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Martin Falconer Thrillers #1
The Fledglings
Man against man. Face to face. One machine against another.
It was shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. Martin Falconer and his friend, Frank, were anxious to ‘get into the scrap’ as soon as possible, their youth blinding them to the real danger of it all.
Geoffrey, Martin’s elder brother, knew that it wasn’t a game. He had fought in the trenches, been wounded and had seen friends die.
For Geoffrey the R.F.C. offered an opportunity to escape the mud and horror of the Front, while for Martin and Frank it was the chance to be in at the start of a totally different kind of fighting. They were to be pioneers.
A scintillating, full-throttle thriller of the First World War, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Derek Robinson and Geoffrey Wellum.
It was shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. Martin Falconer and his friend, Frank, were anxious to ‘get into the scrap’ as soon as possible, their youth blinding them to the real danger of it all.
Geoffrey, Martin’s elder brother, knew that it wasn’t a game. He had fought in the trenches, been wounded and had seen friends die.
For Geoffrey the R.F.C. offered an opportunity to escape the mud and horror of the Front, while for Martin and Frank it was the chance to be in at the start of a totally different kind of fighting. They were to be pioneers.
A scintillating, full-throttle thriller of the First World War, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Derek Robinson and Geoffrey Wellum.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1971
154 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 17, 2022
Much better than expected, a WWI action book based on the early Royal Flying Corps. Very easy to read and get into. Spoilers ahead.
The protagonist is Martin Falconer, a young man who drops out of high school his senior year to join the air corps following in his older brother's footsteps. The first part of the book concentrates on his family life. I guess I deducted a little bit for that as I wasn't really interested in too much of his family life and his romance.
But apart from that, the book does a great job of Martin being a volunteer and learning to fly at training school and then joining the front lines and learning and experimenting with flying and air combat. In the early days, the planes weren't yet equipped with offensive weapons and the flyers were still discovering and tinkering with trying to shoot other planes down. The author does a great job of this part.
I don't give this book 5 stars because it doesn't have a lot of oomph. It's a 1970's book and it does the job competently and simply, almost like a young adults book rather than a book that made me wonder if I just had an existential experience. However, it is good enough for me to look up all his other books and read them.
The protagonist is Martin Falconer, a young man who drops out of high school his senior year to join the air corps following in his older brother's footsteps. The first part of the book concentrates on his family life. I guess I deducted a little bit for that as I wasn't really interested in too much of his family life and his romance.
But apart from that, the book does a great job of Martin being a volunteer and learning to fly at training school and then joining the front lines and learning and experimenting with flying and air combat. In the early days, the planes weren't yet equipped with offensive weapons and the flyers were still discovering and tinkering with trying to shoot other planes down. The author does a great job of this part.
I don't give this book 5 stars because it doesn't have a lot of oomph. It's a 1970's book and it does the job competently and simply, almost like a young adults book rather than a book that made me wonder if I just had an existential experience. However, it is good enough for me to look up all his other books and read them.
January 10, 2021
Enjoyable and Believable!
It was hard to get into storyline because the first third of the book was dedicated to the description of life in England at the start of WWI. I was a little stunned that 16 year olds were allowed to join the RFC, but once the training started, I was glad that I had stayed with the book! They storyline became more interesting and informative, so I am looking forward to the next book in the series! I was confused by the statement about the trenches and reference about the length of the war! 👍🏻
It was hard to get into storyline because the first third of the book was dedicated to the description of life in England at the start of WWI. I was a little stunned that 16 year olds were allowed to join the RFC, but once the training started, I was glad that I had stayed with the book! They storyline became more interesting and informative, so I am looking forward to the next book in the series! I was confused by the statement about the trenches and reference about the length of the war! 👍🏻
November 5, 2022
3.49 stars, although it was an easy and fast read. I'm not sure that in 1915 the RFC were taking school boys; there was no mention of basic military training; and, it is an axiom that the number of aircrew fatalities was very high and during most years of the war more aircrew were killed during training than by the efforts of Kaiser Bill's chaps. So Martin Falconer (the subject character) and his colleagues appear to have experienced a very charmed initial few months flying His Majesty's aeroplanes.
December 15, 2020
Really worth reading
This book tells the story of two young friends who leave school to do their part in the Great War. The book is written in the first person and is fast paced and a very interesting read. Although written in the early 70’s it feels as fresh as if it was written today.
Highly recommended.
This book tells the story of two young friends who leave school to do their part in the Great War. The book is written in the first person and is fast paced and a very interesting read. Although written in the early 70’s it feels as fresh as if it was written today.
Highly recommended.
August 23, 2020
Young pilot in RFC
Martin Falconer leaves school at 17 to join the Rotal Flying Corps. Aerial warfare is still being developed.
I have heard that the series is targeted at younger readers but I enjoyed the book.
Martin Falconer leaves school at 17 to join the Rotal Flying Corps. Aerial warfare is still being developed.
I have heard that the series is targeted at younger readers but I enjoyed the book.
September 17, 2020
The awakening of youth and war
Another great story of the earliest days of combat flying by Max Hennessy .
The story covers the impetuousness of youth coupled with graphic details of the development of air combat into war while portraying the impact on human emotions
Another great story of the earliest days of combat flying by Max Hennessy .
The story covers the impetuousness of youth coupled with graphic details of the development of air combat into war while portraying the impact on human emotions
January 2, 2021
Nice to find another new series
Having read around 43 books this year since the movie pandemic, it is nice to find another excellent author of historical fiction to entertain me. Especially since television has become self important crap with no content and overpaid minstrels.
Having read around 43 books this year since the movie pandemic, it is nice to find another excellent author of historical fiction to entertain me. Especially since television has become self important crap with no content and overpaid minstrels.
October 20, 2021
Great Read!
It begins just before WWI and follows a young pilot when air combat was in it's infantcy. Gradually he develops his own stratigies while coming to understand that war was a nasty business.
It begins just before WWI and follows a young pilot when air combat was in it's infantcy. Gradually he develops his own stratigies while coming to understand that war was a nasty business.
August 31, 2022
While not a long book, this promises to be an interesting series featuring Martin Falconer. Focusing on the birth of aerial combat book one conveys the excitement and naivety of those heady first days of powered flight in a combat zone.
January 13, 2024
decent series opener
Not to complicated. Good descriptions about early ww1 tactics. Character development
fairly basic but can tell the author was improving as the book progresses. Did like the history/story how they used planes in ww1 and the development of fighter planes
Not to complicated. Good descriptions about early ww1 tactics. Character development
fairly basic but can tell the author was improving as the book progresses. Did like the history/story how they used planes in ww1 and the development of fighter planes
May 11, 2024
The story of 2 school friends & an elder brother as they join the "RFC" at the start of the first world war & the early days of aviation .
With some similarities to the 'Biggles' stories by Captain W E Johns I really enjoyed this & am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.
With some similarities to the 'Biggles' stories by Captain W E Johns I really enjoyed this & am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.
May 17, 2021
Less of a "thriller" and more of an interesting yarn.
September 15, 2021
Entertaining until the most abrupt end. Almost as if the author received a call, left and forgot to return to finish the story.
October 28, 2022
A little under-plotted and under-characterised, but an entertaining enough fictional account of the earliest days of air combat. Would only recommend to those with an interest in aviation.
January 31, 2023
Amazing book, I would definitely recommend that you read it. It has lots of humour through out, there are a few sad parts however the is lots of humour around it. Currently one of my favourite books.
April 19, 2025
It's a good light read, for a war novel. Gives a good introduction into the early developments of air combat in easy to manage pieces.
March 2, 2022
This book was an unexpected pleasure. I came to it with little expectation, beyond it being nothing but a 70’s attempt at copying Capt WE Johns and Biggles.
Yet it was nothing of the sort. Yes there was war as a backdrop and the technicalities of each aircraft; all were readable and interesting.
If anything, however, it was a “coming of age” story, whose main character was flawed and riddled with self doubt.
It is also about loss and tragedy and what this means in wartime, just moving on, not dwelling. But no less crushing for all that.
This is a shortish book. Not overly complex (why should it be?) but it drew me in, it kept me engaged with the characters and thrilled with action, that was not the usual Gung Ho affair.
It reflected on failures, the boredom, frustration and small victories that made up the reality of the early days of aerial combat.
It ultimately left me satisfied and wanting to know what happens next!
Yet it was nothing of the sort. Yes there was war as a backdrop and the technicalities of each aircraft; all were readable and interesting.
If anything, however, it was a “coming of age” story, whose main character was flawed and riddled with self doubt.
It is also about loss and tragedy and what this means in wartime, just moving on, not dwelling. But no less crushing for all that.
This is a shortish book. Not overly complex (why should it be?) but it drew me in, it kept me engaged with the characters and thrilled with action, that was not the usual Gung Ho affair.
It reflected on failures, the boredom, frustration and small victories that made up the reality of the early days of aerial combat.
It ultimately left me satisfied and wanting to know what happens next!
September 22, 2025
7/10 ★★★
Novel perang dengan setting waktu tahun 1914-an, pada Perang Dunia I; menceritakan pemuda 17 tahun dengan semangat membara bergabung Angkatan Udara Inggris, untuk ditampar oleh realita, bahwa, perang bukan lelucon.
Buku aku dapet gratis dari Amazon Kindle, baca iseng, dan sukak. Bakal baca serialnya sampai selesai.
"Suddenly I knew with certainty that this was something I was going to have to face up to more than once in the future. Our world-that place of warmth, security and stability-had started to fall apart on the day the first shot of the war was fired. It was vanishing now-though we didn't know it yet-in a welter of unreason and misery. And, though i still didn't know what we were in for, I knew it was going to involve us with death."
Novel perang dengan setting waktu tahun 1914-an, pada Perang Dunia I; menceritakan pemuda 17 tahun dengan semangat membara bergabung Angkatan Udara Inggris, untuk ditampar oleh realita, bahwa, perang bukan lelucon.
Buku aku dapet gratis dari Amazon Kindle, baca iseng, dan sukak. Bakal baca serialnya sampai selesai.
"Suddenly I knew with certainty that this was something I was going to have to face up to more than once in the future. Our world-that place of warmth, security and stability-had started to fall apart on the day the first shot of the war was fired. It was vanishing now-though we didn't know it yet-in a welter of unreason and misery. And, though i still didn't know what we were in for, I knew it was going to involve us with death."
October 9, 2024
An easy read and one that read very much like the Commando, War and Battle Picture Library comics I used to devour as a kid in the 70’s & 80’s.
If I were to see the other books in this series I’d have no qualm’s about reading those too
If I were to see the other books in this series I’d have no qualm’s about reading those too
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews