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iotareads's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly lonely. It's not an immediate home run but I probably will get it more if I reread it. Learned it was from a novel so maybe that's why I didn't get it at first.
bundy23's review
3.0
Pretty dull. It read as non-fiction, which meant it's dullness would've been excusable, but judged as a work of fiction, the writing was uninteresting and it felt very generic. It was also pretty obvious that it was written by an American.
natalier3's review
3.0
I am a huge Jed Mercurio fan, after loving Bodies, The Bodyguard and my all-time favourite TV programme, Line of Duty.
So much so, I hit the request button on NetGalley without looking at the blurb, and this was a lesson learned.
I am definitely not a reader of science fiction, or espionage/spy thrillers and this storyline just wasn't for me. I am glad other readers enjoyed it though.
I have given 3 stars as I don't think it fair to mark down when I didn't like the genre. The narrator did well and was engaging to a certain extent, but I just didn't enjoy the story.
So much so, I hit the request button on NetGalley without looking at the blurb, and this was a lesson learned.
I am definitely not a reader of science fiction, or espionage/spy thrillers and this storyline just wasn't for me. I am glad other readers enjoyed it though.
I have given 3 stars as I don't think it fair to mark down when I didn't like the genre. The narrator did well and was engaging to a certain extent, but I just didn't enjoy the story.
thomcat's review
3.0
Connects a single character with several historical Soviet air incidents, then adds one more - a last minute lunar launch to try and beat Apollo 11. Very technical, yet fictional - probably not everyone's cup of tea.
The main character is driven, highly intelligent, possesses great eyesight, but hampered in social situations - which is a description many used for Ted Williams. The orphanage scenes that molded this character are tough to read, if brief. In the remainder of his flight career, highly detailed scenes show his piloting success. They also contains frequent cameos of future astronauts and famous pilots - Terrible Ted among them. In this respect, the author has definitely done his homework.
I don't recall how this ended up on my want-to-read list. I found the book between then and now at a used book sale, remaindered from a library in Akron Ohio. Many other reviews mention the author's work as a screenwriter, but I am unfamiliar with those shows.
The book is technical, described by many as a "boy's book". The accuracy of those facts drew me in, much like other fiction and non-fiction books and biographies of the space race. The idea of the Soviets rushing launches to stay ahead of the Americans is also familiar, and works well here. On the negative side, the characters are 2D and the prose is dry at times. There is a certain poetry in descriptions of the environment, though... overall rating, 3 stars.
The main character is driven, highly intelligent, possesses great eyesight, but hampered in social situations - which is a description many used for Ted Williams. The orphanage scenes that molded this character are tough to read, if brief. In the remainder of his flight career, highly detailed scenes show his piloting success. They also contains frequent cameos of future astronauts and famous pilots - Terrible Ted among them. In this respect, the author has definitely done his homework.
I don't recall how this ended up on my want-to-read list. I found the book between then and now at a used book sale, remaindered from a library in Akron Ohio. Many other reviews mention the author's work as a screenwriter, but I am unfamiliar with those shows.
The book is technical, described by many as a "boy's book". The accuracy of those facts drew me in, much like other fiction and non-fiction books and biographies of the space race. The idea of the Soviets rushing launches to stay ahead of the Americans is also familiar, and works well here. On the negative side, the characters are 2D and the prose is dry at times. There is a certain poetry in descriptions of the environment, though... overall rating, 3 stars.
franceselsie's review
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
house_of_scatha's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the conceit of this novel: a Soviet pilot - an Ace of Aces who flew a clandestine war in Korea, and therefore cannot receive the fame (infamy?) that he so craves - is offered another mission, as clandestine as the war he fought. Really nicely put together and certainly thought-provoking about a man's achievements and reputation (and desire for the same).
amberw27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Unknown pilot/cosmonaut in USSR
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