Fulcrum: A Top Gun Pilot's Escape from the Soviet Empire

by Alexander Zuyev, Malcolm McConnell

An ace Soviet pilot reveals how he defected to the West in a top-of-the-line fighter plane and offers some shocking revelations about Korean Airlines Flight 007, American POWs in Vietnam, and other Cold War incidents. 30,000 first printing. Tour.

Genres: Nonfiction, Aviation, Biography

358 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of Alexander Zuyev, a Soviet interceptor pilot who became disgruntled about his personal life and life in the Soviet Union, and decided to defect to the West. In 1989, he stole a MiG-29 Fulcrum from his air base on the Black Sea and flew to Turkey.

The scene where Zuyev steals the MiG and makes his escape is exciting and feels right out of a novel.

I take issue with the cheap subtitle, which bills Zuyev as a 'top gun' pilot. He was indeed a pilot of the USSR's best fighter aircraft, the MiG-29, but in truth there is no comparison between him and US Navy pilots from the Naval Fighter Weapons School--known colloquially as 'top gun' pilots. I apologize for nitpicking, but it bothers me when popular phrases are misused for the purpose of marketing--and especially when used to describe a pilot of our country's adversary.

I won't give away the letdown of the book, but let's just say if Zuyev had to do it all over again, maybe he should not have set his MiG down right across the Black Sea from his homeland.

Note that Zuyev's co-author is Malcolm McConnell, who was Buzz Aldrin's co-author on Aldrin's second book Men from Earth.

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about the Soviet Unioin, I read it because I am into aviation but I recieved a good history and social lesson from it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fulcrum by Alex Zuyev should be on high school reading lists across the world. He provides a very rare glimpse into the Soviet Union with all its challenges. Alex's defection to the USA was motivated by the social problems in his home country. Murder was the reason Alex fled the Soviet Union. He didn't want any part of it. Alex took incredible risks to deliver the truth to the world. It would be fitting that we respect his sacrifice and read his book. I did have a chance to meet Alex and discuss his writing prior to it being published. He was pursuing truth and social justice the only way he knew how. The current Russian leadership would hope that the world forgets all about Alex. It is in everyones interest to know more about Alex and his journey to the truth.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the true story of the Russian pilot who escaped from Russia by flying his plane to Turkey. Interesting story, but there was a lot of technical stuff in there that only pilots would be interested in, that I had to slog through.

[James Sadrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful story about the life a Russian pilot against the backdrop of the fall of the USSR.

[Jorge Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como narración me pareció un poco plano de leer, pero claramente influenciado por mi expectativa de una novela más que una narración de lo ocurrido. La historia me pone los pelos de punta eso sí.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read and interesting to follow this man’s journey to become a top Russian fighter pilot. Seeing Russia through eyes and experiences, which led him to defect, I found engaging.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to learn a technical account of the MiG-29, instead read a deep representation of the Soviet Union and a convincing justification for his defection. Great read.

[Robert Zurn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives great insight to the Socialists of Russia and why we don’t want that government!

[Duzzlebrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting biography of a 'top gun' who escaped the Soviet Union by climbing into his MiG and flying to Turkey. Zuyev writes about his childhood and life in Russia, and about his training as a pilot, without making his book too much of either a memoir or a military manual. The book also has its share of top secret revelations and scandals. Although he grows misty-eyed at the MiG 29, he doesn't write much about the actual technical aspects of flying.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one as the author talks about growing up in the Soviet Union and becoming a USSR fighter pilot. As he matures, though he loves his country, he begins to hate the communist government for the way they oppress the Russian people. He plans on defecting to the United States with one of the new fighter planes. This is his story.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I briefly met the author at the Cleveland National Airshow in the early 90's. Defecting from the former Soviet Union was a life-or-death proposition. Zoyev gives an exciting account of how he escapes after becoming dissatisfied with his country.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! Learned so much about life in the Soviet Union. Also very suspenseful in some parts i.e. when he escapes from Georgia in a MiG-29. Read this.

[Nassim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story from start to finish. A must read.