Tim Rizzi has written a terrific military techno-thriller in Eagles of Fire. The plot synopsis given above is accurate so I won't repeat it here. The characterizations vary between 2D and 3D, with Gen. Duke James as the most fully realized member of the cast. Rizzi has done something quite unusual for this genre (one to which I am devoted despite my better judgment), which is even the odds between the armed forces of Good and Evil. Bad things happen to Good People and good things happen to Bad People. I am looking forward to the sequel (so many ends are left loose that there must be one in the offing) with eager anticipation.

For the cerebral military history and aviation history buff, it's hard to get a better book than this one. Mr. Horikoshi was the leader of the team that designed the famous Zero, the plane that scared the Allies silly for the couple of years around Pearl Harbor. The book focuses on what he knows best: the design of the plane, including its context in fighter plane designs of the pre-war years. Toward the end, there are some agonized comments about attempts to design successors to and modifications to the Zero after the Americans developed tactics and aircraft specifically to combat it. Combat results are described in only the most cursory way, so many military history buffs may be disappointed that the only deaths recounted in detail are those of test pilots. For those interested in the more cerebral side of military history -- the weapons systems, the economic and logistical problems, and so on -- there are few books as rewarding as this one.

There aren't first-person accounts of dogfights or bombing attacks here; Horikoshi never participated in combat. Nor is there anything substantive here about the training of the pilots that flew those first Zeros and deserve a large amount of the credit for the victories the design produced in 1940-1942. Instead there is a meticulous recap of the decisions that went into building the plane, and the reader gets keen insight into how an aeronatical engineer must think in order to create a near-legendary design. After reading this book, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that if Imperial Japan of the 1930's had had better engine designs than the ones available to Mr. Horikoshi, the road from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay would have been longer and bloodier than it worked out to be.

Thomas, Count of Savoy, died in 1233 a relatively obscure nobleman -- but his seven sons and two daughters rose to fame, fortune, and involvement in almost every international conflict in western Europe during the next fifty years. From Scotland to Sicily, they gained access to and marriage within every important royal house in Europe. Observed Joseph Bedier, "They did not pride themselves upon their own prowess, but upon their lineage, and each of them rejoiced to contemplate in the others, as in so many mirrors, his own image multiplied."

This is a well researched and illustrated book. A very worthy study of Canadian and other Commonwealth aircrew insignia. The author obviously has a wide experience in researching and collecting in the subject and the coverage of particularly Canadian insignia is excellent. As an Australian, I found the treatment of Australian aircrew badges is very good as he consulted appropriate Australian museum authorities. The only criticisms I have are minor. In dealing with naval aircrew insignia, the author gives the impression of not understanding the rather complex British wartime treatment of 'temporary' naval personnel - they were enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve, with different rank lacing on uniforms to regular officers e.g. 'wavy' stripes as opposed to straight stripes on the uniform sleeve. As almost all Commwealth navy aircrew were temporaries, they wore the wavy stripes. Although illustrations of these appear in the book, this explanation is not given. The other, more humorous (hardly a criticism) is the illustration of first world war Royal Naval Air Service Flight Lieutenant E. Stoneman on page 45, in his uniform, together with a lady who looks very much like his mother (or a close relative as facial features are similar). She, of course is dressed in female attire of the time. Our ever exact author specifically identifies the Lieutenant as the person standing on the left of the photograph! As I said, very minor criticisms. A very good book on the subject

Smith's biography on Emilio is great. He truly details his life from his origins in Germany and Russia to the end of his life in the United States. I believe the most interesting thing is the fact that the US government used him as something close to a spy during WWI. Any conversation held in German was reported by Kosterlitzky to the government. WOW!

Reading this book reminded me of Emily Dickinson's poem, "There is no frigate like a book," because after the first few pages you realize you are on a journey bound for the rocky coast of Cornwall. Derek and Jean Tangye left the noise and stress of London to turn an abandoned farmhouse in Cornwall into a thriving flower farm (so that's where all those lovely flowers at the florist come from, right?). They also tried their hand at potato farming, which deserves a book in itself. This book is well-written, entertaining and a great de-stressifier. Who needs Valium to deal with life when 'A Gull on the Roof' will do the same thing for a fraction of the price? Their cat, Monty steals the show from the first (with Monty's Leap) to the last. I hope to read the rest of the Minack Chronicles.

This book provides a concise summary of ocular pathology and has clear pictures illustrating histopathology of the eye. As a quick guide or as preparation for exams, it is definitely one of the better and simpler texts around. In addition, though very simple, this book covers some of the more recent aspects of ocular pathology as well as a small section on the handling and preparation of specimens. Highly recommended.

I recommend this book for everyone interested in the Eagle -- it is both interesting reading and good reference material.

"Boeing F-15 Eagle and Strike Eagle" is the 6th book in Airlife Publishing's Combat Legends series. The aim of the series is to provide both general readers and enthusiasts a succinct, yet detailed overview of the subject aircraft.

That's the beauty of this book - it has something for everyone interested in the F-15, from prototype and development all the way through it's very recent combat service in Afghanistan. Although it covers some of the same ground that other F-15 overview books do, "Eagle and Strike Eagle" especially shines when it comes to talking about the combat operations of the F-15, with special emphasis on the air to air kills of Desert Storm and Allied Force - reason enough for any enthusiast to own this book. Tech nuts will also find more up-to-date and in-depth discussions of recent Eagle avionics upgrades not seen published elsewhere, and the modelers will appreciate the pages of colors and markings drawings.

Overall, a welcome addition to any air enthusiast's library.

I loved this book. It was really interesting and different. I would definatly reccomend this unique book to anyone!

I got this book years ago after finishing all my Where's Waldo books and love it still. It contains several different pictures with little stories to go along with them about the things you must find in them. For example, can you help Selena and Karl find their sandals in their messy campsite so they can go get ice cream? How about looking for Elisa and Vincent's camera at their picnic site by the lake so they can take a picture of the lake monster that just emerged. When you've finished all 13 puzzles, there's still more things to find, using extra stories about each picture. There's also a letter to find in each illustration that spell a word. And certain items appear in every picture... This book will certainly keep everyone occupied for quite a while!