, though, they offer sound, accessible, and interesting information.