Publication
Penguin Books (2007), 256 pages
Original publication date
1956
Collections
Description
Captain Cleve Connell has already made a name for himself among pilots when he arrives in Korea during the war there to fly the newly operational F-86 fighters against the Soviet MIGs. His goal, like that of every fighter pilot, is to chalk up enough kills to become an ace. But things do not turn out as expected. Mission after mission proves fruitless, and Connell finds his ability and his stomach for combat questioned by his fellow airmen: the brash wing commander, Imil; Captain Robey, an ace whose record is suspect; and finally, Lieutenant Pell, a cocky young pilot with an uncanny amount of skill and luck. Disappointment and fear gradually erode Connell's faith in himself, and his dream of making ace seems to slip out of reach. Then suddenly, one dramatic mission above the Yalu River reveals the depth of his courage and honor. Originally published in 1956,The Hunters was James Salter's first novel. Based on his own experiences as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, it is a classic of wartime fiction. Now revised by the author and back in print on the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Air Force, the story of Cleve Connell's war flies straight into the heart of men's rivalries and fears.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member MikeFarquhar
The Hunters, by James Salter, is the perfect example of a book that just jamp out from me from the shelves of a bookshop that I would never have bought off of somewhere like amazon.
This is a reissued edition of a book labelled as a modern classic, and probably rightly so. It tells of American
This is a reissued edition of a book labelled as a modern classic, and probably rightly so. It tells of American
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Captain Cleve Connell, an expert fighter pilot, as he arrives at the frontline of the Korean War to challenge the Russian MiGs in the air. Sparsely told, this is what I assume Jed Mercurio was trying to evoke in Ascent, but where he stuttered, Salter's book sings. His ability to describe and evoke a war long since forgotten from the minds of most is superb, but - again, unlike Mercurio - he also pulls no punches with filling in the human element of his characters. Captivating from beginning to bittersweet end, an excellent war novel, and one I hope comes to renewed attention through its reissue. Show Less
LibraryThing member ben_a
I will need to write more on this later. The standard take would be "a war story written in a spare, attractive style." Yet the war story is really secondary. Instead of pilots chasing MIGs, they could be salesmen chasing deals. This is a book about how to be a man: the role that excellence plays,
Recommended
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the role that respect plays, the role that luck plays. I am tempted to say also that it is a story that argues for the impossibility of being a successful man in the absence of marriage. It is not coincidental that the scene introducing the villain Pell shows him behaving ungallantly towards a woman. Recommended
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LibraryThing member wandering_star
The Hunters is about a group of US fighter pilots during the Korean War. The main character, Cleve Connell, has always been a good flyer. Feeling that it comes naturally to him, he's never needed to be proud or arrogant about his abilities. He likes to take the necessary risks - and he loves to
The book is really vivid when describing the group, with its competitiveness and camaraderie. There is a clear demarcation between the cautious few who are concerned about getting out alive and afraid of what might happen (exemplified by a pilot who each mission fills the pockets of his flying jacket with comforts in case he has to land in enemy territory - chocolate, cigarettes, handwarmers), and the lucky, (over-)confident, bombastic "heroes". Some of those heroes, of course, haven't done everything they claim to - after all, you make your own luck.
And yes, since you ask, the prose style is excellent. The words manage to convey an amazing amount of emotion - the uplift of Cleve's first flying mission, compared to the dull slog of his preparations on the ground, and the surges of excitement, panic and disappointment he goes through during the flights. And it's also a great depiction of the way that leadership can slip away from someone - the way that others can lose confidence in him, and the spiralling effect that has.
If I had any complaints about the book it would be that occasionally the next twist in the story is fairly predictable. But, given the fatalistic tone of the way the story develops, I think that's something I can forgive.
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fly. But when he arrives at his new squadron, his luck turns bad. The book examines how Cleve - a fundamentally decent person - deals with that situation, his disappointment in himself and the gradual way in which the rest of the squadron distance themselves from him.The book is really vivid when describing the group, with its competitiveness and camaraderie. There is a clear demarcation between the cautious few who are concerned about getting out alive and afraid of what might happen (exemplified by a pilot who each mission fills the pockets of his flying jacket with comforts in case he has to land in enemy territory - chocolate, cigarettes, handwarmers), and the lucky, (over-)confident, bombastic "heroes". Some of those heroes, of course, haven't done everything they claim to - after all, you make your own luck.
And yes, since you ask, the prose style is excellent. The words manage to convey an amazing amount of emotion - the uplift of Cleve's first flying mission, compared to the dull slog of his preparations on the ground, and the surges of excitement, panic and disappointment he goes through during the flights. And it's also a great depiction of the way that leadership can slip away from someone - the way that others can lose confidence in him, and the spiralling effect that has.
If I had any complaints about the book it would be that occasionally the next twist in the story is fairly predictable. But, given the fatalistic tone of the way the story develops, I think that's something I can forgive.
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LibraryThing member TheAmpersand
At the close of his career, James Salter seems to be getting another look from modern readers. I don't know if "The Hunters" qualifies as a lost classic, but it's a well-crafted novel and well worth a reader's time. In many ways, its an atypical war book. It's easy to predict how the book's plot
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will unfold, but there's also a lot in here about the boredom that often comes with war: the novel's pilots often encounter empty skies on their missions, and their aerial combats are often over in a matter of minutes. Salter's can't exactly be called a cynic, but his descriptions of the complex, punishing social hierarchy that governs the relationships between his characters seem to have little to do with traditional views of wartime heroism. Though the pilots in "The Hunters" never seem to question the logic behind the Korean War, the author makes it clear that merit and fame do not always go to the most deserving among them. Salter's description of the cloistered, competitive life at a South Korean airbase reminded me a little of Melville's careful description of the pecking order on the Pequod. The emotions that predominate in this novel are loneliness and anxiety, which seems fitting enough for a kind of warfare in which enemies are barely glimpsed and men fly -- and usually die -- in relative isolation. Still, Salter's descriptions of the experience of flying and fighting are beautiful, and probably could only have been written by a former pilot. Not an uplifting novel, but recommended nonetheless. Show Less
LibraryThing member Al99
This has been one of my favorite books for a long time. I first read it over 20 years ago when I was a young Navy pilot, thinking it was a great adventure story about life in a fighter squadron (which it is). But I think Ben_a's review really nails it, this is a book that talks about so much more,
As far as writing goes, there is not a wasted word in this text. Yet the sparse writing perfectly conveys both the action of combat flying as well as the angst and frustration of the characters. Whenever I stumble into some overwritten, pompous Delillo-like modern novel and feel frustrated with american literature, I pick this up and read it again.
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and find it as applicable to my life now as a businessman as I ever did as young man in a squadron. The strength of this book are really it's thoughts on character, integrity and the role of luck/fate in the legacy you ultimately leave as a man.As far as writing goes, there is not a wasted word in this text. Yet the sparse writing perfectly conveys both the action of combat flying as well as the angst and frustration of the characters. Whenever I stumble into some overwritten, pompous Delillo-like modern novel and feel frustrated with american literature, I pick this up and read it again.
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LibraryThing member jwhenderson
I read this novel about fighter pilots during the Korean War in 1998 shortly after it was published in a revised edition. It was James Salter's debut novel about USAF fighter pilots during the Korean War, first published in 1956. It is one of the best of that breed that I have read. Salter himself
Salter was 31 when he published the novel and made his protagonist, Captain Cleve Connell, the same age. He describes 31 as being "the end for him" as a fighter pilot: "...not too old, certainly; but it would not be long. His eyes weren't good enough any more. With an athlete, the legs failed first. With a fighter pilot, it was the eyes." Salter himself resigned from the Air Force soon after the publication of The Hunters to pursue an alternate passion, writing.
Salter's novel excels both with an excellent prose style and appealing storytelling that keeps the reader transfixed. I enjoyed this book tremendously and followed up by reading his memoir, Burning the Days.
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was a fighter pilot with the rank of Captain who saw combat from February to August 1952. He kept a detailed diary of his tour and the novel closely follows a chronology of events he experienced as an F-86 Sabre pilot with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, based at Kimpo Air Base, Korea. Salter was 31 when he published the novel and made his protagonist, Captain Cleve Connell, the same age. He describes 31 as being "the end for him" as a fighter pilot: "...not too old, certainly; but it would not be long. His eyes weren't good enough any more. With an athlete, the legs failed first. With a fighter pilot, it was the eyes." Salter himself resigned from the Air Force soon after the publication of The Hunters to pursue an alternate passion, writing.
Salter's novel excels both with an excellent prose style and appealing storytelling that keeps the reader transfixed. I enjoyed this book tremendously and followed up by reading his memoir, Burning the Days.
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LibraryThing member neurodrew
The Air Force sent its F86 SaberJets several times a day on sweeps above the Yalu River during the Korean War, sometimes encountering MIG fighters. The fighter pilots lived for the encounters with the MIGs, because only the destruction of a MIG in combat counted for anything among them. Cleve
A sample, at the end of the book, as Cleve Connell launches on his last, fatal flight:
“Free of the gravitational forces of reality, he sat in the sunshine and looked out over a crystal empire. Antung lay under a dome of clear air that reached every horizon. The river, its bridges, and the earthen town beside it were as small as a history book map. It was almost sleep-inducing. He knew a tranquillity as timeless as a dream of deepest waters. If death were ever to touch him here, it would be with a gesture of equality, with fingertips only. In this high, sterile realm he would fight and, conquering, become immortal”
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Connell is an older pilot, flying since the end of WWII, but is going into his first combat. He shoots down only one MIG, and is lost on his 97th mission, but his story, and those of his compatriots, is beautifully told, in poetic and vivid prose. Salter was a fighter pilot in Korea, and this edition of the novel was re-issued for the 50th anniversary of the Air Force.A sample, at the end of the book, as Cleve Connell launches on his last, fatal flight:
“Free of the gravitational forces of reality, he sat in the sunshine and looked out over a crystal empire. Antung lay under a dome of clear air that reached every horizon. The river, its bridges, and the earthen town beside it were as small as a history book map. It was almost sleep-inducing. He knew a tranquillity as timeless as a dream of deepest waters. If death were ever to touch him here, it would be with a gesture of equality, with fingertips only. In this high, sterile realm he would fight and, conquering, become immortal”
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LibraryThing member oparaxenos
I read about Salter in a book review and decided to give "The Hunters" a try. This was a surprisingly good book. I opened it not expecting much, and found myself riveted by the protagonist's anxiety about proving his worth as a flier. Well worth a read.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Published in 1956, The Hunters is the debut novel of James Salter and is a story about American fighter pilots during the Korean War. Based on his own experiences flying combat missions in Korea, this is a chilling tale of men under extreme pressure to survive in a perilous situation but also to
Captain Cleve Cornell arrives in Korea as an honored World War II pilot. His superior officer has high expectations that Cleve will lead his flight to success and produce results. Cleve feels the pressure but is sure that he will be able to get the job done successfully, but as time goes by, his group seems to always to be in the wrong place or simply miss out on the fights that do occur. Cleve’s self-confidence and his reputation suffer. The author totally draws the reader in this tale as he describes the missions, the pilot’s philosophy, and the jealousies and competition that each pilot feels to make a kill and build his reputation.
I found The Hunters to be an excellent novel about war, in particular men who engage in aerial combat. This emotionally complex story was elevated by the author’s outstanding writing which gave a sense of immediacy and reality to this powerful narrative.
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perform and make confirmed “kills”.Captain Cleve Cornell arrives in Korea as an honored World War II pilot. His superior officer has high expectations that Cleve will lead his flight to success and produce results. Cleve feels the pressure but is sure that he will be able to get the job done successfully, but as time goes by, his group seems to always to be in the wrong place or simply miss out on the fights that do occur. Cleve’s self-confidence and his reputation suffer. The author totally draws the reader in this tale as he describes the missions, the pilot’s philosophy, and the jealousies and competition that each pilot feels to make a kill and build his reputation.
I found The Hunters to be an excellent novel about war, in particular men who engage in aerial combat. This emotionally complex story was elevated by the author’s outstanding writing which gave a sense of immediacy and reality to this powerful narrative.
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LibraryThing member viking2917
James Salter's debut novel about fighter pilots in Korea during the Korean War, of which he was one. While the aviation and battle scenes are vividly rendered, that's not what the book is about. This is about men in competition, within their teams and with the enemy. The social dynamics of this
""What is your ambition?" she asked after a while. Cleve closed his eyes. There had been many ambitions, all of them true at the time. They were scattered behind him like the ashes of old campfires, though he had warmed himself at every one of them"
or
"Suddenly Pell called out something at three o’clock. Cleve looked. He could not tell what it was at first. Far out, a strange, dreamy rain was falling, silver and wavering. It was a group of drop tanks, tumbling down from above, the fuel and vapor streaming from them. Cleve counted them at a glance. There were a dozen or more, going down like thin cries fading in silence. That many tanks meant MiGs. He searched the sky above, but saw nothing."
For a first novel (or for that matter any novel), this is a great, insightful novel with amazing writing.
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kind of person are so well captured. The competition, the politics, the loves & hates, the self-doubt. The writing is everywhere very vivid and evocative. ""What is your ambition?" she asked after a while. Cleve closed his eyes. There had been many ambitions, all of them true at the time. They were scattered behind him like the ashes of old campfires, though he had warmed himself at every one of them"
or
"Suddenly Pell called out something at three o’clock. Cleve looked. He could not tell what it was at first. Far out, a strange, dreamy rain was falling, silver and wavering. It was a group of drop tanks, tumbling down from above, the fuel and vapor streaming from them. Cleve counted them at a glance. There were a dozen or more, going down like thin cries fading in silence. That many tanks meant MiGs. He searched the sky above, but saw nothing."
For a first novel (or for that matter any novel), this is a great, insightful novel with amazing writing.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0141188642 / 9780141188645
Physical description
256 p.; 7.8 inches
Pages
256