Any Of These Worth Reading? Pt2

Southside Bucky · 22 August 2005, 10:51 AM

Hi Guy's.

The original thread is now closed, (Any of these worth reading?) but someone at work gave me an interesting book today, which I think qualifies for inclusion into our "WW1 Air War Novels Worth Reading List", which is on page three of the above thread.

Titled: "Darkness Shall Cover Me" (Night Bombing Over The Western Front 1918).

Written by Humphrey Wyn.

First published 1989.

It's the story of a real life WW1 bomber pilot called Leslie Blacking who served with 207 sqn in the final year of the war flying Handley Page 0/400's.

Why am I including it in our list of fictional novels?

The Author was a great friend of Blacking whom he met and corresponded with many times over the years (Wyn also served in the RAF). According to Mr Wyn, Blacking was a very good letter writer and had a very articulate memory, particularly about his WW1 exploits.

This is how Wyn puts it in his introduction:

Although the form of the book is that of a novel, with speaking characters, the facts on which it is based are those which Leslie Blacking gave me. As the central character he is the the only one to be given his real name: the others all have fictitious ones, I have used the novel form to recreate the atmosphere of a bomber squadron on the Western Front, with all of it's attendant perils, apprehensions, friendships and acts of heroism.

At the moment I've only browsed through it for writing style and authenticity, but it looks very good and seems to be a real contender for our list.
After all, wasn't

Winged Victory written under the same premise, albeit by the man who was actually there?

Anyone read it already?

Regards.

Bucky.

Breguet · 6 September 2005, 07:12 PM

Hi, just read through the original thread (which I didn't catch at the time).

I surprised no one mentioned John Harris' Martin Falconer series.There is "The Fledglings", "The Professionals" and "The Victors" to cover WW1 and "The Interceptors" to cover Russia and "The Revolutionaries" to cover Mexio. The first three are excellent as the hero progresses from training in 1915 through to squadron command in 1918. The evolution of tactics and equipment and the maturing of the young hero are all well handled IMHO. A great read which I go back to every now and then.

Southside Bucky · 7 September 2005, 04:05 PM

Thanks for the input Breguet.

It seems to me that for most of the guy's here on the forum, authenticity is probably the biggest deciding factor on wether a book is worth our time.

Some of the books that have been dismissed may have had decent story lines and quite interesting characters, but if that author's guilty of glaring errors, like pitting DH2's against Fokker DVII's or the like, then forget it.

Would you say that Harris' books pass muster on that score?

All the best.

Bucky.

Breguet · 7 September 2005, 04:10 PM

Indeed they do - that's one of the things I like about them! Also the principle character follows a credible career path right through the war and I like the progression.

Pips · 8 September 2005, 12:22 AM

The only book of John Harris' I've read is 'The Mustering Of The Hawks', which I found very entertaining. I wasn't aware that he had written others on WWI flying as well. I'll have to try and get my hands on them.

Thanks for the heads up Breguet.

By the by, any news on a release date for your book on Dallas? I am really looking forward to reading it.

Breguet · 8 September 2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobby

By the by, any news on a release date for your book on Dallas? I am really looking forward to reading it.

The not exactly great a communicating. At this stage it is April 2006.

Pips · 9 September 2005, 02:57 AM

April 2006!? Bummer, I thought it's release was planned for late this year. Been a delay has there? Oh well....... patience is a virtue (I'll have to develop it)

GrandSon · 9 September 2005, 07:54 AM

Hi,

I did not see discussed my latest book: L'équipage from Joseph Kessel.

I'm not sure it was ever translated into English.

It's about a love story between an observer and a Pilot's wife. Although there is not much detailed description of combats, I liked very much the atmosphere of life in the escadrille.

Some say it was the first book (written in 1923) to use WWI aeronautics as a background?

Bonne Lecture...

GrandSon