This short novel is just as long as it needs to be.
A young jet pilot in 1957 leaves Germany in a single seat fighter plane. It’s Christmas Eve. He’s eager to get back to England so he can join his family Christmas morning. Along the way he loses his radio and his compass which makes accurate navigation in bad weather impossible. And, he’s limited on fuel and fears that ditching in the North Sea means certain death in the freezing water. Will his prayers be answered?
To be honest, the story does remind one of an old Twilight Zone episode, but that is meant as a compliment. The book is well written, the details of flying at night in an old fighter jet are believable, and there’s just enough of the supernatural to remind on of Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
It’s a solid and enjoyable read that has just the right mix of tension, reality, and fantasy. Plus, there are good black and white illustrations. Recommended.
Copyright (c) 2023 by Dennis D. McDonald
