CHICKENHAWK

This conversational and personal history of a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War has a narrator who is totally into the spirit of the story. Lots of earthy conversations and conflicts provide ample opportunity for Ganser’s particular talent--characterization with vitality. However, he does not annoy with overacting, and he comfortably switches to informative prose. Lots of technical details about these “air ships” and their place in 1960s’ warfare are mixed in, and the combination of styles creates the narrative drive of this military memoir. The performance ofChickenhawk, bringing together men and war, is so frank in places that one often feels vicarious involvement. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]