This is the second novel by Stephen Hunter did I have read. The first being, "Time To Hunt". "The Second Saladin" is a better written, more intelligent novel. I found the characters to be more complete and interesting than the characters in "Time To Hunt". This may be the result of reading the last novel in the series, before reading the preceeding novels, missing some background information, etc ... but, overall, the plot, action, pacing ... "The Second Saladin" is a better Overall novel than "Time To Hunt".