Biggles Flies East Review

Having read through Biggles Flies East and got all the good Algy bits out of it for the quote box (the quote box is having the unexpected effect of making me read through all the books with Algy in it; not sure if this is good or bad), I have to admit that I am surprised by how much my perspective of this book has changed during the course of this reading.

The last time I read Biggles Flies East might have been a couple of years ago (if not longer). It’s never been one of my favorite books, as it is quite Biggles-centric, and any Soppy favorite must be at least partially (read: all) centered on Algy at best. I’ve never really been that big a fan of dear old Erich, either, which might have had something to do with it. Also—and this may just be me—I’ve never thought that Johns was that good of a mystery writer (I present Biggles in the Orient and all the air police books as evidence of this), and this may have slightly spoiled my enjoyment of the book.

In any case, having said all that, during this reading of Flies East, I found myself realizing that this is one of only two full-length WWI novels (the other being Rescue Flight, which was rather more Thirty-oriented than Biggles- or Algy-oriented, although it does have some nice Algy moments, but we’ll get to those when I’m getting the quotes out of that book) where it’s just Biggles and Algy. And, no, not just Biggles and Algy, more importantly, young Biggles and Algy.

Why is this significant? Because in the later air police books, even though there are Biggles and Algy only books, they feature older Biggles and Algy, and even though there’s nothing wrong with them, young Biggles and Algy are just cooler. (Seriously, they just are.)

In fact, I would even go so far as to say that Biggles Flies East is the truest example of Biggles and Algy’s friendship out of all the Biggles books, with both of them being young and ready to do anything for their country and for each other, and each worrying about the others’ welfare, and knowing that at any second either one of them could be dead—note how, in the second chapter, when Algy is told that there is bad news, he immediately says, “Don’t tell me Biggles has crashed.” Similarly, Biggles is horrified when he thinks that his gunner has shot Algy down, and immediately blames himself for getting Algy posted out from France. There are also several instances where Algy gets angry on Biggles’ behalf—first, when he thinks that Biggles has been posted to H.E. because the Air Board has gone mad, and then later, when he thinks to himself that the people at the Air Board should be boiled in oil for sending Biggles out on such a dangerous mission.

These are all emotional moments that never really happened in any of the other books, because none of the other books were just young Biggles and Algy (this is all your fault, Ginger!) under really dire circumstances; even the WWI short stories were very light-hearted despite the grim situations conveyed, sometimes too light-hearted to carry the depth of emotion that Flies East does.

I don’t think that the lack of emotion in the later books was because the feelings or the caring were no longer there, but rather because that level of intense emotion was too difficult for a children’s book—child readers probably would have been unable to get it, and Flies East, I believe, was supposed to be marketed as an adult book.

In a way it’s a real pity that Johns didn’t write more WWI Biggles and Algy novels. It would have been nice to explore that level of friendship further. 

Collecting Biggles

I don’t think it would be fair to refer to myself as a “Biggles collector”. Admittedly, I do collect Biggles books, and have done so from my early teens, but compared to some of the more serious collectors (the ones who can sniff the binding of a book and tell you which year it was published in), I really am beyond amateur.

My collection is up to 60 odd books now, half in paperbacks (Red Fox, Armada, Knight) and half in no-dust-jacket hard covers (Dean and Sons, Oxford, Brock), with nary a first edition amongst them.

I’ve got pretty much all the Biggles books people can name off of the tops of their heads, Swastika, Flies East, Fails to Return, and so on. Most of the ones I don’t have are Air Police books, and some of those appear to be books with no Algy, so, really, I’m not in any particular hurry to get them anytime soon.

A while back someone on the Biggles Yahoo Group asked if maybe it was time to sell off his collection, as prices seemed to be dropping of late, and he’d been keeping the collection as a sort of nest egg for his children (at this point, I cast a guilty look towards my own Biggles collection. Maybe I should teach my future kids some sort of life skills…I don’t think my non-first-edition collection is going to make a good nest egg for anyone).

Some discussion ensued, with some people agreeing that he should consider selling, and others taking the view that Biggles books are amazing reads that can be passed on throughout generations. I don’t either agree or disagree with any of these views, but the discussion did give me much food for thought, which is why I’m here typing this post instead of working on my thesis (which I should have handed in…um…a looong time ago…)

Collections and the concept of collecting is a strange thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a little part of the brain located in the cerebral cortex or wherever that deals completely in the desire to collect stuff.

In so many ways Biggles is the perfect thing to collect. For starters, there are 98 books. And when you’re done reading those, you can collect all the first editions. And after that, you can collect every edition of every Biggles book ever. Whee!

And if you’re one of those people who somehow manage to get a lot of books really fast, there are Gimlet books to collect! Worrals books! Steely books! Space books! Every edition of every book W. E. Johns ever wrote!

Seriously, that’s enough collecting for a lifetime, isn’t it? And there’s always something to look forward to, since Norman Wright is republishing some of the Biggles books (new editions to collect!)

But really, is collecting a good thing? I started with four Red Fox books and a movie novelization wedged in the corner of a bookshelf and now I’m up to my current collection which is overflowing from a closet drawer. Every time I see the word “Bigg” anywhere my heart skips a beat. If I see a Biggles book I don’t own listed on eBay, I check the prices and start mentally calculating whether or not I can add it to my collection.

I haven’t gotten to the stage where I’m thinking about collecting first editions yet, but I wonder if I’m on the way there, and I worry that one day I’ll lose focus on Biggles and just be all about the collection.

I’m looking at my collection now and wondering if it’s time for me to say, “Okay, this is it.”

I’ve got all the “exciting” books, the ones with the brilliant Algy moments. Do I really need to chase after those Air Police books I don’t have? I don’t think I’m doing anyone a disservice by saying that the later Biggles books tend to be rather formulaic and dull, especially the ones with no Algy. (Seriously, Mr. Johns, you of all people should know that a Biggles book without Algy only counts as half a book at best.) That being the case, is there any point in reading (or even wanting to read) those books? There’s really nothing worse than settling in for a good read with a Biggles book only to find, three pages in, that Algy is staying behind to answer the phone.

In monetary terms I don’t think any of my books have or will ever appreciate dramatically in value. That is not to say that I was planning on selling any of my books in any case, but for me “collecting to make money” isn’t really much of an excuse.

What I think I’m trying to say here is that I don’t really have a reason to go on collecting Biggles books. I’ve read all the good ones, I’m not doing it for the money, so what am I doing it for?

But even as I say this, in my reasonable and rational and determined voice, I have the feeling that I can’t stop myself now. “Biggles radar” isn’t something that one can turn on and off at will. I know myself well enough to know that if the chance arises, I will definitely fight tooth and nail to complete my collection (in the same way that some people will fight tooth and nail to get their hands on a paper cup used by their favorite rock star. Not that I’m comparing Biggles books to a used paper cup.)

Is this addiction? Is this normal? Should we set up Biggles Anonymous for heavy collectors? 

What Would You Recommend As A First Biggles Book?

There comes a time in every Biggles (or Algy) lover’s life, that it falls to them to introduce their nearest and dearest to Biggles. This first impression can make or break a Biggles relationship, and therefore the first book must always be chosen with care.

Here are my top three picks for first Biggles book:

#1: Biggles Defies the Swastika

Cover of Biggles Defies the Swastika.
Image links to Amazon.

Find the Kindle version here: Biggles Defies the Swastika

I’m biased about this book. It was the first Biggles book I read, and it was the one that made and cemented my love for Biggles and Algy. It has some fantastic Algy quotes, great Algy action (he is rescued by Biggles, then he rescues Biggles, then Biggles…sort of rescues him again), and some of that trademark Algy daring, dashing and sarcasm. What more could a would-be Algy fan ask for?

Objectively speaking, the plot has some marvelous twists and turns. Biggles gets to be a Gestapo/double spy, is sent out on a mission to look for “Bigglesworth”, has to avoid Von Stalhein, rescue Algy and Ginger from various situations, and report back to Colonel Raymond at regular intervals. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong at all the worst moments. In short, Swastika is a excitement-packed tale from start to finish, but with plenty of lovely friendship moments, patriotic moments, super good luck moments, and just…Biggles moments.

Unfortunately for Bertie fans…there is no Bertie in this one. If you’re a Bertie fan, you might want to try recommending:

#2: Biggles, Flying Detective (also published as Sergeant Bigglesworth, CID)

Cover of Biggles' Dangerous Missions.
Contains Biggles In Australia
Biggles: Secret Agent
Biggles: Flying Detective
Biggles and the Secret Mission.
Image links to Amazon.

This is the very first Air Police book, right after WWII ends. This is a good choice for a first book as it has all the team present, and, unlike many of the later Air Police books, actually seems original and well-plotted. Flying Detective has some elements of mystery in it (not much, though, since Biggles pretty much figures out who the crooks are by the second chapter. After that, it’s just a matter of chasing them down).

Bertie lovers will no doubt remember the scene where Bertie flies all the way across the desert, gets help, and sweeps in to save Biggles, Algy, and Ginger just as a bunch of Arabs are about to get violent. Other notable scenes include Biggles and Ginger nearly getting shot and getting stuck inside a burning house with a corpse; Ginger’s almost death and long walk to meet Algy and Bertie; and Bertie’s brilliant flying that results in his leg injury (and lots of concern from Biggles!!). By the way, Wilks also puts in an appearance in this book as a high-ranking Group Captain.

#3: Biggles Flies East

Cover of Biggles Flies East
Image links to Amazon

Find the Kindle version here: Biggles Flies East

I’ve had people recommend Flies East to me as the perfect Biggles thriller. This book is, of course, the one where Biggles first meets Von Stalhein, his future archenemy (and unknowingly, his love rival). Set in WWI, there are several great passages detailing the great friendship and trust between Biggles and Algy, most notably when Biggles mistakenly thinks that his gunner has shot Algy down.

I don’t normally chose Flies East as a first Biggles book, even though it is undoubtedly a book chock full of Algy scenes, for the reason that WWI Biggles differs quite a lot from post-WWI Biggles, and also because Flies East can be a little confusing to people who have no prior knowledge of Biggles’ methods and his friends and associates. However, if you do happen to know someone who enjoys war thrillers, then by all means lend them a copy of Flies East.

Other good firsts that have been recommended to me include Biggles Flies North, Biggles Goes to War, and Biggles in the Baltic.