In the world of Frederick Forsyth, luck was a variable, but preparation was a constant. Marsh had spent three months arranging this afternoon. He knew the habits of the Corte-Reals. He knew the tides. He knew, most importantly, that the British sloop Firefly , currently moored at the end of the jetty, was not his escape.
"You are a dead man, Marsh," the brother by the door spat, but he stepped back into the car. "The Polícia cannot protect you forever."
The full table of contents for No Comebacks includes the following ten stories:
Marsh watched them go. He walked to the edge of the pontoon. The inflatable boat slowed, the policeman waving a lazy hand. No Comebacks Frederick Forsyth.pdf
Supporting the author by purchasing a legal copy ensures that Frederick Forsyth's estate (and the publishers who maintain his legacy) are compensated for the intellectual property. For a collection as beloved as No Comebacks , many collectors argue that the best way to experience it is either through a paid digital download or by purchasing a physical second-hand copy.
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Many critics argue that No Comebacks represents Forsyth at his most human. The 1001 Midnights review notes that . There is a raw, almost vulnerable quality to protagonists who are not secret agents or billionaires, but ordinary men—bankers, students, clerks—caught in extraordinary circumstances. This relatability is a key factor driving continued interest in the collection. In the world of Frederick Forsyth, luck was
A fan favorite. A medical student working in the rough parts of London gets caught in a cycle of revenge with a local thug. To escape, he takes a job in Ireland. The "no snakes" myth (that St. Patrick banished all serpents) becomes a clever biological weapon. It is arguably Forsyth’s most famous short story, blending pharmacology with cold fury.
Instead, treat yourself the right way. Buy the book, pour a stiff drink, and settle in. You will discover that Forsyth’s short fiction is like a perfect hitman: efficient, clean, and leaving no trace—except in your memory.
Julian Marsh was neither a fool nor, strictly speaking, a desperate man. He was a man of calculation. A man who understood that in the ledger of life, the most important entry was the final balance. He knew the tides
| # | Story Title | Core Plot Summary | Notable Features | | -- | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | 1 | | A bored millionaire, Mark Sanderson, falls for a married woman and hires a hitman to kill her husband. A freak rainstorm leads the hitman to kill both the husband and the wife, ensuring "no comebacks." | Dramatic irony; darkly comic ending | | 2 | There Are No Snakes in Ireland | A Punjabi medical student, mistreated by a racist demolition crew, exacts a complex revenge by planting cobras at their work site. | Edgar Award winner; theme of bigotry | | 3 | The Emperor | An ordinary, middle-aged banker battles a giant blue marlin in a fishing duel, gaining a new sense of identity and self-worth. | Homage to Hemingway; transformation story | | 4 | There Are Some Days... | A bumbling group of Irish hijackers steal a truck they think is loaded with expensive brandy, only to discover it is filled with foul rose fertilizer. | Dark comedy; classic case of irony | | 5 | Money with Menaces | A mild-mannered insurance executive is blackmailed over a single sexual transgression from his past, leading to a violent resolution. | Study of psychological pressure | | 6 | Used in Evidence | A man defends his condemned house from eviction. When the body of his long-missing wife is found bricked up behind the fireplace, he refuses to explain. | Gothic atmosphere; silent protagonist | | 7 | Privilege | A businessman is libeled by a careless journalist, but discovers there is little legal recourse, so he takes matters into his own hands. | Theme of power and accountability | | 8 | Duty | A dedicated public official faces a moral dilemma that pits his professional duty against a personal tragedy. | Ethical conflict | | 9 | A Careful Man | A man's extreme meticulousness in life dictates the final revenge he exacts upon his enemies from beyond the grave. | Delayed revenge; legacy of obsession | |10 | Sharp Practice | On a train journey in Ireland, a poker game between strangers becomes a psychological battle where the stakes are far higher than money. | Taut, suspenseful card game |
If you want to explore further, we can look into , discuss Forsyth's real-life inspiration from his time as a journalist, or compare this collection to his full-length novels . Which angle Share public link
Published in 1982, No Comebacks is Forsyth’s first (and for many, his best) collection of short fiction. Unlike his novels, which often span continents and decades, these stories are claustrophobic, efficient, and brutal.
Because the stories are less famous than The Day of the Jackal , owning a digital copy feels like being part of a secret club. Readers argue that the short story format allowed Forsyth to cut the fluff and deliver pure, adrenaline-fueled narrative.