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The Aviator
In the mid-1930s, a disfigured mail pilot and his sole passenger, an eleven-year-old girl, crash and, resigned to freezing to death, pass the time reading letters from the mail bag and discovering a love for one another
189 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
5 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Ernest K. Gann
50 books100 followersErnest K Gann was an aviator, author, filmmaker, sailor, fisherman and conservationist.
After earning his pilot license, Gann spent his much of his free time aloft, flying for pleasure. The continuing Great Depression soon cost him his job and he was unable to find another position in the movie business. In search of work, he decided to move his family to California. Gann was able to find odd jobs at Burbank Airport, and also began to write short stories. A friend managed to get him a part-time job as a co-pilot with a local airline company and it was there that he flew his first trips as a professional aviator. In the late 1930s many airlines were hiring as many pilots as they could find; after hearing of these opportunities, Gann and his family returned to New York where he managed to get hired by American Airlines to fly the Douglas DC-2 and Douglas DC-3.
For several years Gann enjoyed flying routes in the northeast for American. In 1942, many U.S. airlines' pilots and aircraft were absorbed into the Air Transport Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces to assist in the War Effort. Gann and many of his co-workers at American volunteered to join the group. He flew DC-3s, Douglas DC-4s and Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express transports (the cargo version of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber). His wartime trips took him across the North Atlantic to Europe, and then on to Africa, South America, India, and other exotic places. Some of his most harrowing experiences came while flying The Hump airlift across the Himalayas into China. In the years to come Gann's worldwide travels and various adventures would become the inspiration for many of his novels and screenplays.
At the end of World War II, the Air Transport Command released the civilian pilots and aircraft back to their airlines. Gann decided to leave American Airlines in search of new adventures. He was quickly hired as a pilot with a new company called Matson Airlines that was a venture of the Matson steamship line. He flew from the U.S. West Coast across the Pacific to Honolulu. This experience spawned ideas that were developed into one of his best-known works, 'The High and the Mighty.' Matson ultimately soon fell prey to the politically well-connected Pan American Airlines and failed. After a few more short-lived flying jobs, Gann became discouraged with aviation and he turned to writing as a full-time occupation.
Gann's major works include the novel The High and the Mighty and his aviation focused, near-autobiography Fate Is the Hunter. Notes and short stories scribbled down during long layovers on his pioneering trips across the North Atlantic became the source for his first serious fiction novel, Island in the Sky (1944), which was inspired by an actual Arctic rescue mission. It became an immediate best-seller as did Blaze of Noon (1946), a story about early air mail operations. In 1978, he published his comprehensive autobiography, entitled A Hostage to Fortune.
Although many of his 21 best-selling novels show Gann’s devotion to aviation, others, including Twilight for the Gods, and Fiddler's Green reflect his love of the sea. His experiences as a fisherman, skipper and sailor, all contributed storylines and depth to his nautical fiction. He later wrote an autobiography of his sailing life called Song of the Sirens.
Gann wrote, or adapted from his books, the stories and screenplays for several movies and television shows. For some of these productions he also served as a consultant and technical adviser during filming. Although it received positive reviews, Gann was displeased with the film version of Fate Is the Hunter, and removed his name from the credits. (He later lamented that this decision cost him a "fortune" in royalties, as the film played repeatedly on television for years afterward.) He wrote the story for the television miniseries Masada, based on 'The Antagonists.'
After earning his pilot license, Gann spent his much of his free time aloft, flying for pleasure. The continuing Great Depression soon cost him his job and he was unable to find another position in the movie business. In search of work, he decided to move his family to California. Gann was able to find odd jobs at Burbank Airport, and also began to write short stories. A friend managed to get him a part-time job as a co-pilot with a local airline company and it was there that he flew his first trips as a professional aviator. In the late 1930s many airlines were hiring as many pilots as they could find; after hearing of these opportunities, Gann and his family returned to New York where he managed to get hired by American Airlines to fly the Douglas DC-2 and Douglas DC-3.
For several years Gann enjoyed flying routes in the northeast for American. In 1942, many U.S. airlines' pilots and aircraft were absorbed into the Air Transport Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces to assist in the War Effort. Gann and many of his co-workers at American volunteered to join the group. He flew DC-3s, Douglas DC-4s and Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express transports (the cargo version of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber). His wartime trips took him across the North Atlantic to Europe, and then on to Africa, South America, India, and other exotic places. Some of his most harrowing experiences came while flying The Hump airlift across the Himalayas into China. In the years to come Gann's worldwide travels and various adventures would become the inspiration for many of his novels and screenplays.
At the end of World War II, the Air Transport Command released the civilian pilots and aircraft back to their airlines. Gann decided to leave American Airlines in search of new adventures. He was quickly hired as a pilot with a new company called Matson Airlines that was a venture of the Matson steamship line. He flew from the U.S. West Coast across the Pacific to Honolulu. This experience spawned ideas that were developed into one of his best-known works, 'The High and the Mighty.' Matson ultimately soon fell prey to the politically well-connected Pan American Airlines and failed. After a few more short-lived flying jobs, Gann became discouraged with aviation and he turned to writing as a full-time occupation.
Gann's major works include the novel The High and the Mighty and his aviation focused, near-autobiography Fate Is the Hunter. Notes and short stories scribbled down during long layovers on his pioneering trips across the North Atlantic became the source for his first serious fiction novel, Island in the Sky (1944), which was inspired by an actual Arctic rescue mission. It became an immediate best-seller as did Blaze of Noon (1946), a story about early air mail operations. In 1978, he published his comprehensive autobiography, entitled A Hostage to Fortune.
Although many of his 21 best-selling novels show Gann’s devotion to aviation, others, including Twilight for the Gods, and Fiddler's Green reflect his love of the sea. His experiences as a fisherman, skipper and sailor, all contributed storylines and depth to his nautical fiction. He later wrote an autobiography of his sailing life called Song of the Sirens.
Gann wrote, or adapted from his books, the stories and screenplays for several movies and television shows. For some of these productions he also served as a consultant and technical adviser during filming. Although it received positive reviews, Gann was displeased with the film version of Fate Is the Hunter, and removed his name from the credits. (He later lamented that this decision cost him a "fortune" in royalties, as the film played repeatedly on television for years afterward.) He wrote the story for the television miniseries Masada, based on 'The Antagonists.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 18, 2015
Found this book on our 'basement' bookshelf. Know I read it almost 35 years ago, when it was published in 1981. However, seemed like I was reading it for the first time. A short, quick read, but thought provoking. Makes you realize how important others are to us, and that everyone should have someone to love and care about.
February 12, 2021
A short interesting book that dives into different aviation aspects back in the 20’s. That part I liked. Took a star off for the creepy relationship between the pilot and little girl.
Want to read
July 16, 2023It took me one day to finish this book. True to form, I never know where Ernest K Gann is going with his books. He kind of gives you a detailed summary at the beginning or maybe that’s just the annotation part. I read it for a book club. I recommended in the company of Eagles and they didn’t like that book but they thought they would give this author another chance so they decided to read the aviator. I have had it on my list for a while so I’ve picked up the book. There were surprisingly sensitive themes for a book that has all of the trappings of a good rescue story. It seems to be a story about rescue but it’s more about the rescue of Jerry than anything else. And he does have a last name what you do find out toward the end of the novel.
As usual, the flights are described in great detail, which is part of the attraction for me for any of the Earnest K Gann books. The author was recommended to me 30 years ago by a then CFI, who has since become a pilot. he said that one of his favorite books was fate is the Hunter, so I read it that long ago and then have picked up some of his other writings over the last three decades. And as usual, he always ends the book how it should be ended. However, to me, I always am a bit surprised by the ending because he doesn’t tie up every loose end, but he gives a good Indication in all of his books at least the ones I’ve read so far of the direction he wants you to take the ending. He always leaves outcomes to the imagination, so he certainly puts all of the blocks in place to tell you how it should end. It’s almost as if there is a and they lived happily ever after, and end that you can change if you’d like.
I don’t think there has been a Ernest K Gann book that has disappointed me. Others are written at different points of writing journeys, I think. I was surprised I believe to see that this one came so late in life because I know he has been writing since the 60s. I have other books on my list that he has written. I’m sure I will enjoy them immensely and I’m sure as usual, that I will be surprised by the themes as well as the ending even though I expect the ending. I think one of his strengths is that he ends the book like he wanted to be ended, but he also put an element of surprise in that ending and let you imagine what happens. Maybe that’s just a sense of history Displaying itself in my case, but whatever the reason I like the element used in the story.
As usual, the flights are described in great detail, which is part of the attraction for me for any of the Earnest K Gann books. The author was recommended to me 30 years ago by a then CFI, who has since become a pilot. he said that one of his favorite books was fate is the Hunter, so I read it that long ago and then have picked up some of his other writings over the last three decades. And as usual, he always ends the book how it should be ended. However, to me, I always am a bit surprised by the ending because he doesn’t tie up every loose end, but he gives a good Indication in all of his books at least the ones I’ve read so far of the direction he wants you to take the ending. He always leaves outcomes to the imagination, so he certainly puts all of the blocks in place to tell you how it should end. It’s almost as if there is a and they lived happily ever after, and end that you can change if you’d like.
I don’t think there has been a Ernest K Gann book that has disappointed me. Others are written at different points of writing journeys, I think. I was surprised I believe to see that this one came so late in life because I know he has been writing since the 60s. I have other books on my list that he has written. I’m sure I will enjoy them immensely and I’m sure as usual, that I will be surprised by the themes as well as the ending even though I expect the ending. I think one of his strengths is that he ends the book like he wanted to be ended, but he also put an element of surprise in that ending and let you imagine what happens. Maybe that’s just a sense of history Displaying itself in my case, but whatever the reason I like the element used in the story.
April 7, 2021
This is a work of fiction by the author of the non-fiction book "Fate is the Hunter," set in the early days of flying when the postal service flew a bunch of mail by air. This fairly short novel is set around one aviator who is on a cross-country trip with the mail out of Elko, Nevada (of all places) and he has an engine failure and his plane goes down. The plot is complicated by the fact that he is carrying a passenger, an eleven year old girl.
Mr. Gann uses the story as an opportunity to consider themes like the necessity to love and be loved; how lonely life is when you have no one to love, or to love you; and the power of the will to overcome the most difficult of obstacles.
It's not a great novel, but it held my interest due to the aviation theme.
Mr. Gann uses the story as an opportunity to consider themes like the necessity to love and be loved; how lonely life is when you have no one to love, or to love you; and the power of the will to overcome the most difficult of obstacles.
It's not a great novel, but it held my interest due to the aviation theme.
May 31, 2024
Ernie K. Gann was a pilot, an author, a conservationist and sailor. In spite of his misfortune of being born in Lincoln, Nebraska (you would have to understand what it means to be a fan of the OU Sooners to know the meaning of that tongue in cheek comment) I love his works.
I first became aware of Mr. Gann's work when I read Fate Is The Hunter, a treatise on his life as a pilot as well as other aviation incidents. One of the most fascinating was about an Army Air Corps airplane that took off either in Iceland or Greenland; I don't remember for sure which, that became lost in a storm. According to his book the plane flew and flew while lost and unable to find their way home. They kept going until they ran out of gas and surely were going to crash. . . but they didn't. One by one the engines quit but instead of falling out of the sky they just sat there! Then they learned that instead of falling from the sky they had instead flown into a very gradual slope covered with snow. The incline was so gradual that they didn't realize they had landed inadvertently and were safe on the ground.
One of many stories in the book, some tragic, some ironic. All factual, according to Gann. And who am I to disbelieve him?
But I digress - to a great degree it would seem.
What does that have to do with the aviation fiction of The Aviator? Other than it shows the vast experience of Mr. Gann and the art of flying. . .
Jerry is the aviator and Heather his young passenger in the pioneer days of airmail in 1928, traveling through the skies over Elko, NV (a place I lived for a short period of time in 2005) to Boise, ID, to Pasco, WA. Only they don't quite make it to Boise after taking off from Elko.
It is a story of early flight, of aviators, of survival and most of all, love. Mr. Gann wrote very damn well of all of those.
There are other books about flight and survival that Ernie wrote. I plan to reread Fate Is The Hunter again and one you may have heard of; The High And The Mighty - yes, THAT High And Mighty. The one they made a movie of staring some guy by the name of Marion Morrison. . . what was his stage name? Oh yes, John Wayne. I remember now. I wonder if he ever was a star? Oh well, the movie was good but the book was better.
Speaking of which, they made a movie of The Aviator and of Fate Is The Hunter. The Aviator starred Christopher Reeve and Rosanne Arquette and Fate was a film that would have been far better left in the can (that means unreleased) compared to the high quality of the book. I haven't seen The Aviator but it's different in many ways from the book. Good or bad I don't know.
If you like books about aviation you will adore this one. Books on survival and love? I can only say that I loved all three facets of this story. And Gann is one hell of a story teller. Maybe you should try it. I only gave it 5 stars because goodreads doesn't have more than 5. It deserves more, many more. My only disappointment is that I finished it, that it's over and that it was far too short of a book at 148 pages.
I first became aware of Mr. Gann's work when I read Fate Is The Hunter, a treatise on his life as a pilot as well as other aviation incidents. One of the most fascinating was about an Army Air Corps airplane that took off either in Iceland or Greenland; I don't remember for sure which, that became lost in a storm. According to his book the plane flew and flew while lost and unable to find their way home. They kept going until they ran out of gas and surely were going to crash. . . but they didn't. One by one the engines quit but instead of falling out of the sky they just sat there! Then they learned that instead of falling from the sky they had instead flown into a very gradual slope covered with snow. The incline was so gradual that they didn't realize they had landed inadvertently and were safe on the ground.
One of many stories in the book, some tragic, some ironic. All factual, according to Gann. And who am I to disbelieve him?
But I digress - to a great degree it would seem.
What does that have to do with the aviation fiction of The Aviator? Other than it shows the vast experience of Mr. Gann and the art of flying. . .
Jerry is the aviator and Heather his young passenger in the pioneer days of airmail in 1928, traveling through the skies over Elko, NV (a place I lived for a short period of time in 2005) to Boise, ID, to Pasco, WA. Only they don't quite make it to Boise after taking off from Elko.
It is a story of early flight, of aviators, of survival and most of all, love. Mr. Gann wrote very damn well of all of those.
There are other books about flight and survival that Ernie wrote. I plan to reread Fate Is The Hunter again and one you may have heard of; The High And The Mighty - yes, THAT High And Mighty. The one they made a movie of staring some guy by the name of Marion Morrison. . . what was his stage name? Oh yes, John Wayne. I remember now. I wonder if he ever was a star? Oh well, the movie was good but the book was better.
Speaking of which, they made a movie of The Aviator and of Fate Is The Hunter. The Aviator starred Christopher Reeve and Rosanne Arquette and Fate was a film that would have been far better left in the can (that means unreleased) compared to the high quality of the book. I haven't seen The Aviator but it's different in many ways from the book. Good or bad I don't know.
If you like books about aviation you will adore this one. Books on survival and love? I can only say that I loved all three facets of this story. And Gann is one hell of a story teller. Maybe you should try it. I only gave it 5 stars because goodreads doesn't have more than 5. It deserves more, many more. My only disappointment is that I finished it, that it's over and that it was far too short of a book at 148 pages.
July 5, 2023
Short, mildly interesting novel from author and aviation expert Ernest Kellogg Gann. A handful of his books were turned into successful films, including two starring John Wayne (Island in the Sky, The High and the Mighty).
This gritty, depressing tale takes place in December 1928. A lonely, physically scarred U.S. mail pilot named Jerry Amity and his passenger, 11-year-old Heather, survive a devastating plane crash in the forbidding mountainous region stretching between Elko, Nevada and Pasco, Washington. The aircraft, a Stearman biplane with a Wright Whirlwind engine, is wrecked beyond repair, and the young girl suffers a broken back. After two days of indecision, a starving Jerry attempts to walk down off of the mountain carrying the girl on his back.
The author mentions many other types of early airplane models: De Havillands, Pitcairns, Curtiss JN-4 Jennies, a Ford Tri-Motor, a Ryan M-1, a taper-wing Waco, a Curtiss Oriele, Air National Guard DH-4’s, a Swallow with a Curtiss K-6 engine, and a Hisso Standard.
He also name-checks famous WW1 pilots Charles “Slim” Lindbergh, Eyer “Slonnie” Sloniger, Roscoe Turner, Joseph Smith, Billy Bishop, Frank Quigley, and Fred McCall.
This gritty, depressing tale takes place in December 1928. A lonely, physically scarred U.S. mail pilot named Jerry Amity and his passenger, 11-year-old Heather, survive a devastating plane crash in the forbidding mountainous region stretching between Elko, Nevada and Pasco, Washington. The aircraft, a Stearman biplane with a Wright Whirlwind engine, is wrecked beyond repair, and the young girl suffers a broken back. After two days of indecision, a starving Jerry attempts to walk down off of the mountain carrying the girl on his back.
The author mentions many other types of early airplane models: De Havillands, Pitcairns, Curtiss JN-4 Jennies, a Ford Tri-Motor, a Ryan M-1, a taper-wing Waco, a Curtiss Oriele, Air National Guard DH-4’s, a Swallow with a Curtiss K-6 engine, and a Hisso Standard.
He also name-checks famous WW1 pilots Charles “Slim” Lindbergh, Eyer “Slonnie” Sloniger, Roscoe Turner, Joseph Smith, Billy Bishop, Frank Quigley, and Fred McCall.
November 24, 2022
A 3.5 rounded up. It was well-written, but I found myself wanting more. I could do without so much of Moravia’s perspective, especially when that time could have been devoted to deep diving more “hard survival” at the the crash site, or learning more about Jerry from his own thoughts or via greater intellectual dialogue between the main characters.
I expected a stronger ending after such a dramatic exit from the crash site and a well-documented, challenging journey through the wilderness in search of rescue. I understand this book was written during a different era. While I get the feeling the author was altruistic in presenting Jerry’s “love” for Heather, as a mother it was absolutely creepy to see such displays of affection between a grown man and adolescent. That didn’t work for me…
I expected a stronger ending after such a dramatic exit from the crash site and a well-documented, challenging journey through the wilderness in search of rescue. I understand this book was written during a different era. While I get the feeling the author was altruistic in presenting Jerry’s “love” for Heather, as a mother it was absolutely creepy to see such displays of affection between a grown man and adolescent. That didn’t work for me…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2018
An author that I had not come across before. This is an easily read novel of the boys own paper variety. Jerry Amity is flying the mail during 1928 in the barnstorming style still in use in the western states of the USA. He is a lonely figure with a disfigured face following a flying accident and only his fellow pilots as friends. One day he is asked to take an 11 year old girl with him and that is how the adventure starts when the aircraft suffers engine failure and crashes in the Nevada mountains.
A story of heroic actions that stretch the boundaries of human endurance and the affection thrown up between them in adversity.
A very enjoyable read.
A story of heroic actions that stretch the boundaries of human endurance and the affection thrown up between them in adversity.
A very enjoyable read.
January 9, 2020
I read this book when it was published in 1981; recently I found my old copy and decided to read it again. Gann was a master of stories about stoic, heroic pilots who deal with crises that threaten their planes and the lives of others. The Aviator is a decent distillation of his formula: an airmail pilot in the West of 1928 is forced down by severe winter weather. Now he must save not only himself but a little girl who was his passenger. While a bit facile with a bit of an anticlimactic ending, this tale offers a fairly exciting story of survival of both the physical and psychological varieties. Short enough to be read in a day, that is probably the best way to consume the book.
March 28, 2022
This novel takes place in 1928 about the pioneering days of the U.S. airmail service. The pilot (Jerry) was taking many pounds of mail across the Rocky Mountains from Elko, Nevada to Pasco, Washington, also carrying a passenger, eleven year old Heather, who was visiting her grandparents. I found this short book compelling and inspirational. Several good quotes came from the book -- one of my favorites is "Some day the world will be populated entirely by bureaucrats because all the real people will do away with themselves in frustration." Hmmm...
August 19, 2023
Gann was a pilot and it always shows in his technical description and his knowledge of the flyer mentality. I’d have liked a little more flying in this story of an airmail pilot and his child passenger surviving in the mountains after a crash, but I enjoyed the scenes set at the airfield as the search gets underway. I’ll even forgive the simile of a plane in the vast sky being like a sperm swimming in a womb.
December 13, 2019
It caught my attention from the beginning and relatable as a person and pilot. The fear of showing emotion, being caring and sensitive, the fears when flying, the risks we take but never place our hearts at love at risk.
The end was very quick, seems to be "cutdown" but very enjoyable.
The end was very quick, seems to be "cutdown" but very enjoyable.
June 27, 2021
A quick, one day read, but an enjoyable page turner of a story. Crash landing in the mountains in the early days of aviation. Pilot and lone young girl passenger, who is injured in the crash. Wilderness survival, personal bonding of the characters in their struggle to survive.
Read
November 6, 2023I didn't know if I would like this book because I know nothing about planes or pilots. I found the story entrenching and kept me thinking about it when I was not reading it. It is not just about flying it is about caring, determination about love. I liked it enough to look at his other writings.
December 5, 2017
This book came of shelf at home and should have been read a long time ago, but not familier? Am I getting oldtimers? Still a good read even if dated to 1928 love the slang....
December 17, 2017
Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading more of his books.
January 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. What a pleasant surprise. A remarkable story.
June 10, 2019
More like a 1.5
March 13, 2020
Disturbing story about an airmail pilot crashing with an 11 year old on board. One chapter book and it seemed like it was written in a hurry
July 3, 2020
Classic, easy read.
December 23, 2020
Another old favorite. I'm enjoying some of my collection during the CoVid down time. I also just discovered that my copy is the same vintage as a pricey one from a bookseller. Nice.
March 29, 2023
Sen pena nin gloria. Final regulero. Historia entretida.
September 10, 2025
I’m having trouble with small print, my short attention span, etc. It’s better to stick to adventures, shipwrecks,and in this case, a plane crash. I liked it.
October 16, 2025
This is a rich character study that takes place in the 1920's US Mail flight pilot crashes in the Rocky Mountains. A quick read.
May 13, 2011
Ernest K. Gann was a “pilot’s pilot” and wrote many novels that proved it. This one is set in 1928 and tells the story of a then-modern-day “pony express” rider–a U.S. Mail pilot whose plane goes down in the Rocky Mountains during a bout of bad weather. He also had a passenger on the trip: an intellectual 11-year-old girl traveling to visit relatives, whose parents wanted her to see the world from the air instead of sending her by a safer mode of travel. (Could anything be less safe than riding in a front well of a plane, on top of a bunch of mail sacks, wearing a helmet that’s apparently several sizes too big?) They both survive the crash, but she is severely injured. The story of the search for them and how they cope with their situation is fascinating.
Aviation was relatively new in 1928; it was also a whole lot scarier than today and essentially the Wild West in terms of safety. Pilots of that time were truly adventurers. They had no radar; radio contact was rare, as were runways; there was no air traffic control, and no Weather Channel. They had to figure out themselves where they were, based on visible landmarks, past experience and gut instinct. And they did all of this while flying machines that, though beautifully designed for what they were doing, also seem to have been incredibly fragile. Gann had a gift for description, and an obvious love for his subject matter, so this “primitive” world of flight comes alive in his writing. When he described the planes as being made of “wood, fabric and wire” I got a picture in my mind that made my stomach do flip-flops.
As the daughter of a pilot, I’ve always believed that they fly because they love it and can’t imagine doing anything else. To those of us who don’t share that lust it can seem a bit insane, and a book like this gives us a glimpse into the minds of these “flyboys.” Very well done.
Aviation was relatively new in 1928; it was also a whole lot scarier than today and essentially the Wild West in terms of safety. Pilots of that time were truly adventurers. They had no radar; radio contact was rare, as were runways; there was no air traffic control, and no Weather Channel. They had to figure out themselves where they were, based on visible landmarks, past experience and gut instinct. And they did all of this while flying machines that, though beautifully designed for what they were doing, also seem to have been incredibly fragile. Gann had a gift for description, and an obvious love for his subject matter, so this “primitive” world of flight comes alive in his writing. When he described the planes as being made of “wood, fabric and wire” I got a picture in my mind that made my stomach do flip-flops.
As the daughter of a pilot, I’ve always believed that they fly because they love it and can’t imagine doing anything else. To those of us who don’t share that lust it can seem a bit insane, and a book like this gives us a glimpse into the minds of these “flyboys.” Very well done.
January 27, 2016
3.5 stars. The sole reason I knocked off a half-star was for the scattered profanity; otherwise it'd be a solid four-star read—a well-crafted, engaging story of survival with some thoughtful character development. Set in the 1920s, still the early days of aviation, the novel follows an air-mail pilot flying a fairly risky route over the mountains in winter, with an added complication: a precocious eleven-year-old girl as a passenger. Forced to crash-land in the snow-covered mountains, the pilot must work to keep them both alive in the somewhat doubtful hope of rescue reaching them in time. All this prompts him to do some soul-searching about his own lonely, troubled life...while miles away, his employer ponders the life and character of the missing man while coordinating search and rescue efforts from a desk.
Before I read the book, I saw some other reviewers complaining that the relationship between the protagonist and the little girl was unnatural. While I can see how certain passages might give some people that idea, I personally don't believe that was the author's intention. The pilot, badly disfigured after a previous disastrous crash, is a man who had shut himself off from the rest of humanity for so long that this little girl who comes to love and trust him becomes the symbol for all the human affection he is starved for. And that is really the crux of the story, even more than the questions of physical survival.
Gann is a skilled, crisp writer, a long-time aviator himself who obviously knows his subject well, and I'd certainly like to try out some more of his books.
Before I read the book, I saw some other reviewers complaining that the relationship between the protagonist and the little girl was unnatural. While I can see how certain passages might give some people that idea, I personally don't believe that was the author's intention. The pilot, badly disfigured after a previous disastrous crash, is a man who had shut himself off from the rest of humanity for so long that this little girl who comes to love and trust him becomes the symbol for all the human affection he is starved for. And that is really the crux of the story, even more than the questions of physical survival.
Gann is a skilled, crisp writer, a long-time aviator himself who obviously knows his subject well, and I'd certainly like to try out some more of his books.
March 17, 2008
Bare bones story of 1920'S air-mail pilot crashing with young girl passenger. The Pilot's interaction and thoughts about the girl seem odd and make you wonder if he is a pedophile. The whole story seems to have some holes in it. Author's aviation experience shows. Passable writing.
January 23, 2013
Pretty good book. I heard it was creepy because of the relationship between the little girl and the pilot but it was more about feeling a connection to someone than anything physical. It was fairly intense with several close calls but the ending was anticlimactic.
September 24, 2015
The characters in this book are fairly straightforward: the outcast, the innocent, the coward, the administrator-they are well-defined, but fairly one-sided. But the writing is plain, simple, and from the heart, which is one of the things I like about Ernest Gann.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews