Author: lazloferran

Just a short update – Aviation Novel WIP

Just a short update as I haven’t posted for a while.

My WWII drama/adventure is going well. Inspired by 633 Squadron it aims to make stars out of Short Stirlings and Hurricanes – quite a tall order. I am approaching the climax and so will have a draft manuscript in the early new year.

I have an erotic psycho-drama which I work on at odd moments and that is really only about a quarter completed as a first draft.

The sci-fi sequel to Iron II: Unknown Place, Unknown Universe is on hold at the moment so that I can complete the WWII story. I only wrote about one chapter early this year. Not sure when I will return to it.

Lastly there is a book on Busking which I am attempting. It’s autobiographical but not meant to be about me really. It’s more of a documentary about busking in London in the late 80s and early 90s. I have finished a draft of Chapter One and have rewritten it a number of times. I think I am getting close to the sort of feel I want.

Review of George Lucas’ Red Tails

What a wasted opportunity for George Lucas. Here we have the story of the first black (is that the correct term now?) fighter pilots in WWII and their struggle to be allowed to fight for their country, up against entrenched and endemic Racism. Not only did they succeed, but they won a combined award for their outstanding bravery and performance. Their job was to protect American Bombers raiding Germay, and they were the only Squadron who managed to lose not one single Bomber during their missions. So you have: politics, heroism, great action, technology in abundance, lots of potential personal stories and history all in one story. You also have the guy who made Star Wars at the helm. It should have been great; it was barely better than pap.

In fact I resigned myself to watching it purely for how bad it was – before the title credits. It opens with a really dire CGI bit of action with American P-40 Kittyhawks(?) fighting Me109s. The German pilots are portayed as ice-cold manifestations of the devil who speak like Cybermen. Somebody has been reading too many Eagle comics. The stereotypes were just way too much to take. The dialogue was pretty bad too. Continue reading “Review of George Lucas’ Red Tails” →

Professional Review of Too Bright the Sun

I have my first professional review, from from Probe Magazine. Probe Magazine is based in South Africa, I believe, and my author friend Gary Kuyper must have sent them a copy. Because here it is! The scan is very low resolution, but this was somebody’s scan of a document, so there isn’t anything better, but you can read the transcript below.

Lazlo Ferran – Too Bright the Sun

“Jake Nanden has been waiting for over ten years to bring justice to the killer of best friend, Gary Esquire. Set in and around the moons of Jupiter, Major Jake Nanden, the narrator of the story, is fighting a losing battle to save his countrymen from defeat.

There is action and violence along with various twists but as a trained officer Nanden’s whole attitude is strange. Too often there are inconsistencies and also too often his ideas in battle are simply stupid. It becomes obvious that the author has little idea of battle or command.

Entertaining enough if a reader can ignore the flaws.

Three out of five
Ian Jamieson”