I enjoyed much of the first half of this supposed historical fiction novel—until I ran into the author’s ahistorical put-down of the fighting ability and simple humanity of the Confederate soldier.
In the beginning, the novel gratifyingly defies the silly modern stereotypes of the evil South and the virtuous, slavery-destroying North. But author Kris Jackson apparently was concerned lest he go too far with the even-handed approach, and turned preachy. Or maybe he really believes the propaganda.
Building a tale around the history of the little-known Union Balloon Corps was a brilliant idea. Too bad the execution is so predictably PC. It isn’t above the fray at all. It’s beside the point.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 