A Sweeping Tale of Flight

This book is a 2008 Cybils Finalist for Fantasy and Science Fiction.

From his cloudy beginnings — Conor was born high in the sky — to his heroic rescue of a princess, Conor’s lucky breaks are the stuff of legend around the kingdom of Great Saltee. He was born in flight, and born to fly. He and his teacher, Victor, are longing to create a flying machine. King Nicholas wants that, too. He encourages their experimentation, buying them rolls of silk, cotton, and balsa wood for gliders and other air transport.

But not everyone is a fan of flight. Victor, Nicholas, Conor, and even Conor’s parents are caught up in the web of a madman, whose furious dream is to destroy them all, and take the island kingdom for himself. Just when his life — his love, his hopes and dreams are about to rise from the ground, a cruel attack sends everything shattering to the ground below.

Through a torturous series of plans, counterplans, terrible pain, and bitter days of waiting, Conor battles for his life, and his dream. If he can only keep his sanity, and put his true identity behind him, there might be a chance… maybe. And then? The only way out is up.

Eoin Colfer surprised many with a complete departure from the Artemis style novel, but 19th century Conor is also a boy genius, and Colfer’s flair for description and detail will make this an enjoyable read for aeronautics enthusiasts and fans of a good adventure tale alike. If you enjoyed Kenneth Oppel’s Airborne series, this will be a faster-paced next step.

Buy Airman from an independent bookstore near you!