Taxi Dancer

Now Back in Print!



Upon the 50th anniversary of the air war in Vietnam, Taxi Dancer is beloved author and decorated Vietnam air war veteran Joseph Heywoods lost classic that was introduced decades ago succinctly and powerfully: “Nam. The Air War. The First Novel to Tell the Story.”

As 50th anniversaries of the events of the Vietnam War happen for the next 10 years, this Lyons Press reissue of Taxi Dancer gives Joseph Heywood fans and others the opportunity to read his fictional account of that conflict’s air war through the eyes of Captain Barney South. In this novel, the first of Heywoods career, we meet the first Flying Ace of the Vietnam War, Captain Barney South, who has flown ninety hazardous missions. He has already used up more than his fair share of luck. With ten more missions to go, he doesnt need the brand of flak hes been getting from the brass, who have more use for dead heroes than live troublemakers. And now, theyre offering him a long shot—the most important mission of the war, they say—although Barney is convinced hes being set up.

Taxi Dancer is a novel based on an elite corps of jet pilots who flew controversial and highly dangerous bombing raids over North Vietnam. When it was first published, its front cover carried the following line: “Nam. The Air War. The First Novel to Tell the Story.” Author Joseph Heywood himself is a veteran of the Vietnam air war—1965-1970, USAF Instructor Navigator, KC-135 tanker, honorably discharged as captain. Vietnam veteran. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.