Customer Reviews

Zero Over Berlin

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first read the book it was almost like the mission really happened. This is also part of a trilogy of books based during WW2.
As for this being a pro-axis book. Come on, pilots of an axis power would consider England as the enemy. This doesn't mean that the book is trying to make what Japan did in WW2 acceptable. One of the two pilots, Ando, even hates the Japanese military for what they have done.
On a side note, I saw the author talk about this book in San Francisco. It's interesting that an engineer for Honda would become an author.
Even he is sure this book will not become a movie or mini-series, as a couple of his other books have in Japan, because of the production cost.

Pretty good WWII novel from a Japanese author, didn't find it "pro-axis" like some reviewers. It reads fast, very enjoyable.

I picked up this book at a library sale for $1. I didn't expect much, having never heard of Joh Sasaki, and after the first 25 pages or so I recall thinking "if this doesn;t grab my interest soon, it's time to start another book". Soon after that I was hooked. What makes this book interesting is the concept of "what might have happened had the Germans had a long range, nimble fighter during the Battle of Britain"? In my opinion the book is neither pro-axis, pro-allies or evn pro-war. It is a story about the personal and professional struggles of some pilots (and others) who happen to be on the axis side of the War. Being a WWII buff and understanding this is fiction, I found it entertaining and a quick read. I look forward to the other two books in this "trilogy".

The only negative mark is that it lacks a little in the prose. I imagine this happens when books are translated from one language to another, so no fault to he author. It was a little less "smooth" than reading Ludlum, Follett, etc.

The great author in Japan, Sir. Joh Sasaki,
finally presented this Planet Wide Zero Fighter's Pilots Adventure
novel in any other language areas!
I really want to see "Zero Over Brlin" at any theaters
as the one of Hollywood Made cinema!
I can't wait for that!
Please read at first!

Yes, the story line is interesting, and the book moves along energetically, and the historical details are informative. No one's going to deny that. But I am deeply disturbed by a more fundamental apect of this book: the Axis Powers (Japan and Germany) are portrayed as the good guys, and the Allies are the villains. We as the readers are expected to root for the Nazis and the Japanese imperialists -- not as some sort of postmodern ironic joke, but for real. The British and the Russians and the Americans menace and threaten the book's heroes. While the hero/villain dichotomy is not completely black and white in Zeros Over Berlin, the basic thrust is that the readers want the pilots to get their planes to Berlin so the Nazis can copy the designs and drop bombs on England and America.

I see this book as part of a long-term trend -- which is really coming to a critical point in recent months -- of rehabilitating the reputations of the Axis Powers in WWII. England issued a sort-of apology just a month ago for attacking Germany at the end of WWII, and both Japanese and German politicians, authors and historians have been declaring of late that they should feel no more national shame than the Allied Powers do. Zeros Over Berlin is part of that trend, and because of that I feel it sets a dangerous precedent.