Mr Christopher Shore's new project

[Andy in West Oz]

Sounds like a bloody good way to get hold of an affordable Fighters over Tunisia...at last!

[CENTURION]

Hello,

any news regarding the status of Mr. Shores' project? Do you know when the first book will be published?


Regards
Marco

[Frank Olynyk]

I checked with Chris about progress on the new Mediteranean volumes, and I can give the following information. Work continues on volume 1; the manuscript is about half finished (it will go to about mid January 1942). The work has been slowed by the 2TAF series, of which volume four should be published later this year; by his completion of Rod Smith's autobiography (Spitfire Smiths) due out from Grub Street "real soon now"; and by a recent (and unexpected) commission to write a history of the Fleet Air Arm (he docent's at the FAA Museum regularly).

I hesitate to give his estimate for turning in the manuscript of volume one, so suffice it to say "sometime in 2009". I would remind those anxiously looking forward to the book that Chris recently turned 70, and feels that he should be allowed to work at his pace, not the pace of our desires.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[CENTURION]

Frank,

Thank you very much.

We will patiently wait for his new wonderful book.



All the best
Marco

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Frank Olynyk

I checked with Chris about progress on the new Mediteranean volumes, and I can give the following information. Work continues on volume 1; the manuscript is about half finished (it will go to about mid January 1942). The work has been slowed by the 2TAF series, of which volume four should be published later this year; by his completion of Rod Smith's autobiography (Spitfire Smiths) due out from Grub Street "real soon now"; and by a recent (and unexpected) commission to write a history of the Fleet Air Arm (he docent's at the FAA Museum regularly).

I hesitate to give his estimate for turning in the manuscript of volume one, so suffice it to say "sometime in 2009". I would remind those anxiously looking forward to the book that Chris recently turned 70, and feels that he should be allowed to work at his pace, not the pace of our desires.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Here's hoping to Good Health & A VERY long life for Mr. Shores...I've always loved his books!

nickm

[Nokose]

Frank,
I know that we need to be patient but any further news for this year?
Best Regards,
Michael

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

Just to put this thread in perspective.
In 1969 two books carrying a really heavy impact were published. Two books that in my mind changed the whole perspective of what could be done regarding publishing aviation history of WW2

I had myself basically started my own interest in aviation history at the time and still remember stepping into Beaumont Aviation Bookshop (first visit) in 1970 spotting Francis Mason's Battle over Britain and bying it straight away, not believing my eyes. Later the same year I bought Shore's Fighter over the Desert. I would say these two books more than anything has formed my interest in life. Forty years later they are still valid and referred to on this site!

Shores was at the time roughly 30 years of age. Has really 40+ years gone by already? It seems not so long ago really. I think Chris more or less thinks the same.....

Cheers
Stig (unashamed admirer of Christopher Shores' books)

[John Beaman]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Guys

Just to put this thread in perspective.
In 1969 two books carrying a really heavy impact were published. Two books that in my mind changed the whole perspective of what could be done regarding publishing aviation history of WW2
Stig (unashamed admirer of Christopher Shores' books)

Amen to that, Stig. it was a "game changer" as they say...

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Amen to that, Stig. it was a "game changer" as they say...

Add to that category: "Last of the Eagles" by one John Beaman — at last an aviation author explained his reasoning.

[Frank Olynyk]

I talked with Chris on Saturday night, about cabbages and kings, and manuscripts. Volume 4 of 2nd TAF has just been published. At present he is finishing the details on the FAA history, having completed the index and photo captions. The book is scheduled for a June 5 release. Once the details have been taken care of he will take a short break for various family matters. He will then return to the manuscript of volume one, with the hope of turning it in before the end of the year, and (again, hopefully) publication in the spring. Volume one goes to mid-January 1942, and will be bigger than the original Fighters Over the Desert, with probably two more volumes to complete the Tunisian campaign in May 1943. If all goes well (economy, sales, health, etc) he will start the next volume next year with the hope of turning out a new volume in two years. However he would like to temporarily skip the North African campaign so he can research something new. The plan is to pick up at the end of the Tunisian campaign and go to probably the end of October 1943. I would then expect him to swing back and forth between North Africa and the 1943-45 period until completing the entire series. The final number of volumes has not been determined.

Please note the number of occurances of the word "hope" in the above.

I read Chris some of the recent responses to this thread and he was very pleased at the support shown.

Enjoy!

Frank.