Derek Robinson's novel, A Good Clean Fight, follows the remaining characters from his earlier Piece of Cake to the North African Desert in May 1942. As in previous Robinson novels, much of the focus is upon the fictional "Hornet Squadron," now led by "Fanny" Barton and equipped with P-40 "Tomahawks." The pilot "Pip" Patterson, the squadron adjutant "Uncle" Kellaway and the intelligence officer "Skull" Skelton are also on hand. However unlike other Robinson novels that focus mainly on life within the squadron, A Good Clean Fight has substantial roles for the Germans and for a British ground unit. Captain Jack Lampard is a British Special Air Service (SAS) officer who leads daring behind-the-lines raids on German airfields and Major Paul Schramm is a German intelligence officer tasked with finding and defeating the SAS raiders. There are also a number of other SAS and German supporting characters that add depth to Lampard's and Schramm's roles. A Good Clean Fight also has considerably more combat action than any other Robinson novels and the book crackles along at a very good pace. Indeed, the novel starts off very well and could have been a truly great war novel if Robinson had not allowed himself to get distracted with several unnecessary sub-plots in the middle of his work. Nevertheless, A Good Clean Fight is very good and probably one of Robinson's finest efforts to date.

The main plot with "Hornet Squadron" in A Good Clean Fight focuses on efforts to entice the Luftwaffe fighters to come up and fight in the quiet period that preceded the Gazala Campaign. Barton, afraid that his hard-luck unit might be broken up, offers to conduct a systematic ground attack program in order to get the German fighters to commit to action (the Germans preferred to hold their fighters back in order to prepare for the main battle coming). In effect, Barton commits his unit to an attritional campaign that can have but one end for the squadron - whittling down pilots and aircraft in the hope that something will "break loose" before the unit is combat ineffective. Barton has changed somewhat since A Piece of Cake and is no longer very sympathetic; many readers might feel that he is sacrificing his unit for his own sake, but that is unfair. "Fanny's" efforts to "outfox" the enemy as he says, and "Skull's" pointed explanations of why this is unlikely are quite interesting. In the midst of this growing tension in the unit, Robinson delivers several excellent and exciting descriptions of air-ground attacks on assorted targets.

Lampard begins the novel with an exciting raid on a German airfield and even briefly captures the intelligence officer, Schramm. Robinson's depiction of these raids gives great insight not only into SAS tactics of the period, but the type of men who excelled in this type of work. Lampard in many respects is the SAS leader par excellence - aggressive, physically impressive, cunning and ultra-competent. Unfortunately, Lampard has some flaws which may not be uncommon in the special operations community: he is a "risk junkie" who doesn't know when to quit and he lies to superiors and subordinates in order to cover up his mistakes. Like Barton's attrition tactics, Lampard's "risk tactics" seem preordained to eventual catastrophe, of course, with much bravery along the way.

Schramm starts out as a very interesting, witty character but gradually withers into a sour, introverted, pathetic sort. While Schramm and his peers do provide some tension in the novel with their "cat and mouse" game with Lampard, one feels that the SAS are never seriously threatened by Luftwaffe intelligence. Indeed, the one German effort to send a large patrol out into the desert to ambush the in-coming SAS patrols ends up in total and ridiculous disaster. The worst parts of the novel involve Schraam's involvement with an Italian female doctor - this goes nowhere and means nothing. On the Allied side, the antics of two reporters is also quite distracting and useless. Were it not for these distracting minor characters - who somehow elbow out the main characters in midstream - A Good Clean Fight would have been nearly perfect.

As usual, Robinson's humor is very dry and very dark, and is certainly the most compelling aspect of his novels. Robinson is able to show both the bravery and the stupidity in war, as well as just the sheer misery of trying to fight in blast-furnace heat, covered with flies. In a historical sense, Robinson also delivers insight into neglected facets of the desert war, such as the "Takoradi" trail the Allies used to ferry planes across Africa and the German air raid on Chad to interdict the trail.

When I read this novel for the first time six years ago, I didn't really get much of the humor or irony, but then I read it last summer, and couldn't put it down. It's a thick book, but it didn't take me long (I usually read very slowly).
The characters are entirely believable: not all are likeable, but they're all realistic. By the end, it's actually quite disturbing what happens to them all.
Some of these characters are pilots in Hornet Squadron, which also featured in Robinson's book "Piece of Cake". There is a rookie American pilot, the Aussie CO, and the nitpicking intelligence officer, along with a dozen other pilots who are all uniquely entertaining. There is also a team of SAS commandos and their egomaniacal Captain, who make guerilla raids on German airfields, and a German officer who vainly attempts to mount an operation to defend against them. The last - and maybe the funniest - subplot is about an American journalist, who is searching for a Lawrence of Arabia-style hero to sell to American newspapers.
The density of imagery regarding the desert itself is astounding. At some points while reading this book I felt like I needed to go swimming, drink a tall glass of cold water, or at least stick my head up for some fresh air. You can feel the heat and blistering sunlight seeping out of the pages.
It's the sort of book that you really don't want to end, because in some ways it's a very conclusive ending (death, etc) and in other ways it gives you the feeling that things are just going to continue without change. It was uncomfortable to leave the book knowing that many of its characters were dead, and that those who survived might only be killed a day or a year later. The sense that the war would continue and take more lives was intense.
One problem is the Hornet Squadron pilot Fido Doggart. Robinson manages to detail the deaths of everyone else very graphically, but he forgot about Doggart. I don't know if he was killed, or if the author just lost track.

Derek Robinson scores a great hit with his A GOOD CLEAN FIGHT. Set amidst the shifting "ping-pong" war of 1942 North Africa, this story jumps between two groups of English soldiers. Robinson's econimical style is subtle and very stylish. His humor is dry and very real. His characters are beautfully done, and the action is both facinating and horrific. This is THE BEST World War II novel I have read.

This book is, I suppose, the most authoritative and comprehensive text on group theory. Text is quite succinct and self-contained, proofs are elegant and rigorous. Only few sections of the first chapter cover undergraduate group theory. Therefore I do not recommend it for the one that would prefer an introductory text rather than a serious reference text. It is also a strong self study text, the example questions are well-chosen and generally demanding. Though its name begins with `A Course...', I think it contains enough material for more than 3 courses, a semester each. It is definitely worth its value, a must for a mathematician's library.

This terrific kids book is about Derek, a sort of nerdy dinosaur who hangs out in the house all day knitting while his macho brothers reak havoc on the earth. Lucky for Fang and Fearless (the brothers Macho), Derek has plenty of warm woolen things to wear when the earth's climate changes. Derek saves them from extinction with his knitting hobby! My two year old really thinks that some dinosaurs knew how to knit!

If you're a fan of Robinson's war novels, this is a great opportunity to see his story-telling talents turned in another direction. His sharp, witty dialogue, realistic details and bittersweet story elements make this a great novel about 2 families (and their strange neighbors and friends) that feud in a small river town in Kentucky before, during and after the Civil War. His typically unsympathetic views of his own characters, their motivations and actions really enrich this story. I strongly recommend it if you love Derek Robinson's work, or even if you've never heard of him, and just want to read a great novel full of fascinating characters set in a pivotal time in America's history.

Lessons of the Game is truly an amazing book. Although a non-avid reader, I recently picked up this book and read it within two days. Derek's writing style is very easy to understand. His choice of words to describe things made me know exactly where he was coming from and what it was like at points in Derek's life. I found myself laughing out loud several times as he described scenes as well as almost shedding a tear. This book gives the reader an inside look into Derek's life and true test of character. I believe this book is for the young, old, athletes, non-athletes, or anyone who is ready for an excellent book to read! It is a must read and won't be put down until finished!!!

READ IT, BUY IT, PASS IT ON! This is at best what I can say about Lessons of the Game. Derek Sparks submerges his readers with scandal and corruption which leaves them baffled. His profound, unfortunately true, story of manipulation and lies within our society is well written. If nothing else, it will provoke readers(athletes or non athletes) to see what is truely important: God, Family, Love, Education, etc.

This is a definite must for student athletes as well as parents of student athletes. I am a parent and my child will most likely be involved in school athletics as he gets older and this opened my eyes to the troubles that can emerge. His honesty was refreshing and much needed in the world of sports where secrecy and the "curtain of silence" prevail over any truth telling. This book needs to get out to young athletes to show them how much education is needed and not to get caught up in all the hype that coaches, family and friends can feed you about sports. Keep up the good work!

This book is a page turner. It gives a realistic glimpse of the life of a British RFC SE5a squadron during WW1. Full of well developed charactors and exciting action. It explodes the myth of the "gallant knight of the air." The action is gritty and intense with accurate descriptions of life during wartime, flying and dogfights. This book is a must for any military aviation aficionado.

Derek Robinson wrote Goshawk Squadron in 1971 and began his depiction of squadron life in the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force). Unlike his later novels that focused on the fictional "Hornet" squadron, this first effort focused on the "Goshawk" squadron, but the method and characters are essentially similar. The main protagonist in Goshawk Squadron is the unit commander, Major Stanley Woolley. This character is clearly defined as an anti-hero, indeed his behavior and methods may appear repugnant or even borderline insane. However, Robinson succeeds in developing an odd pathos behind Woolley and over the course of the novel the reader should gain understanding of the forces that drive this odd character, if not empathy for him. Modern-day military officers might benefit from studying the command methods of Woolley, particularly in preparing units for combat. Overall, Goshawk Squadron is a true classic that delivers vivid characters and action that draws the reader further and further into the realities of air combat in the First World War.

Goshawk Squadron is set in the period January-March 1918, just before the German spring offensives. The squadron is equipped with the SE-5a fighter and begins the novel resting and re-building behind the lines. Woolley has been commander of the squadron for one year and although fanatical in his training methods, he is approaching combat burnout. Indeed, Woolley is so cynical (but realistic, as it turns out) that he believes all his pilots will be dead within three months. In a seemingly futile but rabid effort, Woolley spends the brief period behind the lines to train his squadron to be the most cold-blooded and efficient killers possible. Woolley's combat ethics clearly clash with the English public school morals of his young pilots; Woolley bans words like "sporting," or "fair fight" from his squadron. In these pages, Robinson depicts how four years of harsh, non-stop combat have produced a killer elite in men like Woolley, whose only philosophy is "kill or be killed." To modern eyes, Woolley's training methods will seem callous and cruel, resulting in needless pain and suffering on his pilots. Indeed, Woolley terrorizes his pilots, to include throwing beer bottles and shooting at slow learners. The pilots in Goshawk Squadron hate their commander, but they are also better prepared to survive when they return to operational service. When the great German offensive begins in March 1918, Goshawk Squadron is committed to try and stem the German onslaught as the British front line crumbles. Robinson provides excellent detail both on balloon-busting and close air support attacks, circa 1918.

Woolley does begin to evolve over the course of the novel, as do his pilots. Yet Goshawk Squadron is never a happy unit and modern military readers might question whether the increase in unit efficiency is worth the drop in morale. Woolley makes better killers, but the squadron is visibly falling apart by the end of the novel. Can a combat unit really function for long based merely on fear of the commander? And what is the result when that long-punishing tyrant suddenly decides to ease up on his troops? These questions are never fully addressed by Robinson, but remain lurking in the corners. On the other hand, one of the great scenes in the novel is a confrontation between Woolley and a REMF colonel from headquarters. Unlike other military novels that attempt to portray the clash between the war fighter and rear echelon types, there is no effort toward subterfuge by Woolley. Instead, Woolley starts blasting away at the colonel with his pistol until he wins the argument ("You can't kill me," says the colonel. "I will kill you, take your body up in my plane, and dump it behind German lines," says Woolley. In a war where thousands disappeared without a trace, this is a convincing threat.). Robinson's point here is that it is difficult to threaten a man with theoretical punitive actions when he is facing the very real threat of death in combat on a daily basis. Advice to REMFs: don't go to the front line in a war and threaten combat soldiers with administrative actions, if you do, wear a flak jacket.

This is probably my most favorite work of fiction. I first read it when I was in the Air Force in 1972 and I have re-read it three times since. Often humorous and always entertaining it never drags. It is not easy to find but if you do, get it, you won't be sorry. Then try Piece of Cake, Derek Robinson's book about life with an RAF squadron during the early days of WW2.

I've just re-read Piece of Cake as part of my holiday, read-for-pleasure, schedule and thus rediscovered this outstanding example of fiction. Robinson is to WWII RAF what O'Brien is to the Nelsonian Navy --and much more. His characters, occasionally a wee bit overdone, are mostly believable. Dialogue is witty, lively and brilliantly written. The story is masterfully threaded and the period characterization has that distinctive feel of "that's what it really must have been like". Aviation/air-war buffs will enjoy the flying scenes. WWII aficionados will experience the "phoney war" and its dramatic continuation. And litterary purists will be able to indulge in a page-turner without feelings of guilt. The book is about planes, war, the recklessness of youth and the drama of death, but with enough realism to weed-out stereotypes and bland storytelling. But above all it's a masterfully constructed tapestry of characters, sub-plots and descriptions. With all of it put together Piece of Cake is a book one can watch, as its pages come alive in the mind's eye.

I rank this as one of the best books I've ever read and am very surprised more people aren't aware of it. The writing is top-notch: Robinson was at the top of his game when he wrote "Piece of Cake." The characters come to life, even if many of them don't stay alive very long. It is laugh-out-loud funny at times, slyly humorous at others, brutal, honest and thought-provoking -- often on one page. One must remember that Britain's "Knights of the Sky" averaged bout 19 years of age when The Battle was raging. They often behaved in a less-than-honorable fashion, as most 19 years usually do. Finally, anyone who ever entertained the notion that the air war was a "clean" way to fight will quickly have that notion dispelled. Dying in a burning Hurricane, taking cannon fire in the gut or waiting for the cold sea to steal all the warmth from your body are just a few of the ways an RAF pilot could die in the autumn of 1940. In spite of the controversy it generated, this book is a great tribute to the RAF's Few and a fine work of literature.

A brilliant read! I generally steer away from fictional history as these types of books tend to be overplayed. Derek Robinson has captured the essence of the RAF in the early stages of the Second World War. His characters are lively and believable, and the plot incorporates actual events. If you can find this book it is definitely worth a read, and if you can find the Masterpiece Theater series, an outstanding adaptation of the novel. Any price alone is worth it just for the scenes of the Spitfires in flight! -- Capt M.H. Moore

In War Story, Derek Robinson begins his fictionalized account of "Hornet" Squadron in the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Although War Story was written after several of Robinson's other novels depicting "Hornet" squadron, it essentially serves as a "prequel" that explains the background behind the unit and at least one key follow-on character. The book is set in June 1916, just as the British are getting ready for the Battle of the Somme, and the squadron is equipped with the unusual FE2b "push-pull" aircraft. There is much less aerial combat in this book compared to Robinson's other books, and the focus is more heavily on character development within the squadron. As usual in his style, Robinson introduces the reader to a host of different personality types resident in a typical fighter squadron. Overall, War Story is an excellent novel of life in a First World War fighter squadron and the way that war affects individuals differently.

The main protagonist in War Story is the not very likeable Lieutenant Oliver Paxton. This character reminds me somewhat of the character "Goodrich" in James Webb's Vietnam novel Fields of Fire; like Goodrich, Paxton encounters great difficulty in bonding with other members of his unit and is regarded as foolish and/or incompetent. Yet like Goodrich, Paxton does experience personal growth through the "school of hard knocks" and by the end of the novel, he has involved into a totally different person. Other major characters include the no-nonsense squadron commander Hugh Cleve-Cutler, the unflappable squadron adjutant Major Brazier (a former infantry lieutenant colonel demoted for shooting several of his troops who ran away under fire), and O'Neill, Paxton's tormenter and copilot. Kellaway, who goes on to be the squadron adjutant in Robinson's Second World War novels "Piece of Cake" and "A Good Clean Fight," is introduced as an accident-prone young replacement. The relationships in the squadron may appear a bit odd or overly cruel at times, particularly in the brusque manner that replacements are treated, but this is probably quite accurate. Of course, one by one, "Hornet" squadron is shorn of is veteran and rookie pilots, leaving only a handful alive.

War Story is not quite as cynical as some of Robinson's other novels, but he does hammer home the lack of any romanticism in the air war. Even the most idealistic pilots are rapidly worn down by fatigue, stress and the realization that their number is bound to come up in the near future. While not quite as good as Goshawk Squadron or Piece of Cake, War Story is still a very good depiction of squadron life in the First World War.

An excellent book which is sadly out of print. The story and characters met here also appear in Goshawk Squadron and Hornets Nest. This book gives a real feel of what it must have been like to fly and fight in the air in World War One. Like many of Derek Robinsons books it contains a combination of humour and horror. The relatively comfortable lives of the pilots on the ground is thrown into stark relief with the danger and discomfort of their lives in the air. I can highly recommend it

War Story is the first in a trilogy of sorts. It begins the saga of Hornet Squadron in World War One (it is continued in Piece of Cake and A Good Clean Fight which take place during World War Two (by the same author)). All three books are character focused rather than the usual war fiction standard of being action based - though the dogfighting scenes are incredibly well done. Take All Quiet on the Western front, put the action in Airplanes, and add excellent, and sometimes hilarious, dialog, and you have War Story.

Derek Robinson is a specialist in the ensemble-cast-fighter-squadron-every-one-dies-by-the-end novel. The basic plot of this genre can be summed up very simply: During a lull in the fighting, we are introduced to the individual members of a fighter squadron, with all of their quirks, conflict, and so on. A big push begins, the fighting becomes intense, and many of these characters die. Replacements come, we get to know them, and some of them die as well. One character always goes insane. At least one character falls in love (this character usually dies). At least one character survives, becoming stronger, but more cynical. The book generally ends at the height of the battle.

His best book of this type was "Piece of Cake," (set during the first twelve months of World War Two, and culminating in the Battle of Britain), which had wonderful character development and great action sequences. "War Story," which involves some of the same characters as "Hornet's Sting," was also very good. Well, the action sequences of "Hornet's Sting" are terrific, but I found the character development weak this time. It feels as though Robinson is simply rehashing the old formula, and that formula appears to be going stale.

Robinson's historical research is quite good, although it always irks me that he insists on calling the squadron "Hornet Squadron." The British were never much given to painting their aircraft in the First World War, and they certainly never gave their squadrons colorful names. Numbers tended to suffice.

Other than that, it's a quick and very entertaining read. But for my money, I would stick with "Piece of Cake" and "War Story." The material is simply fresher, and better.

Hornet's Sting, Derek Robinson's second novel in his trilogy on the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, covers the fictional "Hornet Squadron" in the period January-November 1917. This was a very rough period in the war for the British, encompassing the costly battles around Arras and Passchendaele. In Hornet's Sting, the squadron is still commanded by Major Hugh Cleve-Cutler, who took over Hornet Squadron in the previous War Story. Cutler continues his role with considerable aplomb, at one point quipping, "I wish I'd never taken this bloody silly job. The war's all right, but the people are impossible." The squadron is initially equipped with the Sopwith Pup fighters, but gradually converts to the controversial Bristol Fighter, or "Bif." Hornet's Sting is easily as good as the final volume in the trilogy, Goshawk Squadron, and it is also one of Robinson's finest efforts to date. Indeed, Hornet's Sting is one fine war novel.

The first third of the volume focuses heavily on two new members of the squadron, two Russian lieutenants sent to Hornet Squadron to learn combat tactics on the Western Front. Initially, the two officers are barely qualified to fly and the squadron spends considerable effort nurse-maiding these two. Indeed, the British chain of command orders Major Cutler to "help" the senior Russian to become an "ace," an achievement of which he is clearly incapable. Robinson's insertion of these Russian characters is actually quite interesting in depicting the changes brought on inter-Allied relations by the Russian Revolution. Eventually, in a complete reversal, Cutler is ordered to stop protecting the Russians in combat and let nature and von Richtofen) takes its course.

Throughout his novels, Robinson displays a real gift for character development that is lacking in so many other books. The readers may not like all the characters - indeed there is always at least one malignant personality in evidence - but Robinson will make even his best characters as true-to-life as possible. The squadron adjutant (Captain Brazier) and squadron clerk (Sergeant Lacey) are still in place from the previous novel, and while they are certainly not likeable, they do enliven Hornet's Sting with their unique viewpoints. At one point, Brazier fondly recalls, "I suppressed a riot once [in India]. At the market place in Peshawar. And a very splendid suppression it was." On the other hand, Sergeant Lacey, who spends all his effort avoiding combat and enriching himself with petty thievery, is fully involved in the "case of the missing jam" - noting that, "the army can afford to lose millions of men, year after year. But not a few cases of strawberry jam. Jam matters." Lieutenant Paxton also returns from War Story - although he is much matured - and Robinson introduces the seemingly immortal Captain Stanley Woolley, who figures so prominently in Goshawk Squadron.

The middle third of the novel focuses heavily on the combat debut of the Bristol fighter. This aircraft, initially designed as a bomber or reconnaissance aircraft then turned into a fighter, was presented by the British High Command as giving the RFC a technological edge over their German opponents. Hornet Squadron is presented with six of the new fighters and trains intensively on them for several weeks. Unfortunately, the first combat action for the Bristol fighter was a disaster, with five of six shot down or crashed (Robinson based this on an actual incident). The affect of this disaster on the squadron is appalling and several of the "old hands" begin to deteriorate mentally when they realize how heavily the odds are stacked against them. Eventually, the "Bif" turned out to be a pretty good fighter, but the initial tactical doctrine was faulty - which shows how poor tactics can devalue a weapon system. Robinson makes his best points here about aviation doctrine in the First World War in this middle section of the book, particularly about the frightful wastefulness of the "deep offensive patrols" that squandered the lives of partly trained pilots. Robinson presents an RFC Commander - Trenchard - who prefers quantity (meaning many partly-trained pilots) over quality (taking the time to train them fully, but meaning fewer squadrons).

The final third of the book focuses on the Third Battle of Ypres and the relentless pressure placed on the squadron to support the ground troops. Both Paxton and a newcomer, the despised Mackenzie, figure prominently in this final act. Paxton crashes behind enemy lines and has considerable adventures. Mackenzie, a photogenic but bullying egomaniac, is seized upon by two American filmmakers as an excellent vehicle for presenting the glorious side of the war to the American public. Once again, Cutler is ordered to assist in the "manufacture of an ace" for public relations purposes. This final third of the volume starts to bog down a bit in subplots that have little to do with the squadron, and one senses Robinson running out of steam just as the Battle of Passchendaele is winding down. My only criticisms - and they are minor ones - are that Robinson sometimes gets carried away with minor subplots that go nowhere and that his female characters are universally annoying and detract from the characters to which they attach themselves. Indeed, Robinson always presents his female characters as overly sexually compliant (which is certainly an aviator stereotype of women) and emotionally troublesome. In Cleve-Cutler's case, his liaison with a one-legged aristocratic whore is so absurd that Robinson only compounds it by introducing a ménage a trois with an AWOL lieutenant (it's hard to believe that a straight-laced officer like Cutler would knowingly put up with an officer deserter for one second). Please, Derek Robinson, stick to aviation that you do so well and leave romance novels to other folks. Despite these distractions, Hornet's Sting is a first class war novel.

I bought this after devouring Goshawk Squadron, A Piece of Cake & A Good Clean Fight. I was not disappointed and found myself hungering for more.

For any reader that desires a more realistic look at the air war of WW1 without being depressed into near suicide with the sheer futility of the actions of the whole scene, this is the book to read.

I would suggest reading Goshawk Squadron first, if only for the additional backgound. Having said that im quite confident that I would not have enjoyed this wonderful piece of work any less had this been the first of Derek Robinson's books that I picked up...

I really enjoyed this book. Although only current through 1995, many of the laws are still applicable. What the book does best, is explain WHY the law exists and explain them in the context of the game in very simple terms. Diagrams illustrate certain points very well. Understanding why the law is there makes it so much easier to enforce and play(yes, I'm a referee). Experienced players, new players and definitely referees should be able to learn a great deal from this book. 4 stars of 5, only because it's current through 1995.