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The Hawks of Kamalon: An Interplanetary Adventure
A small squadron of British and American aircraft depart at dawn on a top secret, long-range strike into the heart of Germany, but as they cross the English Channel, the squadron vanishes.You're about to be introduced to a band of reluctant heroes: a motley group of brawlers, rovers, and pretenders -- British and American fighter pilots -- champions, one and all, for a group of people on a small planet somewhere on the other side of the Milky Way.
Do you remember The Magnificent Seven? Did you like the first Star Wars? Are you a fan of Jack Higgins or Robert Heinlen?
If the answer is yes, you're in for a galloping, interplanetary ride with Hawks as a handful of men are drawn light years across the universe and faced with the nearly impossible task of saving a peaceful metaphysical society (the Azrans) from their highly aggressive, technologically advanced neighbors, the Kretes.
There are some small details that have to be worked out -- like zipping back and forth across the universe to steal German munitions while a particularly nasty Nazi colonel chases them halfway across the country.
Then there's Nygol, the Krete warlord who has sworn to kill (slowly if possible) "...all these offworld, motherless creatures".
And there's the homicidal traitor in the Azran court at Kamalon... If it wasn't for the reward -- and the women who stole their hearts -- they probably wouldn't have stayed....
This novel was a "number one" nationally best-selling book for Books In Motion Audio Books!!!
Do you remember The Magnificent Seven? Did you like the first Star Wars? Are you a fan of Jack Higgins or Robert Heinlen?
If the answer is yes, you're in for a galloping, interplanetary ride with Hawks as a handful of men are drawn light years across the universe and faced with the nearly impossible task of saving a peaceful metaphysical society (the Azrans) from their highly aggressive, technologically advanced neighbors, the Kretes.
There are some small details that have to be worked out -- like zipping back and forth across the universe to steal German munitions while a particularly nasty Nazi colonel chases them halfway across the country.
Then there's Nygol, the Krete warlord who has sworn to kill (slowly if possible) "...all these offworld, motherless creatures".
And there's the homicidal traitor in the Azran court at Kamalon... If it wasn't for the reward -- and the women who stole their hearts -- they probably wouldn't have stayed....
This novel was a "number one" nationally best-selling book for Books In Motion Audio Books!!!
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
45 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Michael Reisig
32 books58 followers Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 15 years. He is a former newspaper editor and publisher, an award-winning columnist, and a best-selling novelist.
He is the author of six novels. His works have been optioned for motion pictures, sold to overseas publishers, and produced in CD, audio, and e-book format. He has been featured in magazines such as Writer's Digest and Southern Living, and in numerous newspapers across the country.
Reisig was born in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1948. The first son of a military family, he was raised in Europe and California before moving to Florida. He attended high school and college in the Tampa Bay area. After graduating from college, he relocated to the Florida Keys, establishing a commercial diving business in which he served as the company pilot, traveling extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.
From there he turned to journalism, putting many of his experiences into the pages of his novels and columns, going on to manage, then own newspapers.
He presently resides in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas where he fishes and hunts and writes his novels, and occasionally escapes to the Caribbean for another adventure.
He is the author of six novels. His works have been optioned for motion pictures, sold to overseas publishers, and produced in CD, audio, and e-book format. He has been featured in magazines such as Writer's Digest and Southern Living, and in numerous newspapers across the country.
Reisig was born in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1948. The first son of a military family, he was raised in Europe and California before moving to Florida. He attended high school and college in the Tampa Bay area. After graduating from college, he relocated to the Florida Keys, establishing a commercial diving business in which he served as the company pilot, traveling extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.
From there he turned to journalism, putting many of his experiences into the pages of his novels and columns, going on to manage, then own newspapers.
He presently resides in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas where he fishes and hunts and writes his novels, and occasionally escapes to the Caribbean for another adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 10, 2023
This is the second time I have read this novel. I read it the first time shortly after it came out some twenty-two years ago and had fond memories of it. The second time I was somewhat less impressed. It’s overly long and very slow getting started, but if you stick with it, there is a lot of enjoyable action and a couple of very powerful scenes.
The basic plot is that a fantasy world where a basically peaceful people is fighting a technological superior and extremely aggressive foe recruits (read—kidnaps) a squadron of pilots flying out of England against Germany in World War II. The pilots are unhappy about being kidnapped, but end up doing what the peaceful folk need without putting up any real argument. First they defeat a major arial attack and second carry out a successful assault on the enemy only to find out that a feared invasion is very close to being launched.
What follows is a rather complicated plan to bolster the war-making ability of the peaceful kingdom in time to defend against the invasion. It involves raiding Nazi Germany to steal weapons with which the peaceful folk can fight back against their enemies. From this point forward the book starts to pick up speed toward an increasingly more effective pace. The actual final battle which takes place over approximately the last hundred pages of the book is well done. There are exciting tricks, heroic stands, and an important betrayal.
I’m glad I read the book a second time.
The basic plot is that a fantasy world where a basically peaceful people is fighting a technological superior and extremely aggressive foe recruits (read—kidnaps) a squadron of pilots flying out of England against Germany in World War II. The pilots are unhappy about being kidnapped, but end up doing what the peaceful folk need without putting up any real argument. First they defeat a major arial attack and second carry out a successful assault on the enemy only to find out that a feared invasion is very close to being launched.
What follows is a rather complicated plan to bolster the war-making ability of the peaceful kingdom in time to defend against the invasion. It involves raiding Nazi Germany to steal weapons with which the peaceful folk can fight back against their enemies. From this point forward the book starts to pick up speed toward an increasingly more effective pace. The actual final battle which takes place over approximately the last hundred pages of the book is well done. There are exciting tricks, heroic stands, and an important betrayal.
I’m glad I read the book a second time.
January 23, 2020
Maybe not as bad as the rating would indicate. i went that low as it just left me bored. I mean we've (science fiction, science fantasy readers) have been here before. It Just took the well traveled and got... well, really boring, to me anyway.
There is a strange mix of medieval and modern tech in the "world" where they land. (For example they come up with a filter that as the planes' existing fuel passes through it...it multiples the volume. So they can fly for weeks on the fuel in their planes. Thus we solve the problem of aviation fuel in a sword and magic culture).
I don't know. I've hit a few disappointing reads lately. maybe I'm just burned out? Still didn't hold my interest. Maybe try it yourself.
There is a strange mix of medieval and modern tech in the "world" where they land. (For example they come up with a filter that as the planes' existing fuel passes through it...it multiples the volume. So they can fly for weeks on the fuel in their planes. Thus we solve the problem of aviation fuel in a sword and magic culture).
I don't know. I've hit a few disappointing reads lately. maybe I'm just burned out? Still didn't hold my interest. Maybe try it yourself.
November 1, 2019
Probably the BEST written book by Michael Reisig. While his "Road To Key West" series dabbled with sci-fi, this one plunges in head first. Nicely done, Michael, a true classic!
January 31, 2021
All of Michael Reisig’s books are excellent. Do yourself a favor and try one, you will not be disappointed. Why not start with his best work “The Hawks of Kamalon”? 5 stars do not start to do it justice so I will add 5 more and pronounce it a new must read classic. Thank you, Michael, you are a Wordsmith extraordinaire. Have I said yet that I liked it? I really did love it.
October 28, 2019
Read it
Normally scifi is not my genre but this book is fantastic. From beginning to end I'm not sure how it could have been better.
Normally scifi is not my genre but this book is fantastic. From beginning to end I'm not sure how it could have been better.
November 21, 2020
I think it is Reisig best book ever. Great read, could not put it down. A lot of new age thought in it.
March 14, 2017
Excellent Adventure
I was leery to try a sci-fi novel, as it is not a genre I generally read. However, good writing trumps all.
This is a grand adventure novel. Likable characters. A lively and interesting setting. Everything you could want. I have now read all but one of Michael Reisig's books. They are all terrific and I highly recommend them.
I was leery to try a sci-fi novel, as it is not a genre I generally read. However, good writing trumps all.
This is a grand adventure novel. Likable characters. A lively and interesting setting. Everything you could want. I have now read all but one of Michael Reisig's books. They are all terrific and I highly recommend them.
December 25, 2015
The Hawks of Kamalon is a fantastic adventure to another world. Ten unsuspecting men are chosen from WWII pilots to be heroes on a planet across the universe. The first few chapters are a slow start, but once the engine is revved, this book doesn't stop until it's over.
Dropped into a foreign people and a war they don't have anything to do with, these pilots are anxious to get back home and to their own important mission back on Earth. Unfortunately, they're stuck for the time being, until the Azrans can get up the power necessary to send them back home. And in the meantime, well...
The action scenes are so engaging, I had a hard time putting this book down. And I'm not shy to admit that I shed a few tears along the way. War is not a pleasant business, and Reisig is not afraid to be honest about it. But at the same time, there's a healthy dose of dark humor to lighten the reality of it.
I had just a couple problems with some of the world-building. First, Azra and Krete were just a little to perfectly good and bad. There was precisely one bad Azran and one good Krete. I would have liked to have seen the mold broken a little more than that.
Second, and this might be nit-picky of me but it drove me batty, the inconsistent usage of ye/you/your and thou/thee/thy. These are not perfectly interchangable. And you have to use the right case. Anmd "yer" is not a word. Really. Research.
Finally, Wilcox seemed to disappear for nearly a hundred pages. I have no idea what happened to him between when they got back from the original mission to Krete and him popping up (finally) in the conflict in Germany, but I was very confused for a while.
Overall, though, a wonderful combat novel that takes the reader on quite a ride!
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
Dropped into a foreign people and a war they don't have anything to do with, these pilots are anxious to get back home and to their own important mission back on Earth. Unfortunately, they're stuck for the time being, until the Azrans can get up the power necessary to send them back home. And in the meantime, well...
The action scenes are so engaging, I had a hard time putting this book down. And I'm not shy to admit that I shed a few tears along the way. War is not a pleasant business, and Reisig is not afraid to be honest about it. But at the same time, there's a healthy dose of dark humor to lighten the reality of it.
I had just a couple problems with some of the world-building. First, Azra and Krete were just a little to perfectly good and bad. There was precisely one bad Azran and one good Krete. I would have liked to have seen the mold broken a little more than that.
Second, and this might be nit-picky of me but it drove me batty, the inconsistent usage of ye/you/your and thou/thee/thy. These are not perfectly interchangable. And you have to use the right case. Anmd "yer" is not a word. Really. Research.
Finally, Wilcox seemed to disappear for nearly a hundred pages. I have no idea what happened to him between when they got back from the original mission to Krete and him popping up (finally) in the conflict in Germany, but I was very confused for a while.
Overall, though, a wonderful combat novel that takes the reader on quite a ride!
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
February 20, 2015
The Hawks of Kamalon are the implacable combination of eight British and American planes of the 51 Squadron who've left WWII torn England on a deadly mission to Germany and are transported in the channel to a world light years away into another do-or-die battle on an alien planet. The "Hawks" bring with them their Spitfires and P51's and are quickly embroiled in a fight only Michael Reisig could make authentic and heart-thumpingly lively with empathetic characters too real and charismatic to deny. But wait! This is sci-fi, right? Is it really? Because it reads as terrifyingly genuine. Whose to say we don't have a parallel universe facing the same struggle of good versus evil as our own? Of course these are larger than life heroes; they're from the US (and Texas) and the English, who it is said are the most fierce when their back is to the wall. You don't have to be a war aficionado, pilot, or extreme sports enthusiast to enjoy these action-packed scenes--they ring strong and true and put you in a helmet cam to see and relive first hand.
Reisig creates a multitude of strong characters and keeps them vivid so you don't confuse them with others. He manages to implant the right character for the scene, but none become so outrageous you can't visualize them. The female characters are strong and complement their growing romantic partners, although that line doesn't overwhelm the storyline or downplay the action.
As always, Reisig's real message of the powerful respect and love for one another comes through in his characters interaction--their support and faith in each other. Can they save Kamalon and the Azrans or go down to defeat by the Kretes? Can they ever return to their own beloved earth and countries a universe away? (Or want to?) Greatly recommended for any reader who enjoys getting his/her head in a book and relishes a vicarious ride.
Reisig creates a multitude of strong characters and keeps them vivid so you don't confuse them with others. He manages to implant the right character for the scene, but none become so outrageous you can't visualize them. The female characters are strong and complement their growing romantic partners, although that line doesn't overwhelm the storyline or downplay the action.
As always, Reisig's real message of the powerful respect and love for one another comes through in his characters interaction--their support and faith in each other. Can they save Kamalon and the Azrans or go down to defeat by the Kretes? Can they ever return to their own beloved earth and countries a universe away? (Or want to?) Greatly recommended for any reader who enjoys getting his/her head in a book and relishes a vicarious ride.
January 2, 2014
Highest praises for another brilliant adventure by Michael Reisig.
A talented and elite group, a mixed team of American and British WWII fighter pilots – “volunteered” for a special mission to bomb a German production plant – are surprised en route, at five-thousand feet above Earth, as a curious haze of fog appears before them. With no time to maneuver around it, they are sucked through into another world of emerald skies, beautiful people and nations divided by conflict.
With a war waging and a people in desperate need of their skills, British Squadron Leader Robert Carlson and American Captain Ross Murdock lead their men in a fight against the violent Krete people to defend the peaceable Azrans. In this new world, the men will find love, loss, friendship and a new destiny for themselves.
The Hawks of Kamalon is a unique blend of the spiritual, western and eastern cultures, and science fiction (Star Trek comes to mind) that all come together to form this masterfully written, fun read.
Michael Reisig shows us his remarkable skill and imagination as a writer as he weaves another fascinating tale with high-flying, engaging characters and a thrilling, page-turning plot. His attention to detail and ability to engage the reader is perfection. The Hawks of Kamalon is a gripping, must-read book for all ages. (In my opinion, it’s the best of all his books!)
A talented and elite group, a mixed team of American and British WWII fighter pilots – “volunteered” for a special mission to bomb a German production plant – are surprised en route, at five-thousand feet above Earth, as a curious haze of fog appears before them. With no time to maneuver around it, they are sucked through into another world of emerald skies, beautiful people and nations divided by conflict.
With a war waging and a people in desperate need of their skills, British Squadron Leader Robert Carlson and American Captain Ross Murdock lead their men in a fight against the violent Krete people to defend the peaceable Azrans. In this new world, the men will find love, loss, friendship and a new destiny for themselves.
The Hawks of Kamalon is a unique blend of the spiritual, western and eastern cultures, and science fiction (Star Trek comes to mind) that all come together to form this masterfully written, fun read.
Michael Reisig shows us his remarkable skill and imagination as a writer as he weaves another fascinating tale with high-flying, engaging characters and a thrilling, page-turning plot. His attention to detail and ability to engage the reader is perfection. The Hawks of Kamalon is a gripping, must-read book for all ages. (In my opinion, it’s the best of all his books!)
May 1, 2014
The Hawks of Kamalon are members of a joint British and American special flight of fighters and bombers flying on a raid to Germany in WWII. When they fly into a fog bank they encounter strange sights and turbulence before finding themselves flying over a unknown ocean and landing to great crowds and applause in world light years away from Earth. They have been brought there in the hopes they can help repel an anticipated invasion by the other civilization on the planet. The island nation where they have landed is peaceful one with little in the way the heavy and destructive manufacturing that has made their opponents a dark and destructive place ruled by a cruel despot. What transpires is a series of air battles and a final assault by ground the soldiers of the despot on the peaceful island. A basic good vs. evil plot with the introduction of the out of the world pilots to make the tale interesting.
January 23, 2014
While I don't usually read books in the sci/fi fantasy genre, the idea behind this one really caught my eye. A group of WWII fighter and bomber pilots transported across the galaxy to help an enlightened society fight evil. I've read several of Reisig's Caribbean action/adventure books, so delving into an interplanetary action novel written by him seemed right. I'm glad I did. Reisig's ability to describe places and events, even on another planet, is parallel to no other. This book had me from the very start, with the superbly written aerial combat descriptions and totally believable characters. I simply couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes action, whether it be on this planet or another.
January 11, 2014
The Hawks of Kamalon by Michael Reisig was won in a Goodreads giveaway. By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. The story follows a group of World War 2 pilots who a transported to another world to be the saviors of a peaceful human society at War with another despotic kingdom. The action is constant. The characters are interesting. I have always had a weak spot for alternate history and stories that involve a group of Earthlings coming to the rescue. This story did just that for me. It is an easy read and it also used no profanity. I would like to see a sequel to this story.
May 12, 2014
wow! what a trip, literally & figuratively
pilots in WWII start off on a bombing mission to Germany & end up on another planet, brought there by a peaceful people who need to fight off an evil enemy they are not spiritually & physically able to resist
this grabs you with the action, the characters, and the lessons for our planet
pilots in WWII start off on a bombing mission to Germany & end up on another planet, brought there by a peaceful people who need to fight off an evil enemy they are not spiritually & physically able to resist
this grabs you with the action, the characters, and the lessons for our planet
October 1, 2014
Good read and good history. I enjoyed the book with its bit of magic and science.
February 28, 2016
not impressed - gave up as it was a flat story telling
May 12, 2014
Moves right along!
action packed, but with quite a left lean. ignore it and you have a wonderful read. I got over it.
action packed, but with quite a left lean. ignore it and you have a wonderful read. I got over it.
April 9, 2017
A novel revolving around WWII & interplanetary travel. Michael Reisig has done it again. The Hawks of Kamalon is exciting & keeps you anxious to see what happens next. I enjoyed immensely.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews