Fulcrum : A Top Gun Pilot's Escape From the Soviet Empire

Rating:
Summary: Great book, when it sticks to its story
Review: "Fulcrum" tells the story of Alex Zuyev, a Soviet fighter pilot who flew his MiG-29 fighter across the Black Sea to Turkey in the spring of 1989. An experienced and gifted aviator, Zuyev was never enamored with communism long enough t become disillusioned with it. "Fulcrum" recounts Zuyev's childhood, joining the VVS, training for fighter pilot duty, and managing to miss Afghanistan (though he lobbied hard to go into a combat unit, his skills made him a natural choice for the first slot chosen to fly the advanced MiG-29). At every turn, Zuyev is beaten down by the rigors of living in the CCCP - mindless dogmatism dominate much of the citizenry, while corruption and cronyism typify life among the higher-levels. By 1985 and Gorbachev, the Soviet Union is terminal - with the economy in shambles and Afghnanistan bleeding the cream of the Russian military blind. Even Gorbachev's good intentions backfire (like an experiment in prohibition that only invigorates the black market for Vodka, and drives everybody else to kill themselves seeking more dangerous substances to feed the national tradition of alcoholism). Frustrated with the Soviet government, and fearing that he might be ordered to fly strike missions against civilian unrest, Zuyev decided it was time to get out. Though admitting he knew safer ways to escape the Soviet Union (he openly scoffed at the myth that the Soviet frontier is an impassible wall), Zuyev decides that his defection will be spectacular. Concocting an elaborate plan involving a cake spiked with sleeping pills, Zuyev plots to steal one of his squadron's MiG-29's, along with its advanced missiles. Nothing goes according to plan, but Zuyev manages to get his jet to freedom (only to see it handed back to the Russians, missiles and all once he is granted asylum in Turkey).

"Fulcrum" is both enlightening and disappointing. Certainly we've got a more inside look at the insides of Soviet life and the red military machine than we've had before, but the resulting story is one we've read about or heard about countless times - that life in the CCCP was a dispiriting grind between corruption and greed in the inner circles and robotic communism and deprivation everywhere else. Doubtless, the Soviets deserved their bad rap, but there's little point to writing a book that does more to feed our biases than informs them. Zuyev gives us an unparalleled look into the VVS, the branch of Soviet Military dedicated to long-range, offensive air operations (The Soviets had no single branch of the military for their Air Force, much as our AF was little more than a branch of the army until 1947). At that point, "Fulcrum" rules, surpassing "MiG Pilot", the true story of Viktor Belenko who flew to the west in the seventies. The novelty of concentrating on characters who otherwise exist as missile-fodder in Dale Brown novels is worth the price of the book. Unfortunately, book seldom focuses on dedicated red fliers and their cranky MiGs - frequently interrupted to more anecdotes about the nightmare of soviet life. Worse, when Zuyev does get back to being a fighter pilot, Zuyev never conveys what it's like to actually fly one of those amazing machines we call tactical aircraft. This is especially annoying because Zuyev's background provided an excellent method for fleshing out the experience of flying the MiG-29: his prior experience flying the older, faster but less agile MiG-23. Each plane is so distinct from the other, that each also provides a perfect counterpoint to the other. Zuyev manages to entirely skip the sensation of first flying the -23, his first combat aircraft (while the -23 was not new when Zuyev first completed flight training, his class was the first to skip the older MiG-21). Though stories of soviet life are necessary to frame the context of Zuyev's story, Zuyev turns that aspect of the story into the main story, one that overshadows even the wonder plane that becomes Zuyev's future. Instead the story of being a MiG pilot (the one I cracked open this book expecting to read) is painfully abbreviated. We don't even get a meaningful look into the flaws of the new jet (which had the directional instability common to contemporary aircraft of the west, but lacked the computer-augmented fly-by-wire controls standard in such aircraft; Zuyev mentions a flaw in the -29's early radar, but apparently one rectified earlier, since he never details it in his own plane; though gifted with supreme agility for a dogfighter, the MiG-29's small size meant it had painfully short range, while its pilots lacked the unobstructed visibility enjoyed by western pilots, and otherwise essential for dogfighting). Zuyev further muddies the book when taking another path entirely - detailing a list of now revealed Soviet secrets, including those dealing with the fate of American POWs, and Soviet decisionmaking in the 1983 KAL shootdown. While those subjects are important, the book places far too much importance on Zuyev's perspective merely because he is a Soviet, even though his personal proximity to those secrets is only slightly closer than that of the rest of us. (I doubt very many Americans would accept a similar account on the Iranian Airbus incident or the Stark incident merely because they came from US sailors who were otherwise nowhere near those incidents when they occurred).

In short, "Fulcrum" is two books - a very often excellent book on an underserved topic, but an even more frequently frustrating book that gets in the way of the more interesting story.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, when it sticks to its story
Review: "Fulcrum" tells the story of Alex Zuyev, a Soviet fighter pilot who flew his MiG-29 fighter across the Black Sea to Turkey in the spring of 1989. An experienced and gifted aviator, Zuyev was never enamored with communism long enough t become disillusioned with it. "Fulcrum" recounts Zuyev's childhood, joining the VVS, training for fighter pilot duty, and managing to miss Afghanistan (though he lobbied hard to go into a combat unit, his skills made him a natural choice for the first slot chosen to fly the advanced MiG-29). At every turn, Zuyev is beaten down by the rigors of living in the CCCP - mindless dogmatism dominate much of the citizenry, while corruption and cronyism typify life among the higher-levels. By 1985 and Gorbachev, the Soviet Union is terminal - with the economy in shambles and Afghnanistan bleeding the cream of the Russian military blind. Even Gorbachev's good intentions backfire (like an experiment in prohibition that only invigorates the black market for Vodka, and drives everybody else to kill themselves seeking more dangerous substances to feed the national tradition of alcoholism). Frustrated with the Soviet government, and fearing that he might be ordered to fly strike missions against civilian unrest, Zuyev decided it was time to get out. Though admitting he knew safer ways to escape the Soviet Union (he openly scoffed at the myth that the Soviet frontier is an impassible wall), Zuyev decides that his defection will be spectacular. Concocting an elaborate plan involving a cake spiked with sleeping pills, Zuyev plots to steal one of his squadron's MiG-29's, along with its advanced missiles. Nothing goes according to plan, but Zuyev manages to get his jet to freedom (only to see it handed back to the Russians, missiles and all once he is granted asylum in Turkey).

"Fulcrum" is both enlightening and disappointing. Certainly we've got a more inside look at the insides of Soviet life and the red military machine than we've had before, but the resulting story is one we've read about or heard about countless times - that life in the CCCP was a dispiriting grind between corruption and greed in the inner circles and robotic communism and deprivation everywhere else. Doubtless, the Soviets deserved their bad rap, but there's little point to writing a book that does more to feed our biases than informs them. Zuyev gives us an unparalleled look into the VVS, the branch of Soviet Military dedicated to long-range, offensive air operations (The Soviets had no single branch of the military for their Air Force, much as our AF was little more than a branch of the army until 1947). At that point, "Fulcrum" rules, surpassing "MiG Pilot", the true story of Viktor Belenko who flew to the west in the seventies. The novelty of concentrating on characters who otherwise exist as missile-fodder in Dale Brown novels is worth the price of the book. Unfortunately, book seldom focuses on dedicated red fliers and their cranky MiGs - frequently interrupted to more anecdotes about the nightmare of soviet life. Worse, when Zuyev does get back to being a fighter pilot, Zuyev never conveys what it's like to actually fly one of those amazing machines we call tactical aircraft. This is especially annoying because Zuyev's background provided an excellent method for fleshing out the experience of flying the MiG-29: his prior experience flying the older, faster but less agile MiG-23. Each plane is so distinct from the other, that each also provides a perfect counterpoint to the other. Zuyev manages to entirely skip the sensation of first flying the -23, his first combat aircraft (while the -23 was not new when Zuyev first completed flight training, his class was the first to skip the older MiG-21). Though stories of soviet life are necessary to frame the context of Zuyev's story, Zuyev turns that aspect of the story into the main story, one that overshadows even the wonder plane that becomes Zuyev's future. Instead the story of being a MiG pilot (the one I cracked open this book expecting to read) is painfully abbreviated. We don't even get a meaningful look into the flaws of the new jet (which had the directional instability common to contemporary aircraft of the west, but lacked the computer-augmented fly-by-wire controls standard in such aircraft; Zuyev mentions a flaw in the -29's early radar, but apparently one rectified earlier, since he never details it in his own plane; though gifted with supreme agility for a dogfighter, the MiG-29's small size meant it had painfully short range, while its pilots lacked the unobstructed visibility enjoyed by western pilots, and otherwise essential for dogfighting). Zuyev further muddies the book when taking another path entirely - detailing a list of now revealed Soviet secrets, including those dealing with the fate of American POWs, and Soviet decisionmaking in the 1983 KAL shootdown. While those subjects are important, the book places far too much importance on Zuyev's perspective merely because he is a Soviet, even though his personal proximity to those secrets is only slightly closer than that of the rest of us. (I doubt very many Americans would accept a similar account on the Iranian Airbus incident or the Stark incident merely because they came from US sailors who were otherwise nowhere near those incidents when they occurred).

In short, "Fulcrum" is two books - a very often excellent book on an underserved topic, but an even more frequently frustrating book that gets in the way of the more interesting story.

Rating:
Summary: What an amazing book!
Review: ...This book taught me a lot about life. There were so many obstacles he had to overcome. I have always been amazed by the strength and endurance this man had.I never knew a person could endure such hardships and still be so unbelievably focused.When I get depressed and feel I'M having hard times I always think back to his story and feel ashamed of myself for thinking so selfishly. He was truly a sensitive and beautiful soul... This book shows the determined and powerful side of Alex, and his story is truly incredible. I honestly hope you will take the time to read the book. It will take you on a trip that you never though possible. The adreneline rush, the tears, the love, and most important, the incredible adventures of Alexander Zuyev...

Rating:
Summary: The world has lost a courageous individual.
Review: I just saw an Associated Press news article telling of the death of Alexander Zuyev on June 10, 2001. He was only 40 years old. He and a friend died last Sunday when the Yakovlev 52 they were flying crashed in Washington state north of Seattle.

Read this book. It gives a fascinating description not only of growing up in the Soviet Union but of the difficulty of becoming a military pilot. It also gives a sickening picture of just how badly communism chewed up and destroyed its best people: Zuyev's own mother--whom he rescued--and some of his fellow pilots who weren't so lucky. His decision to defect was not made lightly or easily. The corruption and contradictions he saw were too much to take anymore. He had the courage to leave it all behind and take a chance with a nation he had been told so many lies about. The drugged cake was a stroke of genius.

Sadly, a plane crash has done what a sentry's bullet in the arm did not. This world is a poorer place. I never met him but I wish I had, if only to say "Thank you."

Rating:
Summary: The world has lost a courageous individual.
Review: I just saw an Associated Press news article telling of the death of Alexander Zuyev on June 10, 2001. He was only 40 years old. He and a friend died last Sunday when the Yakovlev 52 they were flying crashed in Washington state north of Seattle.

Read this book. It gives a fascinating description not only of growing up in the Soviet Union but of the difficulty of becoming a military pilot. It also gives a sickening picture of just how badly communism chewed up and destroyed its best people: Zuyev's own mother--whom he rescued--and some of his fellow pilots who weren't so lucky. His decision to defect was not made lightly or easily. The corruption and contradictions he saw were too much to take anymore. He had the courage to leave it all behind and take a chance with a nation he had been told so many lies about. The drugged cake was a stroke of genius.

Sadly, a plane crash has done what a sentry's bullet in the arm did not. This world is a poorer place. I never met him but I wish I had, if only to say "Thank you."

Rating:
Summary: Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Review: This has to be one of the most engrossing titles I have read in a long time. Zuyev gives all the details of life in the Soviet Union from boyhood to elite fighter pilot. Soviet tactics and technology--particularly that dealing with the MIG-29 "Fulcrum"--as well as the barbaric way the Russian government treated its people are included. Zuyev is a man who risked everything--and lost perhaps more--in his struggle to reach freedom.