James Salter’s playmates and contemporaries included William Buckley, Jack Kerouac and Richard Avedon

James Salter flew more than 100 missions during the Korean War and had one kill, on US Independence Day, but never the five required to become an “ace” in the Air Force .

After selling the film rights of The Hunters he left the military to become a writer in France .

In 1967 he published the novel he called his “apogee’s book, A Sport and a Pastime.

In 1975 , the year Salter divorced his wife of 25 years , he published Light Years, with which marriage joined war and sex.

Jeffrey Meyers ’s biography is billed as the first full-length study in 26 years .

Meyers whose 55 books include biographies of Hemingway and Fitzgerald , and many others writes with more industry than scruple.

Salter 's ability to be sensitive as well as heroic is key to his magic.