Eagle Reviews

i love this book i think its grea

A book about the challenges of flying the F-15 may not seem so original (though books and flight simulator programs concentrate on the F-16), but Eagles was written in 1978!! Thus, it presents the F-15 out of its normal context of flying in the Reagan years or against Hussein. Furher, "Eagles" isn't about flying the F-15 into combat, but against shoddy production, reliability problems of the ambitious new plane and the challenges faced by all fighter pilots. I'm not sure what "Eagles" is supposed to be about - or whom, since none of the several pilots ever rises to become the central charachter - but it wasn't what I expected, and that's praiseworthy. In short, several pilots try to come to terms with the new beast which has its share fo problems. The author cleverly telegraphs the nature of the new plane's problems before describing them - when a USAF PR officer lists the contractors behind the plane's major components, all seem to match those behind the real F-15, with the one exception of the guys who built the engines. Though there doesn't seem to be a plot, the author climaxes the action at a round of "Red Flag", the USAF's fighter pilot boot camp, where some fighter pilots are literally flown to death. the flying scenes, though not spectacular, are a change from what I've grown used to. Worth a look.

This small book (just 72 pages) consists basically of a collection of (very good) pictures, with its respective legends, most of them unpublished until now (at least in the books I got). The stile is similar to "Aircraft of The Luftwaffe Fighter Aces", from Bernd Barbas's, made only over pictures and practically without technical text. Noteworthy is the initial section, with 11 WWII original color pictures, from the famous Jeff Ethell's private collection and other sources. A small four pages introduction summarizes the action of Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean and North Africa, from 1940 to 1943. The pictures, most in close-ups, are an excellent reference for modelers. As this book is part of a collection, which covers the Luftwaffe action over all fronts, I recommend the purchase of all of them.

It's ok but kinda dry. Had to read it for my sales (482) class at western. A lot of it is common sense. In a sense, the whole book is like a summary in and of itself

The Gang of Four : Nest of the Jerusalem Eagle is a continuation of the first gang of four book. I have read both and found that the author's writing deteriated in the second book. It is shorter and with almost no plot but still a nice book to read. I recomend it if you have been to Israel. Otherwise it is less interesting.

Parker, a classic hard-guy and professional thief, sets out to rob a U.S. Air Force finance office. Various misfits and ex-cons comprise his crew. The plan goes sour, but Parker prevails. The story gets unbelievable and dumb about midway through, but the characters are interesting enough to keep you hooked. A good airplane or beach read--fun, quick, and inconsequential.

This book starts quite naturally and appears to be the story of the relationships of two couples who are very good friends. We quickly become aware that the mosaic maze pattern on the kitchen floor is not as innocent as it appears. Things start to happen to Bee, who with husband Paul are the owners of the house with the mystical floor. Their friends Louise and Cliff are less involved but have a part to play, especially Cliff. Although I was somewhat disappointed in the lack of intricate plotting which this story could so easily have supported I will read more of this authors work.

If one has not read the three earlier histories of the Supreme Council, SJUSA (1801-1861, 1861-1891 & 1891-1921) then this work will be a very good look into many aspects of the development of the Scottish Rite and the birth of the Southern Jurisdiction. I have to wonder, however, why the author needed to spend as much time as he did on the earlier years of the SJ when it gave so very little new material (and actually less than the earlier works). In short, if you have no history of the Southern Jurisdiction, then this well written and easy to read work will be of value to you and wet your appetite for more information concerning the earlier years of Scottish Rite Masonry in America. If you already have the earlier histories of the SJ, then this will provide you with, at the very least, a nice coffee table book with some good information on the later years of the Southern Jurisdiction.

A young woman's naked body is found in a seedy, abandoned flat and Bill Slider is called in to investigate the death. No identifying items are found with the body and no one has reported her missing. It is only by a fluke that her identification is made quickly - an identification that takes Bill Slider into the world of London's orchestra's and smuggling.

This is the first of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles novels of Bill Slider - a Detective from Shepherd's Bush station in London. She writes a convincing and complex detective story but I was less impressed with the personal details of her characters. Bill Slider is unhappily married to Irene yet he immediately meets Joanna through his investigation - a friend of the deceased - and starts an affair with her. It seems a little too idealist - and Slider seems a bit too wishy-washy. Atherton, as Slider's side-kick, provides a bit of comic relief but mostly in the form of clever puns which I found wore a bit thin at times.

The mysterery is very satisfying to figure out. The clues are all laid out for us slowly and I really enjoyed the process of following Slider and Atherton on their slow investigation - peeling back layer upon layer of the mystery - the olive oil cans, the girl's rich background, why she constantly disappeared to Manchester to play in the orchestra there, what on earth a Stradivarius violin was doing in her seedy flat and why did she suddenly start demanding an ex-lover marry her. There are suspects a plenty and lies and alibis. The only thing is the ending was disappointing - kind of a cop out. You know who and why but there is no justice in it. Still a good read overall.