The Lion of Sabray

Starred review from September 21, 2015
In 2013’s Lone Survivor, thriller novelist and nonfiction author Robinson skillfully told the story of a Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan gone awry. The disaster left Marcus Luttrell alone and injured before a dramatic rescue by Mohammad Gulab, a former Pashtun mujahideen. In this follow-up, Robinson shares the equally remarkable story of Gulab, who saved Luttrell and nursed him back to life while protecting him from Taliban attackers. Gulab, known as the Lion due to his fierce combat against Soviet invaders, commanded respect within his remote village, which allowed him to risk harboring an American soldier. Robinson artfully builds tension as Gulab, Luttrell, and Afghani soldiers play a cat-and-mouse game with Taliban fighters in treacherous mountain terrain. He reveals Gulab as a devout but conflicted man struggling to communicate with his charge and come to peace with his choice. The book’s sole flaw is Robinson’s rush to wrap up the narrative after Luttrell’s retrieval by American forces, though he does offer updates on Luttrell’s efforts to reconnect with Gulab and the American effort to help rebuild Gulab’s village as a form of repayment. Fans of Robinson’s previous book will find this an insightful and inspiring companion piece.

October 1, 2015

In the book Lone Survivor, Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and coauthor Robinson detailed the heroic acts of Navy SEALs in Operation Red Wings in the Afghan War. Here, Robinson outlines the efforts of Mohammed Gulab to protect Luttrell, a guest in his village, and fend off Taliban fighters who were intent on harming the wounded SEAL. Gulab is a powerful voice in the narrative and speaks eloquently (via translator) of his devotion to the values of Pashtunwali, the Islamic code of behavior which requires hospitality, granting asylum, courage, and righteousness, among other virtues. A veteran of the Mujahideen resistance to the Soviet invasion and a respected commander, he comes across as a confident, religious man who fears only Allah but tempers that confidence with his skill and caution as a fighter. Robinson's story is not subtle; the Americans are depicted as brave and dedicated, the Taliban opponents are labeled thugs and murderers, and the villagers are honorable and comfortable inside their culture. The depiction of Afghan life along the Pakistan border may help to break stereotypes of an often misunderstood culture. Index and illustrations were not seen. VERDICT Best suited for those who enjoyed Lone Survivor and the eponymous, corresponding 2013 film of the same name.--Edwin Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

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