[Review] Craig Thomas: 'Firefox'

When the near-mythical Mig-25, harnessing the NATO reporting name of Foxbat, entered service in the Soviet air-force in the early 70s, it was the fasted (it could reach Mach 3.2) plane ever. It also broke several altitude records (it could almost reach 40 kilometers). When the Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko defected with a Mig-25 to land in Japan in 1976, the US thought it was a gift from heaven. They quickly dismantled the plane to try to find its secrets. However, they were sorely disappointed, because the phenomenal speed was 'only' the result of the huge Tumansky R-15 turbojets. It could hardly ever reach its maximum speed, because the engines would overspeed and overheat at higher air speeds, possibly damaging them beyond repair. Furthermore, its electronics were of antiquated design. All in all, the Mig-25 Foxbat appeared a bit of a let-down.

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But Craig Thomas did not know all that when he started writing what would become 'Firefox', the thriller about the fictional successor to the Mig-25 Foxbat. The Mig-31 Firefox was even faster (Mach 5.0), had thought controlled weapons systems and was invisible to radar (...'perhaps a skin, even a paint'...). It was a stealth aircraft avant la lettre. The plane was deemed so advanced that the West were decades behind and a plan was set into motion to steal the prototype.

Mitchell Gant, an American pilot from the United States Air Force, is tasked with the job. He has a troubled past, and is mentally scarred from flying too many missions during the Vietnam War. These days, a psychiater would surely diagnose him with PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

'Firefox' (1977) was the first published book by Craig Thomas, though an earlier one called 'Rat Trap' was published soon after to capitalise on its success. Being the debut, one must give Craig Thomas some leeway if you try to review 'Firefox'. Yes, the thriller is brimming with action with hardly a moment to catch you breath. The character of Mitchell Gant is also well developed, but there the praise must end. All other characters remain like cardboard. All Russians are brutes, all scientists are human, all Brits are decent and all Americans are crude.

But, when all is said and done, 'Firefox' is a book you really should read (or re-read).

Buy the book here.