Airborn (novel)

Last updated
Airborn
Oppel - Airborn Coverart.png
Airborn first edition cover.
Author Kenneth Oppel
Cover artistPeter Riddihoff
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
SeriesMatt Cruse series
Genre Fantasy, alternate history novel, steampunk
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date
February 5, 2004
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Audiobook
Pages321 pp (first edition)
ISBN 978-0-00-200537-1
OCLC 53162914
Followed by Skybreaker  

Airborn is a 2004 young adult novel by Kenneth Oppel. The novel is set in an alternate history where the airplane has not been invented, and instead, airships are the primary form of air transportation. Additionally, the world contains fictional animal species such as flying creatures that live their entire lives in the sky. The book takes place aboard a transoceanic luxury passenger airship, the Aurora, and is told from the perspective of its cabin boy, Matt Cruse.

Contents

Plot summary

Fourteen-year-old Matt Cruse is a cabin boy for the Aurora, an airship that stays afloat using a gas called "hydrium". While on lookout duty, he spots a damaged balloon carrying an unconscious old man. Matt saves the man, whose name is Benjamin Molloy, only to have him die shortly after being taken aboard. His last words ramble about "beautiful creatures" that he supposedly saw on his ill-fated voyage.

One year later, the now-fifteen Matt leaves his home in Lionsgate City, a fictionalized Vancouver, to accompany the Aurora on its voyage to Sydney, Australia. Despite loving his mother and sisters dearly, Matt is relieved to be in the air where he feels closest to his fathera former sailmaker who died in an accident aboard the Aurora. Matt is disappointed to learn that the Junior Sailmaker position he was promised has been given to the airship fleet's heir, Bruce Lunardi. One day into the voyage, an ornithopter delivers two passengers to the ship: Kate de Vries and her chaperone Marjorie Simpkins. Kate tells Matt that she is Benjamin Malloy's granddaughter and shows him detailed drawings of flying panther-like creatures from Malloy's journal. Intrigued by the possibility that they live their whole lives in the air, Kate reveals that she is on a mission to prove that such creatures are real.

A few nights later, the ship is raided by a notorious criminal named Vikram Szpirglas. His gang of pirates plunder the ship of all valuables and kill the chief wireless officer. The pirates proceed to leave, but both ships are caught in a storm. The pirate vessel crashes with the Aurora and tears the Aurora's hull, seriously depleting its supply of hydrium. As the sailmakers scramble to repair the falling Aurora, Matt spots an island and the crew steers toward it. The ship crash lands on the island, which Kate realizes is the island from her grandfather's journal. Kate convinces Matt to help her explore the island, where they discover the skeleton of a large winged creature. A few minutes later, they find an injured member of the same species which they decide to call a "cloud cat".

Miss Simpkins tries to lock Kate in her room for associating with Matt. As the repairs near completion, Kate drugs her and takes one last chance to photograph the island's wildlife. Matt and Bruce begin looking for her until they find Kate hidden in a tree saying she found the cloud cat's nest. After luring the cloud cat into a clearing with a fish, the shutter of Kate's camera provokes it into attacking. Bruce suffers severe wounds on his leg from the cloud cat, but Matt and Kate escape into the forest. The two of them stumble upon the pirates, who had set up a secret base on the secluded island. Unrecognized, they ask for shelter in the pirate camp and make a plan to sneak away during the night. During their escape, Kate and Matt are apprehended and thrown into a hydrium pit where there is no oxygen. They use Kate's harem pants as a balloon to lift themselves to ground level as Szpirglas' crew sets out to silence the passengers of the Aurora. Kate begins crying in the forest, blaming herself for putting everyone else in danger. Acting on the feelings he has developed for her, Matt kisses her. She asks him to kiss her again and stops crying.

Once Kate and Matt find Bruce, the three make their way to the Aurora, which is being held hostage by eight pirates. They are able to undo the landing lines and cause the ship to take off. Matt's innate knowledge of the flight system allows them to temporarily take control and steer the ship away from the island. After tending to Bruce's wounds in the infirmary, Matt brings a sleeping elixir to the cook so that it can be added to the pirates' soup. Szpirglas' crew murders Bruce in the engine room and chases Matt onto the hull of the Aurora in the open air. Szpirglas pushes Matt off the edge but Matt is able to grab hold of the ship's tail fin. Before attempting to dislodge Matt again, Szpirglas is attacked by a group of cloud cats and is thrown into the sea. The passengers are saved when Matt steers the Aurora back on course.

Six months later, Matt meets Kate in Paris, where she is exhibiting her cloud cat skeleton and photographs. Matt reveals that he will attend the Airship Academy, with the help of the reward money for finding Szpirglas' base of operations. Kate plans to begin her zoology studies at a university.

Main characters

Awards

Film adaptation

Publication history

Airborn was first released in Canada in February 2004. It was shortly followed with its release in the United Kingdom and the United States in April and May 2004 respectively. Below is the release details for the first edition hardback and paperback copies in these three publication regions.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Redwall</i> (novel) 1986 novel by Brian Jacques

Redwall is a fantasy novel by Brian Jacques. Originally published in 1986, it is the first book of the Redwall series. The book was illustrated by Gary Chalk, with the British cover illustration by Pete Lyon and the US cover by Troy Howell. It is also one of the three Redwall novels to be made into an animated television series, along with Mattimeo and Martin the Warrior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Oppel</span> Canadian childrens writer

Kenneth Oppel is a Canadian children's writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchen Sink Press</span> American comic book publisher

Kitchen Sink Press was a comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1970. Kitchen Sink Press was a pioneering publisher of underground comics, and was also responsible for numerous republications of classic comic strips in hardcover and softcover volumes. One of their best-known products was the first full reprint of Will Eisner's The Spirit—first in magazine format, then in standard comic book format. The company closed in 1999.

<i>Firewing</i>

Firewing is a children's book written by the Canadian author, Kenneth Oppel. It is the third book in the series which also consists of: Silverwing, Sunwing and the prequel, Darkwing.

<i>Mars Daybreak</i> Japanese media franchise

Mars Daybreak is a Japanese science-fiction anime television series that aired on TV Tokyo from April 1 to September 23, 2004. It is currently licensed by Bandai Entertainment. Kenran Butōsai is a simulation game based on the concept, developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 video game console.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Riddell</span> Illustrator

Chris Riddell is a South African-born English illustrator and occasional writer of children's books and a political cartoonist for the Observer. He has won three Kate Greenaway Medals - the British librarians' annual award for the best-illustrated children's book, and two of his works were commended runners-up, a distinction dropped after 2002.

<i>Swallows and Amazons</i> 1930 childrens novel by Arthur Ransome

Swallows and Amazons is a children's adventure novel by English author Arthur Ransome first published on 21 July 1930 by Jonathan Cape. Set in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District, the book introduces the main characters of John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker (Swallows); as well as their mother, Mary; and their baby sister, Bridget. We also meet Nancy and Peggy Blackett (Amazons); their uncle Jim, commonly referred to as Captain Flint; and their widowed mother, Molly Blackett. It is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series, followed by Swallowdale.

<i>Darkwing</i> (novel) 2007 young adult fantasy novel by Kenneth Oppel

Darkwing is a 2007 young adult fantasy novel by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It is the prequel and fourth book of the Silverwing series, and takes place 65 million years before the events of the first book. It describes the origins of the war between the birds and the beasts.

<i>Skybreaker</i>

Skybreaker, sequel to Airborn, is a young adult fantasy novel written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It continues the adventures of young airship student Matt Cruse, and Kate de Vries, a budding scientist.

The Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award is a literary award that annually recognizes one Canadian children's book. The book must be written in English and published in Canada during the preceding year. The writer must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

<i>Leviathan</i> (Westerfeld novel) Novel by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan is a 2009 novel written by Scott Westerfeld and illustrated by Keith Thompson. It is the first work in the trilogy of the same name, followed by sequels Behemoth and Goliath. The trilogy is set in an alternative version of World War I in which the Central Powers use mechanized war machines and the Triple Entente fabricate living creatures genetically for use in battle. Leviathan was named the Best Young Adult Novel by the Aurealis Award in 2009, Locus in 2010, and Mir Fantastiki in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship's cat</span> Cat that lives aboard a ship at sea

The ship's cat has been a common feature on many trading, exploration, and naval ships dating to ancient times. Cats have been brought on ships for many reasons, most importantly to control rodents. Vermin aboard a ship can cause damage to ropes, woodwork, and more recently, electrical wiring. In addition, rodents threaten ships' stores, devour crews' foodstuff, and can cause economic damage to ships' cargo, such as grain. Vermin are also a source of disease, which is dangerous for ships that are at sea for long periods of time. Rat fleas are carriers of plague, and rats on ships were believed to be a primary vector of the Black Death.

<i>Pirate Diary</i> Childrens book by Richard Platt

Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter is an account of the pirate life cast as the journal of a young cabin boy, written by Richard Platt and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It was published by Walker in 2001, two years after Castle Diary, also by Platt and Riddell. Platt continued the "Diary" series with illustrator David Parkins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sy Montgomery</span> Naturalist, author and scriptwriter (born 1958)

Sy Montgomery is an American naturalist, author, and scriptwriter who writes for children as well as adults.

<i>Young Sherlock Holmes: Snake Bite</i> Fifth novel in the Young Sherlock Holmes series

Young Sherlock Holmes: Snake Bite is the fifth novel in the Young Sherlock Holmes series that depicts Arthur Conan Doyle's detective Sherlock Holmes as a teenager in the 1860s. It was written by author Andy Lane and released in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pirate</span> Type of stock character from science fiction and fantasy

Air pirates are a class of stock character from science fiction and fantasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yu Rong</span> Chinese illustrator

Yu Rong (郁蓉) is a multi award-winning Chinese illustrator of children's picture books, especially known for her use of papercutting artwork.

<i>Dave Dashaway</i> Juvenile book series

Dave Dashaway was a series of juvenile aviation novels written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Weldon J. Cobb, using the pseudonym of Roy Rockwood. The series was published by Cupples & Leon from 1913 to 1915. The hardback books had a picture printed onto the front cover, plus a black and white frontispiece illustration.

<i>Jabberwocky</i> (book) Book by Lewis Carroll and Stéphane Jorisch

Jabberwocky is an illustrated version of Lewis Carroll's poem of the same name. The book is illustrated by Canadian artist Stéphane Jorisch. It was published in 2004 by Kids Can Press and won the 2004 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language children's illustration.

References

  1. "Past Recipients Prizes Section Governor General's Literary Awards". www.canadacouncil.ca. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. Pereira, Diana (15 November 2004). "Airborn, Jabberwocky win children's literature awards". The Globe and Mail. Phillip Crawley. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  3. "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books". Young Adult Library Services Association. American Library Association. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  4. Stevenson, Deborah. "2004 Blue Ribbons". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Archived from the original on 2015-08-02. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  5. "Red Maple Award". The Canadian Children's Book Centre. The Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. "Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards Award Recipients 1976 – 2012". Ontario Arts Foundation. Ontario Arts Foundation. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. Page, Liz. "IBBY Honor List 2006". Australian Literature Online. International Board on Books for Young People. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  8. Walker, Morley (2008-09-28). "Interview with an Author: Oppel's simple advice: write about your passion". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  9. Kenneth, Oppel (2012-03-19). "Kenneth Oppel: Airborn The Movie: Take Two". Kenneth Oppel's Blog. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  10. "Kenneth Oppel Author". www.kennethoppel.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2017-11-22.