Rolling Thunder

Rating:
Summary: Top Read
Review: A great read for air combat fans.... Berent knows his stuff and more importantly knows how to weave a plethora of technical info into a gripping storyline. Higly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The best Vietnam Air War Author
Review: I have read most of Mark berent's books and they are without a doubt the very best. I know that thye are based in part for sure of real events that took place. Rolling Thunder makes reference to several people and events that I know for a fact did occur, such as the person from the 354'th who shot back at a ship , the Turkestan in Cam Pha and got hauled into a court martial trial along wioht the C.O. The names and some of the story regarding that were changed. Berent makes you feel like you are there along with those guys that busted their butts to fight a war that they were not allowed to win. He has a way of creating characters and other things that are truly realistic, flight line up cards, Frag order etc. IT is very hard to start one of his novels and put it down. THe only bad thing is that you realize tha tyou are almost done reading before long. His knowledge of airplanes and creating a scen for the reader is unmatched by any writer that I know of. I've read all of the books I own several times.

Rating:
Summary: Best Vietnam Air War read
Review: I've read a number of books on the Vietnam War -- fiction and non-fiction. It's the start of a five book series that covers the Vietnam war pretty much from American entry to our last big air battle -- Linebacker II.
For a novel, Rolling Thunder reads like a memoir, and I guess that's because it partially is one for Berent.
His description of air combat are authentic and edge of your seat type stuff. But it is the interactions of the fighter squadron and the wing and big Air Force politics that makes this book a great read.
Rolling Thunder starts with the death of a pilot that was flying with Court Bannister (the hero of these books). He's not a particularly good pilot and manages to prang his F-100 all over the jungle. For Court that's bad, not because he loses a squadmate, but because the guy's a powerful generals son.
It follows him around for the next seven years and through the last book.
Berent manages to weave all the elements of Vietnam -- Saigon dangers, Air Force fighters, Special Forces ground combat and political intrigue in Washington -- all into one story.
The only complaint I had with the series is the inclusion of the obligatory romance in Thailand or some RR spot in every book. The romance element wasn't as entertaining to me, but they are always brief interludes and then its back to work and war.
If you don't know much about the war in Vietnam or the Air Force read these books. They are a good education and entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: A great read.
Review: Mark Berent writes this book with wonderful detail. This truly is a riviting read. I can't wait to get stuck into his next book!

Rating:
Summary: The Real Thing
Review: So true, you just know that the author lived the setting and life. The story is dramatic without being smarmy, or ridiculous. A great read -