Rating: Summary: very good, but some Griffin habits need fixing Review: An author who can write a good enough story that you forgive him or her for some consistent faults has got to be something special. _The Aviators_ is a good example of this all around. Like all of Griffin's military novels, the strength of the book is the successful portrayal of the dialogue and character of military men. His lieutenants behave like lieutenants; sergeants major like sergeants major; generals like generals, and so forth. There is a great mix of dedicated warriors, check-collecting spuds, out-and-out incompetents, and solid but unimaginative types. Griffin excels at painting the picture through the way he describes expressions and tone of voice, and he always tells a great story. But he also needs to understand that some of his themes grow repetitive. The Rich Loose Cannon, the private suddenly rocketed to sergeant and then to commissioned rank, and the Immediately Deflowered Virgin are his favourite themes. In every book, you know these are going to show up. The above don't really happen all that much in real life, and it gets a little old knowing that they are going to be in every Griffin book, including this one. His other weakness is inconsistency and overuse of certain names from book to book. He often forgets facts about a character from book to book or gets the name, branch or other distinguishing characteristic wrong. _The Aviators_ contains a number of such mistakes, ones that aren't apparent unless you have read the rest of the series. It is a tribute to Griffin that he keeps turning out excellent stories despite the above tendencies. The humour value is also fairly high, if you like dry military wit and understand it. He certainly doesn't suffer from Clancy's Disease--the overglorification of United States arms and people to the detriment of all others. He is one of the best in the genre.
Rating: Summary: The History of Army Aviation Review: From the death of Scotty Laird to the beginning of the escalation of the Viet Nam War, this book represents an accurate and very readable history of the birth, childhood, and adolescence of Army Aviation. As a member of a family of charter members of the W.P.P.A. who sspent some childhood years at Camp Rucker, Alabama, during the infancy, I can attest to the accuracy of this book. Though this book is part of a marvelous series, it is easily read alone. Anyone who is a military history buff, this book - this series - is a must
Rating: Summary: Griffin is true to life in many ways. Review: Having done some time in the military I must admit that Griffin has captured some of the events and attitudes that are present in our military. It was frightening to see Griffin describe some peronal romantic experiences as they happened to me. Either such experiences are not uncommon or I was just very lucky. Please publish more in this series. What about Desert Storm etc. Thanks again.
Rating: Summary: Great War Story Review: Like all WEB GRiffin's books, this one combines humor, personality studies, and adventure. I wish I had the whole series. He is great.
Rating: Summary: Another great one from the master Review: The Aviators is one of W.E.B. Griffin's best, I read a lot of war novels and the only recent one that can compare to The Aviators is Rustad's THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY. The Brotherhood of War is a great series and The Aviators continues the tradition in an outstanding manner.
Rating: Summary: The Aviators doesn?t get off the ground Review: The Aviators was my first exposure to Griffin and what a disappointment! I had been led to believe that Griffin's novels were action packed, battle filled and that Griffin was a latter day Forester or MacLean. Perhaps he is in other novels but this one proceeded like a made-for-TV prime time soap. The action starts in Vietnam in 1963. Our hero is wounded in a bungled operation and returns to the U.S. to become an aide-de-camp for one year. During the year and change he distinguishes himself and falls for the widow of a friend. He and his CO also must establish the viability of airmobile infantry, demonstrating that army helicopter pilots can transfer large units. There is little action and the story line is predictable. Subplots are predictable as well. In fairness to Griffin, I listened to an abridged audiotape and it might have been poorly abridged. However, I didn't get the sense that there was an awful lot here to begin with. Gerald McRaney's clipped reading doesn't help it either.
Rating: Summary: The Aviators doesn¿t get off the ground Review: The Aviators was my first exposure to Griffin and what a disappointment! I had been led to believe that Griffin's novels were action packed, battle filled and that Griffin was a latter day Forester or MacLean. Perhaps he is in other novels but this one proceeded like a made-for-TV prime time soap. The action starts in Vietnam in 1963. Our hero is wounded in a bungled operation and returns to the U.S. to become an aide-de-camp for one year. During the year and change he distinguishes himself and falls for the widow of a friend. He and his CO also must establish the viability of airmobile infantry, demonstrating that army helicopter pilots can transfer large units. There is little action and the story line is predictable. Subplots are predictable as well. In fairness to Griffin, I listened to an abridged audiotape and it might have been poorly abridged. However, I didn't get the sense that there was an awful lot here to begin with. Gerald McRaney's clipped reading doesn't help it either.
Rating: Summary: "General Hospital" in Army green Review: This is a weak series of books, as far as war novels go. They're more like an ongoing soap opera than gritty war drama (think "General Hospital" as a novel, only set between 1945-1970 and revolving around the Army instead of Port Charles.) The characters are given plenty of time to evolve, and some do (Lowell, in particular.) But it all seems too phony. A good war novel should have some truth in it, but it is in short supply with these books.
Rating: Summary: "General Hospital" in Army green Review: This is a weak series of books, as far as war novels go. They're more like an ongoing soap opera than gritty war drama (think "General Hospital" as a novel, only set between 1945-1970 and revolving around the Army instead of Port Charles.) The characters are given plenty of time to evolve, and some do (Lowell, in particular.) But it all seems too phony. A good war novel should have some truth in it, but it is in short supply with these books.
Rating: Summary: Rambled, lacked a cohesive plot, and loaded with obscenities Review: While the book proports to deal with aviators in the Army's fledgling battlefield use of aviation, it was actually a year in the life of a General's aide. There was a great let down to find, at the end of the book, that the tactics, trade-offs, and conclusions reached as a result of the Army's study of the new battlefield assault techniques, were never discussed! This isn't about aviators, just an old General reliving a lot of non-combat dreariness he had to contend with. Definately a no-brainer in which the "hero's" gutter level language distracted, rather than added to the plot - if there even was one.
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