Coincidence? I Think Not.

Readers of a certain age may remember an episode of Fantasy Island that involved a librarian who could, despite his nerdy appearance, do all sorts of wonderful things like sword fighting because he'd read about them in books. I happened to remember this because it may a distinct impression on my mind: even in my tender youth, I thought the notion was preposterous.

Well, age and wisdom may have a few things to say about my long-held notions. I recently reread one of my favorite pieces of military fiction:

Piece of Cake, by Derek Robinson, that tells the story of a British Hurricane Squadron from September, 1939 to September, 1940. (Before you ask, yes, I saw the dramatization Masterpiece Theatre ran a few years back. I thought it was rubbish.)

Anyhoo, having finished the novel, I dashed upstairs, popped in my WWII Air Combat game and immediately scored a Victoria Cross for successfully defending Bristol against an attack by a gang of ME-110's. (And this in a Spitfire, mind you, a plane I consider inferior to the Hurricane in close combat.)

So, message to you kids out there: keep reading. Someday, you might just save the world from an imaginary enemy!