"The Checkpoint: New Fiction from the War on Domestic Terrorism"

www.sit-rep.com ^ | March 6, 2002 | Travis McGee

[Travis McGee]

Stephen Coonts, Clancy, Grisham, King and many others become hacks in time, churning out old formulas, unable to resist the money.

I just need that first shot.

[Pistias]

T McGee chapter bump...reading away.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks, tell me what you think when you're finished.

[GeronL]

I'd love the chance to be a hack!! hehe

[Travis McGee]

The money's pretty good!

[GeronL]

I await the day you become rich and famous, I need coattails!!

[mercy]

Oooooohhhhh! I read the whole chapter. Spellbound. Tom Clancy's got nuttin on you!

[Crowcreek]

I read it earlier, Travis, and it was real good. I was looking for more when I got done . . .

About the PC angle, don't worry -- You can always change the ending to where the good guys get killed by the gov't. types and the old f*rt gets the hot chick . Hollywierd gobbles those up! ;^)

Now get back to work!

[Crowcreek]

You know I'm kidding about changing the story -- It's solid gold.

I wish I had a Contender. I read a story about a guy in CO doing some SERIOUS 500 yard type target work with one!!

He claimed there was no real secret to it, typical target-shooting reloading tricks, etc. -Wow . .

I understand you can reload a single shot pretty fast if you keep ammo real handy -- like between the fingers of the hand in front . . It's a good 'sleeper' type of weapon for your story!

[Pistias]

Ay curamba! Es muy bueno!

Seriously, though, a solid chapter, though I had a hard time visualizing just where the HUM-V was, and thus how the firefight went...but that's just my short attention span at work, I'm afraid. And you didn't overdo the gore, but kept it realistic (and the little shout-outs to the mil-types and gun afficionados are nice, too). I'd like to read the rest, that's for sure.

[meadsjn]

Great writing! I do hope it remains fiction.

[caddie]

Thanks Travis, keep up the good work.

[Twodees]

Mark Earley was the GOP Attorney General of Virginia who ran for governor. He's the man who instituted "Project Exile" in Virginia, and the GOP tried to pass him off as a "conservative" candidate for governor. The guy is a lifelong member of the NAACP, and a consistent gungrabber. Conservative Virginians gave him the bird in the election and now we have a democrat carpetbagger for governor. The VAGOP pompom shakers on FR are blaming conservatives for the fact that we now have a democrat governor. Conservatives knew good and well what would happen if that stealth commie got the governor's job with a GOP majority in the legislature. Our rights are safer with a governor and legislature who will be at war with each other.

Earley is exactly the type who would push a program like the one your character pushed while naming it something patriotic sounding.

[ScreamingFist]

A late BUMP for an excellent read. Looking forward to reading it.

Dues Ex

[Travis McGee]

I don't care about that, I just want to be a decent writer, then what happens happens, or not.

[Travis McGee]

He's got about 100 million book sales on me!

[Mikey]

"The excerpt reads great, and the storyline sounds quite plausible."

Actually it gives me shivers because it sounds(?) prophetic.

[Mikey]

Must...Shoot...Something, hey you got a permit to carry that 6 pack in your car?, That's transporting alcohol without a permit. Hey hey partner he's reaching for something (his STATE issued travel permit aka driver's license), BLAM BLAM BLAM.

[Gargantua]

I am a voracious reader, and love Ludlum, le Carre, Clancy, and many others of that ilk. This writing is as good as any I've ever read... quite simply, as good as it gets.

Exceptionally well done. I can't wait to add the hardcover version (signed?) to my library in Barbados, where only the very best Cuban cigars are smoked.

Benediciones a ti, muy señor mio.

[Travis McGee]

I can just imagine the Hollywood treatment of my book: gallant FBI agents helping old ladies across the street, being ambushed with AK-47 fire by filthy longhaired bearded militia types in greasy coveralls driving rusty pickup trucks flying confederate flags...

No thanks.

BTW, according to the T/C website the best group ever shot by any pistol was (memory here) about a sub three inch five shot group at 400 yards using (memory again) a 6mm wildcat.