Airman Mortensen [Hardcover]

Michael Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

It is 1966 and eighteen-year-old Airman Mortensen has gotten into trouble on a U.S. Air Force base in the southwest.

He has disobeyed an officer's order and his punishment begins with permanent latrine duty. He spends day after uncertain day cleaning bathrooms while the paperwork for a court martial makes its way slowly through channels.

But at the point his life seems darkest the young airman meets Claire Brill, the base commander's daughter. They fall in love with each other, surrendering completely to the intensity and beauty of first love. Their union triggers a key drama in Airman Mortensen's life, all of it set against the backdrop of Saturday night dances, surprise inspections, and the constant search for places to be alone.

At its core Airman Mortensen is about the time in life when purity of heart and rebellion are inextricably mixed. Luminous and precise, Blake's voice captures the restless and indomitable sprit of youth which inhabits us all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Blake's lively follow-up to Dances with Wolves explores the coming-of-age of a rebellious 18-year-old serviceman in the summer of 1966.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-- Airman Mortensen's story, told in teen vernacular, is one of an 18-year-old who joins the service in 1966 because it seems like a good idea at the time. He soon regrets his decision. Following a divergence of viewpoint with the Comm Squad commander, he becomes the latrine king while awaiting court martial. Life goes steadily downhill until he meets Claire Brill, the base commander's daughter. A passionate romance follows. In due time, Claire terminates the relationship and Mortensen falls into deep decline. This novel gives voice to a young man's friendship, first serious romance gone sour, and the beginning of life after. Teens may well find the appeal of standard romances wane as a result of this engaging tale written by the author of Dances with Wolves (Fawcett, 1988). --Barbara Hawkins, West Potomac High, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Hrymfaxe LLC (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097247532X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972475327
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,014,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A huge waste of paper and ink, June 5, 2002

By 

D. COLLIER "Top Guhzillion Reviewer" (Brownwood, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Airman Mortensen (Mass Market Paperback)

For those of you who have read "Dances With Wolves", "Marching To Vahalla", or perhaps even the highly anticipated "Holy Road" (which I look forward to reading in the near future) -- if you've read and loved any or all of these, please, take heed to this advice: "Airman Mortensen" is terrible.

I first read it almost ten years ago, shortly after reading "Dances With Wolves" and thinking (at the time) that "DWW" was the best book ever written. However, this story about a young airman awaiting court martial, has absolutely none of the poetry, imagery and excitement of "DWW". The characters, though interesting at first glance, are underdeveloped, and the ending silly and unfulfilling (although, if I'm not mistaken, I believe that at the time that the novel was being finished, Mr. Blake was dealing with cancer). The different plot twists do nothing in the ways of building to a climax. Actually, the most dramatic part of the book is when our hero, assigned to permanent latrine duty, has to deal with the messes made by all the guys of the dormitory who are all suffering from the same food poisoning all at the same time. This is definitely not the ideal book for those who enjoy the kind of great writing contained in books like "Dances With Wolves".