War Eagles

by Debbie Bishop, Carl Macek

Inspired by a concept by Merian C. Cooper - the creator of King Kong.Just prior to the start of WWII a publicly humiliated Army Air Corps test pilot, court-martialed for an unauthorized flight that endangered the life of President Roosevelt, takes the only job he can get - flying an experimental airplane around the world from South to North poles. When his plane is attacked and crashes in the Arctic, he finds himself in an undiscovered land inhabited by a lost tribe of Norsemen who ride giant eagles and, in a surprising turn of events, becomes America's only hope against a devastating sneak attack by the Nazis and their powerful new electromagnetic weapon.

Genres: Pulp

280 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ryan Pascall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up on such things as Edgar Rice Burroughs and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and so the synopsis of this story really appealed to me as it read just like a Centre of the Earth tale with an unknown civilisation and a lost world. What we actually get is a really pulpy adventure tale involving dinosaurs, dog fights and evil Nazis.

Why then, you may ask, have I scored it a 3 for story? Well, the issue is not so much the story but more the writing!

There are so many scenes that should be extremely thrilling and exciting but the way it is written, means it really does fall short. A prime example is towards end when a daring battle above a zeppelin describes the battle as "The balloon tilts, another cable snaps and the section of the catwalk Brant is on jolts loose falling out of the zeppelin. Brant and Coppelman fall 30 feet below the zeppelin. Grant catches a cable . Coppelman grabs onto him." The almost complete lack of adjectives leaves the whole scene, along with so many others, extremely flat and lacking any real sense of excitement.

Another issue for me is how we learn, and experience so little about the lost land where the Vikings live. I'd love to have met other tribes in the land,maybe ones who weren't completely lacking surprise over meeting and outsider but the whole place just feels lifeless and safe.

Narration-wise, the reading is done very will and encapsulates the pulpy feel perfectly, making it all sound like one of the tales told during the golden age of radio. Unfortunately, the lack of interesting characters, and the poor, almost comic-book writing-style, means they don't really have an awful lot to work with but they do a bang-up job with what they have.

Negatives aside, what we see of the setting is really good, with the VIkings, dinosaurs and those dastardly nazis all coming together and clashing in some exciting aerial battles and I do feel that, for the right person, this would be a wonderfully exciting story.

For me though, the writing was flat and the scope far too small to really hold my interest and so I doubt I'd be listening to this one again.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the late 1930s, the director of King Kong started planning War Eagles as his next block buster film. Then World War II intervened and the project languished for decades. It helps to know this background to fully appreciate this novel. It’s a big cinematic adventure waiting to find the screen. The heroes are larger than life, but more importantly, the images are bigger and more vivid than the mighty King Kong who reinvented the silver screen. And what are those images you may ask? Nazis developing super-science weapons for a sneak attack on America, Viking warriors riding gargantuan eagles in a time-forgotten land of dinosaurs, and of course, those same Vikings fighting Nazis over the skyline of New York City.

This book is a heck of a lot of fun. It starts a little bit slow but once the Vikings enter the story it chugs along at a heroic pace. There is a ton of action and colorful confrontations. Narrator William L. Hahn pulls out all the stops adding theatrical sound effects to his wide repertoire of voices which adds a completely appropriate cinematic feel to the entire story. If you’re looking for some genuinely heroic fantasy, you should try War Eagles.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Steve Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The World's Fair 1939 displaying television(!) ... copiers(!) & computers(!); King Kong references, utahraptor-like dinosaurs, "an enormous brown eagle ridden by a beautiful woman with long blonde hair", giant moths, giant spiders, thunder lizards, "bombers covered with radar absorbing material, an "omni-directional magnetic ray device" a.k.a. an "electromagnetic ray pulse cannon", Flash Gordon references, flying Vikings, ... and..., the board games of Scrabble and Monopoly!!

This tale has a bit of everything. For all of it, it's a lot of fast-paced action in, oh, say the tradition of the pulps or maybe Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The novels reads a little like a film treatment and that's its true value. War Eagles ~ although planned ~ was never filmed and this book gives a glimpse of what might have been. How accurate that glimpse is must still be determined. That why I ordered another book on the subject by Philip J. Riley. To Be Continued....

[Chetna Gambhir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: War Eagles By Debbie Bishop
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"An uncharted island, giant eagles, Vikings, dinosaurs, and a daring battle against Nazis—War Eagles is an explosive blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and adventure."

Overview

Based on an idea from King Kong creator Merian C. Cooper, Debbie Bishop's War Eagles is a wild adventure in the genres of dramatic World War II and fantasy. An Army Air Corps pilot, disgraced and grounded, finds redemption on an uncharted Arctic island filled with prehistoric creatures, Vikings who ride giant eagles, and a secret Nazi airbase.

Plot Highlights
• Humiliated Hero: After a court-martial for a flight that endangers President Roosevelt, the protagonist takes on a perilous mission to test a new experimental airplane by circumnavigating the globe.
• Crash into the Unknown: His plane crashes on an uncharted volcanic island in the Arctic, where he discovers a world lost to time.
• Vikings and Eagles: The island is inhabited by a tribe of Norsemen who have tamed giant eagles, a stark contrast to the prehistoric creatures that roam the land.
• Nazi Threat: The plot thickens as the Nazis develop a powerful electromagnetic weapon and prepare a devastating sneak attack on America.
• Redemption Arc: The fallen pilot must redeem himself by leading the small but tenacious group of allies—Vikings, eagles, and all—to save the day.

What Makes This Book Unique
1. Unique Genre Blend:
• War Eagles weaves historical fiction with fantastical elements, an exciting new direction for World War II-era writing.
• There is something nostalgic in the combination of Vikings, dinosaurs, and advanced Nazi technology, which makes for an exciting narrative, both old-school and new at the same time.
2. Action-Packed Adventure:
• From aerial battles with giant eagles to prehistoric threats and daring escapes, the book delivers high-octane action throughout.
3. Redemption and Heroism:
• The protagonist's journey from disgrace to heroism adds emotional depth to the story, making it as character-driven as it is action-packed.
4. Visual Storytelling:
• Inspired by Merian C. Cooper's concept, the vivid descriptions bring to life a cinematic world that feels tailor-made for the big screen.

Who Should Read This?
• Alternate history fans, World War II fiction with a twist.
• Adventurous tale lovers with myth and fantasy elements.
• For nostalgic throwback fans of pulp-style action-adventure stories.
•
Debbie Bishop's War Eagles is an action-packed, yet touching, tale of redemption and heroism, balancing adrenaline-pumping action with heartfelt moments of redemption and heroism. This is a tale that appeals to fans of aviation, fantasy, and historical fiction alike, as it provides a wild ride from start to finish.

If you’re ready to dive into a world where Vikings ride eagles and a disgraced pilot finds redemption in the most unexpected ways, War Eagles is the perfect adventure for you.

[Joni Janice Mielke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a genre I would usually read or listen to, but I was intrigued by the combination of giant eagles, Nazis, air force pilots and Vikings. I had also listened to another audiobook narrated by Will Hahn, and had been impressed by his work there. A good narrator can 'make' an audiobook, and Will's efforts re characterisation, sound effects and layering added dimensions to this novel that I appreciated and enjoyed. I'll admit, I wasn't wowed by the story - in fact I sometimes lost track of what was going on - but the telling of it, its rendering, allowed me to get through this very quickly. A good effort by all, and particular thanks to the narrator!

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!!! A lost civilization of eagle-riding Vikings! Dinosaurs! Evil Nazis! And a thrilling battle in the skies above New York City with the fate of the World at stake, no less!!! What's not to love!!! The story is based on a screenplay for a film that would be Merian C. Cooper's follow-up to his 1933 masterpiece, King Kong. WWII intervened and the film was never made, but what a film it would have been! The writing in this novelization, of the final version of the screenplay, is a bit thin, with not much in the way of character development, but the story is thrilling, fast paced, engaging and will hold your interest throughout.

[Thomas Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off as a cliche storm, so I was a little iffy. But by the time it reached the denouement, it was all giant eagles vs. fighter planes. Sold!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio book was reminiscent of golden age SF and reminded me of some of the 40's and 50's era tales, but what it happens to be is an alternative timeline World War II era fun adventure story. Think of a weird mash-up of a screw-up Captain America wanna-be mixed with the Land of the Lost mixed with Avatar where Hitler is the real villain and you might come close. At any rate, it's load of good fun and non stop action. But don't get distracted for a minute or you'll miss something! There are american pilots, Polish spies, Vikings, giant prehistoric eagles and, of course, Nazis! What more could you ask for to while away an afternoon? Our hero even gets the (Viking) girl! Put your feet up an get lost in what might have been.... *I was given a review copy of this audio book at my request in exchange for my honest review*

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a unique fantasy book with an almost steampunk feel.

The scenes and characters are all vividly presented and loved the different settings, from New York to the wild arctic.
I'd would have loved if this was fleshed out into a longer novel as at time story lines wrapped up abruptly and shifted onto something else.
The narration is excellent. Really nicely paced and I also really enjoyed the added sound effects.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

audible:I enjoyed this book!It was like a radio show from the forties!A bit of reality with fiction tossed in.A man is dimissed from the Aircor for crashing a plane.On his way out of this meeting he is hired by a company to fly for them.Of course he saves the world!There is a lot in betwen.Read it. WIlliam L. Hahn was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the mix of cultures and how they ended up working together truly interesting.