Gale Research
Reviewers praised Flight of the Intruder for its vivid descriptions of life in the cockpit. "When Grafton is at the controls of his Intruder, the novel comes alive with a jolt," remarked Reid Beddow inWashington Post Book World. Some critics, however, felt the novel had its weak moments. For example, David Holahan in Chicago Tribune Books faulted the "obligatory `love interest' chapters, which are unconvincing and distracting." Holahan nonetheless applauded the author's "compelling tale of aerial warfare" and affirmed that "Coonts' accounts of the riveting drama of combat flights are first rate, as are the scenes of wisecracking camaraderie aboard ship and on leave ashore." Beddow, moreover, concluded that "Coonts . . . has written a first novel of impressive power and authority."
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
With this well-crafted first novel, the publishers of The Hunt for Red October again demonstrate a sure eye for picking winners in the thriller genre. Jake Grafton is an A-6 Intruder pilot during the Vietnam War who flies his bomber on sorties past enemy flak and SAM missiles, and then must maneuver his plane, often at night, onto the relatively small deck of an aircraft carrier. Former Navy flyer Coonts gives an excellent sense of the complexities of modern air raids and how nerve-wracking it is, even for the best airmen, to technically solve sudden problems over and over, knowing that even a twist of fatea peasant wildly firing a rifle from a fieldcould wipe out the crew. Grafton alternates between remorse over the fate of his unseen Vietnamese victims on the ground and a gung-ho ``let's win this war'' sentiment that lashes at both policymakers who select less-than-important targets for the dangerous missions and advocates for peace back in the States. The action, though, is realistically detailed and absorbing.
From the Publisher
“[Coonts's] gripping, first-person narration of aerial combat is the best I've ever read. Once begun, this book cannot be laid aside.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Coont's pilots are the real McCoy and his compassion for them sustains his story from first page to last . . . a sometimes exhilarating, often nightmarish tale.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A winner.” —Philadelphia Inquirer
“Kept me strapped in the cockpit of the author's imagination for a down-and-dirty novel.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Extraordinary! Once you start reading, you won't want to stop!” —Tom Clancy
“Packed with action, emotion, suspense, and tragedy.” —Clive Cussler
“Coonts makes us see, smell, hear, taste, and feel battle.” —Cleveland PlainDealer
