The Hawks of Kamalon by Mike Reisig

The Hawks of Kamalon by Mike Reisig

This is the second time I have read this novel. I read it the first time shortly after it came out some twenty-two years ago and had fond memories of it. The second time I was somewhat less impressed. It’s overly long and very slow getting started, but if you stick with it, there is a lot of enjoyable action and a couple of very powerful scenes.

 

The basic plot is that a fantasy world where a basically peaceful people is fighting a technologically superior and extremely aggressive foe recruits (read—kidnaps) a squadron of pilots flying out of England against Germany in World War II. The pilots are unhappy about being kidnapped, but end up doing what the peaceful folk need without putting up any real argument. First, they defeat a major arial attack and second carry out a successful assault on the enemy only to find out that a feared invasion is very close to being launched.

 

What follows is a rather complicated plan to bolster the war-making ability of the peaceful kingdom in time to defend against the invasion. It involves raiding Nazi Germany to steal weapons with which the peaceful folk can fight back against their enemies. From this point forward the book starts to pick up speed toward an increasingly more effective pace. The actual final battle which takes place over approximately the last hundred pages of the book is well done. There are exciting tricks, heroic stands, and an important betrayal.

 

I’m glad I read the book a second time.