i have not read the book bought have seen the video sick sick sic

Probably because of its graphic & offensive nature upon a cursory viewing, Peter Greenaway's BABY OF MACON is rarely shown in the US and not available on video. Fortunately, a handsome Parisian(in English) edition of the script is available. On the surface, the story is one of the spoiled Italian aristocrat Cosimo De Medici watching a play, concerning a woman pretending to virgin birth to exploit a "miracle baby" for fame & profit. Throughout, de Medici, not quite understanding it isn't real, interferes in the action, ultimately with horrifying consequences as the play and reality lose all division. But anyone reading will find several layers of meaning atop one another, and one will be furious one can't see the film readily. Highly recommended.--John Roberson

Is there any Southern writer that actually writes real-life, full length, humorous type stories anymore? Boyd has some talent, but I hate reading short columns over and over and over...write something with a little more "bulk" to it, please. You can do better than this.

This is a great book. If you were like me and grew up reading Boyd in the Macon Telegraph then you will like this book. I really don't know what that other guy was looking for when he said that the book was no good. Bottom line - This is a good book with good stories.

The title and painting on the cover are misleading as this is not a book about the Curtiss F9C-2 or the Macon's aircraft. It is a book about the Macon, people, blimps, the future of LTA etc. There are 9 photos of the author and only 11 of the F9C-2. The bibliography doesn't mention a single periodical and ignores the AAHS Journal (v3, n2) with 40 pages and 22 photos of the F9C-2.

Spurred on by the title I was somewhat disappointed by its contents. Mr. Hook provides excellent coverage of the how, where, and why the USS Macon crashed but very little as to the day to day operations. You will not find any details of the hanger where the Sparrowhawks were kept or how and what kind of aircraft maintenance could be performed there. There is no step-by-step description of aircraft recovery or launch.

The story and details of the Macon are intertwined with biographies of the most notable LTA crewmen. I said LTA crewmen because the book starts out talking about Mr. Moody Erwin a crewmember on the Akron only (never on the Macon). Unfortunately little is said of their days on the Macon (or Akron), instead Mr. Hook concentrates on their WWII and post WWII or pre Macon careers. This makes for the most unsatisfying reading imaginable when you're after information on the Macon's HTA unit.

There is also an abundance of filler type material. Is a biographical chapter on Ernie Pyle really necessary? There is also a chapter on the Japanese balloon bombs of WWII and the future of lighter than air vehicles.

The book is acceptable if you are after information on the crash of the USS Macon and general information regarding lighter than air vehicles. There is also a very decent bibliography and a detailed crew list. However, if you're like me, thinking that this book is just about the Sparrowhawks you'll be greatly disappointed.