Double Eagle (Gaunt's Ghosts)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Fly fast, shoot high.
  • An excellent read. Exciting air combat and great characters.
  • Some of his finest to date
  • Generic WWII air combat/dogfight novel ported to Warhammer 40K.
  • Excellent Re-telling of the Battle of Britian
Double Eagle (Gaunt's Ghosts)
Dan Abnett
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Dark FantasyDark Fantasy | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Dark FantasyDark Fantasy | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Traitor General (Gaunt's Ghosts Novels) Traitor General (Gaunt's Ghosts Novels)
  2. His Last Command (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) His Last Command (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)
  3. Straight Silver (Guant's Ghosts) Straight Silver (Guant's Ghosts)
  4. The Armour of Contempt (Gaunt's Ghosts) The Armour of Contempt (Gaunt's Ghosts)
  5. Honour Guard (Gaunt's Ghosts) Honour Guard (Gaunt's Ghosts)

ASIN: 1844160904

Book Description

After several hard-fought weeks, the war-torn world of Enothis hangs in the balance. Only the day and night efforts of the valiant flyers of the Phantine Fighter Corps can keep the enemy host at bay long enough for the Imperial ground forces to regroup for a last battle.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fly fast, shoot high........2007-02-16

This is an AWESOME BOOK!! I am a pilot and this book really rang true with me. The face paced action and great details really bring this book alive. I am an avid player of Warhammer 40k and I did not recognize some of the terms from other sources, i.e. codexs, White Dwarf, ect., but that may be that I have not gotten the chance to read much in the Imperial Navy catagory of 40k books.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent read. Exciting air combat and great characters........2007-01-22

I started reading Dan Abnett after I had finished all the books in the Commisar Cain series by Sandy Mitchell. A lot of my friends suggested that Abnett was the greatest author in the Black Library stable and that I was wasting my time reading anyone else. So, I started with the first two books in the Eisenhorn trilogy (I didn't know there was an omnibus at the time and the third book is now damnably hard to find on its own, so I'll get round to finishing it later.) Those books were great and I eagerly await reading the third book.

Most people suggested that the Gaunt's Ghost series was Abnett's masterwork, and I have to admit, I didn't like them as much as the Eisenhorn books. Abnett has a gift for thrilling combat dialog and description. For example "Guns of Tanith" had me hooked for the first 100 pages...I simply could not stop reading it. But there is something about the characterizations...maybe it's Cuu...I'm not sure...I just couldn't maintain a high level of interest, they seemed sort of rote.

I thought the strongest parts in "Guns of Tanith" were the expertly crafted passages describing the Phantine pilots and the dogfights over the scald. So when I saw this book on the shelf I figured it'd be good.

And it is. Great. Of the seven or so Abnett books I've read this is easily the best. The characters are well defined and fleshed out, far from the usual archtypes find in WarHammer 40k novels. So many branching storylines and everyone of them enthralling.

The descriptions of air combat is compelling and convincing. So fluid is Abnett's description WarHammer procedural chatter that it's almost as if Abnett is the Tom Clancy of the Warhammer world...he just gets the nuance in a subtle and engrossing fashion.

This book, it seems to me, is inspired by the Battle of Britain and captures what it must have been like for those brave souls who lived through the merciless blitzkreig.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of air combat. It might not appeal to the hardcore Warhammer fan as it doesn't delve to much into the mythology as many of his other books have...but I feel that makes this book a more universally appealing read. Like I'd never recommend certain books to my friends because the mythology of Warhammer is to dense to pick up willy nilly. But this book. Is aces across the board. From start to finish this book is four-A.

5 out of 5 stars Some of his finest to date.......2006-08-23

Having read most but not all of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels, I was already impressed with Dan Abnett, but Double Eagle simply floored me. Abnett is one of those few magnificent authors who could have flourished in any genre, and if he ever turned to "more serious materiel" it's a certainty that he would be winning more critical acclaim than he knew what to do with. Instead, he writes Warhammer novels; because he loves it, and because he's the best there is at what he does.

Doubble Eagle is indeed an archetypal retelling of the battle of britain, but dismissing a story because it uses an archetype is short-sighted. Warhammer and Warhammer 40K have been so successfull precicely because they shamelessly and tenaciously rely on the power of archetypes -the best parts of our legends and history- to drive their universes. Consequently, their images, stories and settings are able to strike deep and resonating chords.

This book is exceptional, and not just for Warhammer fans. In fact the avid players may like it least of all, as the book is completely character and story driven and spares very little time for the various toys of the 40K universe. It's the casual fans, the people who have admired the story and setting of the game but never invested the money to actually play, who will find this book both satisfying and addicting. I'll be forcing Double Eagle on many of my friends, and I have no doubt that it will soon have them as addicted to Dan Abnett (and the Warhammer universe) as they are to David Webber or George Martin.
It's just. that. good. You won't be disapointed.

3 out of 5 stars Generic WWII air combat/dogfight novel ported to Warhammer 40K........2006-08-07

The excellent Dan Abnett has written many novels for the Black Library, among the excellent ones capturing the sense of the darkness in the universe of warhammer 40k including the Eisenhorn and Ravenor novels, some of the Gaunt's Ghost novels (Traitor General, Sabbat Martyr, Necropolis), but in this case he has written a generic war novel with some obligatory 'by the throne' and 'the god-emperor protects' and 'the archenemy must be stopped' comments included to make the context something other than the battle of britain.

In the 410th century, air combat apparently uses direct-fire lasers and cannons, and since missiles are in short supply, the novel is essentially air-combat from the second world war. There are some technical items acknowledging the assuming context, but in general this, even more than "Straight Silver," reads like a historical war novel with some cosmetic changes to make it work in Warhammer 40k. Abnett's ability to bring the world he writes to life is not apparent here.

As usual, Abnett writes believable and sympathetic characters and circumstances in this book, though I honestly wonder if he would have published this as historical military fiction if he had a publisher/audience ready to buy it as such.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Re-telling of the Battle of Britian.......2005-12-17

Dont listen to any the book's detractor's. This is by far the greatest WH40K ever written. It is a near-perfect mirror of the Battle of Britian and follows the Phantine XX and other characters through the "air" phase of the war of Enothis. If you need more info go out and read this masterpiece, you wont be dissapointed.
Dark Eagle: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the American Revolution
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Historical Folly
  • History brought alive
  • Nice Little Piece of Historical Fiction
  • Powerful but a little awkward
  • Behold! The Power of the Amazon Recommendation...
Dark Eagle: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the American Revolution
John Ensor Harr
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
WarWar | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Turncoats Traitors and Heroes: Espionage in the American Revolution Turncoats Traitors and Heroes: Espionage in the American Revolution
  2. 1776 1776

ASIN: 014100178X

Book Description

The Indians called him "Dark Eagle" out of respect for both his military genius and his ruthlessness. His men worshipped him as a hero. But as the legendary general of the Continental Army neared the pinnacle of success, things began to go wrong, drawing Arnold inexorably toward the greatest crime of the age, one that would forever make his name synonymous with the word "traitor."

Meticulously researched and brilliantly rendered, Dark Eagle illuminates both sides of the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1780. Harr traces Arnold's spectacular rise, culminating in his victory at Saratoga and his marriage to Peggy Shippen, the beautiful loyalist daughter of a prominent Philadelphia family, and Arnold's decline, culminating in his plan with Major John Andre and Peggy to betray Washington and deliver West Point to the British.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Historical Folly.......2005-09-14

I've studied the betrayal of Benedict Arnold and all those involved (mainly Major Andre) for several years. So naturally I was intrigued by this historical fiction novel and curious to see its take on this most fascinating time in our history. Well, as Major Andre was wrong to conceal the plans of West Point in his boots so was I wrong about this book. I can understand Mr. Harr wishes to use some artistic license but he is still obligated to stick to fact. One of the most jarring errors occurs in the first few pages, where several seemingly out of place letters to the author are written by three of the characters. Major David Franks' letter is addressed sometime in the early nineteenth century, this man was dead in 1793 of yellow fever! Also his information on Franks' supposed dealings after the betrayal are incorrect. He did not regain his wealth, but rather died in poverty. The way the book is written otherwise, leaves the reader with an awkward read, as though Mr. Harr has simply taken the narrative of a history book (I should know, I've read them all) and copied it over. The dialogue is painfully flat and inaccurate of the period, not that I'm saying one has to stick to heightened flowery speech at all times but modern terms should be avoided. Also it must be noted that Major Andre is portrayed as a homosexual in this novel. Again not that I find anything wrong with that artistically, but historically the man was not. If you wish to read on the true tale of Benedict Arnold I would recommend real history books opposed to this, they read much easier and contain the truth behind the actual events.

5 out of 5 stars History brought alive.......2005-05-06

Dark Eagle reminds me of all the historical novels written by David Nevin (if you like Dark Eagle, you'll like all of Nevin's books). Harr brings history alive by adding discourse between the characters while remaining historically honest to the events of the time and making sure the language is not 21st century. Great reading and the type of book you just do not want to put down. A fun way to learn a little more history about this country.

4 out of 5 stars Nice Little Piece of Historical Fiction.......2004-12-06

Ok so maybe little is the wrong word to use, at 522 pages it is a weighty book. But "Dark Eagle" does an admiral job of being light and easy reading, and yet still staying true to it historical roots. I would compare the writing done by John Ensor Harr in this book to "Winter Soldiers" by Richard Ketchum. You will be left with the sense of the gray area that history includes, and the feeling that all sides of the American Revolution have been fairly represented. If I have one complaint it is that Mr. Harr choose to treat Benedict Arnold's life as being over when he switched sides, which is not the case. Benedict Arnold was a very busy and complicated man, and should been known for far more that just being a turn coat who happened to get caught.

4 out of 5 stars Powerful but a little awkward.......2004-11-02

I am a big fan of well-written historical fiction, and since most historical fiction in this country seems devoted to the Civil War, reading Dark Eagle was a refreshing change of pace. In this book, portions of the Revolutionary War come alive, in particular the Saratoga campaign, the British invasion of Philadelphia, and Arnold's treason and his botched attempt to hand over West Point to General Clinton.

I have always thought Arnold to be one of the more fascinating figures in American history. His name has become so synonymous with betrayal and treason, that any turncoat is instantly labelled a "Benedict Arnold." Harr's account tells of Arnold's rise through the ranks, his valor on the battlefield, his injuries, his shameful mistreatment by the Continental Congress with Washington unable or unwilling to help, and his ultimate betrayal. While Arnold's actions in the end inspire disdain from the reader, you can at least understand what led Benedict to his fate.

The same cannot always be said of some other characters in the book, like Horatio Gates, who comes across as pitifully inept as a general, spiteful, vain and manipulative, willing to leave Arnold's exploits completely out of his account of the Saratoga victory to deprive the wounded Arnold of his just recognition. The well-researched glimpses we get of characters like Schuyler, Burgoyne, Gates, Hamilton, Howe and others made this a worthwhile read.

However, the book is not without its problems. The novel starts out ambitiously as an attempt to tell the story of Arnold, and of the war itself, with eye-witness accounts supposedly written years later, after long reflection, by aides to Benedict Arnold and General Burgoyne. These supposed "letters" from aides such as Varick and Franks created a unique narrative tool, almost like the narrative of Burr by Gore Vidal supposedly written by Charles Schuyler years after the fact, when he knew the elderly Burr. Harr's problem here is that his choice for narrative techniques can take him only so far, (for example none of these aides spent any time in the Shippen household), and so by the middle of the novel he largely ignores them. The second half of the novel is largely a third person account of the Arnold betrayal, and the capture and punishment of John Andre, which at times seemed a little rushed.

I also would have liked a little more information regarding post-treason Arnold. Most authors,(even James Kirby Martin in his recent biography of Arnold, An American Warrior Reconsidered), give short thrift to the remainder of Arnold's career, his aggressive raids in Virginia late in the war, and his life in London afterwards. Apparently Andre was such a popular and well-liked figure, and the aborted turnover of West Point was such a disaster from the British standpoint, that the redcoats never had much use for Arnold when the West Point plan fell apart. I have yet to find a book that provides a really satisfying account of Arnold's remaining years, after that fateful attempt to send Andre behind the lines with plans for West Point hidden in his shoe.

In any event, for readers of historical fiction who want a change of pace from the Civil War novels of writers like Owen Parry and Jeffrey Shaara, there is much here to recommend. I give it 4 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Behold! The Power of the Amazon Recommendation..........2002-01-15

I would say about two months ago when I visited Amazon.com to order a book to send to a friend of mine, a recommendation popped up. The recommendation was John Ensor Harr's "Dark Eagle." I must say that the recommendation was right on the nose.

Harr's novel is a masterpiece. In brilliant strokes he painted an accurate and even-handed portrait of the American Revolution and of that tragically reviled character, Benedict Arnold.

Tragically reviled is the term of art and is so because, unless you believe in historic inevitability, his fate did not have to turn out like it did. Harr's portrayal of Arnolds wrangling with the Continental Congress provides great insight into the role and function of that body. The awe and power of Congress' issuance of the Declaration of Independence belies the fact it was an extremely weak body with very little power. The book does well to portray the struggles between Congress and Genereal Washington, between Congress and its citizens, between the newly formed States and Congress, between General Washington and the States and finally, how all of those struggles were inter-related and formed the basis and antagonism for the struggle between Washington and the British. It is against this backdrop that citizens and soldiers like Benedict Arnold had to deal with the Continental Congress and, in the case of Arnold, makes it all the more understandable why he found such difficulty in dealing with Congress.

Second, Harr's portrayal of the Continental Army's Officer Staff provides another source for Benedict Arnold's tragic fall. For those who may wonder whether General Horatio Gates truly was the destructive force for the army that John Ensor Harr made him out to be, he was. His portrayal reminds me of a line from "The Patriot" (an enjoyable, but not truly accurate depiction of the American Revolution) when Mel Gibson asked cynically, "Where's your General Gates now?" after Gates' rout in Trenton.

The intellectual fulcrum of the book actually appears towards the end of the novel: (pg. 431)

Arnold: What do they call it [changing one's allegiance]
Peggy: It depends on who wins
Arnold: What do they call it until someone wins
Peggy: They call it treason.

"They call it treason." One should always bear in mind the fact that we all accept today the proposition as true that what occured upon American soil beginning in 1775 was a revolution fought by patriots. However, in 1779 the issue was not at all clear. Had the "revolution" failed; had Congress been captured and Washington's army defeated, those same patriots who drafted the Declaration of Independence would now be judged as traitors.

"Dark Eagle" is as much historical fiction as it is a good old fashion morality play and demands that the reader make the same hard choices that Benedict Arnold made and in so doing, allows the reader to truly judge Arnold.
The Dark Rose (Morland Dynasty)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A turbulent reign
  • Excellent History Review
  • The Morlands during the reign of Henry VIII
  • English history in a novel form
  • brillant and historically acurate
The Dark Rose (Morland Dynasty)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Book Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Family SagaFamily Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Family SagaFamily Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
GeneralGeneral | Historical | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Founding (Morland Dynasty) The Founding (Morland Dynasty)
  2. The Princeling (Morland Dynasty) The Princeling (Morland Dynasty)
  3. The Oak Apple (Morland Dynasty) The Oak Apple (Morland Dynasty)
  4. The Black Pearl (Morland Dynasty) The Black Pearl (Morland Dynasty)
  5. The Long Shadow (Morland Dynasty) The Long Shadow (Morland Dynasty)

ASIN: 0751503835

Book Description

In the Morland Dynasty series, the majestic sweep of English history is richly and movingly portrayed through the fictional lives of the Morland family. It is 1501, and Paul, great grandson of Eleanor Morland, has inherited the estate and has a son to follow him. But he fathers an illegitimate boy by his beloved mistress, and bitter jealously between the half-brothers causes a destructive rift that leads to tragedy. Paul’s niece Nanette becomes maid-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn, and at the court of Henry VIII witnesses first hand the events leading up to the rift with Rome, her mistress’s execution, and the further efforts of the sad, ailing king to secure the male succession.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A turbulent reign.......2007-09-22

This is book 2 in the Morland family series, set in the reign of Henry the 8th and dealing mainly with the life of Nanette, a beautiful young Morland woman who is a maid of honour and friend to Queen Anne Boleyn. There are of course, other issues with other family members which add spice and interest to the story, but in this instance, Nanette holds centre stage. She started as a maid of honour to Queen Katherine, along with Anne Boleyn, or Bullen as the family is sometimes called, but Anne soon took the eye of Henry who had previously had her sister Mary as his mistress. Anne was having none of this "mistress" business and refused to surrender her virginity until marriage. Nanette stayed with Anne after her marriage, right up to the steps of the scaffold where she lost her head. She returned to her home, living a happy but cruelly short married life until, many years later, she returned to Court to be a Maid of Honour to Anne's daughter, Elizabeth the 1st. It's a fascinating look into the public and private lives of courtiers in Tudor times, with much involvement in religious matters and the perilous times leading to the foundation of the Protestant Church in England.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent History Review.......2005-09-13

This is a terrifice historical novel. Best to read the first book, though. It can be read as a stand alone book. The Morland Dynasty is the #1 book of the 24 successive books in this Dynasty novel.

4 out of 5 stars The Morlands during the reign of Henry VIII.......2004-12-11

The second book in the Morland dynasty series, The Dark Rose picks up with Paul Morland, great-grandson of Eleanor. The family is now rife with jealousy and hatred. Paul cannot understand his heir Amyas, and struggles to bond with his illegitimate son Adrian. It is a situation doomed to end in tragedy.
Paul's half-brother Jack and his brood seem to have the happiness he cannot grasp. Nanette, his niece, rises at court as maid to Anne Boleyn. But even they cannot escape the uncertainty to come.
In the Dark Rose, the Morlands experience hard times - through drought, floods, religious reform and court intrigue. But through it all, the family finds new ways to bond and survive. Once again, the history of the period is cleverly woven into the fortunes of the family, particularly the marriages and religious reform of Henry VIII. An entertaining read.

5 out of 5 stars English history in a novel form.......2002-04-08

Anglophiles who are historical fiction buffs will enjoy each of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Chronicles. They tell the story of the Morland family of northern England as it struggles to prosper as the world changes. Characters are not static and are interesting. Historical facts are well researched and provide a real background for this ongoing story. Read them all!

5 out of 5 stars brillant and historically acurate.......1999-09-18

I have all twenty one books of this series from volume one upto twenty one. I started collecting them approximately sixteen or seventeen years ago. The stories are great the characters are facinating, but it is her historical bases for these novels that is so brillant and makes them very readable. I look forward to every new episode of this story that comes out, and I am waiting with baited breath for the next installment.
Dark Eagles
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fascinating Aircraft
  • Reader-friendly for aviation novices
  • Jump on the Bandwagon
  • Behind the Scenes in the World of Black Project Aviation
  • The hidden history of aviation, now revealed!!
Dark Eagles
Curtis Peebles
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
AviationAviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | United States | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
AerospaceAerospace | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books | Advanced Mechanics | Aerodynamics | Aircraft Design & Construction | Applied | Avionics | Gas Dynamics | General | Heat Transfer | Propulsion Technology | Structural Dynamics
Similar Items:
  1. SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story
  2. Shadow Flights: America's Secret Airwar Against the Soviet Union: A Cold War History Shadow Flights: America's Secret Airwar Against the Soviet Union: A Cold War History
  3. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed
  4. SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales and Legends SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales and Legends
  5. SR-71 Blackbird -Cmbt Leg (Combat Legends) SR-71 Blackbird -Cmbt Leg (Combat Legends)

ASIN: 089141696X
Release Date: 1999-08-10

Book Description

In this new, updated edition, Dark Eagles reveals what have been some of America's most closely guarded, and politically sensitive secrets.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fascinating Aircraft.......2004-05-10

AS an aviation enthusiast, I can tell you this book provides a great look into the world of "Black Projects", aircraft like the U-2 spyplane and the SR-71 Blackbird, many of which played an important role in strategic reconnaissance throughout the Cold War and continue to do so to this day. Included in this book are such notable aircraft as the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, and their beginnings as black projects. Recommended to any aviation enthusiast.

4 out of 5 stars Reader-friendly for aviation novices.......2003-01-23

As one who couldn't tell you the difference between a J57 engine and RJ-43-MA-11 ramjet, I'd still highly recommend this to any reader who wants to more about Black Projects but is leery about buying a book because they don't want to be confused by technical humdrum.
Peebles book is quite the contrary and it's very entertaining for both an aviation novice reader like myself as well as any aficionado of aircraft (a friend of mine who is currently getting his pilot's license also read it and enjoyed it). Granted, you must have a little understanding of military aircraft. If you would be unable to decipher between a P-51 Mustang and F-4 Phantom, it may be too much.

Peebles writes with colorful narrative on some of the US's most astonishing and mysterious aircraft in the last 50 years. Included in his book are chapters on the first US jet (XP-59A Airacomet), the spy plane Francis Gary Powers made famous (U-2 Aquatone), the birth of the stealth fighter (F-117A), 'borrowed' MiG's flying in the Nevada desert, reconnaissance drone vehicles, the Star Wars-like A-12 Oxcart, as well as the current Black Project plane - Aurora.

In each chapter, Pebbles writes on what precipitated the need for a new secret aircraft, how the craft took shape behind closed doors, its test flights, and how it performed in action. He includes a plethora of colorful stories on how the U-2 was named, how a US Navy aircraft carrier was 'captured' by the US Air force, and tales of gorillas smoking cigars and flying in the southwest desert.

Pebbles also goes into great detail about two controversial topics of today - Area 51 and the Aurora. Throughout the book, Peebles gives the history of Area 51, how it originated as a base at Groom Lake all the way up to the flying saucer tales of today. Conspiracy theorists will be disappointed as well as many Black Ops devotees looking for proof that the Aurora exists.

In conclusion, I thought Peebles book was a great, intriguing look into some of our nation's biggest secrets of the Cold War that's also a quick read (only 292 pages of text) and I highly recommend it.

3 out of 5 stars Jump on the Bandwagon.......2002-06-25

This book is a reasonable introduction to the world of aviation 'Black Programs', but use it as a stepping stone to titles such as Ben Rich's or Jay Miller's books on Lockheed's Skunk Works.
Competent rather than outstanding

5 out of 5 stars Behind the Scenes in the World of Black Project Aviation.......2001-08-20

I had picked up "Dark Eagles" primarly because it was one of very few books to present information on "Have Donut" and similar projects in which the United States tested captured MiGs and other Soviet aircraft. I was pleasantly suprised to find that the rest of this book is as superbly researched and detailed as Peebles' glimpse into the testing of foreign equipment.

Peebles discusses, in amazing detail, the developments of such famous aircraft as the U-2, A-12, SR-71, F-117, "Have Blue" and "Tacit Blue." Peebles also delves into the history of the less-glamarous unmanned platforms such as the trisonic D-21 ("Tagboard") and various models of the Model 147 Firebee, used extensively in Vietnam.

This book is a must for anyone interested in black project aviation. It is well written and thoroughly researched, and is engaging to both the causal and technical reader.

4 out of 5 stars The hidden history of aviation, now revealed!!.......2001-02-14

A wide ranging historical survey of once classified material. We know we're not getting the whole story, but the author has enough to satisfy. From stolen (actually borrowed) Russian jets and unmanned space probes, to our own unmanned D-21 Mach-3 spyjets, the authors go for it all. Some of the information is pretty suprising (the mysterious Col. Tomb, thought killed in the now legendary Vietnam airwar dogfight with Driscoll and Cunningham, may have been misidentified) while other stories seem tedious (like the use of Hound-Dog cruise missiles as first generation remote spyplanes). I would have preferred the authors concentrate on the really mysterious jets (I get the sense that the authors felt they owed each story equal time), but what comes out is an eye-opener nontheless.
Benedict Arnold: The Dark Eagle
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Missing Page in American History
Benedict Arnold: The Dark Eagle
Brian Richard Boylan
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0393074714

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Missing Page in American History.......2006-05-05

Anyone who is at all interested in American history should read this book. (You will note, upon reading it, that congress apparently has not changed much at all since our Nation's first breath.) Mr. Boylan does not attempt to excuse Arnold's behavior towards the end of his career in the American army; he merely portrays the whole picture of who Benedict Arnold was, his role as no doubt one of the greatest soldiers on either side during the Revolution, and describes the events leading up to Arnold's turning away from this new Nation, from which you can easily draw your own conclusions.

This book has recorded incredible, action-packed events during that time, many events that have rarely, if ever, been given even honorable mention in the typical history books we are dully schooled from today. It is a refreshing change from the all-too-pat versions typically presented both on screen and in print about Benedict Arnold. This book, in my estimation, should be a required read for all students in high school and/or college courses in American history.

If adhered to, this book's depiction of Benedict Arnold's colorful and amazing life would make one memorable, first rate movie. And it would be about time this man were truly given a long overdue, fair presentation (on the big screen) of his valor, fighting skills, determination, sacrifices, and yes, dedication to a cause - until events made him rethink his position entirely.

His political incorrectness with congress was perhaps his greatest undoing - a recurring theme we often find with many a great warrior in history.

Boylan has managed to capture the spirit of this much maligned American hero turned 'traitor'. I was drawn to read this book after wading through 'A Rabble in Arms', which also gives quite a bit of credit to Benedict Arnold in the war effort. 'The Dark Eagle' is perhaps one of the most important books, as an American, I have ever read.

Dark boundary
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • powerfuly exciting book
Dark boundary
Anne Purdy
Manufacturer: Koyukon Creations Alaska
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
ASIN: B0006RXW4I

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars powerfuly exciting book.......2006-05-16

Dark Boundary is one of the most graphic books i have ever read,on lifes struggles in Alaska during the Gold Rush era.If you liked Anne Hobbs Purdys best selling book Tisha,which has sold millions and was printed in five languages and picked for readers digest condensed books,you will love Anne's first book Dark Boundary.
This Book is a must read.Available through Koyukon Creations
po box 870511 wasilla,ak 99687 the book retails for 12.95
Dark Eagle
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A fresh new look at General Arnold
Dark Eagle
Gene Ligotti
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0738814555

Book Description

He was our greatest patriot and most beloved hero and today his name is synonymous with treason. What caused such a complete turnabout? What factors could radically change a man's heart and soul? This, the last in the trilogy, is that story. The story of the years that made Benedict Arnold a revered patriot-hero and those that created the despised traitor.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A fresh new look at General Arnold.......2001-04-06

This is a fresh new look at a man who is only remembered for treason. Without Benedict Arnold, the British might have won the revolution, and the author goes to great lengths to prove his point. Even though the book is fiction, it makes you ask the question. Was Arnold a tratior? Or in the end was he acting on behalf of the people of America against what he was seeing develop as a new corrupt government for our new nation? The book is a must read for Revolutionary War fanatics.
Dark Eagle - A Novel Of Benedict Arnold And The American Revolution
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Dark Eagle - A Novel Of Benedict Arnold And The American Revolution
    John Ensor Harr
    Manufacturer: Viking
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
    ASIN: B000GZMT4Y
    Dark Eagle - A Novel Of Benedict Arnold And The American Revolution
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Dark Eagle - A Novel Of Benedict Arnold And The American Revolution
      John Ensor Harr
      Manufacturer: PENGUIN
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000UZDNAE
      Dark Eagle and Other Stories (White Wolves: Comparing Fiction Genres)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Dark Eagle and Other Stories (White Wolves: Comparing Fiction Genres)

        Manufacturer: A & C Black Publishers Ltd
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        GeneralGeneral | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        ReadersReaders | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 0713689048

        Books:

        1. Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time (The Every Man Series)
        2. Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His Evil
        3. Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
        4. Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
        5. Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths and Legends of America's Famous WW1 Epic
        6. Fireground Strategies
        7. Flags of Our Fathers
        8. French Chivalry: Chivalric Ideals and Practices in Mediaeval France
        9. FRENCH IMPERIAL GUARD - VOL 4: 4 - Cavalry and Horse Artillery (Officers and Soldiers)
        10. From Sand Creek: Rising in This Heart Which Is Our America (Sun Tracks)

        Books Index

        Books Home

        Recommended Books

        1. The Oregon Trail
        2. It's In His Kiss
        3. Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions Vol. 1 & 2
        4. Communication in Plants: Neuronal Aspects of Plant Life
        5. Hamptons Havens: The Best of Hamptons Cottages and Gardens
        6. Planning Programs for Adult Learners: A Practical Guide for Educators, Trainers, and Staff Developer
        7. Larceny and Old Lace
        8. CTRL
        9. Decorating With Concrete Outdoors: Driveways, Paths & Patios, Pool Decks & More
        10. Pop-Up Surprise - Fuzzy Peach