What do you think?
El guía
Frederick Forsyth presenta aquí tres relatos tan originales como inquietantes. En El guía, un piloto de caza extraviado en el cielo invernal del mar del Norte, está a punto de sucumbir a causa de una avería, pero se salva merced a la aparición de un misterioso avión que le conduce hasta una base.
En Chantaje, un inesperado final rompe el modelo clásico con que suele tratarse esta temática.
Finalmente, en Cuestión zanjada se ofrece una reflexión acerca de las cosas y los actos de que desistiríamos cuando ya se han consumado. Los tres relatos, absolutamente independientes, están unidos secretamente por el hilo de la originalidad y la maestra narrativa
En Chantaje, un inesperado final rompe el modelo clásico con que suele tratarse esta temática.
Finalmente, en Cuestión zanjada se ofrece una reflexión acerca de las cosas y los actos de que desistiríamos cuando ya se han consumado. Los tres relatos, absolutamente independientes, están unidos secretamente por el hilo de la originalidad y la maestra narrativa
175 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1975
About the author
Frederick Forsyth
336 books4,567 followersFrederick Forsyth, CBE was a English author and occasional political commentator. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, and more recently, The Cobra and The Kill List.
The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.
Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.
The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.
Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 480 reviews
December 28, 2023
*4.5 stars*
It’s Christmas Eve 1957, and a young RAF pilot is on his way home from West Germany, back to ‘Blighty’ and a reunion with his family.
Being the pilot in a single seater jet fighter is a very lonely place to be. The dark starry night sky, although beautiful) can make it appear as if there’s only you in the universe, and when our pilot discovers he can no longer make contact with the Control Tower or expect to see the welcome sight of the runway lights that means home is not too far away - well, that is a very frightening situation to find oneself in!
Unable to make contact is dangerous enough, but then a thick white fog begins to cover the land below, and not unnaturally, he becomes panic stricken and begins to pray for someone to save him. His prayers are answered when a rescue pilot appears alongside him and guides him to safety, and just as the wheels of his fighter jet touch the runway, his fuel cuts out. But as our pilot begins to ask questions about his rescuer, things become very strange!
Absolutely loved this, it was extremely atmospheric and the tension was palpable.
Thanks to my GR friend Kay for putting this on my radar (if you’ll excuse the pun!)
It’s Christmas Eve 1957, and a young RAF pilot is on his way home from West Germany, back to ‘Blighty’ and a reunion with his family.
Being the pilot in a single seater jet fighter is a very lonely place to be. The dark starry night sky, although beautiful) can make it appear as if there’s only you in the universe, and when our pilot discovers he can no longer make contact with the Control Tower or expect to see the welcome sight of the runway lights that means home is not too far away - well, that is a very frightening situation to find oneself in!
Unable to make contact is dangerous enough, but then a thick white fog begins to cover the land below, and not unnaturally, he becomes panic stricken and begins to pray for someone to save him. His prayers are answered when a rescue pilot appears alongside him and guides him to safety, and just as the wheels of his fighter jet touch the runway, his fuel cuts out. But as our pilot begins to ask questions about his rescuer, things become very strange!
Absolutely loved this, it was extremely atmospheric and the tension was palpable.
Thanks to my GR friend Kay for putting this on my radar (if you’ll excuse the pun!)
December 25, 2022
An audio book for you all!
This was for me the best Christmas military Ghost Story I've ever come across!
***
Flying Voodoos during the dark days of the Cold War had its downside. This fantastic story is set back in days I well remember - the Christmas of 1957. It was a Christmas to remember, a time of abundance for my family.
My mother now had a Full Time Job, as head librarian for our village.
But there's no abundance for the lonely and seemingly doomed Voodoo pilot flying this Christmas Eve sortie to Germany.and back, from the British coast. His controls have failed and he is nearly without fuel.
Somewhere in the Cold middle of the North Sea.
Turning back home, he does what he can to rouse the attention of the control tower at the nearest British airfield: he slows his speed. Approaching the coast, he runs slow triangular turns as an SOS signal.
And then he sees The Shepherd.
Well, I'm not going to say any more - other than that it gives you the Chills.
My eyelids were damp at the ending.
***
Want a super supernatural tale as you wait for the Turkey to cook?
Listen to this. It's AWESOME!
A Full Five Christmas Stars.
Get ready. Get set…
Now, here’s the complete CBC AUDIOBOOK!
https://youtu.be/j2_bLEqmBi
This was for me the best Christmas military Ghost Story I've ever come across!
***
Flying Voodoos during the dark days of the Cold War had its downside. This fantastic story is set back in days I well remember - the Christmas of 1957. It was a Christmas to remember, a time of abundance for my family.
My mother now had a Full Time Job, as head librarian for our village.
But there's no abundance for the lonely and seemingly doomed Voodoo pilot flying this Christmas Eve sortie to Germany.and back, from the British coast. His controls have failed and he is nearly without fuel.
Somewhere in the Cold middle of the North Sea.
Turning back home, he does what he can to rouse the attention of the control tower at the nearest British airfield: he slows his speed. Approaching the coast, he runs slow triangular turns as an SOS signal.
And then he sees The Shepherd.
Well, I'm not going to say any more - other than that it gives you the Chills.
My eyelids were damp at the ending.
***
Want a super supernatural tale as you wait for the Turkey to cook?
Listen to this. It's AWESOME!
A Full Five Christmas Stars.
Get ready. Get set…
Now, here’s the complete CBC AUDIOBOOK!
https://youtu.be/j2_bLEqmBi
December 27, 2023
In a Nutshell: A beautiful Christmas-time novella set in the post WWII era. Might be predictable for today’s readers, but for the time it was written in, it is a standout piece. Definitely recommended if you can read it keeping in mind that it first came out in 1975.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
As I had mentioned in my review of ‘The Rise’ by Ian Rankin, I am not a thriller fanatic, and hence, when I spy a short story by an acclaimed thriller writer, I read it to see if the author’s novels might work for me. Ian Rankin’s writing didn’t click with me, but based on this first taste of Frederick Forsyth’s work, I am keen to try more! (I have heard that his remaining novels aren’t in this genre – time will tell!)
This story was first written in 1975. I am sure that when it was a new publication, it would have been a highly impactful story, with the twist coming as a surprise to the reader. However, the problem with creative ideas is that they are soon replicated by others, and as a consequence, the original loses its value. As a 2023-reader, I was able to foresee the twisty trope much before it actually unfolded, and I am sure most other contemporary readers will also be able to guess it, because the plot device in use is fairly common nowadays. However, this predictability didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.
I loved the significance of the title and its dual applicability to the novella. The author clearly knows much about planes and aviation practices. It was a treat to read such a well-researched story that flowed smoothly from start to end. The pilot’s emotions, whether confidence or fear or hope or confusion, came out well in every scene. The only thing I couldn’t buy was that the pilot was just twenty. (This might be because of the narrator – more on this later.)
In terms of impact, though I was not surprised by the proceedings, I was still impressed enough by the author’s attention to detail and the then-creative plotline. A story must be judged based on when it was written than on when it was read. For a 1975 work, this one sure packs a punch.
Worth a read, for sure. As a Christmas story, it ends with the right dash of hope and faith.
4 stars.
Thanks to the reviews of my GR friends Tina, Darla, and Norma, this story came into my life. A special thanks to Tina for sharing the online link where you can hear the CBC radio broadcast of this story as narrated by ‘Fireside Al’ Maitland. Al’s voice is much too gruff to sound credible as a twenty-year-old, but his narration is excellent. So if you want to try this story on audio, visit:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
If you prefer a video version, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_bL...
On an unrelated note, the “twist” reminded me of a similar one in a book I had read during my childhood. The book was called ‘The Phantom in the Saddle’, and try as I may, I can’t find the author’s name or a reference to the book on Goodreads or anywhere else. But it was one of my favourite books then, and probably the first ever graphic novel I read in my life, though I didn't even know this word then. When I have some time to spare, I am going to dig through my old boxed-up childhood book stash and see if I still have my copy.
Editing on 30th December 2023:
I found my old book!!!
You might wonder why it is in such a miserable state. So here's the backstory. This is exactly how the book was when I purchased it from a little used books store, more than three decades ago. The cover was missing, but as I liked the girl on the front page and as the seller was giving it away for peanuts (considering its tattered pages and missing front and back covers), I jumped at the bargain. (Or perhaps I should say, I convinced my mom to jump at the bargain! 😄)
This would end up as the first ever graphic novel I read, and also the first ever ghost story I read, not counting Casper's tales. I never dreamt that the book would be in my life all these years later, and would become a favourite of my little ones as well. I still relish it as much as ever. My younger one just grabbed this after she saw it on my bedside table, gave it another reread, and happily rated it 5 stars. Yay! 😍
Sadly, because of the missing cover and back page, I have no idea about the author's name, nor do I have an ISBN that I may add it to Goodreads database. All I know is that it was published by D.C. Thomson & Co, Ltd. in London in 1979. So the book's older than I am! 😄
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Christmas Eve, 1957. Our twenty-year-old narrator, a pilot with the Royal Air Force, has just taken off from West Germany to make it back in time to his parents’ house in England on Christmas morning. However, when he is over the North Sea, his plane begins to fail. First the compass and then the radio top functioning. With the fog rolling in, the pilot loses hope, until he spots a Mosquito fighter-bomber of WWII vintage. This plane acts as the ‘shepherd’ to guide the narrator to safety, but with barely any fuel left, will he make it?
The story comes to us from the first person perspective of the unnamed pilot.
As I had mentioned in my review of ‘The Rise’ by Ian Rankin, I am not a thriller fanatic, and hence, when I spy a short story by an acclaimed thriller writer, I read it to see if the author’s novels might work for me. Ian Rankin’s writing didn’t click with me, but based on this first taste of Frederick Forsyth’s work, I am keen to try more! (I have heard that his remaining novels aren’t in this genre – time will tell!)
This story was first written in 1975. I am sure that when it was a new publication, it would have been a highly impactful story, with the twist coming as a surprise to the reader. However, the problem with creative ideas is that they are soon replicated by others, and as a consequence, the original loses its value. As a 2023-reader, I was able to foresee the twisty trope much before it actually unfolded, and I am sure most other contemporary readers will also be able to guess it, because the plot device in use is fairly common nowadays. However, this predictability didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.
I loved the significance of the title and its dual applicability to the novella. The author clearly knows much about planes and aviation practices. It was a treat to read such a well-researched story that flowed smoothly from start to end. The pilot’s emotions, whether confidence or fear or hope or confusion, came out well in every scene. The only thing I couldn’t buy was that the pilot was just twenty. (This might be because of the narrator – more on this later.)
In terms of impact, though I was not surprised by the proceedings, I was still impressed enough by the author’s attention to detail and the then-creative plotline. A story must be judged based on when it was written than on when it was read. For a 1975 work, this one sure packs a punch.
Worth a read, for sure. As a Christmas story, it ends with the right dash of hope and faith.
4 stars.
Thanks to the reviews of my GR friends Tina, Darla, and Norma, this story came into my life. A special thanks to Tina for sharing the online link where you can hear the CBC radio broadcast of this story as narrated by ‘Fireside Al’ Maitland. Al’s voice is much too gruff to sound credible as a twenty-year-old, but his narration is excellent. So if you want to try this story on audio, visit:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
If you prefer a video version, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_bL...
On an unrelated note, the “twist” reminded me of a similar one in a book I had read during my childhood. The book was called ‘The Phantom in the Saddle’, and try as I may, I can’t find the author’s name or a reference to the book on Goodreads or anywhere else. But it was one of my favourite books then, and probably the first ever graphic novel I read in my life, though I didn't even know this word then. When I have some time to spare, I am going to dig through my old boxed-up childhood book stash and see if I still have my copy.
Editing on 30th December 2023:
I found my old book!!!
You might wonder why it is in such a miserable state. So here's the backstory. This is exactly how the book was when I purchased it from a little used books store, more than three decades ago. The cover was missing, but as I liked the girl on the front page and as the seller was giving it away for peanuts (considering its tattered pages and missing front and back covers), I jumped at the bargain. (Or perhaps I should say, I convinced my mom to jump at the bargain! 😄)
This would end up as the first ever graphic novel I read, and also the first ever ghost story I read, not counting Casper's tales. I never dreamt that the book would be in my life all these years later, and would become a favourite of my little ones as well. I still relish it as much as ever. My younger one just grabbed this after she saw it on my bedside table, gave it another reread, and happily rated it 5 stars. Yay! 😍
Sadly, because of the missing cover and back page, I have no idea about the author's name, nor do I have an ISBN that I may add it to Goodreads database. All I know is that it was published by D.C. Thomson & Co, Ltd. in London in 1979. So the book's older than I am! 😄
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 4, 2015
—De Havilland Vampire
The Shepherd is a novella about a 20 year old pilot who, on Christmas Eve 1957, set out from Lower Saxony, Germany to Blighty, UK to celebrate christmas with his family. Flying a De Havilland Vampire, a British jet fighter, he knew the flight time would take 66 minutes. After being airborne for 43 minutes, while out over the North Sea in the darkness of night, his plane suffers an electrical failure, taking out his compass and ten-channel radio set. The pilot has no way of contacting airforce personnel on the ground. The single seat Vampire could not be fitted with an ejector seat, making it almost impossible to bail out of. The pilot is frightened and devastated.
"As the fighter slipped toward Norfolk the sense of loneliness gripped me tighter and tighter. All those things that had seemed so beautiful as I climbed away from the airfield now seemed my worst enemies. The stars were no longer impressive in their brilliance; I thought of their hostility, sparking away there in the timeless, lost infinities of endless space. The night sky, its stratospheric temperature fixed, night and day alike, at an unchanging fifty-six degrees below zero, became in my mind a limitless prison creaking with cold. Below me lay the worst of them all, the heavy brutality of the North Sea, waiting to swallow me and my plane and bury us for endless eternity in a liquid black crypt where nothing moved nor would ever move again. And no one would ever know."During his intensive training, the young pilot had learned that should he ever lose his radio and be unable to transmit his emergency, he should try to attract the attention of RAF radar scanners by adopting a triangle manoeuvre. This involved moving out to sea, then flying in small triangles, turning left, left, and left again, with each leg of the triangle being of a duration of two minutes' flying time. This manoeuvre should allow the air-traffic controller to spot the distressed aircraft and divert another aircraft to find it and bring it in. The rescue aircraft was called the Shepherd.
The pilot did two turns of the triangle manoeuvre and waited. Nothing happened. Nobody came. Distraught at this point, all sorts of things go through his mind.
He tries doing the last left turn, and again waits. By this time he has just 5 minutes of fuel left. He prepares himself for death.
"It's a bad thing, a sad thing, to die at twenty years of age, with your life unlived, and the worst thing of all is not the fact of dying but the fact of all the things never done."Then suddenly, to his right, he notices something. It's a De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber of World War II vintage. It worked! His shepherd has arrived. The young pilot is led back to a safe landing. But, who is the mysterious shepherd who brought this young pilot to safety on Christmas Eve 1957? All rational explanation fails, giving the story its surprise ending.
The Shepherd is a short, 144 page novella written in 1975 by Frederick Forsyth, author of novels like The Day of the Jackal and The Odessa File. It is said he wrote The Shepherd for Christmas as a present for his wife.
Every year, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts a reading of The Shepherd by Alan Maitland. Maitland passed away in 1999, but recordings of him reading The Shepherd are available, like this 32 minute reading on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_bLE...
This is a short, pleasant read / listen.
3.5* / 5
December 31, 2017
An aviation classic and a nice Christmas story
By Charles van Buren on December 30, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Many of the negative reviews of this novella are from people who claim that the book description did not state that this is a "short story.". I checked the Amazon descriptions for the e-book and the hard copies. All descriptions list the book as having either 123 or 129 pages. Others seriously complain that the book is not worth the price because it is short. Personally, I do not buy my literature by the pound.
As to the story, it is quite good as one would expect from an internationally acclaimed work which is particularly admired in the aviation community. As to how original it is, I don't know. It was written in 1974 and published in 1975 so it is at least an early use of the p!ot device which many readers will see coming. To avoid spoilers, I will say no more other than this is not one of Forsyth's thrillers. The quality of the writing is, if anything, better than his usual high standard. It is said that this story was written as a Christmas present for his wife.
By Charles van Buren on December 30, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Many of the negative reviews of this novella are from people who claim that the book description did not state that this is a "short story.". I checked the Amazon descriptions for the e-book and the hard copies. All descriptions list the book as having either 123 or 129 pages. Others seriously complain that the book is not worth the price because it is short. Personally, I do not buy my literature by the pound.
As to the story, it is quite good as one would expect from an internationally acclaimed work which is particularly admired in the aviation community. As to how original it is, I don't know. It was written in 1974 and published in 1975 so it is at least an early use of the p!ot device which many readers will see coming. To avoid spoilers, I will say no more other than this is not one of Forsyth's thrillers. The quality of the writing is, if anything, better than his usual high standard. It is said that this story was written as a Christmas present for his wife.
December 24, 2023
This little story gave me goosebumps! 🛩️🌫️🎄
Christmas Eve 1957, an RAF pilot flies home from West Germany, planning to arrive by Christmas morning. A relatively short flight turns deadly when his instruments begin to malfunction...
Looking at the book cover, I wouldn't have thought this was a Christmas story. Thank you Tina for her review and audio link.
It's been a holiday tradition since 1979 that CBC Radio broadcasts this classical reading by Al Maitland. A 32 mins short story that will stick with you. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
There are several YouTube editions as well like this one. https://youtu.be/j2_bLEqmBi0
Christmas Eve 1957, an RAF pilot flies home from West Germany, planning to arrive by Christmas morning. A relatively short flight turns deadly when his instruments begin to malfunction...
Looking at the book cover, I wouldn't have thought this was a Christmas story. Thank you Tina for her review and audio link.
It's been a holiday tradition since 1979 that CBC Radio broadcasts this classical reading by Al Maitland. A 32 mins short story that will stick with you. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
There are several YouTube editions as well like this one. https://youtu.be/j2_bLEqmBi0
December 22, 2023
I’ve listened to this story as a CBC radio adaptation for years. It’s amazing. What makes it more amazing is there are any number of similar nonfictional accounts. I’m sure there must be an audiobook version and I’d recommend that if the sample plays well. It was always on the radio at Christmas time and likely still is.
[I actually found an older CBC version on YouTube. It’s from 1957 with Alan Maitland and it’s vintage perfect 👌]
[I actually found an older CBC version on YouTube. It’s from 1957 with Alan Maitland and it’s vintage perfect 👌]
February 2, 2022
What a great story!! I just loved it.
December 22, 2020
It's Christmas Eve,1957 and a twenty year old fighter pilot is returning home. But his aircraft suffers electrical failure and is flying through dense fog.He loses radio contact with the ground.
He is in serious danger of crashing.He is terror stricken and desperate.Twenty is no age to die.He prays for a miracle.
Can he somehow be saved from his dire predicament ? Can someone guide him to safety ? It seems his prayers have been heard.A rescue aircraft appears,though it is of a slower,obsolete variety.
But despite that and after some very anxious moments,his rescuer guides him to safety,waves in farewell and disappears.But who was he and where has the aircraft landed,just when it ran out of fuel ?
As he marvels at his luck,the rescued pilot wants some answers.What he discovers,makes for an unforgettable ending.
It is a beautifully written novella.The prose is elegant and there is sustained tension .Forsyth would later turn to writing political thrillers,but for me,this is his best book.
It is a short book,which hardly takes an hour to read.
He is in serious danger of crashing.He is terror stricken and desperate.Twenty is no age to die.He prays for a miracle.
Can he somehow be saved from his dire predicament ? Can someone guide him to safety ? It seems his prayers have been heard.A rescue aircraft appears,though it is of a slower,obsolete variety.
But despite that and after some very anxious moments,his rescuer guides him to safety,waves in farewell and disappears.But who was he and where has the aircraft landed,just when it ran out of fuel ?
As he marvels at his luck,the rescued pilot wants some answers.What he discovers,makes for an unforgettable ending.
It is a beautifully written novella.The prose is elegant and there is sustained tension .Forsyth would later turn to writing political thrillers,but for me,this is his best book.
It is a short book,which hardly takes an hour to read.
December 6, 2023
A short story which has been made into a movie.
I enjoyed this a lot. I like stories that have a mysterious or ghostly element to it. For a short story it was very well done. I'm looking forward to the film.
I enjoyed this a lot. I like stories that have a mysterious or ghostly element to it. For a short story it was very well done. I'm looking forward to the film.
February 14, 2012
2025: Another re-read today for an atmospheric but ultimately feel-good Christmas story.
2021: I read this originally in 1976 and picked it up for an inspirational Christmas read. Forsyth, known for his thrillers and espionage novels wrote this short story for his wife as a Christmas present and it delivers the magic and miracle of Christmas. His experience as a RAF fighter pilot himself is evident in his description of the airframes and life at RAF bases.
It's 1957 & a 20 y/o RAF pilot stationed in Germany wants to fly home to England for Christmas in his Vampire jet fighter of the day. It's a beautiful night full of stars but about 20 minutes into his flight things go terribly wrong with his instruments necessary to navigate and to add to his dilemma, his radio is out. Trying not to panic, he recalls his training for emergencies and begins to put them in place. Thoughts of death begin to creep in as he uses up fuel with no help in sight.
Below me lay the worst of them all, the heavy brutality of the North Sea, waiting to swallow me up and my plane and bury us for endless eternity in a liquid black crypt where nothing moved nor would ever move again. And no one would ever know.
As he continues on towards England a fog rolls in, a dense obstacle to being able to navigate by sight. When it seems like he is doomed, the Shepherd he has been waiting and praying for shows up to guide him. There is something odd about this plane and pilot but the MC locks on. I won't say anything more as it would be a spoiler. I literally got goosebumps twice as I read this story!
In this edition there are also some wonderful illustrations by Lou Feck, who apparently was quite well-known for his book cover illustrations.
Highly recommend this lovely story. Magic or miracle?
2021: I read this originally in 1976 and picked it up for an inspirational Christmas read. Forsyth, known for his thrillers and espionage novels wrote this short story for his wife as a Christmas present and it delivers the magic and miracle of Christmas. His experience as a RAF fighter pilot himself is evident in his description of the airframes and life at RAF bases.
It's 1957 & a 20 y/o RAF pilot stationed in Germany wants to fly home to England for Christmas in his Vampire jet fighter of the day. It's a beautiful night full of stars but about 20 minutes into his flight things go terribly wrong with his instruments necessary to navigate and to add to his dilemma, his radio is out. Trying not to panic, he recalls his training for emergencies and begins to put them in place. Thoughts of death begin to creep in as he uses up fuel with no help in sight.
Below me lay the worst of them all, the heavy brutality of the North Sea, waiting to swallow me up and my plane and bury us for endless eternity in a liquid black crypt where nothing moved nor would ever move again. And no one would ever know.
As he continues on towards England a fog rolls in, a dense obstacle to being able to navigate by sight. When it seems like he is doomed, the Shepherd he has been waiting and praying for shows up to guide him. There is something odd about this plane and pilot but the MC locks on. I won't say anything more as it would be a spoiler. I literally got goosebumps twice as I read this story!
In this edition there are also some wonderful illustrations by Lou Feck, who apparently was quite well-known for his book cover illustrations.
Highly recommend this lovely story. Magic or miracle?
December 28, 2022
When I came across reviews of this book here on Goodreads I knew at once it would appeal to my husband. Simon has long had a love of aircraft, particularly the Mosquitoes with the twin Rolls Royce Merlin engines and was involved with the Stratford Aircraft Collection kept at Long Marston Airfield (near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK) in the 1980s.
I wasn't able to find an audio version for us to listen to together, so I borrowed the book from the Library and we have spent a very pleasant evening taking turns to read out loud to each other. We were equally moved by the turn of events. This is a very special story.
I wasn't able to find an audio version for us to listen to together, so I borrowed the book from the Library and we have spent a very pleasant evening taking turns to read out loud to each other. We were equally moved by the turn of events. This is a very special story.
December 2, 2021
I was first introduced to this story by Fireside Al from the CBC (although I'm not Canadian my upstate NY radio station carried 'As It Happens' which I loved!). Who doesn't love having a story read to them? And this reading is special. A treat for Christmas Eve.
So I had heard Alan Maitland's reading but had never read the story. Until now- and I'm glad I read it in print. I think Fireside Al's reading is edited somewhat and reading the unabridged story was much more intense and rewarding. A different sort of Christmas story but I recommend.
Link to Fireside Al’s reading: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
Update for 2023: He was lost, the Shepherd found him, and guided him home. Happy Christmas! The story never gets old.
Update 2025: a lovely tradition to listen to this story. Happy Christmas!
So I had heard Alan Maitland's reading but had never read the story. Until now- and I'm glad I read it in print. I think Fireside Al's reading is edited somewhat and reading the unabridged story was much more intense and rewarding. A different sort of Christmas story but I recommend.
Link to Fireside Al’s reading: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/...
Update for 2023: He was lost, the Shepherd found him, and guided him home. Happy Christmas! The story never gets old.
Update 2025: a lovely tradition to listen to this story. Happy Christmas!
December 31, 2023
3-Stars - I Liked It!
An enjoyable tale by Frederick Forsyth, read by Alan Maitland (CBC Radio).
Heard on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_bL...
An enjoyable tale by Frederick Forsyth, read by Alan Maitland (CBC Radio).
Heard on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_bL...
December 19, 2023
Set in 1957 at a North German Suffolk airbase, this short but impactful story showcases strength and courage in the face of adversity.
On Christmas Eve, Freddie, a young RAF fighter pilot is heading home from Germany when there’s an electrical failure on his De Havilland Vampire aircraft somewhere over the North Sea and all radio communication is lost. What options are there in the middle of nowhere? Can he land without instruments? Has he gone off course? Does he have enough fuel? You’ll be holding your breath until the shepherd arrives and then you’ll be uttering, “Wait! What?!”
The length of this short story (128 pages) doesn’t take away from the impact, let me tell you!
When I discovered that this story has been broadcast nearly every Christmas since 1979 on CBC Radio One, I decided that I’ll start a new tradition. I’ll be tuning in for this reading on 𝐂𝐁𝐂 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐 𝐚𝐭 𝟔:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. when ‘As It Happens’ will present the annual reading of Frederick Forsyth’s ‘The Shepherd’ read by the late ‘Fireside Al’ Maitland.
Do your memories include listening to books over the radio? You’re not THAT old?! Ok, I think you are missing out. I have happy memories of climbing into bed at my grandparents and tuning in the radio to a great mystery! Come climb into the cockpit with ‘Fireside Al’ as he heads out over the North Sea in his reading of Frederick Forsyth’s short story, The Shepherd.
✈ Not up for an on-air radio reading? Then, it’s also 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒚 + 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒂. It’s only 38 minutes long and worthwhile.
Thank you to my friend Tina for recommending this one! It truly is a Christmas miracle.
On Christmas Eve, Freddie, a young RAF fighter pilot is heading home from Germany when there’s an electrical failure on his De Havilland Vampire aircraft somewhere over the North Sea and all radio communication is lost. What options are there in the middle of nowhere? Can he land without instruments? Has he gone off course? Does he have enough fuel? You’ll be holding your breath until the shepherd arrives and then you’ll be uttering, “Wait! What?!”
The length of this short story (128 pages) doesn’t take away from the impact, let me tell you!
When I discovered that this story has been broadcast nearly every Christmas since 1979 on CBC Radio One, I decided that I’ll start a new tradition. I’ll be tuning in for this reading on 𝐂𝐁𝐂 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐 𝐚𝐭 𝟔:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. when ‘As It Happens’ will present the annual reading of Frederick Forsyth’s ‘The Shepherd’ read by the late ‘Fireside Al’ Maitland.
Do your memories include listening to books over the radio? You’re not THAT old?! Ok, I think you are missing out. I have happy memories of climbing into bed at my grandparents and tuning in the radio to a great mystery! Come climb into the cockpit with ‘Fireside Al’ as he heads out over the North Sea in his reading of Frederick Forsyth’s short story, The Shepherd.
✈ Not up for an on-air radio reading? Then, it’s also 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒚 + 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒂. It’s only 38 minutes long and worthwhile.
Thank you to my friend Tina for recommending this one! It truly is a Christmas miracle.
December 25, 2025
CBC radio broadcasts this story every December, the recording done by the late Al Maitland. Maitland was a fabulous reader and he certainly did it justice. It has become one of my few treasured Christmas traditions. After all, the Victorians knew the value of a good ghost story during the darkest days of the year.
Listen for yourself:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/...
Listen for yourself:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/...
October 28, 2021
A short story about a pilot returning from Germany to spend Christmas with his family when his plane develops mechanical problems. I enjoyed it, but unfortunately, the story has been copied so many times in different guises that I more or less knew what was going to happen just five or six pages into it. It is still, however, worth reading.
February 15, 2020
4.5
One of the best short stories of my younger years; While not strictly YA I would have no hesitation recommending it to those readers.
A pilot heading home to England on Christmas Eve in the 1950's suffers instrument and radio failure over the English channel. Alone and in the dark, he's waiting for his fuel to run out when he sees the Shepard.
Forsyth creates a gripping tale with an unembroidered, absolutely convincing prose style that will likely have you finishing it in one sitting. A former pilot himself, Forsyth's aviation sequences are completely realistic and never overshadow the human story but become a vital part of it.
Do it up right and read it on Christmas Eve, preferably in front of a fireplace with a glass of brandy.
One of the best short stories of my younger years; While not strictly YA I would have no hesitation recommending it to those readers.
A pilot heading home to England on Christmas Eve in the 1950's suffers instrument and radio failure over the English channel. Alone and in the dark, he's waiting for his fuel to run out when he sees the Shepard.
Forsyth creates a gripping tale with an unembroidered, absolutely convincing prose style that will likely have you finishing it in one sitting. A former pilot himself, Forsyth's aviation sequences are completely realistic and never overshadow the human story but become a vital part of it.
Do it up right and read it on Christmas Eve, preferably in front of a fireplace with a glass of brandy.
December 20, 2013
Having never read Forsyth before (an author associated with the kind of best-selling thrillers that are translated onscreen into high octane testosterone-driven Hollywood movies raking in the buck), I hit the 'request' button for this quite impulsively on Netgalley (and partly out of curiosity I believe).
Aaaaaand it has turned out to be exactly what the blurb advertises. Another obligatory tale of a Christmas miracle in which a young English pilot's life is saved by the ghost of a World War 2 bomber plane on Christmas eve. Obviously written for the purpose of spreading the holiday cheer and setting the cash registers ringing. Well nothing says 'It's Christmas!' like a polite suspension of disbelief. So 3 stars it is.
Aaaaaand it has turned out to be exactly what the blurb advertises. Another obligatory tale of a Christmas miracle in which a young English pilot's life is saved by the ghost of a World War 2 bomber plane on Christmas eve. Obviously written for the purpose of spreading the holiday cheer and setting the cash registers ringing. Well nothing says 'It's Christmas!' like a polite suspension of disbelief. So 3 stars it is.
September 26, 2022
What a wonderful surprising ending, I didn’t see that coming, very good story, I think imma remember it for a long time.
January 21, 2013
I initially heard the CBC Radio broadcast of this story for Christmas 2012 read by the late Alan Maitland. It is a beautifully written story about a pilot who is lost in a terrible fog on Christmas Eve. His instruments fail him, and his fuel is running low. He is certain he will die until a mysterious second pilot arrives to shepherd him back to safety. It’s a beautifully written story that truly comes to life. A story does not have to be long to have special meaning and a warm yet mysterious ending that makes you feel good. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading/hearing it again next Christmas.
December 24, 2020
Thank you to W for bringing this story to my attention.
2025 Re-read
2025 Re-read
November 30, 2011
A novella by Forsyth which is a quick read and much unlike his other works.
There are sketches included as well. Read this if you get your hands on it. It won't take much of your time and the story is simple enough.
There are sketches included as well. Read this if you get your hands on it. It won't take much of your time and the story is simple enough.
January 12, 2024
Simply eerie! Darn good short story about a lonely, ill-fated night Christmas Eve 1957!
December 31, 2019
Started off as the last book for 2019, it became the first one for 2020 and what an amazing one it was! A masterfully written thriller which some modern authors can take notes from. Oh, and the radio adaptation featuring Alan Maitland as the narrator is top-notch too.
My Rating - 4/5
My Rating - 4/5
December 24, 2023
Wow, what an excellent and eerie little novella that was. This should be more well known, a classic, especially around Christmas. Considering Disney + just adapted the thing maybe it is more of a classic than I had thought. An excellent introduction to Frederick Forsyth!
January 6, 2017
After leaving two books after just a couple of chapters yesterday (Dev Lok and 1984), my rhythm of reading was severely disturbed, so the best solution was to go back to one of my favourite Authors.
There is a reason that Frederick Forsyth is regarded as one of the world's best thriller writers. I was quite sure that I had read all his novels, but then realised there was this 120 page short story that I had somehow missed (it's a standalone novel itself published first in 1975).
Don't let the name of the novel fool you. Also, you will enjoy the novel more if you don't read the preview given at the back of the cover. I'm not going to reveal much about the PLOT save the opening chapter wherein a British Royal Air Force pilot is stuck aboard his fighter plane with his electronic equipment malfunctioning. After that, I can just guarantee you top class action, thrills and goosebumps. Typical of Forsyth, he doesn't waste time in any formalities, and just grabs you by the scruff of the neck from the very first page and doesn't leave you till you've finished the novel. The best example of 'Unputdownable'.
I felt at least at 2 instances that the novel had now ended only to be dumbstruck on the very next page. And the sudden and hard hitting climax is just incredibly brilliant. In fact, it may just make you redefine the genre of this novel.
There is a reason that Frederick Forsyth is regarded as one of the world's best thriller writers. I was quite sure that I had read all his novels, but then realised there was this 120 page short story that I had somehow missed (it's a standalone novel itself published first in 1975).
Don't let the name of the novel fool you. Also, you will enjoy the novel more if you don't read the preview given at the back of the cover. I'm not going to reveal much about the PLOT save the opening chapter wherein a British Royal Air Force pilot is stuck aboard his fighter plane with his electronic equipment malfunctioning. After that, I can just guarantee you top class action, thrills and goosebumps. Typical of Forsyth, he doesn't waste time in any formalities, and just grabs you by the scruff of the neck from the very first page and doesn't leave you till you've finished the novel. The best example of 'Unputdownable'.
I felt at least at 2 instances that the novel had now ended only to be dumbstruck on the very next page. And the sudden and hard hitting climax is just incredibly brilliant. In fact, it may just make you redefine the genre of this novel.
February 28, 2011
I, too, read this every Christmas season - and think of it often throughout the year. I've always read (and re-read) the condensed version that appeared in Reader's Digest so many years ago, torn from that old magazine and treasured in my files. But just this month I finally got busy and located and purchased a used copy of the book. Now I will treasure the book as well as the old, dog-eared pages from RD. The first time I read it, I wasn't paying attention and thought it was a true story, but still, I always cry when I get to the final paragraphs. This is one great story!
June 21, 2020
What to do when suffering an electronic instrument panel malfunction at thirty thousand feet and swirling fog. This is a fast paced and atmospheric short story that evokes the challenges facing a fighter pilot as he encounters a thick bank of fog and loss of visibility, simultaneously with the loss of his instruments : altimeter, compass and fuel gauge. Death looms large as he realises a World War Two Mosquito is flying alongside, wing tip to wing tip. A memorable tale.
December 4, 2012
Found this classic short-story by coincidence on a bookshelf in a hotel in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, while waiting for our taxi to the airport.
And glad I did. A splendid story. Still have goosebumps after reading it.
And glad I did. A splendid story. Still have goosebumps after reading it.
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