The Mustering of the Hawks

In all his novels, the author has demonstrated not only superb ability as a storyteller but also his special gift for re - creating the period and setting of his plots. These talents are at their best in his recent novels about the early days of flying, of which The Mustering of the Hawks is the third.

He now takes his central character, Ira Penaluna, back to the First World War when, despite his youth and idealism, he is already a veteran flyer. In the forcing ground of aerial combat, when a pilot's life is reckoned at little more than three weeks, Ira grows up rapidly as he flies fragile fighters in that narrow strip of air over the trenches. He comes to terms with the realities of ever - changing warfare and, under the tutelage of an older, wiser pilot, he learns the special qualities needed for command.

Running through a vivid, well told narrative is the humour and fatalism of his fellow pilots - in action, on the airfields, and on leave.