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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Nelson Demille, Thomas Block Edition: Mass Market Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1998-01-01 ISBN: 0446604763 Number of pages: 480 Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Book Reviews of MaydayBook Review: Taut, tense and terrific. Summary: 5 Stars
I was coerced into buying this book because of an interest in flying and action/adventure novels. But once I started reading it I didn't remember why I needed coersion. It simply a terrific read from begginning to end. I thought that it would be similar to books like Arthur Hailey's 'Airport' which I had read years ago and quite enjoyed but I wondered how DeMille was going to do anything new with the genre. Although a big fan of the 'X-Files' and the like I was just about "conspiracied" out. But DeMille makes the missile tragedy and cover-up very believable. The attention to detail (as he acknowledged, Thomas Block's aeronautical knowledge was vital)is excellent but he never lets the technicalities (either the problems experienced at the altitude or the militaria) bog the story down. You find yourself in the cockpit right next to John Berry with your heart pounding. Interestingly the romantic sub plot was barely touched on and was refreshing in this age of sex/sexual tension influencing everything. Rightly, the protaganists put this to one side to concentrate on the more important issues at hand. This leads to the sexual tension being there, just in the periphery. 'Mayday' is brilliantly written and while originally published in the late 1970s, the version that I bought was updated for the 1990s (in much the same way the Stephen King updated 'The Stand') and I can honestly say it's an excellent book. I bought 'Mayday' about 3 months ago and quickly got my hands on and read 'Spencerville' and 'The General's Daughter' by DeMille (both of which are excellent) and we also now have 'Gold Coast', 'Plum Island' 'Word of Honour', 'The Talbot Odyssey' and 'By the Rivers of Babylon' in our bookcase. For fans of the action side of the story, I can also recommend Clive Cussler, whose earlier books resemble 'Mayday', including coincidentally one called 'Mayday', although I think its American title was 'The Mediterranean Caper'.
Summary of MaydayTwelve miles above the Pacific Ocean, a missile strikes a jumbo passenger jet. The flight crew is crippled or dead. Now, defying both nature and man, three survivors must achieve the impossible. Land the plane. From master storyteller Nelson DeMille and master pilot Thomas Block comes Maydaythe classic bestseller that packs a supersonic shock at every turn of the page....the most terrifyingly realistic air disaster thriller ever. Like a growing tidal wave, the escaping air was gathering momentum. A teenaged girl in aisle 18, seat D, near the port-side aisle, her seat dislocated by the original impact, suddenly found herself gripping her seat track on the floor, her overturned seat still strapped to her body. The seatbelt failed and the seat shot down the aisle. She lost her grip and was dragged after it. Her eyes were filled with horror as she dug her nails into the carpet, as the racing air pulled her toward the yawning hole that led outside. Her cries were unheard by even those passengers who sat barely inches away from her struggle. The noise of the escaping air was so loud that it was no longer decipherable as sound, but seemed instead a solid thing pounding at the people in their seats......
Literature & Fiction Books
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Word of Honorby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1987-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $2.25Price in other shops: $7.99
Night Fallby Nelson DeMille Vision; Published: 2005-11-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $1.00Price in other shops: $7.99
The Charm Schoolby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1989-02-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.12Price in other shops: $7.99
The Lion's Gameby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2002-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.99Price in other shops: $14.99
Spencervilleby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1995-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.99Price in other shops: $7.99
Cathedralby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1990-12-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.00Price in other shops: $7.99
The Talbot Odysseyby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1991-07-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.15Price in other shops: $7.99
By the Rivers of Babylonby Nelson DeMille Warner Books, Inc.; Published: 1990-06-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.55Price in other shops: $7.99
The Lionby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2011-06-07; Paperback; BookBest price: $7.19Price in other shops: $14.99
Word of Honorby Nelson DeMille Grand Central Publishing; Published: 1998-09; Paperback; BookBest price: $5.00Price in other shops: $14.99
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