A story set in Rhodesia during the 1970s. They were the best of times and the worst of times. A time of forced political change and the battle to keep things as they were. This powerful, fast moving novel will enthrall as much as it will enlighten. Follow Andrew Mason from his days at an elite South African school, through his rise and fall as an ambitious young financial executive and the tragic events that lead him to the battlefield of the Rhodesian bush war and the beautiful country in which it was fought.
A powerful, passionately told story of danger, love and tragedy.
22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards
Entry Title Clouds In The Wind
Author: Ian Mackenzie
Judge Number: 61
Entry Category: Mainstream/Literary Fiction
Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 4/5
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 4/5
Production Quality and Cover Design: 4/5
Plot and Story Appeal: 5/5
Character Appeal and Development: 4/5
Voice and Writing Style: 4/5
Judge’s Commentary*:
CLOUDS IN THE WIND; by Ian Mackenzie.
The book’s title, Clouds in the Wind, is an expression that means futility, and nothing is more futile than war. In the 1970s in Southern Africa, successful business man Andrew Mason is drawn into the Rhodesian bush wars. With great narrative energy and a keen visual sense of detail, Ian Mackenzie guides us into the fray. He describes skirmishes with blood-curdling accuracy where the Rhodesian side wins every battle, but as we all know, they eventually lost the war. White supremacy is defeated.
The characterization in this book is excellent. The protagonist, Andrew Mason, is a respected and decorated soldier, but his personal life is a shambles, mostly due to the war. After his relationship with Merryl and her daughter is ended through an attack on their convoy, he goes through a series of wanton relationships until he meets Alyson Carstens.
The fragility of life is brought home to him, and to us, as one by one people he is close to and cares about deeply are lost to him
This story has a number of plot twists and exceptional drama that makes it a compelling read.
In the end we are left with the question: What will become of Andrew Mason, a soldier without a war?
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested is a good solid read with compelling characters and an excellent plot. It finishes with an ending that suggests a sequel, which would be welcome.
http://www.amazon.com/Ian-Mackenzie/e/B00ICC6J4O
https://www.createspace.com/4963562
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