The US Review of Books (USRB) highly praised “A Hero’s Life” by Arthur A. Edwards

“A Hero’s Life” by Arthur A. Edwards was acclaimed by Joslyn Vann of the US Review of Books. This book is dedicated to the author’s cousin and all of the other Air Force and Navy pilots killed in training accidents.

Arthur (Art) Edwards is a retired aerospace engineer and manager who designed, built, and operated large space simulation facilities at Lockheed Missiles, Sunnyvale, now Lockheed Martin, and Ford Aerospace, now Space Systems Loral, in Palo Alto.

He was also an adjunct professor who taught courses in engineering, business management, organizational behavior, leadership, and project management at San Jose State University, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of San Francisco. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in cybernetic systems from San Jose State University.

He was a naval officer and veteran of the Korean War, serving on an attack transport in the Sea of Japan and across the Pacific in the mid-1950s, transporting soldiers, marines, and airmen in and out of Inchon. He left the naval reserve a few years later as a lieutenant and is now retired and lives with his ex-school administrator wife in the Gold Country of California. 

While working in the aerospace industry and teaching, Mr. Edwards found time for his true love, playing timpani in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Chapman Symphony Orchestra, and the Sierra Symphony. He and his wife also sailed on San Francisco Bay in their Catalina thirty on weekends, and he was elected Commodore of the Oakland Yacht Club, Alameda, in 1991.

Now living in retirement in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he is working to help the homeless residents of El Dorado County by providing food, clothing, and shelter to those who need it the most. Combining that experience with his love of writing, a history of the homeless community in the California foothills will hopefully be completed this fall.

Please visit his company’s website at www.hangtownhaven.org. for more details.

“A Hero’s Life” by Arthur A. Edwards presents a story that will never leave the readers feeling the same after flipping the pages. Having served as an Air Force fighter pilot during World War II, Steve Pritchard now works as a test engineer for Western Aviation Company, a leading aerospace manufacturer. After successfully identifying a critical aircraft design flaw in an Air Force transport, Steve is tasked with investigating multiple mysterious crashes of the new F-87 Air Force jet fighter, a.k.a. the Leopard.

Crash site investigations have revealed no aircraft malfunction, but the Air Force’s subsequent rulings of pilot error are extremely controversial in light of the deaths of several highly skilled pilots. Pritchard is thrust into a volatile situation in which the media’s accusations of a cover-up could have far-reaching political implications.

Teaming up with NASA aeronautical engineer Dr. Charlie Collins, Pritchard makes discoveries that could be detrimental to his company’s Air Force defense contract and national security. As the investigation unfolds, Pritchard’s relentless pursuit of the truth leaves him in an ethical dilemma with potential career-ending and life-threatening consequences.

Here’s an excerpt from the US Review of Books that highlights:

“A compelling prologue details the mysterious circumstances surrounding the crash and subsequent death of the author’s cousin, Air Force fighter pilot First Lieutenant James Lyle Teeslink, and his wingman. Inspired by actual events, this book is an entertaining fictional depiction of a serious design flaw in one of the nation’s most famous fighter planes. The author creatively weaves intrigue, suspense, and a touch of romance into the intricate worlds of war history and aerospace engineering. Edwards’ commitment to helping the homeless is reflected in the book’s recurring theme of charity towards the less fortunate. Thought-provoking and profound, this book ultimately encourages readers to ponder their own morality when faced with the threat of losing everything they hold dear.”