Immediate Action is a 1995 book written under the pseudonym 'Andy McNab

Andy McNab

Sergeant ‘Andy McNab’ DCM MM is the pseudonym of an English novelist and former SAS operative and soldier.McNab came into public prominence in 1993, when he published his account of the failed Special Air Service patrol, Bravo Two Zero for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in...

'. It was the follow-up to the hugely successful Bravo Two Zero

Bravo Two Zero (1993 book)

Bravo Two Zero is a 1993 book written under the pseudonym 'Andy McNab'. The book recounts the story of an SAS patrol behind enemy lines in Iraq, in 1991, which was led by the author.-Controversy:...

 by the same author.

Premise

McNab tells the story of his life, from the day he was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital

Guy's Hospital

Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...

 in London to the day he went to fight in the Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

. As a delinquent youth, McNab rebelled against society, soon falling into a life of petty crime. The book follows him as a young soldier sent to war against the IRA

Irish Republican Army

The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...

 in the streets and fields of South Armagh

South Armagh

South Armagh can refer to:*The southern part of County Armagh*South Armagh *South Armagh...

 and Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

. Through the selection process and its successful completion, he became a member of 22 SAS Regiment

Special Air Service

Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...

 and found himself at the centre of covert operations for nine years, on five continents. In this book he details his activities in a world of surveillance and intelligence-gathering, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.

Reception

Immediate Action spent 18 weeks at the top of the UK best-seller lists following the lifting of an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. Immediate Action has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.

See also

• Bravo Two Zero (1993)
• Seven Troop
  Seven Troop (book)
  Seven Troop is a 2008 book written under the pseudonym 'Andy McNab'. It was the non-fiction follow up to the hugely successful Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action by the same author.-Premise:...
  
  (2008)