Dogfight-1973 by Mack Reynolds
Mack Reynolds' 1973 novel, Dogfight, is set in the near future, when the world is divided into two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The two countries are locked in a Cold War, and the only way to break the stalemate is to engage in a "dogfight" - a series of aerial combat missions between the two sides. The novel follows the story of two pilots, one American and one Soviet, who are chosen to participate in the dogfight. As the missions progress, the two pilots become friends, and their friendship is tested as they are forced to confront the realities of war. The novel is a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of the human cost of war, and the power of friendship to transcend political boundaries.
By Mack Reynolds · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Military Fiction · 970 words
First lines
Flying at 1600 m.p.h. you act with split-second timing after you sight the enemy. And you're allowed only one mistake -- your last!
My radar picked him up when he was about five hundred miles to my north-northeast and about forty-five miles above me. I switched the velocity calculator on him as fast as I could reach it.
What this Textopian page supports
Dogfight-1973 is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mack Reynolds, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mack Reynolds
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Military Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 970 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Dogfight-1973 by Mack Reynolds
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Dogfight-1973?
- How does this short story by Mack Reynolds fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book is set in the future and follows the story of a group of pilots in a futuristic dogfight.
- Adventure — The book follows the story of a group of pilots as they embark on a thrilling adventure.
- Military Fiction — The book follows the story of a group of pilots in a military dogfight.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in 1973 and follows the story of a group of pilots in a dogfight.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · calculator · card · chance · cubicle · cut · dmitri · dozen · enemy · evasion · feet