Cassada

Salter has a special world. It is accurate technically and emotionally. I wish that I would have had his books a half century ago when I too was a fighter pilot, explaining to family and friends what my world was like. Each of his books leaves you thinking thoughts not before experienced.

The substance of a team is always really about the individuals in the group. The subtle conflicts and rivalries, the clash of personalities, the ambitions of the individuals, the established pecking order: Salter paints a revealing picture of these dynamics in Cassada.

Sometimes the writing is choppy and hard to follow. The story was very interesting to me as fighter pilot in the 1980s in Europe I could relate to everything that happened. I thought the author captured the feeling of what it was like to fly fighters then.

A genre that keeps producing timeless classics. The ability to take the reader aloft, as background to the drama played out, is superb. Pride, ego the overstepping confidence, the unforgiving elements must offer a moment of recognition for all aviators

Amazing descriptive prowess. Salter seems to have free access to the deepest thoughts and unexpressed motivations ofmilitary pilots. The compelling pull of decision making and dramatic consequences add humanity to the exploration of whymen risk their lives flying airplanes. I enjoyed sharing the cockpit with these guys for a little while.

Slow to get into but a bit redeeming at the end. Not really a fan of war stories. I didn't nothing real character development. I was glad it wasn't any longer than it was, as I likely would have put it down.

Have read three books by Salter. This was the most aimless. Intent was to characterize squadron life, fellow pilots and officers. But there was little depth or empathy to his revelations. Just predictable anecdotes and stereotypes. Even flying narratives were dreary, perhaps because of postwar Europe tedium.

Does not fit any of the "Predictable, Some twists, Full of surprises" categories. It does play out true to life in that life takes its own sweet way of playing out. Each of will meet our end in some fashion. The secret is in the path to that end, which is well explained quiet honestly in this work.