The Blue Max

by Jack D. Hunter

Book Overview

The most coveted decoration in all of Germany, the Blue Max was the symbol of power, fame and prestige beyond ordinary mortals. This is the story of the men who killed for it--and died for it. This is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000VBCYSY
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great Service, Great Book

This book arrived in excellent condition and on time. All in all, a very satisfactory experience.

One of the Aviation classics of the Great War

Jack D. Hunter produced what may be the finest novel of the genre. The study of Bruno Stachel is superb, and the subtext of his struggle with alcoholism permits the reader to examine a deplorable but eventually sympathetic character.The aerial sequences are beautifully written and the author's easy familiarity with aircraft types of the period is evident.The motion picture is a shallow, banal version of this work and the two stories are almost unrelated. She the movie if you must, but read the book regardless

The Blue Max is highly researched and tersely written

Jack D. Hunter meticulously researched his WW1 novel about German ace pilots, their airplanes, and the fierce competition they employed in their quest for the country's highest military award, the "Blue Max." Vastly superior to the film by the same name, the novel features superb characterisation of its hero, Bruno Stachel, the alcoholic fighter-ace whose arrogance spells his undoing in the story's ending. Aviation buffs will delight in the wealth of detail about planes and tactics. The dialogue rings true and the plot is fast paced.

The Blue Max is worth the read

I felt the book was very well written by Jack Hunter and his WWI aviation sketches in the book were a very nice companion to the story. The movie of the same name is completely different from the book. In the novel Bruno Stachel is a moody alcoholic who quest for the medal of his dreams. He is even more ruthless and unpredictable than the actor George Peppard portrayed as the character in the movie. The Willie Von Kulgermann, Otto Hiedelmann and Katie Von Klugermann chcarcters are all there but have a different twist on them than the movie. The ending is (as you might expect) completely different from the film. If you are a fan of the movie and WWI aviation then definately buy and read the book for a perspective. I have always looked at the movie and story as a snapshot of what the Germans must have been going through in the Jastas in WW I. It is an easy read at 280 pages.

Ah yes, The Blue Max

Who has'nt seen the classic movie starring George Peppard(a fellow Michigan boy)? So you've got to read the book too! However, it is much different than the movie. In the book Bruno Shtachel is an alcholic for one thing, and most of his problems stem from that. I had to look long and hard to find a copy of this book and when I did I was suprised to find how different it was from the movie. Actually I would say that the movie is better but I would still highly recommend the book. It was finally reprinted again in 1996 in limited quantities so is more easily available. All WW1 aviation fans must and probably do have this book. Thats why its so hard to find.