The Aviators (Brotherhood of War, Book 8) [Paperback]

W.E.B. Griffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1989

As the Vietnam War begins to escalate in 1964, the formation of the new Air Assault Division is delayed by logistical problems and by conflicts among the men and women who comprise the fighting force. Reissue. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This seventh novel in the bestselling Brotherhood of War series is relatively short on action but rich in those insightsfor which Griffin has won acclaiminto the souls or minds of military men and their wives. It is 1963, and the deteriorating situation in Vietnam has called for the creation of an Air Assault Division, mainly composed of helicopter gunships to operate behind enemy lines. After gallant service with the division, Captain Oliver becomes aide-de-camp to General Bellmon, commander of the Army Aviation Center, in Alabama. He is thus at the hub of the military aviation program, involved in training flyers, testing equipment, investigating crashes and serving as a link between junior officers and the top brass. In the process, he has an affair with the widow of a pilot killed in a chopper accident. It's a story of subdued but steady tension, with here and there a flare of action. Griffin gives the impression that what he doesn't know about the technical side of military aviation isn't worth knowing; but he seems equally conversant with the way the American soldier thinks, feels and speaks. His popularity in this genre assures this book a wide audience. Military Book Club main selection; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The eighth volume of Griffin's "Brotherhood of War" series is a detailed and absorbing view of military life and military men that readers will find fascinating. Protaganist Johnny is a born soldier who distinguishes himself as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and is promoted to aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of Fort Rucker. In his new post, he finds himself directly involved with the development of the Army's first Air Assault Divisiona new force crucial to meet the challenge of guerrilla warfare in Vietnam. This is the story of Johnny's year of work and crisis, the making and breaking of rules, the development of friendships, and the awakening of love. Recommended. Literary Guild alternate.Thomas L. Kilpatrick, Southern Illinois Univ. at Carbondale Lib.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Jove (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515100536
• ISBN-13: 978-0515100532
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > War

More About the Author

W.E.B. Griffin is the author of more than thirty epic novels in five series, all of which have been listed on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and other best-seller lists. More than forty million of his books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian. Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counter-intelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary. In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White. On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Mr. Griffin is a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, and the Armor Association. He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City. He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation's first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association; the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association; the Marine Raiders Association; and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. He is the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D'Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. Mr. Griffin's novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their "fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes." "Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books," Mr. Griffin says. Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good, but some Griffin habits need fixing, April 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aviators (Brotherhood of War, Book 8) (Paperback)

An author who can write a good enough story that you forgive him or her for some consistent faults has got to be something special. _The Aviators_ is a good example of this all around.

Like all of Griffin's military novels, the strength of the book is the successful portrayal of the dialogue and character of military men. His lieutenants behave like lieutenants; sergeants major like sergeants major; generals like generals, and so forth. There is a great mix of dedicated warriors, check-collecting spuds, out-and-out incompetents, and solid but unimaginative types. Griffin excels at painting the picture through the way he describes expressions and tone of voice, and he always tells a great story.

But he also needs to understand that some of his themes grow repetitive. The Rich Loose Cannon, the private suddenly rocketed to sergeant and then to commissioned rank, and the Immediately Deflowered Virgin are his favourite themes. In every book, you know these are going to show up. The above don't really happen all that much in real life, and it gets a little old knowing that they are going to be in every Griffin book, including this one. His other weakness is inconsistency and overuse of certain names from book to book. He often forgets facts about a character from book to book or gets the name, branch or other distinguishing characteristic wrong. _The Aviators_ contains a number of such mistakes, ones that aren't apparent unless you have read the rest of the series.

It is a tribute to Griffin that he keeps turning out excellent stories despite the above tendencies. The humour value is also fairly high, if you like dry military wit and understand it. He certainly doesn't suffer from Clancy's Disease--the overglorification of United States arms and people to the detriment of all others. He is one of the best in the genre.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great one from the master, July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aviators (Brotherhood of War, Book 8) (Paperback)

The Aviators is one of W.E.B. Griffin's best, I read a lot of war novels and the only recent one that can compare to The Aviators is Rustad's THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY. The Brotherhood of War is a great series and The Aviators continues the tradition in an outstanding manner.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great War Story, February 7, 2001

By 

"hamrad" (Kingston, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Aviators (Brotherhood of War, Book 8) (Paperback)

Like all WEB GRiffin's books, this one combines humor, personality studies, and adventure. I wish I had the whole series. He is great.