Rating: 
Summary: Sick, Depraved
Review: I'm ashamed I bought this disgusting book. Most people, adult, caring people, would gather such children in their arms and improve their plight in some way, not rape and impregnate them. The men in this book are sexual predators and pederasts. But they don't feel any qualms either about their crimes or involving these children in their drug-smuggling or other dangerous schemes. Instead, they are happy with themselves and are fictitiously congratulated by the tribal chief for leaving their "seed" among his tribe. Please.
Fortunately, our State Department is trying to track down and prosecute such predators in SE Asia, and to pressure Asian governments to stop such practices.
Pure filth! Read Nicholas Kristoff in the OP-ED section of the New York Times for vivid descriptions of this child-sex trade. American and British men travel there to have sex with small children, for God's sake. This book does give some insight into how these predators justify their actions: they love children, are supporting them, blah, blah, blah. What I'd like to do to them can't be printed.
As penance for having enriched the author by my purchase of his book, I have sent money to local charities trying to intervene in these children's miserable lives, lives of kidnapping, sexual slavery, degradation, beatings, and early deaths from AIDS and violence.
Please don't buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ready for a plane ride into Hell?
Review: Nicolas Merriweather, a real-life pilot who has obviously walked the walk, writes a hair-raising tale of a disastrous air mission into Cambodia. His main character, John Jackson, Jr., is a burned-out middle-aged man who fears that his best days are behind him. However, he receives a job offer that promises him a big payday. Accompanied by a couple of longtime sidekicks, Jackson accepts the challenge even though it sounds too good to be true. Soon enough, the three war-horses discover that the deck is actually stacked against them. Eventually, personal redemption becomes their primary motivation.I came to this book without a background in aviation or warfare. The author's descriptions are colorful and vivid, however, so my unfamilarity with this genre wasn't a deterrent to my enjoyment of the narrative. He has included a handy glossary that helps with the lingo and terminology. Merriweather self-describes his novel as deserving an "R" rating, and he's right-the story has as many "money shots" as a typical Ron Jeremy flick. The unrepentant tone of the book is indeed politically incorrect, but one feels that the author is painting an accurate portrait of a time and place. The story would make an exciting action drama, should Hollywood come calling (I envision Harrison Ford, Jeff Bridges, and Arch Hall, Jr. in the leading roles). Ironically, however, given the harrowing situations and spicy R-rated content, such a film would never be suitable for showing as an in-flight movie!
Rating:
Summary: Ready for a plane ride into Hell?
Review: Nicolas Merriweather, a real-life pilot who has obviously walked the walk, writes a hair-raising tale of a disastrous air mission into Cambodia. His main character, John Jackson, Jr., is a burned-out middle-aged man who fears that his best days are behind him. However, he receives a job offer that promises him a big payday. Accompanied by a couple of longtime sidekicks, Jackson accepts the challenge even though it sounds too good to be true. Soon enough, the three war-horses discover that the deck is actually stacked against them. Eventually, personal redemption becomes their primary motivation. I came to this book without a background in aviation or warfare. The author's descriptions are colorful and vivid, however, so my unfamilarity with this genre wasn't a deterrent to my enjoyment of the narrative. He has included a handy glossary that helps with the lingo and terminology. Merriweather self-describes his novel as deserving an "R" rating, and he's right-the story has as many "money shots" as a typical Ron Jeremy flick. The unrepentant tone of the book is indeed politically incorrect, but one feels that the author is painting an accurate portrait of a time and place. The story would make an exciting action drama, should Hollywood come calling (I envision Harrison Ford, Jeff Bridges, and Arch Hall, Jr. in the leading roles). Ironically, however, given the harrowing situations and spicy R-rated content, such a film would never be suitable for showing as an in-flight movie!
Rating:
Summary: Apsara Jet
Review: Nicolas Merriweather,(aka Archie Hall) has written a hard hitting
book on the world of the far east. If you have never been there, this is one that you should read. He shows us that he knows what the people of that part of the world are living in on a day to day basis. He also has a large knowledge of the technical things associated with airplanes and the pilots that fly them. A book that is very hard to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Apsara Jet
Review: So, what's not to like about Apsara Jet? This book has it all-
captivating flying, exciting "blood and guts" and extensive erotic activity. The main character, a former Eastern Air Lines pilot, was down and out on his luck until overcoming the bad guys with an elaborate plot. As a former EAL pilot myself, I found the book inspiring and intriguing. Perhaps the next book by this author could focus on the early demise of Frank Lorenzo. This would surely be a best seller!
Rating:
Summary: Factual fiction
Review: The author passes on his extensive knowlege of aviating and an, at times depressing, image of modern-day SE Asia. Loads of believable action. Highly erotic but I don't think any more titillating in 2001 than when I had nothing more to worry about than an occasional zit, diving under a desk when a siren sounded, or not getting caught reading Erskine Caldwell or Mickey Spillane. Good show Archie...er Nicolas?
Larry Partridge, Author of Flying Tigers over Cambodia
Rating: 
Summary: great flying - rest is so-so
Review: The author writes some incredbile flying sequences. I am a commercial pilot and they are as good, and as accurate, as it gets. If it was all flying it would be 5 stars for sure. Now to the other parts. There are a HUGE amount of very detailed sexual encounters between 60+ year old American pilots and teenage Asian girls. If that turns you on, then you will love this book. I could do without the "Dear Forum" level of detail. I have never been to SE Asia, but evidently you can't walk 3 feet without some young girl grabbing you.
There are also some gaping plot holes. I don't want to spoil it, but usually the evil drug lords kill the pilots AFTER they smuggle the drugs!
Rating:
Summary: Apsara Jet
Review: This has got to be one of my all-time fovorite books that I have ever read. It takes me back to the wonderful times spent in Southeast Asia and the great (DC8) that I flew there.
It is a book that is very dificult to put down! I cannot say enough about the genius of the author. His knowledge of the airplane and the loacalities is truly amazing indeed.
After reading this book you could operate a DC8.
A Flying Tiger forever,
Tom Constable
Rating:
Summary: Apsara Jet
Review: This has got to be one of my all-time fovorite books that I have ever read. It takes me back to the wonderful times spent in Southeast Asia and the great DC8's that I flew there.
It is a book that is very dificult to put down! I cannot say enough about the genius of the author. His knowledge of the airplane and the localities is truly amazing indeed.
After reading this book you could operate a DC8.
A Flying Tiger forever,
Tom Constable
Rating:
Summary: Sanuk Adventure In Modern Southeast Asia!
Review: When I purchased this fantastic novel in Chiang Mai in November '01, the beautiful cover alone was enough to catch my attention (I'm taken with Angkor Wat since seeing it in '98!)but when I got back to my apartment and started reading this book, I was completely taken with the characterizations, the background and just Nicolas Merriweather's knowledge of several drinking/ bargirl establishments I've gotten to know quite well in Bangkok and Phnom Penh, especially Thermae and Martini's! (Not that my Thai wife is too pleased with me going there!)
The storyline is loads of fun and as much as I loved reading this book in Chiang Mai, reading it here in the States someday will help me deal with the homesickness I get when I've been gone from Thailand too long.I'm sorry it took Nicolas this long to put a book together because the man definately is one hell of a writer but I'm glad we've got Apsara Jet and I'm excited to think about any further novels coming from the man in hopefully the near-and-dear future!
Also, I'd like to take the time to thank Nicolas publicly for all the assistance he gave me with learning about the DC-3/C-47 "Gooney Bird" for a novel of my own that I'm busy wrapping up at this point. He didn't have to do it but he chose to and I'm grateful for it.
So, if you like lovable characters, good adventure, aircraft, sexy bargirls and annoying bad guys, then Apsara Jet is a delightful world to slip into. If you're like me, temporarily stuck out of Asia, the storyline will let you hear the tinkle of temple bells, smell the joss sticks, taste the Mekhong and feel the long, smooth black hair of a typically beautiful Asian girl. Do the right thing and get this book--NOW!!!
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