Tom Wilson's book takes me back to the sights, sounds and smells of Southeast Asia. He makes me feel the skin of an F-105 Thunderchief through my gloves and smell the familiar odor of the JP-4 fuel as I perform my pre-flight walk around inspection. I feel the drips of salty perspiration rolling down my face from under my helmet as I sit at the end of the runway waiting while the armorors pull the pins from my bombs. The tension builds. For those who haven't done it, this is the way to experience the daily life of those pilots who fought and died in the skies over North Vietnam. The ready comes home alive

As a kid I walked the flightlines at Wheelus, Spangdahlem and Nellis with my father. The desire to fly fighters was instilled so deeply as to be there still. Though my eyesight failed my dream, Tom Wilsons trilogy brought me as close as I will ever come. Through page after page the sights, sounds and smells returned to me as if it were only yesterday. I only wish my father had lived to enjoy what is not only a great story but a greatly told history.... Thank You Mr. Wilson,

"Lucky's Bridge" follows F-105 fighter pilots who fly missions over the most dangerous skies of North Vietnam. Not a thin book, "Bridge" is still nevertheless incomplete - often referring to a wealth of details that could only have occurred in another book, and it makes little secret (from the start) that some plot lines will need another book to wrap up.

In "Bridge" the strategic bridges of the communist North are targeted for destruction by the USAF. Unfortunately, existing weapons and tactic - despite the heroism and expertise of the pilots - aren't up to the task. Back in the US, a special team is developing the first generation of smart-bombs, but they fear that their superiors will give up and restrict attacks on targets the bombs were meant to knock down. Back in Vietnam (actually Thailand, where F-105 pilots sortied), Lucky leads his men into battle with the weapons he's got. In Saigon, a fighter-pilot-friendly general struggles to hit the hated communist bridges while his aid suspects that one of his own staff is passing secrets to the enemy. Lucky's men include Billy Bowes, a fearless ace who can put his bombs anywhere he wants, but sometimes wants them to go into restricted zones; Manny Devera, another expert flier who's beginning to succumb to self-doubt; and worst of all, Tom Lyons, an utter creep (the Major Frank Burns of the book).

This is not the worst book I've read about air combat in Vietnam, but it's still horrible. The plot is full of holes and never comes together . People who claim to love this book hale its realism and how it makes you feel like you're in the cockpit, but "Lucky's" doesn't begin to make you feel that way: while a lot of the story is spent in F-105's, the narrative jumps from plane to plane, seldom focusing on what's going on in any one of them (as Coonts had in "Intruder"). Wilson commits only a brief span of any one mission to paper, maybe thinking that we've already read about everything else in other books, so why bother? This robs his characters the chance to show what good pilots they are (and how they became that way) for more than a few minutes at a time. Not even the guys developing the smart-bombs get a chance to show their stuff in flight - we hear about tests after the fact. Instead, too much of the book - in the longest, most consistent plot-line - is spent convincing us that Tom Lyons is a creep (he's vain, cheats on his wife, can't keep a real woman and, conveniently for the rest of us, holds completely inept views on the subject of tactical aviation). Besides the Lyons subplot, I hated how this book lionized the actions of Billy Bowes, who repeatedly bombs restricted targets ("Bridges" talks about the insanely restrictive ROE under which fighter pilots flew, but never illustrates the insanity of the ROE; instead, Wilson unleashes his pilots on some pretty hefty targets directly connected to supplying the Viet Cong. Lackluster tactics and technology, almost as much as politics are responsible here). Bowes never really answers for his actions, and when the craven Lyons sets Devera to take the fall for Bowes illegal strikes, Bowes never thinks twice to tell the truth.

In short, "Bridge" is over-long and under plotted, deriving too little from the dynamics of the air war than from its own wildly implausible characters. If realism is what you need, read a real book like "Thud Ridge" instead.

I have read all three of Mr. Wilson's books on the F-105 squadrons in Thailand during vietnam. Great Mix of fiction and history. Get the views of the pilots "going downtown" to the the generals trying to get washington to let them win the war. Also they fly the one of the famous Republic Warhorses...The Thunderchief!!!!!

I am an old 'Buff' (B-52D/H) crew chief. I was especially interested in Mr. Wilson's depiction of the 354th TFW and the squadrons within because of a friend who served in the 354th TFW. Mr. Wilson's representation of the air war over Hanoi was strong enough that I felt as if I was in the cockpit of the famous 'Thud's' as they rolled onto their targets, amidst the AAA, and SAM's. On 11 May 1966, we lost our friend over Hanoi. He was a 'Thud' driver in the 355th TFS, and is still listed as MIA. Mr. Wilson's book helped make it possible for me to 'see' and 'feel' what the pilots of the 354th TFW endured. Outstanding series. I loved them all.

Black Wolf tells about a rogue fringe of North American Indians starting a terrorist campain against the present government, ripping their ancestors off, 140 years ago, and stealing their land, and heritage.
The hero, Link Anderson gets messages in his dreams from his long dead ancestor, about someone plotting destruction against his counntry? Come on, now...the character didn't buy it, and neither will you. First he gets the messages, then when he starts to lose them, he undergoes an old Indian torture ritual to get back something he didn't want to begin with? Only to find out that the culprits were long lost brothers, descended from that same shaman? Oh, the author tries to save the book, and show us he's not anti-native American, by having some of the Indians help him find the culprits, and he falls in love with one in the end, finally accepting his native American heritage. If there ever was a book that was "POLITICALLY INCORRECT" it was sure this one. Enough Anti-Native American sentiment.
My advice...skip this one, if you value your time, and read anything else, instead!

Once I started reading I coudn't stop, it was an incredible book. As the cover says its a nerve shattering thriller. I would love to Thank Tom Wilson for writing such an incredible book! Anyone who loves a good action adventure book that includes espionoge and Native American culture and traditions should read this Book!!!!!!!!

I love this book. It is a page turne

It is easy to believe that only pastors should do ministry and serve others. That is the easy way out for most Christian. The reality is that God wants pastors to equip us lay people for ministry. In fact God calls us to be His ministers. We have been ministered to, now it is our turn to minister: hence the name of this book, The Boomerang Mandate. What has gone around surely must come around. This little book presents clear and concise suggestions on how pastors can share ministry and its benefits with the lay people in his church. It also gives simple instructions for those doing ministry. It is not a technical book, and is quite easy to read. The author makes it real and practical by relating stories and incidents from his own ministry to introduce and illustrate various areas in which Christians can serve. This little book is well worth having.

Everybody says laymen should be involved in ministry. The Boomerang Mandate explains why and how. It is an easy read--brief enough that most people can read it in a single sitting. The stories are compelling and the ministry tips are straight to the point. This is a must read for people who are serious about ministy.

Tom Austen is back with his crime solving expertise. This time one of his schoolmates has been kidnapped and it's up to him to find him. But when he begins uncovering interesting facts about the Golden Boy Cafe, and then gets kidnapped himself he needs to use his brain to save the both of them.

This was a very exciting book. I recommend it to all fans of the mystery genre.

This book is an account of Woodrow Wilson, concentating on his second wife, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson. I found it enjoyable to read and rather moving. Wilson was an interesting and odd person, and this book accurately shows that after his stroke in 1919 he was no longer the brilliant person he was before that calamity. Edith lived on till Dec. 28, 1961, which date was the 105th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson's birth. I found this book a satisfying and attention-holding book, tho it is does not pretend to be scholarly.

This simple story is truly elevated by Wilson's rich, lively drawings. My children thoroughly enjoyed this book and were thrilled for visiting Englebert the elephant when he rose to the occasion and wowed the crowd after being stunned and bewildered by a unexpected circus spotlight. The jovial verse makes it especially appealing. An uplifting book, good for reading right before you turn out the light.

This is a great way to learn about classical and operant conditioning, especially for the student of psychology. The textbook does put things at a very basic level, which may annoy some who already know the basics of conditioning. However, don't be discouraged. The major strength is the software that enables you to do simulated conditioning. Working with both the textbook and software is an excellent way to learn about conditioning. All the courses that I have done covering conditioning have been theoretical and I enjoyed being able to apply the knowledge.

hi my name is ---- this book i read it i was not good and do not read it ok other way you will be fail from your class i don't like to review books but i have to do some of them to pass the class so whats up too you guy in this book they readd it how was the boy if you read it you will have a lot of fun i don't know if you have becsue i didn't read it so that why i don't know ok take care bye and try to read that book

This guide to Edinburgh unfortunately lacks the quality we're used from Lonely Planet. I couldn't taste any commitment of the author to the subject, it almost looks like that the author wrote the guide during an afternoon visit. Surprisingly, many very interesting features of Edinburgh are not included, like the Botanical Gardens. Many other features are decribed too briefly. When looking for a guide of the town, step into a local bookstore en look for the locally issued handbook of Edinburgh, published bij Mercat Press. It's good souvenir too.

Not only is this book witty, it covers all the city sights and is very useful. This book is written by a different author from the first edition and the change is phenomenal. This book is definitely recommended - the colourful festivals section is totally cool.