Freeman, Simon (16 March 2003). "The new Battle of the Books". The Guardian . Retrieved 31 December 2016. Concerning the TV adaptation of Ryan's book, McNab further wrote in a letter to The Times in 1996, "It is a pity that [Ryan] chose to cheapen his own achievement and the reputations of the regiment and of comrades who would have sacrificed their lives for his, had the situation demanded, by denigrating those of others." [6] There have been several accounts of this mission, each of them conflicting. Perhaps the two most famous are the books Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab (later made into a BBC TV movie starring Sean Bean) and Chris Ryan's The One That Got Away, the latter of which forms the basis of this matter-of-fact dramatisation from… The content of the book was heavily criticised by fellow Bravo Two Zero patrol members Mike Coburn and Malcolm MacGown in Coburn's Soldier Five (2004, ISBN 1-84018-907-X), written specifically in response to this book.

On 29 June 1991 Ryan was awarded the Military Medal "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Gulf in 1991" although the award was not gazetted until 15 December 1998 together with the equally delayed announcement of Andy McNab's Distinguished Conduct Medal. [9] Post-military career [ edit ] Good easy to read account. I feel the truth is embellished somewhat and although we’ll never fully know there’s no denying Chris’ tenacity to persevere is inspiring.The author's writing style drags you into the unfolding scenario and leaves you with a feeling a genuine suspense and intrigue, as you are made party to the internal machinations of Chris Ryan as he battles against the inclement weather; physical and mental deterioration, and the omnipresent threat of enemy patrols whilst he also reconciles himself to the incremental loss of his comrades throughout the evasion, compounded by the fact that he had no idea as to whether they had been captured; rescued, or killed. After a series of issues after being deployed in a highly dangerous area, the men become separated. Chris ends up alone. Over 7 days he walks and runs over 200 miles with nothing to eat, and bare amount to drink. After leaving the SAS, Ryan wrote The One That Got Away, which covers the account from his patrol report of the Bravo Two Zero mission. Both his and McNab's accounts have been heavily criticised by former territorial SAS member and explorer Michael Asher, who attempted to retrace the patrol's footsteps for TV and claimed to have debunked both accounts with the help of the then-SAS regimental sergeant major Peter Ratcliffe. [10] [11]

My favourite book of all time and one I have read on many occasions. The story of one guy and the only guy from the Bravo Two Zero SAS team dropped behind enemy lines during the first Gulf War to escape.Chris Ryan's The One That Got Away must rank with the great escape stories of modern military history Soldier Magazine This is was a great companion book to Andy McNabs Bravo Two Zero. It actually makes a lot more sense when you read both books, giving you two entirely different points of view of the same events. I felt things in the book could have been left unsaid, for all the talk of military being a “band of brothers”. I believe he could’ve been more respectful and found it all to convenient to point blame in a certain direction - you’ll know what I mean when you read this. Hm... deciding between a two and a three starrer for this one was tough. I ultimately decided for three stars because his account of stumbling through Iraq was interesting. His pub conversation style of story telling carries this type of story very well.