- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson (3 Jun 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 028307132X
- ISBN-13: 978-0283071324
- Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 3.5 x 21.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 44,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Outlaws Inc.
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Product Description
Review
'Outlaws Inc is an explosive read, full of heart-thumping excitement and brilliant detective work which shines a light into the darkest corners of the world. This story of flying mercenaries and their secret role in the world we all live in is all the more terrifying for being true' --Sean Rayment, author of Bomb Hunters and Defence & Security Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph
'A brilliantly told story. From the Eastern European crews, the action steadily progresses towards the larger players; it will dawn on everyone when they have reached the end of the book that these hardened airmen are mere expendable cogs in a giant machine. The laughs and action along the way make the book's overall sadness even more poignant. I will certainly buy a copy.' --Peter Danssaert, UN arms trade inspector & lead researcher, IPIS
'It's all very well to know that there is a global trade in illicit goods, and a small contingent of aviators willing to fly anything anywhere, but this is the only one inside story on the post-Soviet flyboys who represent such a key element in this hidden world. In all their boozy, devil-may-care glory, Matt Potter's unique book doesn't just offer up a fascinating tale of cratered runways, no-questions-asked drops, midnight flits, shell companies, hidden compartments and duct-taped aircraft of these men, it also tells us something about the modern world, and how for all society's efforts to make it regulated and respectable, there will always be those who thrive by finding ways to use, abuse and ignore the rules' --Dr Mark Galeotti, Academic Chair of the SCPS Center for Global Affairs, New York University, and author/editor of Organized Crime in History
'Outlaws Inc is the ultimate proof that the truth is stranger than fiction' --Brian Johnson-Thomas, journalist & member of the UN Security Council Panel of Experts
'A riveting homage to these extraordinary ex-Soviet planes and the dodgily heroic Russian and Ukrainian smugglers who fly and crash them' --John Sweeney, The Literary Review
'A chilling indictment of a worldwide failure of regulatory will' --Manchester Evening News
'Thrilling, provocative, and morally circumspect...a must read' --Goodreads.com
'Fascinating...it's Jason Bourne meets James Bond, only it's really happening, and it's happening now'
--Andy Ross, America Now
'A brilliantly told story. From the Eastern European crews, the action steadily progresses towards the larger players; it will dawn on everyone when they have reached the end of the book that these hardened airmen are mere expendable cogs in a giant machine. The laughs and action along the way make the book's overall sadness even more poignant. I will certainly buy a copy.' --Peter Danssaert, UN arms trade inspector & lead researcher, IPIS
'It's all very well to know that there is a global trade in illicit goods, and a small contingent of aviators willing to fly anything anywhere, but this is the only one inside story on the post-Soviet flyboys who represent such a key element in this hidden world. In all their boozy, devil-may-care glory, Matt Potter's unique book doesn't just offer up a fascinating tale of cratered runways, no-questions-asked drops, midnight flits, shell companies, hidden compartments and duct-taped aircraft of these men, it also tells us something about the modern world, and how for all society's efforts to make it regulated and respectable, there will always be those who thrive by finding ways to use, abuse and ignore the rules' --Dr Mark Galeotti, Academic Chair of the SCPS Center for Global Affairs, New York University, and author/editor of Organized Crime in History
'Outlaws Inc is the ultimate proof that the truth is stranger than fiction' --Brian Johnson-Thomas, journalist & member of the UN Security Council Panel of Experts
'A riveting homage to these extraordinary ex-Soviet planes and the dodgily heroic Russian and Ukrainian smugglers who fly and crash them' --John Sweeney, The Literary Review
'A chilling indictment of a worldwide failure of regulatory will' --Manchester Evening News
'Thrilling, provocative, and morally circumspect...a must read' --Goodreads.com
'Fascinating...it's Jason Bourne meets James Bond, only it's really happening, and it's happening now'
--Andy Ross, America Now
Product Description
An extraordinary journey into the biggest, most impenetrable trafficking network the world has ever seen.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm a big fan of international true crime books (mafia/gangster stories) and when I saw Outlaws Inc I thought it looked like it was right up my street, the book being a story about how ex-Soviet air force crews basically went freelance after the fall of communism and the extraordinary things they've got up to since then. The author, Matt Potter, makes a big promise on the front about the 'Outlaws' being the most dangerous smugglers in the world and my oh my he does not disappoint. From the first few pages, when you find yourself with him on board one of these planes with a crew, right up to the end of the book when you finish it and the ramifications of what you've just been told gradually sink in, it's astonishing stuff. These crews of smugglers work for gangsters, dictators and dodgy governments, as you'd expect...but they also work for legitimate governments, our governments, charities, NGOs, the UN, all kinds of people supposedly on the right side of the law. Sounds unbelievable, I know, but read the book because it's all true. As a whole, Outlaws Inc is highly readable, dramatic, compelling and, quite frankly, terrifying. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in how the world really works. I've never read anything like it. As I said in the title of this review, it's a stunning book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book takes what is a truly interesting subject for about 40-60 pages and milks it over and over for 300 pages until bone dry. The basics can be summarized in a long paragraph:
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to sudden unemployment for hundreds of thousands of former Soviet soldiers, and essentially free-for-all looting of former Soviet military supplies. A large number of experienced military pilots and crew immediately went into business as "no problem" couriers (as in, "any cargo, any place, any time -- no problem") using ex-military Antonov and Ilyushin cargo jets. Due to the complete inability of any international agency to comprehensively monitor planes, companies, and crews, and the complete porousness of borders and customs operations in most of the developing world, these crews have thrived as couriers of cargo ranging from completely legitimate food aid to international sanction-busting arms (although the bulk of the money is made in the "gray" middle). Some of these businesses are more legit that others, but even so, there's no way to really know whether a particular flight is totally clean or not, since the crews are often make their money by smuggling tons of personal cargo. The beauty of the ecosystem is that there's enough plausible deniability for all governments involved, as well as the owners, and crewmen. The so-called "kingpins" you may have heard about, such as Viktor "The Merchant of Death" Bout (upon whom the film Lord of War is largely based), are only middlemen, there are people higher up the food chain who may or may not be very highly placed in former Soviet states such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
That story is pretty interesting, however Potter isn't able to tell it in a fluid or concise way. To his credit, he has clearly put in tons of on the ground research hanging out with these aviators and interviewing people in the air freight business and international watchdog types. However, the book is incredibly repetitive, and structurally zig zags between a chronological account and a geographical one. Along the way, there are lots of interesting details buried here and there (someone needs to do a feature about these small communities of ex-Soviet airman in the backwaters of Africa), but it is awfully repetitive and the topic could have been covered almost as well with a long magazine feature. Those interested in international relations and gray economies will find the content interesting, as will those with an interest in the former Soviet Union, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it to general audience.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to sudden unemployment for hundreds of thousands of former Soviet soldiers, and essentially free-for-all looting of former Soviet military supplies. A large number of experienced military pilots and crew immediately went into business as "no problem" couriers (as in, "any cargo, any place, any time -- no problem") using ex-military Antonov and Ilyushin cargo jets. Due to the complete inability of any international agency to comprehensively monitor planes, companies, and crews, and the complete porousness of borders and customs operations in most of the developing world, these crews have thrived as couriers of cargo ranging from completely legitimate food aid to international sanction-busting arms (although the bulk of the money is made in the "gray" middle). Some of these businesses are more legit that others, but even so, there's no way to really know whether a particular flight is totally clean or not, since the crews are often make their money by smuggling tons of personal cargo. The beauty of the ecosystem is that there's enough plausible deniability for all governments involved, as well as the owners, and crewmen. The so-called "kingpins" you may have heard about, such as Viktor "The Merchant of Death" Bout (upon whom the film Lord of War is largely based), are only middlemen, there are people higher up the food chain who may or may not be very highly placed in former Soviet states such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
That story is pretty interesting, however Potter isn't able to tell it in a fluid or concise way. To his credit, he has clearly put in tons of on the ground research hanging out with these aviators and interviewing people in the air freight business and international watchdog types. However, the book is incredibly repetitive, and structurally zig zags between a chronological account and a geographical one. Along the way, there are lots of interesting details buried here and there (someone needs to do a feature about these small communities of ex-Soviet airman in the backwaters of Africa), but it is awfully repetitive and the topic could have been covered almost as well with a long magazine feature. Those interested in international relations and gray economies will find the content interesting, as will those with an interest in the former Soviet Union, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it to general audience.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm a big fan of crime books - any enjoy reading the likes of Tony Thompson and his books on UK gangs, Ross Kemp's Sky 1 series etc. After a friend recommended this book to me I decided to take a look and am really glad I did.
As with the best crime books it gives a fascinating insight into the underworld and I coulcn't put this one down. I heartily recommend it.
As with the best crime books it gives a fascinating insight into the underworld and I coulcn't put this one down. I heartily recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great service, great price, great product
Book arrived as described (brand new) from UK to Canada in a great time...about 6 business days...and for a great price.
Published 1 month ago by DR
Stunning book
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's superbly written, expertly researched and gripping from start to finish. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robert Dineen
Outlaws inc
An excellent account of what happened to some of the ex Russian Airforce personnel. Very readable and gives an insight into covert operations from which a lot of shadowy figures... Read more
Published 6 months ago by keith mac
The Author's an Outlaw for Selling This Book
I was seriously disappointed by this book. It was a topic I knew nothing about, so thought this would enlighten me. It didn't. Read more
Published 7 months ago by KevBhav
Admire this man's nerve
This amazing book is indeed an eye-opener as to how the world really works - perfectly astonishing, in fact. Other reviewers have said that and they are right. Read more
Published 8 months ago by bookworm
Soviet enlightenment
This is the usual type of book I choose to read. Having a liking to know the detail of real life in various world regions, especially following political change and how this... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Traveller
outlaws inc .
The book I wanted to read after listening to the interview with matt potter and that was that.its a thrilling tale of the human spirit comradeship and the looking after ones own... Read more
Published 8 months ago by rich
Seriously disappointed
I have to say I gave up on this book after some 120 pages. At that time I rated the book as 1% good stuff and 99% overhyped fluff with no substance. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Des Skinner
Shocking, explosive real-life adventure
It's hard to know what's more incredible: the international criminal network that links warlords and mercenaries with Western governments and aid organisations, or the fact that... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Andy P
Outlaws Inc
This book just did'nt grab. It did not tell a sequential story. However the content was well researched and interesting.
Published 10 months ago by Aham
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