I have been fascinated by stories of aerial warfare for as long as I can remember. I can still recall picking up They Fought for the Sky in a bookshop while on a family holiday one year, and I devoured it. The tales of bravery and innovation were all new to me, but that book sparked an interest which has lasted a lifetime. I’ve read dozens of books on the topic and visited air museums to see the aircraft for myself. I’m still reading books on this topic today, and I still marvel at the new perspectives which can be put on this most wonderful and most dreadful period of history.
I have read lots of books about World War 1 aviation. This is the most authentic novel I have read on this topic.
It was written by someone who actually flew and fought in WWI, but I think that only helps the fictional narrative. It’s a tale of friendship in the midst of horror, and I loved the descriptions of how the young pilots behaved when not flying.
There is no bitter snarl nor self-pity in this classic novel about the air war of 1914-1918, based very largely on the author's experiences. Combat, loneliness, fatigue, fear, comradeship, women, excitement - all are built into a vigorous and authentic structure by one of the most valiant pilots of the then Royal Flying Corps.World War 1REVIEWS 'Beautifully written with a poet's eye as well as a pilot's eye.' Southern Evening Echo'The only book about flying that isn't flannel.' Anonymous Fighter Pilot'Not only one of the best war books but as a transcription of reality, faithful and sustained in its author's…
I think John Harris is one of the great writers on warfare, and this one captures his style superbly.
The main character draws you in immediately with his youthful talent and simmering resentment against people who dismiss him because of his youth. I was engaged by his development as the story progressed, and I could relate to his disappointments as well as his successes.
I thought this book was a wonderful example of accurately portraying human behaviour in war.
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
I saw the movie The Blue Max many years ago and really enjoyed it. In my opinion, the book is even better.
It was one of the books which drove my deepening interest in World War 1 aviation, and it revealed a gritty side to the conflict. I could never quite make up my mind whether to admire or loathe the leading character, which made the story even more fascinating.
Bruno Stachel is a nobody, a newly recruited junior officer in a First World War German combat squadron. But he is determined not to remain a nobody for long. He has his sights on the Blue Max - the most coveted of all German decorations - and he will do anything to get it. From the very moment he shoots down his first plane, everything he does is aimed in that direction: bedding his commander's wife, courting publicity at every turn, even arranging the deaths of his competitors...Jack D. Hunter's novel is a brilliant study of a pilot tortured by…
For me, this is the book that began my interest in World War 1 aviation. It’s a factual book rather than a novel.
I read it again recently, and while it perhaps makes the combat more glamorous than it should, and some of the interpretations of events might be challenged nowadays, I still enjoyed it.
It is a terrific introduction to the topic, detailing key events in the development of air warfare and in the moments in the lives (and deaths) of the aces who took part.
Germany 1938. Herman watches in horror as his cousin is arrested. As a Jew, he realizes he must flee Germany, a decision that catapults him into a life changed forever by the gathering storm of world events.
Part coming-of-age fiction, part immigrant tale, part military adventure, Immigrant Soldier follows Herman’s…
This is another factual book, and I loved the amount of detailed research the author put in.
He has examined the famous final fight of the German ace, Werner Voss, against several British pilots. The storytelling is excellent, and the amount of information this book gave me was incredible.
Nineteen-year-old Werner Voss was a legend in his own lifetime and the youngest recipient of the Pour le Merite, Germany's highest award for bravery in World War I. At the time of his death, he was considered by many, friend and foe alike, to be Germany's greatest fighter ace. Had he lived, he would almost certainly have overtaken Manfred von Richthofen's victory total by early spring 1918. Voss is perhaps best remembered for his outstanding courage, his audacity in the air and the prodigious number of victories he achieved before being killed in one of the most famous dogfights of…
The untold story of early aviators who carried out the hugely important and extremely dangerous work of reconnaissance missions in the face of superior German fighter aircraft and pilots. If they could survive the first month, they were veterans.
One young pilot with dreams of glory finds himself posted to do this unglamorous but vital work.
Submarine Expedition is a gripping, high-concept adventure that blends cutting-edge tech, deep-sea intrigue, and high-stakes military suspense with an energy that will keep you riveted from the first chapter.
Admiral Martin’s underwater mission gone rogue is not only wildly imaginative but strikes a timely chord with its AI and environmental…
