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1917: Machines of War
It is 1917 and the Great war is a jagged scar across the face of Europe. Soldiers cower in mud-filled trenches, hurling bullets across the war-torn landscape. Above them flies 17-year-old New Zealander Bob Sunday, of the Royal Flying Corps. Before long, Bob finds himself flying against the great German air aces, including the infamous Red Baron, as their warplanes whirl above the battlefields of Arras, Passchendaele and Cambrai.
- GenresWar
335 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 1, 2017
Amazing Book!, A definite Must read!
May 19, 2017
The fourth book in the Kiwis at War series, following on from '1914: Riding Into War' by Susan Brocker, '1915: Wounds of War' by Diana Menefy and '1916: Dig for Victory' by David Hair. This story follows underage Bob Sunday whose brother was killed fighting at Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli. Bob steals his brother's birth certificate, signing up to train as a pilot in the Air Corps even though he is only seventeen years old. Made an observer instead he will operate a Lewis machine gun, his back to the pilot in a new Bristol fighter plane. He soon makes his mark and receives the pilot training he is after. Bob's story takes us through the battles of Arras, Passchendaele and Cambrai while exploring the rapid changes in technology that had a major impact on the war and which included advancement in planes and tanks. Bob also encounters such flying aces as Albert Ball (1896-1917) and Germans Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892-1918) the 'Red Baron' and Werner Voss (1897-1917). An engaging, fast paced story. The addition of a contents page, maps, a timeline, glossary, authors note, photographs and bibliography serve to make this a valuable resource. A well thought out series, highly recommended.
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt)
After keenly anticipating this fourth book in the Kiwis at War series, I was not disappointed. Author Brian Falkner strikes the right balance, aiming the book for the Year 7 student and older, young teens who can perhaps imagine themselves as fighting aces.
The story follows Bob Sunday, a young NZer whose brother Keith died at Gallipoli. Keen to join up, become he 'Keith' for the duration, duping the authorities without too much difficulty. He joins the Royal Flying Corps, initially as an observer/bomber flying along with a pilot, before moving on to fly both one and two man planes, showing considerable skill.
Thus there is plenty of scope for the reader to learn about these various roles, as well as the camaraderie, the jealousies and the different ways this small group of young men coped with the loss of one of their number or celebrated successes. Life expectancy is shockingly low. Punishment for those who dare to disobey orders or try to desert is harsh.
The work of Kiwis on the ground is also shown, as these pilots endeavour to make things safer for the tunnelers by giving them time to complete their work. The air force is used to create a smoke screen and noise to cover the progress of the tanks that can crawl over barbed wire and get where man cannot.
Brian Falkner has thus skilfully connected different aspects of WW1 in 1917, demonstrating the importance of both new forms of machines of war, aeroplanes and tanks.
There is no glorifying of war. Young Bob/Keith's attitude to war changes as the year progresses:
I had arrived in France as an excitable boy. Within days I had been consumed by darkness, a blackness of my soul, a bloodlust. That had been replaced by a deep sadness, and a hatred of the game I had been forced to play. Now I realised that too had passed. What was left was a strange detachment. I was a professional. This was my job, and I would do it to the best of my abilities …
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt)
After keenly anticipating this fourth book in the Kiwis at War series, I was not disappointed. Author Brian Falkner strikes the right balance, aiming the book for the Year 7 student and older, young teens who can perhaps imagine themselves as fighting aces.
The story follows Bob Sunday, a young NZer whose brother Keith died at Gallipoli. Keen to join up, become he 'Keith' for the duration, duping the authorities without too much difficulty. He joins the Royal Flying Corps, initially as an observer/bomber flying along with a pilot, before moving on to fly both one and two man planes, showing considerable skill.
Thus there is plenty of scope for the reader to learn about these various roles, as well as the camaraderie, the jealousies and the different ways this small group of young men coped with the loss of one of their number or celebrated successes. Life expectancy is shockingly low. Punishment for those who dare to disobey orders or try to desert is harsh.
The work of Kiwis on the ground is also shown, as these pilots endeavour to make things safer for the tunnelers by giving them time to complete their work. The air force is used to create a smoke screen and noise to cover the progress of the tanks that can crawl over barbed wire and get where man cannot.
Brian Falkner has thus skilfully connected different aspects of WW1 in 1917, demonstrating the importance of both new forms of machines of war, aeroplanes and tanks.
There is no glorifying of war. Young Bob/Keith's attitude to war changes as the year progresses:
I had arrived in France as an excitable boy. Within days I had been consumed by darkness, a blackness of my soul, a bloodlust. That had been replaced by a deep sadness, and a hatred of the game I had been forced to play. Now I realised that too had passed. What was left was a strange detachment. I was a professional. This was my job, and I would do it to the best of my abilities …
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
January 29, 2018
An excellent addition to the series. This time the focus moves to the air which gives a different perspective to events.
May 17, 2019
So well researched, and is definitely one I would recommend for a fan of history and War. Shows the change in tack that took place in WWI with he use of fighter planes and tanks as a means to an end.
May 9, 2022
One of my favourite reads of 2021.
These are a fabulous telling of the reality of war, written in compassionate and informative ways that make you feel like you are standing in the trenches with the characters. The characters weave their way through each of the stories. You're in for a treat if you've never read a New Zealand accent; you will find it littering these pages. They are full of Kiwi lingo. They cover many of the ANZAC troop's critical battles during the war years, like that of Gallipoli in 1915 and Passchendaele - which still hails as the most significant loss of New Zealand life in action to this day.
If you are fascinated by World War One...
...
Read my full review on my blog: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahg...
These are a fabulous telling of the reality of war, written in compassionate and informative ways that make you feel like you are standing in the trenches with the characters. The characters weave their way through each of the stories. You're in for a treat if you've never read a New Zealand accent; you will find it littering these pages. They are full of Kiwi lingo. They cover many of the ANZAC troop's critical battles during the war years, like that of Gallipoli in 1915 and Passchendaele - which still hails as the most significant loss of New Zealand life in action to this day.
If you are fascinated by World War One...
...
Read my full review on my blog: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahg...
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September 8, 2022What is this book about? (write 1-2 sentences) it's about a kiwi who's dream is to fly planes fight the German, he starts of as an observer then flies a bristfot then upgraded to a camel where he becomes an ace.
What is your favourite part of the story and why? (write 1-2 sentences) when it is at the end and he is addressing his team while wearing the top hat and when he gives them his speech.
Who is your favourite character and why? (write 1-2 sentences)the combat wombat because he is funny and says some good lines in the book that are very good ones.
What is a lesson or a fact that you learned from this book? (write 1-2 sentences) even though you live in a small country you can make a difference.
Give your review out of 5 stars 4/5
What is your favourite part of the story and why? (write 1-2 sentences) when it is at the end and he is addressing his team while wearing the top hat and when he gives them his speech.
Who is your favourite character and why? (write 1-2 sentences)the combat wombat because he is funny and says some good lines in the book that are very good ones.
What is a lesson or a fact that you learned from this book? (write 1-2 sentences) even though you live in a small country you can make a difference.
Give your review out of 5 stars 4/5
May 1, 2017
Great World War 1 story from the point of view of a young pilot. Gripping and realistic account of the awful times.
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April 12, 2019In Brian Faulkner’s Kiwis at war 1917 Machines of war the main character Bob Sunday has stolen his dead brothers identity to participate in World War 1 flying corps his mindset goes from thinking the war is a great opportunity to thinking it’s a terrible thing and wanting to avenge his bother and friends.
The authors purpose of this book is to provide the perspective of the soldiers who fought and how terrible it was for them by including how they would shoot themselves and chew on cordite just to get off the front lines. To make the reader sympathise for them But also to teach the reader about the history behind it by using the same slang and terms the soldiers used and the mind set they all went through joining the war enthusiastically and then regretting it after it was to late and how typical the situation of lying about your age to enter is. Aside from this it also provides the reader with the idea there is still hope by the way the main character has avoided death so many times.
My personal opinion on the book was I liked it a lot although I didn’t get to finish it I think I got the general ideas of it. I personally can’t relate to a lot of this because it is World War One but I could relate to the main character being a kiwi which was nice because I also know the author of this book is a kiwi. I was very emotionally impacted with the death of so many of these wonderful men that the author made me love. I loved the book and I defiantly am looking forward to true rest of the series and I absolutely recommend its to anyone.
The authors purpose of this book is to provide the perspective of the soldiers who fought and how terrible it was for them by including how they would shoot themselves and chew on cordite just to get off the front lines. To make the reader sympathise for them But also to teach the reader about the history behind it by using the same slang and terms the soldiers used and the mind set they all went through joining the war enthusiastically and then regretting it after it was to late and how typical the situation of lying about your age to enter is. Aside from this it also provides the reader with the idea there is still hope by the way the main character has avoided death so many times.
My personal opinion on the book was I liked it a lot although I didn’t get to finish it I think I got the general ideas of it. I personally can’t relate to a lot of this because it is World War One but I could relate to the main character being a kiwi which was nice because I also know the author of this book is a kiwi. I was very emotionally impacted with the death of so many of these wonderful men that the author made me love. I loved the book and I defiantly am looking forward to true rest of the series and I absolutely recommend its to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews