Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(13 customer reviews) 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
An exciting and revealing account of the great "Balloon Buster",
July 15, 2008 Kevin R. Rivenburg - See all my reviews
This review is from: Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I (Hardcover)
This book is a wonderful read. Mr. Pardoe does a great job providing the reader a glimpse into the entire life of Frank Luke. Not only does he do a masterful job of describing the battles fought by Frank Luke in the Great War, but he also provides an insight into his life and the people who he knew and held dear. Mr. Pardoe shows how the events of Frank Luke's life and the people in it helped to make him the man that he was.
The new information regarding Frank's fiance was fascinating as well. It showed a different dimension to the "ungallant loner". I also enjoyed the way that Mr. Pardoe presented and explained the background for the many myths and legends surrounding Frank Luke. I felt that he did a good job presenting the facts and leaving it up to the reader to decide what he/she believes.
All in all I feel that this is a great read for anyone, whether you enjoy military history or not. Probably more so if you do.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Best Frank Luke Biography Yet!,
November 13, 2008 Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I (Hardcover)
Though the WWI exploits of the 'Arizona Balloon Buster' have been covered in other biographies, TERROR OF THE AUTUMN SKIES is in a class by itself. Blaine Pardoe's book may, in fact, be THE definitive Frank Luke biography.
The exploits of few aces have been so mythologized as Luke's, especially those acomplished during his last mission. Using a wealth of research materials, Pardoe recreates Luke's early life and military career in an exemplary, easy-flowing fashion. (The book's bibliography is 20 pages long). Where information is lacking on various incidents, Pardoe has no qualms in stating his sequence of events is what probably happened!
Likewise he does an excellent job in bringing to life the headstrong, Medal of Honor-winning ace, his squadronmates,group and squadron commanders and so on. Using a wealth of first-person anecdotes, combat reports and other materials, Pardoe produces living, breathing human beings rather than stereotypes. And, along the way, he...Read more
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Very enjoyable read!,
September 3, 2008 K. Grana (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I (Hardcover)
A very enjoyable read. Anyone with an interest in the history of US aviation or military aviation will appreciate the attention to detail in this book. Mr. Pardoe obviously did a tremendous amount of work to ensure that Frank Luke is portrayed as not only an incredible WWI Flying Ace, but also as a human being with the usual foibles, drama and faults we all have. His interest and commitment to Frank Luke's story is apparent in each chapter as he describes the events of his life from his promising start in Phoenix, to his tragic end in Europe. Mr. Pardoe paints a picture of how brave and - quite frankly - crazy these Aces were by carefully describing what it must have been like in a dog fight, with little more than stiffened fabric as feeble protection. I appreciated how Mr. Pardoe focused not only the events surrounding the circumstances of Mr. Luke's death, but also the richness and depth of his short life. He brings the reader along for the ride with the extreme joy of the...Read more
