Of the books in the SF category, many do fall into the alternate-history genre, in particular, the more specialized steampunk sub-genre. There is still a remarkable bias towards so-called “young adult fiction.” That the bias exists is something of a head-scratcher after all the category occupies a growing space on the shelves of most bookstores, particularly in the SF and Fantasy sections, prime examples being the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series, both of which are best sellers and major motion picture franchises. I looked back at her, the hint of a Clint Eastwood glare in my eyes. The cashier looked at the book and sniffed at me, “That’s young adult fiction!” I found Airborn sitting on the shelves of my local thrift shop since knowing the book was set in an alternate world and thus fit into the scope of this blog, I picked it up and took it to the cashier. If you haven't made your acquaintance with this novel, it's past time you do.Ī funny thing happened on the way to this book review. And although classified as a “young adult” (see my comments below), I highly recommend Airborn for all ages. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and later authors such as Michael Moorcock and should satisfy every reader. Our course now firmly set, the plot moves forward to a climax involving dastardly air pirates, a mysterious island (what novel would be without that?) the resolution of the mystery of the winged creatures, young love, and much daring-do.Īirborn has many touches right of Jules Verne, H.G. One of the late-arriving passengers is a young woman whom Matt immediately develops a connection with her and her priggish chaperone (a bit of a cliché here). In true heroic fashion, Matt tries to keep above it for the most part and Oppel plays this internal struggle quite well. Matt is still serving as a cabin boy on the Aurora, after narrowly losing out to a much-deserved promotion to the son the airship line’s owner. He later dies, but not before he and his diary reveal tantalizing clues about strange winged creatures.įlash forward one year later. It is brought aboard with its sole passenger an elderly man clinging to life. While serving as a lookout during a cross of the Pacificus (read: Pacific Ocean), Matt spots a battered balloon drifting nearby.

For a novel of just over 320 pages (in paperback), author Oppel takes great care in both character development and in building the world they inhabit. Our chief protagonist, Matt Cruse, is cabin boy aboard the airship Aurora, the same ship his father once sailed upon before he met his untimely demise. Instead, giant airships have become the primary method of transport, plying the air routes around the world. Airborn is a novel of high adventure set in an alternate Edwardian era where heavier-than-air travel never quite got off the ground.

Airborn book review