Clouds In The Wind

by Ian MacKenzie

The winds of change are blowing through Africa and, like clouds, lives are being fragmented, altered or blotted out in an instant.

This powerful novel is set predominantly in the mid to late ‘70s when the Rhodesian bush war was at its height before the Lancaster House agreement and the end of white rule.

Get on to the story of Andy Mason, first as a schoolboy discovering the beauty of Africa on a trip to Northern Rhodesia in the ‘60s, then as a sergeant in the Rhodesian SAS in 1974 and 1979.

This is powerful and authentic story-telling. The author was there and it shows in the detail, the sights, the sounds, the smells and the fear. Sent out on a routine recce, the four-man team is ambushed, reinforcements are sent in and a full-on fire fight evolves.

Step back in time and we discover what led the young South African schoolboy to blood and death in the African bush.

The author shows he is equally at home in the concrete jungle of Johannesburg amid high-flying fraud and corruption. A farm murder in Rhodesia and a plea for help from a former girlfriend sends Andy to the battlefield and the winds of war.

Torn by anger and grief he enrols in the SAS. One of 12 recruits out of 500 to complete the gruelling course, and finds himself among the close-knit camaraderie of the forces. But the writing is on the wall. The superbly trained Rhodesian army never lost a battle, but they are fighting a war they cannot win.

The contrast is here – the stark reality of war, mutilation and death and the lavish lifestyle of the Salisbury elite; elegant dancing and dining with a rifle always at the ready; luxurious living on the prosperous farms that have been in families for generations and armed convoys anywhere outside the city.

Andy falls for laughing, beautiful Alyson, spoilt and protected darling of her wealthy parents, but even there the war takes its toll. This is yet another gripping piece of story-telling and the author succeeds remarkably well in getting into the skin of this anguished young girl.

Naturally politics of the period is entrenched, but the author lets his characters give their viewpoints – angry, paternalistic, stubborn or entitled.

This is a book that will enthrall and enlighten. It's a passionately told story that will simply take your breath away.

707 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2014

About the author

Ian Mackenzie was born in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and grew up in Johannesburg. He was schooled at Queens College, Queenstown and at Parktown Boys High in Johannesburg. He served with the Rhodesian military during the bush war where he met his wife Rosemarie Kennedy. He has two sons in their 30’s and lives with his wife in Johannesburg. Clouds In The Wind is his first novel.

Reviews

[Liz Balaam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an eye opening insight into life lived in a country gripped by war and political turmoil. The author easily transports the reader to Africa with his accurate descriptions of the once beautiful country that was Rhodesia. The story follows one man who, after being unfairly suspended from his job in South Africa, encounters a tragedy while trying to help an old friend in Rhodesia. This ultimately leads him to give up a few years of life in the defence of a country he was not even born in, going through many trials and tribulations along the way. A gripping read.

[Julie Baswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy and Alec were best friends in school. In later years, they reconnect, as both are fighting for the Rhodesian army. After a series of events, their friendship is tested beyond limits.

When I started reading this, I thought it was going to just be about the upheaval in Africa in the 60’s. I was pleasantly surprised once reading it that it revolved around one man and how the war affected him personally. The author did a great job of relaying Andy’s feelings, and also the vivid descriptions of the beauty of the land.

I came away from this book with a much better understanding of the African revolt of that era. Before reading this, I knew nothing. Now I know why it happened, and a small portion of how it happened. The author actually made it interesting.

[Sandy Sharp · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is not a lot of good I can say about this book unfortunately. I ended up reading the first and last line of every page and still got the story line. It's poorly formatted for Kindle which is irritating. Overall, it's not a book that captivates. It's full of clichés, self pity and drivel. I'm from Zimbabwe and love reading books by Zimbabwean / Rhodesian authors that are about Zimbabwe / Rhodesia and there really there are far better books fiction or factual that are set in the same era as this book.

[Tracey Kefford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable reading about a place and time I remember so well, but I'm afraid a bit predictable and found I was speed reading it in the end just to get it finished.

[Richard Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Mackenzie has written a powerful novel of adventure, love, disappointment, betrayal and tragedy set during the Rhodesian war of independence in the 1970s. These days, heroes who are white soldiers resisting black advancement are very unfashionable, but Andrew Mason, the ex-financier and accidental soldier hero of the story, is very clear-eyed about the futility of this particular military effort. There is a lot of graphic violence and some sex, as well as some lyrical passages describing the African bush. In many ways the tale feels autobiographical; it is certainly rich in incident and realistic, and it offers some insight into the difficult political times common to most African colonies after the famous “Winds of change” speech given by Harold Macmillan in Cape Town in 1960.
The only aspect that I found problematic was an occasional example of very poor editing and proofreading (thumbs down for AuthorHouse publishers).
I enjoyed this well written and presented adventure story, and I commend it to all who know and love sub-Saharan Africa and its turbulent history.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Only Constant is Change

This story follows the early life of Andy Mason during the 1970s as Rhodesia dies and Zimbabwe is born. Andy joins the SAS, the country’s elite military unit, and we follow his time in the field as well as domestically.

I’d categorize this as historical fiction spliced together through the protagonist’s viewpoint to include action, drama, and tragedy. It seems like a good parallel for the events taking place during the time period in this nation’s history.

[Lindy Rorke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, and my kind of book. It is a story of Africa and anyone who enjoys a taste of real life drama will enjoy this. The book is sold as a novel but the truth upon which it is obviously based comes through strongly. Mackenzie relates the political attitudes in Rhodesia and covers that with fairness and accuracy. The horrors of the war are vivid and hard hitting, and the way of life with human frailty, is captured with sensitivity.

[Trish Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed and hard hitting, it starts off with a bang and the intensity keeps building. The graphic violence may not suit everyone, but if you like action and drama, this book is for you.

On the other side of the spectrum, the love scenes are beautifully written, and the story is filled with raw emotion from start to end.

[Andrew Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clouds in the Wind” by Ian Mackenzie is a gripping, emotionally resonant novel set against the backdrop of the Rhodesian War. Mackenzie paints a vivid, unflinching portrait of life and love during one of Southern Africa’s most turbulent eras. Deeply moving, beautifully written, and impossible to put down — this is a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended.

[C Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, what else?

A gripping story about the changing of Southern Rhodesia into Zimbabwe, and a great love story and drama that end asking for the follow on...a truly excellent read

[Mike Krogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster!

A well-written story of love and tragedy set in the old Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Difficult emotional and battle scenes, with believable characters in a different lifetime.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up Clouds in the Wind and first started reading it, it was as if I was hearing the story of my dad and his time in the army. The similarities in Andy’s character and my own dad’s history made this a book that I almost immediately connected with emotionally and personally.

I enjoyed the fact that, while battle hardened, Andy was not the clichéd soldier with no emotions and an unnerving bravery to him. It was refreshing to read about the intensity of fear and desperation to survive.

While this is a work of fiction, there are elements included that are all to pertinent to the current state of Africa. Rhodesia’s history coupled with different characters political and individual opinions are ones that are not unrealistic – things are explained in ways that I have certainly heard in discussions myself.

I personally did not enjoy the romantic aspects of the book. While certainly showing the duality required of soldiers and the separate lives they need to live, and equally necessary for character progression – they didn’t sit well with me, feeling a little too staged

A great read that will appeal to a wide variety of readers genre preferences. I think everyone will take away something different from Clouds in the Wind which is what makes it worthy of a read. The elements of combat, military, Africa, romance, shocking events and even subtle psychological elements in characters will leave you feeling fulfilled and appreciative for the comfort of your reading spot.

[Ian MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book’s title, Clouds in the Wind, is an expression that means futility, and nothing is more futile than war. In the 1970s in Southern Africa, successful business man Andrew Mason is drawn into the Rhodesian bush war. With great narrative energy and a keen visual sense of detail, Ian Mackenzie guides us into the fray. He describes skirmishes with blood-curdling accuracy where the Rhodesian side wins every battle, but as we all know, they eventually lost the war. White supremacy is defeated.
The characterization in this book is excellent. The protagonist, Andrew Mason, is a respected and decorated soldier, but his personal life is a shambles, mostly due to the war. After his relationship with Merryl and her daughter is ended through an attack on their convoy, he goes through a series of wanton relationships until he meets Alyson Carstens.
The fragility of life is brought home to him, and to us, as one by one people he is close to and cares about deeply are lost to him
This story has a number of plot twists and exceptional drama that makes it a compelling read.
In the end we are left with the question: What will become of Andrew Mason, a soldier without a war?
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested is a good solid read with compelling characters and an excellent plot. It finishes with an ending that suggests a sequel, which would be welcome.

[George Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, especially the history behind Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.

[Ian MacKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how I got to be a reader of this title. I am the author and I am continuously being asked to post a review. I think it's great, but my opinion, in this case, doesn't really count.