Night Flying Avenger — Pete Grant

This ``autobiographical historical novel'' describes incidents in the lives of naval pilots during World War II. Grant tells anecdotes about college, flying school, and combat aboard the Saratoga in 1944 and 1945. Although the book is clearly heartfelt, it is poorly organized, confusing, and awkwardly written. The author has de-emphasized the combat and flying aspects of his tale and emphasizes historical background, even though in many cases the background does not seem to relate to the narrative. Grant presents no new insights and covers no new territory. This is recommended only for libraries with heavy demand for World War II fiction.-- Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army TRALINET Ctr., Fort Monroe, Va.