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|title=The Last Pilot

|sort=Last Pilot

|author=Benjamin Johncock

|reviewer=Rebecca Foster

|summary=Cinematic descriptions of the desert setting plus excellent characters and dialogue enliven this debut novel about a test pilot and his family troubles during America's Space Race.

|rating=4

|isbn=9781908434845

|website=http://www.benjohncock.com/writing/home.html

}}

After Jim's spiral downwards, the lovely ending comes as a pleasant surprise. If I allowed myself small points of criticism, I would say that it's a challenge to accept the passage of time in the final 50 pages, and that a keen interest in astronauts is probably a boon to keep readers going through the test flight portions, which to me were much less compelling than the domestic drama of Jim, Grace and Florence. Still, anyone will be able to relate to the contrast between ambition and life's let-downs. As Grace's doctor advises her, 'Live your life. Don't waste it lamenting what you think is required to complete it.'

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