Men against the north--a story of the ferry command, Air Transport, & of Dooley, who had 20 years' record of success in commercial air flight, only to come down, icebound, somewhere in the unchartered northland. Dooley was dean of a close knit group, & everything else took second place as the men came into headquarters, & set out again to find him. An unknown lake--beyond unknown mountains--a time schedule--& faith--such alone they had to go on, hampered by Army red tape, lack of radio contact, navigation rules upset by the frozen north. The story shifts from Dooley's experiences, with the five men who counted on him, to the men who sought him. Starkly told--another segment of understanding of total war.--Kirkus
Ernest 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.'
I gave this novel three stars based on my enjoyment and engagement. It is well written for the sort of book it is. Many liked it more than me, especially people with aviation experience. The book was published in 1944. Gann was an experienced pilot as well as a writer and this book was based on an experience he had. Everything about the plot and the way it is told seems believable.
The fliers in this book belong to the Army Air Transport Command who ferried cargo, in this case between North America and Greenland and back.. They are not actual army. Their plane, the Corsair, flown by Dooley, experiences weather trouble—poor visibility, poor communications, non working navigational equipment, and worst of all icing. They are somewhere near Labrador or Quebec. Only at the last minute when they are about to crash land do they see a frozen lake. Now Dooley needs to keep his crew stay alive when it’s 70 below with six days of skimpy food and potentially sketchy morale, hoping for rescue by other pilots who have no idea where they are in the vast uncharted territory. The other part of the story deals with the rescuers who are desperate to find their comrades.
The story is very straightforward and includes lots of flying information and WWII buddy rah rah stuff. There is no cynicism. It seemed much longer than it actually was to me.
Side note—I came to this via a John Wayne movie of the same name made in the 1950s. I enjoyed the movie more than the book even though the dialog, plot and characters are very much alike. I guess I was taken by the visuals and John Wayne was perfect for his part. There are also a number of other famous actors or soon to be famous actors like James Arness. Andy Devine has a juicy part.
Three stars for me but no doubt 4 if you are a pilot or are really into aviation and WWII experiences.
This book was left by someone up at Grandmother Lajla's cottage on the SE shore of Lake Michigan when I was a kid amidst adults, desperate for something to read. An arctic aviation rescue story, it read like the real thing, and, given the background of its author, it may have been the real thing.
The late Ernest K. Gann was very good at what he did, not just as an aviator who came of age in the pioneering days of commercial aviation, but as a story teller who could bring the uninitiated into his world for an authentic glimpse of what it was like to be there and live those experiences. "Island in the Sky" is a story that illustrates the greatness of human resilience and ingenuity in the face of the most daunting circumstances. Imagine finding yourself stranded in the middle of a frozen, howling wilderness deep in uncharted territory, with rapidly dwindling food and fuel — and no one knows where you are. This story has two important vectors, the first is what the crew of the downed aircraft have to do in order to survive, while their peers figure out how and where to find them. In between those two lines is a riveting story and a darned good read. I can highly recommend this book.
Ernest K. Gann’s writing pulls you into the cold, bleak wilderness and makes you feel every moment of isolation and hope. The characters, especially Captain Dooley, are written with authenticity, showing both strength and vulnerability. What makes the book truly enjoyable is how it balances the thrill of survival with a deep sense of human connection and camaraderie. It’s not just about a plane crash it's about how people come together in crisis, and how courage can be quiet but unbreakable. For anyone interested in aviation, adventure, or emotional storytelling rooted in real-life experience, Island in the Sky is absolutely worth reading. plot: Captain Dooley, a seasoned pilot flying a cargo mission for the U.S. Air Transport Command, is forced to make an emergency landing in the desolate, frozen Canadian wilderness (Arctic tundra) after his plane runs low on fuel. Along with his crew of four, Dooley must survive in the bitter cold with no food, shelter, or radio contact. Meanwhile, a massive search and rescue operation is launched. Fellow pilots and friends comb the skies in dangerous conditions to find the lost crew before it's too late.
A superb page-turner not just for the story itself but how it is told. Ernest Gann was not only a great observer of human nature and the world around him. He had the additional formidable ability to write down his observations in a way that brought others into the story. Much of the joy of reading his books is that you don't need to know anything about aviation or survival in the wilderness to understand and appreciate his stories. He makes you an expert and makes you feel like you were one long before you picked up his book! That's good writing.
Helicopter’s, Viet Nam, DMZ patrol around Berlin, Angola. Congo, Alaska. Lots of stuff that makes you wonder who the guardian is assigned to watch over me, they have done a wonderful job, I’m 76 and still walking. Now the story. Old pilots will live this story as it’s read. So many rescues are not successful, just reading a novel like this brought me up, down, sideways. I did cry. I’m glad no one could see me. I cry for all those not found. This book made me smile at the end. Thank you.
A short but excellent book. Gann doesn't go into a lot of the technical details, but you get the spirit of the complexity of aviation in the time, and how well the pilots made due with the limited navigation tools of the day. But foremost was their camaraderie and drive to help out fellow pilots in need.
The title may be Island in the Sky, but no pilot or plane was an island. They were all in it together.
Quite possibly one of the most boring books I have read in a while. The storyline is good however Mr. Gann takes two or more pages to describe the most minute of details. I found myself saying "Get on with it" more than once. It is evident Mr. Gann knows a lot about aviation, however, there is a perfect blend of detail, accuracy, and story telling that this just seems to miss. Maybe I am just the wrong audience for this book.
I enjoyed this novel very much. I recently saw the movie version, which made me want to read the book. The plot concerns itself with the search for Dooley and his crew, and doesn't wander off into side lines about the characters' families and love life.
As a pilot myself I am always impressed by Ernest Gann’s aviation stories. He, being a pilot, gets it right when writing about aircraft, weather, and the aviation environment, especially pilots.
I read this book during a period of sub-freezing temperatures, which gave it special resonance for me.
A look back in time to when flying demanded rigid attention to detail and experience might be the difference between life and death. The comradery and courage of the pilots and crew was inspiring. A great read.
Ernest K. Gann is a master of describing the elusive world of flight and piloting. We take for granted the complete ease of navigation the modern GPS system gives us.
I very much joyed the story. There is a lot of detail. The lives of pilots in that time. If you enjoy reading a realistic story about difficult circumstances I recommend it.
I appreciate that Gann does one thing but does it exceptionally well.
Here's another book of lantern jawed, steely eyed American pilots facing down danger without complicated emotions and with lots of technical detail and expertise.
Gann writes good stories and this one is one of his best. Accurate description of flying at the beginning of WW2 and what transport crews faced on the northern route to Europe.
A story about non-combat pilots during WWII. Very much a story about man vs. nature. Gann also had a lot of things to say about the nature of pilots (men risking their lives in the air).
What an enjoyable book. Written in 1944 but it has aged well. Keeps your interest and you care about all the characters. Read it in two days quite the page turner.
The Corsair, a plane attached to the Army Air Transport Command during the Second World War, is forced to land after heavy icing of the wings makes the plane unflyable. The crew look to Dooley, the pilot for guidance in order to survive the frigid conditions, and from support bases and search aircraft, a rescue mission is mounted.
Ernest K. Gann was a civil aviation pioneer. His classic airline-in-distress novel The High and The Mighty and personal memoir of commercial flying Fate Is The Hunter were both made into hit films. Island In The Sky was based on a true story of a Corsair crew who are forced down in bitter cold, 600 miles north of the St. Lawrence. It's uncharted territory where radio, a compass and charts are no good. Made into a hit film starring John Wayne, this is a Man's book about survival, honour, and a brotherhood of men where things left unsaid are as well understood as things said.
Running cargo somewhere between Greenland and Labrador, Dooley and his crew encounter 40 degree below winter weather. Somehow the radio is inoperative, and the compass and sextant of no use in the dark. Running low on fuel, and having to reach out and scrape the ice off the windshield, they crash at the edge of a frozen lake. Back in Chapel Inlet and Victoria, other teams of Atlantic based cargo pilots gather under the guidance of Army Colonel Fuller to pour over near blank charts of land unmapped that far north. Forming a V-formation, a half dozen planes set out in rescue as every hour, every day, brings death closer. Dooley and his crew strip the plane of essentials and begin to work the emergency crank radio. Huddling for warmth, they try to survive the oncoming ice storm which will plague the rescuers.
This is a great survival story, told in a steadfast way. The men fly in harsh conditions and navigate using a sextant, relying on each others skills. Far from an emotional story (one woman makes a phone call, a waitress brings a drink - otherwise it is all male), emphasizing the bond flyers share having all long fought the same heavens. Much of the story deals with with frozen hydraulics and generators, blocked gas lines, instrument panels and systems that must be worked by hand, so if you are not mechanically minded, this isn't for you. A solid read all around, a well told account but noticeably without the emotional aspect that gives drama its highs and lows. A straight forward rescue against all odds.
I first became acquainted with Ernest Gann by watching the movie The High and the Mighty. I then read his autobiography, Fate is the Hunter. If you enjoy a writer who devotes much time to telling an adventure story through the first person thoughts of the story’s characters, you will like Gann.
Gann led an exciting life. He was one of the first trained commercial airline pilots. He flew military transport aircraft during World War II as a civilian. Later he turned to writing novels, the sea and painting, becoming an expert sailor of the world’s seas and an extremely successful writer. I believe he still holds the record for the number of novels that became major motion pictures (nine). Island in the Sky is one of these nine.
This is my suggestion for reading this short, but engaging novel. First, watch the 1953 movie of the same name. It is commercially available. It stars John Wayne and a cast of well-known actors from that era. Gann wrote the screenplay. If you like the movie you will like the novel. Both are realistic and exciting. The dialog reflects those times, but the story is well told. Life is friendship and loyalty; danger and the whims of nature but inconvenient barriers. The ending is happy. Enjoy.
Great based on true events story of survival and rescue on the north atlantic ice. The WW2 ferry operations come to life. Gann's first novel, can be tough to find in print. Have not seen the John Wayne movie adaption, but on my to do list.
I wanted to see this movie because I enjoyed the movie with John Wayne. I was not disappointed. The book is every bit as riveting as the film. As is always the case, the book is able to fill in more detail. Definitely worth the read.