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[ [ [ Vengeance; At Midway and Guadalcanal [ VENGEANCE; AT MIDWAY AND GUADALCANAL BY Shanle, Leland Charles ( Author ) Feb-12-2011[ VENGEANCE; AT MIDWAY AND GUADALCANAL [ VENGEANCE; AT MIDWAY AND GUADALCANAL BY SHANLE, LELAND CHARLES ( AUTHOR ) FEB-12-...
SECOND IN A TRILOGY SET IN WWII: Action explodes from the pages of Novelist LC Shanle's latest. World War II experienced from the cockpits of fighter aircraft, and through the eyes of men trapped in island Tropical Hells. Written by a retired Naval Aviator and former Paratrooper; the author puts the reader in the F-4F Wildcat and jungle, as warriors engage in a titanic struggle around the globe.
A diverse and rich cast of characters reveal the sacrifice and frustrations of war. A no holds bar accounting of the actual battles, shown through the eyes of the novels characters, uncovers mistakes and even incompetence at the highest levels. Vengeance shows the disastrous results of these decisions, on the lowest common denominator; the war fighter. Closely following the actual battles of Midway and Guadalcanal the reader gets an insider's view so vivid the smell of cordite will hang in the air.
A rare perspective written by an author that flew modern fighters over the historic battlefields, even from the decks of aircraft carriers that fought in the Pacific. A riveting story, Vengeance tells of the impact at an individual level, a personal level; of an entire world at war. From the struggles of a young man in Officer Candidate School facing down a sadistic Drill Instructor; to entire fleets engaging in War At Sea.
Vengeance will pull back the curtain of historical perspective and frame it in reality. The harsh reality will come as a shock to readers who have read of great victories. But know little of the tremendous cost; like fifteen hundred sailors lost in a single nights battle, all five of the Sullivan brothers among them.
To the soldier, sailor or airman: war is about the small unit they are a part of and the struggle not only to stay alive, but protect their comrades. Sometimes, even to avenge their deaths.
Shanle's latest novel; End Game in the Pacific, will be released in the new year.
A diverse and rich cast of characters reveal the sacrifice and frustrations of war. A no holds bar accounting of the actual battles, shown through the eyes of the novels characters, uncovers mistakes and even incompetence at the highest levels. Vengeance shows the disastrous results of these decisions, on the lowest common denominator; the war fighter. Closely following the actual battles of Midway and Guadalcanal the reader gets an insider's view so vivid the smell of cordite will hang in the air.
A rare perspective written by an author that flew modern fighters over the historic battlefields, even from the decks of aircraft carriers that fought in the Pacific. A riveting story, Vengeance tells of the impact at an individual level, a personal level; of an entire world at war. From the struggles of a young man in Officer Candidate School facing down a sadistic Drill Instructor; to entire fleets engaging in War At Sea.
Vengeance will pull back the curtain of historical perspective and frame it in reality. The harsh reality will come as a shock to readers who have read of great victories. But know little of the tremendous cost; like fifteen hundred sailors lost in a single nights battle, all five of the Sullivan brothers among them.
To the soldier, sailor or airman: war is about the small unit they are a part of and the struggle not only to stay alive, but protect their comrades. Sometimes, even to avenge their deaths.
Shanle's latest novel; End Game in the Pacific, will be released in the new year.
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First published May 28, 2006
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About the author
Leland Shanle
6 books21 followersLeland C Shanle Jr; Lieutenant Commander, USN (Ret).
Leland Shanle is a pilot, award winning author, and military/aviation technical adviser for the movie industry. His consulting projects include Pearl Harbor, Behind Enemy Lines, xXx, The Day After Tomorrow and Stealth. His production company--Broken Wing Productions--has worked on several aviation-based movies and series including the Discovery Curiosity Series; Plane Crash.
Shanle is the author of four books; Project Seven Alpha, Vengeance at Midway and Guadalcanal, ENDGAME in the Pacific--and CODE NAME: Infamy, available for pre-order now, slated for publication on July 21, 2015. He has also written for Aerospace Testing International Magazine and was a Contributing Editor for Airways Magazine. Shanle has adapted his book, Project 7 Alpha as a screenplay for a major motion picture studio.
Shanle's lifelong interest in Aviation is a family legacy. His Grandfather was in the airline industry in the 1920s and two uncles (Bob USAF, Larry USN) were combat military aviators. Shanle flew naval aircraft in 10 squadrons; including the F-4 Phantom II, EA-6B Prowler and TA-4 Skyhawk. Attached to CAG 5, 11 and 1 cruising on the USS Midway, America and Lincoln; Leland flew 80 missions over the war torn skies of Bosnia, Somalia, and Iraq.
He got into the flight test world when transferred to VX-30, Naval Weapons Test Center Point Mugu. He flew as a Project Officer on various test programs and was the Squadron Operations Officer. Shanle also attended the Project Officer/Engineers and the Out of Control Flight courses at National Test Pilot School. He was inducted as a Full Member in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) in 1998.
Closing out his Naval Aviation career with 600 carrier landings (200 night) on 11 different carriers; he continues his Aviation career with American Airlines.
Leland Shanle is a pilot, award winning author, and military/aviation technical adviser for the movie industry. His consulting projects include Pearl Harbor, Behind Enemy Lines, xXx, The Day After Tomorrow and Stealth. His production company--Broken Wing Productions--has worked on several aviation-based movies and series including the Discovery Curiosity Series; Plane Crash.
Shanle is the author of four books; Project Seven Alpha, Vengeance at Midway and Guadalcanal, ENDGAME in the Pacific--and CODE NAME: Infamy, available for pre-order now, slated for publication on July 21, 2015. He has also written for Aerospace Testing International Magazine and was a Contributing Editor for Airways Magazine. Shanle has adapted his book, Project 7 Alpha as a screenplay for a major motion picture studio.
Shanle's lifelong interest in Aviation is a family legacy. His Grandfather was in the airline industry in the 1920s and two uncles (Bob USAF, Larry USN) were combat military aviators. Shanle flew naval aircraft in 10 squadrons; including the F-4 Phantom II, EA-6B Prowler and TA-4 Skyhawk. Attached to CAG 5, 11 and 1 cruising on the USS Midway, America and Lincoln; Leland flew 80 missions over the war torn skies of Bosnia, Somalia, and Iraq.
He got into the flight test world when transferred to VX-30, Naval Weapons Test Center Point Mugu. He flew as a Project Officer on various test programs and was the Squadron Operations Officer. Shanle also attended the Project Officer/Engineers and the Out of Control Flight courses at National Test Pilot School. He was inducted as a Full Member in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) in 1998.
Closing out his Naval Aviation career with 600 carrier landings (200 night) on 11 different carriers; he continues his Aviation career with American Airlines.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 5, 2014
Pretty quick read. Author would have done a better job with a little more research and not applying his personal naval experience and slang to a novel about WW II with different slang and idioms. Too many instances to really write about.
As I hadn't read the first offering, I really was lost with some of the characters, but that certainly is not the fault of the author.
As I hadn't read the first offering, I really was lost with some of the characters, but that certainly is not the fault of the author.
September 18, 2018
Plays fast and loose with history
Like his other books a rollicking good yarn but I don't see the need for alternative history. One example is a Marine major shooting down 2 zeroes on Aug 12, while flying an F4U Corsair out of Henderson Field with the Cactus Air Force. As we know (and I am 100% certain the author did too) at this time Henderson Field had not yet been named, much less completed, there was not yet a Cactus Air Force and the first F4U's didn't fly out of Henderson until early 1943. I don't understand the reason for the alternative history insofar as dates and aircraft type. I can easily understand making up fictional characters, but this storyline, it seems to me, would have worked better by sticking to the material historical facts and simply having the Marine major flying an F4F Wildcat about 10 days later.
Still, as I am reading this for entertainment and not research I enjoyed the book
Like his other books a rollicking good yarn but I don't see the need for alternative history. One example is a Marine major shooting down 2 zeroes on Aug 12, while flying an F4U Corsair out of Henderson Field with the Cactus Air Force. As we know (and I am 100% certain the author did too) at this time Henderson Field had not yet been named, much less completed, there was not yet a Cactus Air Force and the first F4U's didn't fly out of Henderson until early 1943. I don't understand the reason for the alternative history insofar as dates and aircraft type. I can easily understand making up fictional characters, but this storyline, it seems to me, would have worked better by sticking to the material historical facts and simply having the Marine major flying an F4F Wildcat about 10 days later.
Still, as I am reading this for entertainment and not research I enjoyed the book
February 28, 2018
Great story
Wow what a emotional ride. I'm not that big of a history buff but this book makes me want to dig deeper in the history of WWII the characters were larger than life but not larger than the history of our men and women who gave all.
Wow what a emotional ride. I'm not that big of a history buff but this book makes me want to dig deeper in the history of WWII the characters were larger than life but not larger than the history of our men and women who gave all.
August 12, 2014
This book held a lot of promise for me since it represented two of my primary reading interests -- aviation and World War II. But it was a huge disappointment. I only gave it two stars because I read it through to the end.
I won't attempt to summarize the plot other than it concerned a young man's driving determination to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of the Japanese in the early days of the war. The writer had four or five subplots going at the same time. He tried to maintain the primary plot by repeatedly and rapidly jumping from one subplot to the other. it didn't work and simply became a jumbled incoherent and disconnected story.
The writer is a former naval pilot, and throughout the book made sure the reader was aware of it. His narrative of the young hero's flight training was so nuanced that I got the impression he was trying to teach the reader how to fly rather than telling the reader a story. His sequential events getting the young man into a cockpit really strained credulity.
The only really positive thing I can say about the book is that the writer did an excellent job of drawing his characters so one could vividly picture them.
I don't feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone with knowledge of military aviation. I will not be reading the sequel.
I won't attempt to summarize the plot other than it concerned a young man's driving determination to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of the Japanese in the early days of the war. The writer had four or five subplots going at the same time. He tried to maintain the primary plot by repeatedly and rapidly jumping from one subplot to the other. it didn't work and simply became a jumbled incoherent and disconnected story.
The writer is a former naval pilot, and throughout the book made sure the reader was aware of it. His narrative of the young hero's flight training was so nuanced that I got the impression he was trying to teach the reader how to fly rather than telling the reader a story. His sequential events getting the young man into a cockpit really strained credulity.
The only really positive thing I can say about the book is that the writer did an excellent job of drawing his characters so one could vividly picture them.
I don't feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone with knowledge of military aviation. I will not be reading the sequel.
August 3, 2015
WW II action
Growing up as a child after WW II, the lure and excitement of the battles was intriguing. This story has battles but it also carries human stories of the war including the pain of lost friends and colleagues. It is worth a read but be forewarned this is not the whole story. Got to buy another book.
Growing up as a child after WW II, the lure and excitement of the battles was intriguing. This story has battles but it also carries human stories of the war including the pain of lost friends and colleagues. It is worth a read but be forewarned this is not the whole story. Got to buy another book.
March 31, 2013
Good WWII story. Well written and interesting. Only minor complaint is the author got too technical about flying. I suspect he's a pilot or did some deep research on the subject. Reminded me of Tom Clancy the way he explained things. Lost me in the details at times. But it is a very good story.
July 22, 2012
A must read after Project Seven Alpha. View the WWII Pacific conflict through the windscreen of combat fighters. There's no place to put this novel down--the action never stops.
February 25, 2014
All the detail about flying sometimes weighed down the story but it was very well written with great characters.
March 9, 2015
was ok. kind of choppy in spots .
April 17, 2015
Good read
I think I started in the middle of a series...not sure, but it's a fine storey so far..ill go look.
I think I started in the middle of a series...not sure, but it's a fine storey so far..ill go look.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews