Customer Reviews

A Hostage to Fortune

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4 star:		(1)
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this is, with out a doubt, one of the best non-fiction adventure books ever written. Gann takes the reader with him through his turbulent life. From movie maker to actor to aviator to seaman to author. his life was a constant adventure and he seemed to never age (at 69 he flew the U-2 spy plane, along with several other high-preformance military aircraft). his style is eloquent and keeps the reader enthralled throughout the book. this is an excellent book, regardless of whether you enjoy aviation books.

Gann takes us through his life, since childhood, and recounts his rich experiences masterfully. It both brings laughter and tears to your eyes. Gann was living proof that in one lifetime you could be an accomplished actor, sailor, pilot and writer. Moreover, in each of those endeavours he met and shared experiences with legends in their fields, such as Jack Warner, John Wayne, Charles Lindbergh and countless others. Gann recounts how he continuously met and dealt with triumph and disaster. Nevertheless, Gann retains a moving modesty about his own achievements. This is a must-read book for all lovers of adventure and for all who admire real-life swashbuckling romantics. It is an inspiring book which confirms that life is full of opportunity, if you have the right skills and mindset.

Having read "Fate is the Hunter" and loved it I wanted to know more about the author. "Fate" is a string of unconnected aviation vignettes all of which are fascinating, but without any overall context. You don't know whether some incidents happened before WW2, during, or after, etc. Unfortunately, "Hostage" suffers somewhat from the same problem. Gann follows various threads of his own life, sometimes back-tracking in time to start a new one. This can be awkward.

The second problem is the book is overlong. His early childhood is told in way-too-much detail. It's all interesting and well-written, but I found myself slogging ahead at times waiting for him to grow up.

It turns out that aviation formed only a small part of his life, so aviation enthusiasts beware. In fact I recognized several incidents he flits over in "Hostage" that had whole chapters in "Fate". Mostly Gann seems to have been an amateur fisherman, sailor, anything to escape from his wife and kids.

What I found as a revelation is how many books, screenplays and movies this guy wrote. WOW. In his later years he was cranking out best-sellers like clockwork, although some of the movies seem to be tied up in John Wayne's estate and aren't viewable any more ("The High and The Mighty", "Islands in the Sky"). "Soldier of Fortune" is a staple on TV, and "Fate is the Hunter" with Glenn Ford shows up sometimes too (not nearly as good as the book). "Twilight of the Gods" is on often too.

Overall, if you have no special expectations and plenty of time this is a good book to read. If you were hoping for an inspiring life story or lots of aviation stories, you'll be disappointed.

This book, along with several of Gann's other aviation works are some of the few items I truly treasure. Each has been reread many times and will be again.

If you love sailing, do all you can to find a copy of Ernie's "Song of the Sirens." You will forever thank me if you are so lucky to find one.

I thought this book to be one of the all time classics of the last generations aviation master storey tellers.

So much of this book one can rediscover the roots of ones own make up and closer connection to the flying world, romance and lifes experience.

I've read and reread this book several times and enjoyed the experience each time.
Thank you Ernie Gann for bringing us fellow airman into your world of storey telling in subjects we all understand.

As a 29 year airline and airplane pilot, as a long time avid reader, and as an observer of many successful yet difficult personalities, I have always loved the "taste" of Earnest K. Gann's writing. It always rings so true and has that old world feel. His characters have those off-center, work in progress traits that real people have. I grew up on "Fate is the Hunter," read his other novels, saw the movie "The High and the Mighty" and the mini-series "Masada," and have always wanted to know more about his exciting life. This book does it for me, and I enjoyed it all.

In "Fate is the Hunter" Gann alludes to other interests and adventures, especially in sailing. In "Band of Brothers" it is clear that he really has been to the Orient, as I have. I found out some years ago, in a "Flying" magazine article I think, that he was involved in directing and writing for Hollywood both before and after his airline years. It is also clear in "Fate is the Hunter" that his thirst for adventure drove him, and that he was sometimes his own worst enemy. "A Hostage to Fortune" reflects all of these things, and he kept my interest throughout. I found myself hollering at him for some of his dumb life decisions as I read on, but he was definitely a man driven by his passions. He has led an adventurous life, and met some interesting people. That must be partly why his fictional characters "feel" right to me.

I absolutely love Ernest K. Gann and try to get everything he ever wrote. I also try to get the films that he authored.( On DVD or Video tape, doesn't matter) The book I received was used, of course, the cover torn a bit, but otherwise in excellent shape. I would buy again from this seller. Thanks !!

Gann's own life is not as personally successful as his flying stories, but a great read nonetheless. He's candid and honest about his foibles and moral indiscretion. His indomitable passion for flying and adventure is contageous.

While Fate is The Hunter is Ernie Gann's aeronautical autobiography, A Hostage to Fortune is his complete autobiography. As with all of Gann's books, this is a fascinating story.

Gann is an incredible writer who has led a fantastic life. Many associate the man with being only a pilot or a writer, but after reading this book, you quickly find out that Gann lived his life to the fullest working various jobs ranging from pilot to cook to sailor to writer to spy and more.

Gann filled every facet of his life with the entire range of emotions known to humanity. He is a very unique person who lived a life of which many can only dream. Additionally, he possessed the ability to communicate that life very well.

If you are interested in tales of writing, flying, sailing, spying, the war, and the fledgling airline industry, you need to read this book. As with all of his other books, you will thoroughly enjoy this one.

To anyone who's ever piloted an aircraft, Ernerst K. Gann's Fate Is the Hunter is a classic. On the basis odf that book, I picked up Hostage To Fortune.

Not bad, but nowhere near the stature of "Fate." Naturally, Gann touches on zsome of the same stories from "fate," but he also spends a lot of his book writing about other phases of his rather colorful life. Gann is an accomplished writer, so even the phases of his life of least interest to any reader are still presented well.

Anyone interested in the aviation aspect of his career would better read Gann's classic, but for a broad perspective of an interesting life, this book can reveal much about his character.