Saucer and Saucer Conquest by Stephen Coonts 

Yes, the very same Flight of the Intruder Coonts has taken a flight of fantasy.  These two books are fun for any pilot.  The story is that the heroes find an ancient flying saucer while on an archeological dig.  They just add water and the thing flies.  To give Coonts credit, their flights are limited by the mundane laws of physics and aerodynamics.  Given the one suspension of disbelief, his science is good.  These books are written tongue in cheek.  Take the humor as it comes and you'll enjoy it!  I recommend these two books for anyone of any age from 10-110.    

The Wild Blue by Stephen E. Ambrose

There are many writers who do excellent military history, but Stephen Ambrose is their dean.  In this book he follows a very interesting character, George McGovern, yes the Senator and Presidential Candidate McGovern, through his World War II career as a B-24 pilot.  You learn a lot about the B-24, you learn about combat flying, and you learn about this very interesting man who went on to become an important political leader.  Very well done.  Interesting and exciting.  Strongly recommended.

The Cannibal Queen by Stephen Coonts

Yes, this is the same Stephen Coonts who wrote “Flight of the Intruder” and other excellent fiction books with aviation themes.  The title of this book is unfortunate because you aren’t likely to reach out and pick it up in a bookstore or library.  But, you might change your mind if you knew that The Cannibal Queen is the name of a vintage aircraft and that this is a true first-person narrative by Stephen Coonts.  A title like “I Flew a 1942 Stearman all around the US Visiting Great Authors Who Fly and Seeing Great Stuff” would be more accurate – if a little long. 

Great plane+great author+great adventure = great book.  Gee, what more can I say?  If flying an open cockpit aircraft around the US doesn’t appeal to you, then don’t read this book.  And go away.  But, if it sounds like a neat thing to do, then here is your chance to do it vicariously through the words of an excellent author and experienced pilot.   Highly recommended. 

Books by John Nance

I do not recommend many books by JOHN NANCE.  He writes stories with aviation themes, but generally they have such wacko plots that I have difficult time making it to the last page.  Nance's real problem as a writer is that he handles dialogue at a 6th grade level.  

 But, here are some of his books I do recommend.  I really enjoyed "Headwind".  "Skyhook" is good, but some of the characters don't seem real and there is just a little too much "deep and dark conspiracy" going on for my taste.  In a recent book, "Fireflight" he wants you to keep a lot of characters straight during a choppy beginning, but the flying scenes are superb!  He finishes strong with a good mystery stirred in for spice.  

A new book by Nance, "Saving Cascadia" picks up an environmentalist / "Gaia's revenge"  theme.  This time the terrible dialogue is NOT saved by great flying scenes.  "Saving Cascadia" is something you could pass with no loss.