Free Fall: A Sniper's Story from Chechnya - Softcover

Nicolai Lilin is a Russian writer of Siberian descent. He was born in 1980 in the USSR and grew up in Transnistria, a small state that declared its independence in 1990. He was conscripted to the Russian military, and was involved in anti-terrorist operations in Chechnya. Once his military service ended, he worked for various private security agencies as an anti-terrorism consultant before leaving military life to travel in various European countries, including Ireland. He settled in Italy, and founded an arts centre in Milan dedicated to the tradition and design of Siberian tattoos. His first book, Siberian Education, was a major bestseller in Italy and it was published in the UK to critical acclaim.

Lilin's astonishing account of his life takes you into some very strange worlds; frightening, violent and yet with spirited moments of redemption which both offer hope and keep you reading . . . a breath-taking memoir. -- Misha Glenny * * Mail on Sunday [on SIBERIAN EDUCATION] * * Force yourself to forget about categories of good and evil, you have to just be there and read . . . produces a thrill of pleasure that is hard to forget. -- Roberto Saviano, author of GOMORRAH * * [on SIBERIAN EDUCATION] * * A marvellous and illuminating book . . .This story makes most of what we call true crime writing seem insipid and effete. -- Irvine Welsh * * [on SIBERIAN EDUCATION] * * Extraordinary...Lilin serves up brilliantly harrowing set-pieces, but also illuminates the soul of the warrior. * * Scotland on Sunday * * A unique and remarkable war memoir by an internationally acclaimed author. ... Lilin writes with honesty and extreme cynicism, and with a sharp eye for the banality of evil. It is an unflinching and unforgiving read. * * Belfast News * * This extraordinary memoir plunges us back into the carnage of the last decade's Second Chechen War -- Gavin Bowd * * Scotland on Sunday * * compelling mini-epic -- Gavin Bowd * * Scotland on Sunday * * Brilliantly harrowing set-pieces... illuminate the soul of the warrior -- Gavin Bowd * * Scotland on Sunday * * relentless... pierced with firm feeling for his 'family' of fellow saboteurs * * Metro * * highly graphic...in the best Russian tradition * * Sunday Business Post * * a mean story with sure instincts * * Sunday Business Post * * a unique and remarkable war memoir * * Belfast News * * superb stand-alone memoir in its own right... a unique perspective on one of the most controversial wars in living memory * * Belfast News * *