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Airman
Conor Broekhart was born to fly.
It is the 1890s, and Conor and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king’s daughter, Princess Isabella. But the boy’s idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a deadly conspiracy against the king. When Conor intervenes, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life, as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions.
There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly. So Conor passes the solitary months by scratching drawings of flying machines into the prison walls. The months turn into years, but eventually the day comes when Conor must find the courage to trust his revolutionary designs and take to the skies.
It is the 1890s, and Conor and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king’s daughter, Princess Isabella. But the boy’s idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a deadly conspiracy against the king. When Conor intervenes, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life, as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions.
There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly. So Conor passes the solitary months by scratching drawings of flying machines into the prison walls. The months turn into years, but eventually the day comes when Conor must find the courage to trust his revolutionary designs and take to the skies.
412 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
627 people are currently reading
9879 people want to read
About the author
Eoin Colfer
155 books11.8k followersEoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
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February 26, 2008
How Not to Review a Book: Do not begin your review by jumping off into some big old rant about how you never liked anything the author wrote before, particularly if you are about to praise their newest novel. Do not use phrases like “how did this happen?” and “why now?” and “are they near death?” You may mention how impressed you were with the author’s speaking engagements, mentioning in passing their brilliant encapsulation of, oh say, The Legend of Spud Murphy. Do not then mention how disappointed you were in the book itself and how you always wished they’d live up to that brilliant potential palpable in person. Don’t do any of that. It’ll just get your review off to a bad start and put all those Artemis Fowl fans on the defensive (for example). If you’re going to write a review of a book that you loved, adored, swallowed whole and digested with relish, DO begin your review that way. Catharsis has not place in professional book review circles. Not the nice ones, anyway.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that roundabout little introduction is just my way of saying how much I loved Airman. It was one of those books I saw sitting on my boss’s bookshelf that made me think, “Maybe I should read that.” It wasn’t until multiple people told me in person and repeatedly how good it was that I caved. And it really is good, gentle reader. It puts the buckle in swashbuckling. The play in swordplay. The terror in terrific. It's a good old-fashioned tale of thwarted romance, betrayal, great heroism, murder, diamonds, villains, kings, Americans, thugs, and a boy with the unusual inclination to fly.
The thing to know about Conor Broekhart, before all the nastiness occurred, was that he was born in the sky. A hot air balloon, if you wanted me to be more precise. A falling, soon-to-be-crushed, death trap of a balloon, to be even closer to the mark. Of course Conor didn't die, and as a result his family returned to their home on the Saltee Islands (just off the coast of Ireland) with a new baby to introduce to the King. Conor's father was the king's right hand man, and because they were so close the boy grew up running around the castle with his best friend, the princess. But that was before the king was murdered. Before Conor was thrown into jail on the Little Saltee island (think Alcatraz, but with less charm). Before the boy discovered how to survive in his new, harsh, surroundings and find a way out of his predicament. And now the princess and his family are in mortal peril, unless Conor can truly crack the riddle of how to construct a machine that will fly.
Is it fantasy? No more than any historical novel where the hero indulges in science. Is it science fiction? Only if you consider the notion of one man discovering the use of propellers on his own fantastical. Is it steampunk? No. Stop being silly. No this is, odd as it may sound, fiction with spice. That's not really a category, so I don't know if you can call it anything but original. Frances Hardinge's Fly by Night suffered similar categorical problems. Her book seemed like a fantasy, but like this book it was merely an alternate history. Still, if lumping this puppy in with 500+ page fantasy tomes is the only way to get kids to read it, so be it. I've no objections on my end.
For all its 416 pages, the book feels very tight. Colfer keeps a firm hand on the reins of his plot, never indulging too far in one direction or another. The result is a story that flies by with hardly a gasp for breath. This isn't to say that the author doesn't indulge in a small aside once in a while. He does, but they're always very quick and funny. For example, when the castle tower is on fire and King Nicholas must escape from his royal bathroom the text reads, "There was a window, of course. Nicholas was a great believer in the benefits of good ventilation. He was a devotee of meditation, too; but this was hardly the time for it."
There are also copious details that give the book just enough heft to keep it from feeling too frivolous. They tend to be little things. The scrape of the bolt on prison doors is described as "Top C", with the side note, "Social diarists record that survivors of Little Saltee often suffered from insomnia unless their bedchamber doors were fitted with rusted bolts." There are references to Napoleon's stay at Little Saltee (apparently he fared poorly). I liked the little mites that eat away the disease and filth from new prisoners. And Conor's method of writing down his schematics is probably the closest this book comes to science fiction, without ever really treading fully down that path.
Kids looking for excitement will find it from page one onward. And yet, for all its death-defying escapades, Colfer is very careful to cover his bases. He doesn't get sloppy on the details. By the end of the book the reasons why Conor wasn't killed at the same time as Nicholas and why the princess is left living are explained perfectly without so much as a glint of a gap in sight. Kids will enjoy the book because the characters are great and the story is fun. Adults will enjoy it because it won't require extraordinary suspensions of disbelief. Plus the fact that this is a stand-alone novel that does not lend itself naturally to sequels or a series is like a palate cleanser in this sequel-addled age with live in.
Colfer shows himself to be a skillful writer by his interesting choices. Under normal circumstances, when the hero in a story has a plan and doesn't let the reader in on it, usually that plan goes off without a hitch. It doesn't look as if Colfer understood that concept, though, and the book is stronger for it. He also must have never heard the rule that the more often the hero is knocked unconscious, the worse the book is. Conor gets his own fair share of blows to the head, but the author always plays fair and never uses that as an excuse to fudge details or bridge insurmountable distances. Well played.
I also had great respect for Colfer when he saw to it that his hero never became a murderer. Our heroes in movies and books like killing henchmen. The idea that an action packed storyline requires that your protagonist have blood on his hands is a complex issue, too easily skirted around. Colfer isn't afraid to face the problem head-on, though, making it perfectly clear that the "kill or be killed" mode of thought only means that under the right circumstances it is the people without the proper intelligence or imagination who are the ones who descend into becoming killers.
And on a personal note, I was happy to see that the Yanks in this book come off looking pretty good. Good King Nicholas, the forward thinking monarch on the Saltee throne, is an American. Linus Wynter, the kind blind prisoner who helps Conor survive prison, is also an American. We haven't looked this good on paper since Lee Scoresby first showed his face in The Golden Compass.
Some people say the book is The Count of Monte Cristo. Others argue that it feels more like The Man in the Iron Mask. With such esteemed comparisons, it shouldn't hurt matters any to also note that it also happens to be consistently interesting, smart, exciting, and fun. The finest book Eoin Colfer has ever written, and hopefully the start of more stories like this to come. Everyone should read it.
For ages 8-15.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that roundabout little introduction is just my way of saying how much I loved Airman. It was one of those books I saw sitting on my boss’s bookshelf that made me think, “Maybe I should read that.” It wasn’t until multiple people told me in person and repeatedly how good it was that I caved. And it really is good, gentle reader. It puts the buckle in swashbuckling. The play in swordplay. The terror in terrific. It's a good old-fashioned tale of thwarted romance, betrayal, great heroism, murder, diamonds, villains, kings, Americans, thugs, and a boy with the unusual inclination to fly.
The thing to know about Conor Broekhart, before all the nastiness occurred, was that he was born in the sky. A hot air balloon, if you wanted me to be more precise. A falling, soon-to-be-crushed, death trap of a balloon, to be even closer to the mark. Of course Conor didn't die, and as a result his family returned to their home on the Saltee Islands (just off the coast of Ireland) with a new baby to introduce to the King. Conor's father was the king's right hand man, and because they were so close the boy grew up running around the castle with his best friend, the princess. But that was before the king was murdered. Before Conor was thrown into jail on the Little Saltee island (think Alcatraz, but with less charm). Before the boy discovered how to survive in his new, harsh, surroundings and find a way out of his predicament. And now the princess and his family are in mortal peril, unless Conor can truly crack the riddle of how to construct a machine that will fly.
Is it fantasy? No more than any historical novel where the hero indulges in science. Is it science fiction? Only if you consider the notion of one man discovering the use of propellers on his own fantastical. Is it steampunk? No. Stop being silly. No this is, odd as it may sound, fiction with spice. That's not really a category, so I don't know if you can call it anything but original. Frances Hardinge's Fly by Night suffered similar categorical problems. Her book seemed like a fantasy, but like this book it was merely an alternate history. Still, if lumping this puppy in with 500+ page fantasy tomes is the only way to get kids to read it, so be it. I've no objections on my end.
For all its 416 pages, the book feels very tight. Colfer keeps a firm hand on the reins of his plot, never indulging too far in one direction or another. The result is a story that flies by with hardly a gasp for breath. This isn't to say that the author doesn't indulge in a small aside once in a while. He does, but they're always very quick and funny. For example, when the castle tower is on fire and King Nicholas must escape from his royal bathroom the text reads, "There was a window, of course. Nicholas was a great believer in the benefits of good ventilation. He was a devotee of meditation, too; but this was hardly the time for it."
There are also copious details that give the book just enough heft to keep it from feeling too frivolous. They tend to be little things. The scrape of the bolt on prison doors is described as "Top C", with the side note, "Social diarists record that survivors of Little Saltee often suffered from insomnia unless their bedchamber doors were fitted with rusted bolts." There are references to Napoleon's stay at Little Saltee (apparently he fared poorly). I liked the little mites that eat away the disease and filth from new prisoners. And Conor's method of writing down his schematics is probably the closest this book comes to science fiction, without ever really treading fully down that path.
Kids looking for excitement will find it from page one onward. And yet, for all its death-defying escapades, Colfer is very careful to cover his bases. He doesn't get sloppy on the details. By the end of the book the reasons why Conor wasn't killed at the same time as Nicholas and why the princess is left living are explained perfectly without so much as a glint of a gap in sight. Kids will enjoy the book because the characters are great and the story is fun. Adults will enjoy it because it won't require extraordinary suspensions of disbelief. Plus the fact that this is a stand-alone novel that does not lend itself naturally to sequels or a series is like a palate cleanser in this sequel-addled age with live in.
Colfer shows himself to be a skillful writer by his interesting choices. Under normal circumstances, when the hero in a story has a plan and doesn't let the reader in on it, usually that plan goes off without a hitch. It doesn't look as if Colfer understood that concept, though, and the book is stronger for it. He also must have never heard the rule that the more often the hero is knocked unconscious, the worse the book is. Conor gets his own fair share of blows to the head, but the author always plays fair and never uses that as an excuse to fudge details or bridge insurmountable distances. Well played.
I also had great respect for Colfer when he saw to it that his hero never became a murderer. Our heroes in movies and books like killing henchmen. The idea that an action packed storyline requires that your protagonist have blood on his hands is a complex issue, too easily skirted around. Colfer isn't afraid to face the problem head-on, though, making it perfectly clear that the "kill or be killed" mode of thought only means that under the right circumstances it is the people without the proper intelligence or imagination who are the ones who descend into becoming killers.
And on a personal note, I was happy to see that the Yanks in this book come off looking pretty good. Good King Nicholas, the forward thinking monarch on the Saltee throne, is an American. Linus Wynter, the kind blind prisoner who helps Conor survive prison, is also an American. We haven't looked this good on paper since Lee Scoresby first showed his face in The Golden Compass.
Some people say the book is The Count of Monte Cristo. Others argue that it feels more like The Man in the Iron Mask. With such esteemed comparisons, it shouldn't hurt matters any to also note that it also happens to be consistently interesting, smart, exciting, and fun. The finest book Eoin Colfer has ever written, and hopefully the start of more stories like this to come. Everyone should read it.
For ages 8-15.
December 16, 2008
Fact: I was a nerd growing up (still am). Theory: Eoin Colfer was, too. Evidence: His books are a total celebration of nerd-dom. Honestly, between Artemis Fowl and now Airman, he's satisfying every daydreaming-during-trigonometry fantasy of every boy out there who's had to struggle with the fact that he has more brains than biceps.
I'll admit that the main character in this book, Conor Broekhart, is tough and good-looking. But that's entirely secondary to the fact that he's a mechanical genius and a nice guy. He wields weapons and wind tunnels with equal confidence, vanquishes his foes with superior courage and intelligence, and gets the girl to boot. See? Just like me, only after fencing lessons.
My buddy Conor. Living the dream.
I'll admit that the main character in this book, Conor Broekhart, is tough and good-looking. But that's entirely secondary to the fact that he's a mechanical genius and a nice guy. He wields weapons and wind tunnels with equal confidence, vanquishes his foes with superior courage and intelligence, and gets the girl to boot. See? Just like me, only after fencing lessons.
My buddy Conor. Living the dream.
July 16, 2011
Know what I love these days???
Stand alone novels!
No sequels, prequels, trilogies, remakes, rewrites, re-releases, etc. etc. etc.
A single book with a beginning, middle, and end.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really enjoyed it - the plot, characters, and writing. At first I thought it would be a bit too similar to the Count of Monte Cristo, it even had a dash of Man in the Iron Mask thrown in. Despite that, it was still original and suspenseful and had me vested in the outcome.
I have never read any other works by Colfer (namely the Artimis Foul series) but if his other writings are similar to this story I will definitely read them.
Stand alone novels!
No sequels, prequels, trilogies, remakes, rewrites, re-releases, etc. etc. etc.
A single book with a beginning, middle, and end.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really enjoyed it - the plot, characters, and writing. At first I thought it would be a bit too similar to the Count of Monte Cristo, it even had a dash of Man in the Iron Mask thrown in. Despite that, it was still original and suspenseful and had me vested in the outcome.
I have never read any other works by Colfer (namely the Artimis Foul series) but if his other writings are similar to this story I will definitely read them.
August 11, 2021
Airman is a very special book to me. I read it for the first time when I was in my early yeens and I've reread it many times since. I’m so glad to find it better and better each time I read it. It’s simply a beautiful story. It also has a lot of adventure, a budding romance that I adored and some the most unique characters with the most unique names I have ever read about, which is something Eoin Colfer is very good at.
I am not kidding, this book has the best set of characters ever. How could someone forget about characters like the Victor ‘La Brosse’ Vigny, King Nicholas, Linus Wynter, Princess Isabella or Conor Broekhart himself and his parents, Declan and Catherine? Even little Sean Broekhart! They were all amazing and they all have my heart. And as per usual with Eoin Colfer, we get a despicable villain who is just loathsome. Together with the story devided in three parts where we see Conor being happy and at his lowest and growing.
I also have to say that I always have a lot of emotional moments with this book. Conor goes through a whole lot of crap, going to prison because of Bonvilain and some parts always do bring tears to my eyes. So this book is quite the rollercoaster of emotions but it's all totally worth it. I also always get rather giddy when Otto Malarkey came into the picture because he’s also in Colfer's W.A.R.P series. I just love Eoin Colfer for that.
So what else can I say but that I love Airman? The story, characters and nostalgic feeling it gives me will never seize to amaze me.
I am not kidding, this book has the best set of characters ever. How could someone forget about characters like the Victor ‘La Brosse’ Vigny, King Nicholas, Linus Wynter, Princess Isabella or Conor Broekhart himself and his parents, Declan and Catherine? Even little Sean Broekhart! They were all amazing and they all have my heart. And as per usual with Eoin Colfer, we get a despicable villain who is just loathsome. Together with the story devided in three parts where we see Conor being happy and at his lowest and growing.
I also have to say that I always have a lot of emotional moments with this book. Conor goes through a whole lot of crap, going to prison because of Bonvilain and some parts always do bring tears to my eyes. So this book is quite the rollercoaster of emotions but it's all totally worth it. I also always get rather giddy when Otto Malarkey came into the picture because he’s also in Colfer's W.A.R.P series. I just love Eoin Colfer for that.
So what else can I say but that I love Airman? The story, characters and nostalgic feeling it gives me will never seize to amaze me.
February 8, 2017
"Airman" is the thrilling story of a fourteen year old boy named Conor Broekhart who dreams of flight. Unfortunately, his dreams are dashed when Conor is accused of murdering the king and is sent to the dreaded prison island of Little Saltee. All throughout his stay, Conor draws up his plans of escape, but the only way to escape Little Saltee is to fly.
I loved Conor Broekhart so much. He was this sweet, innocent, and nerdy kid who was obsessed with planes and gliders and such. I loved getting to read about little Conor at the beginning and seeing how much he grows and changes throughout the book. And I also loved seeing how he dealt with his crush on Isabella. *snickers*
I must warn you that this book gets a bit dark. During his stay at Little Saltee, Conor changes. There's this part where I almost put the book down. Don't. It gets so much better. It almost broke my heart when he almost carried out his foul deed. But he didn't. #spoilers There are also a few parts where I was a bit horrified by the violence, though. *nods* Yeah.
The beginning, to me, was a bit boring. At first, I didn't quite understand how this tied in to the rest of the story, but as the story went on, it got really good. It takes a little while for the book to get started, but once it does, it goes quite fast.
It seemed like the story jumped around a bit. I would have liked it if the author focused on a few parts more than others, but oh well.
I wasn't a huge fan of the last chapter. It just . . . I dunno. I thought it was kind of unnecessary. *shrugs*
All in all, this book was great. I loved the characters, the plot, and the fast paced-ness. I would totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves a good, adventurous story.
I loved Conor Broekhart so much. He was this sweet, innocent, and nerdy kid who was obsessed with planes and gliders and such. I loved getting to read about little Conor at the beginning and seeing how much he grows and changes throughout the book. And I also loved seeing how he dealt with his crush on Isabella. *snickers*
I must warn you that this book gets a bit dark. During his stay at Little Saltee, Conor changes. There's this part where I almost put the book down. Don't. It gets so much better. It almost broke my heart when he almost carried out his foul deed. But he didn't. #spoilers There are also a few parts where I was a bit horrified by the violence, though. *nods* Yeah.
The beginning, to me, was a bit boring. At first, I didn't quite understand how this tied in to the rest of the story, but as the story went on, it got really good. It takes a little while for the book to get started, but once it does, it goes quite fast.
It seemed like the story jumped around a bit. I would have liked it if the author focused on a few parts more than others, but oh well.
I wasn't a huge fan of the last chapter. It just . . . I dunno. I thought it was kind of unnecessary. *shrugs*
All in all, this book was great. I loved the characters, the plot, and the fast paced-ness. I would totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves a good, adventurous story.
February 16, 2019
February 13-14, 2019
Has it really been that long since I read this book? Sad! It's sooooo good! I went to my 3rd grader's book fair, which was in their school library, and saw this on the shelf. I was like, "Yaaaasss I want to read it again!!!" So I did. :) What a great book!!
November 1-3, 2013
Only 42 stars, Past Sara? Really? I know you were trying to be funny with the Hitchhiker's reference there, but you were seriously undervaluing this book!
It's AWESOME. Conor is THE BEST EVAR!!! It's kind of a teenage boy book, as it's about a teenage boy, but whatever! Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books are really great, but this is my favorite of all his books!
The audiobook is really great, too! LOVE IT!!!!!!
August 25-27, 2010
Fabulous the second time around, too! :)
November 9, 2008
If I could give it 42 stars, I would.
Ahhhhh!!!! It was SOOO SOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! Seriously... listening to it in the car probably wasn't safe, as periodically, I would slam the steering wheel in frustration or anticipation and yell, "HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!!" It was SOOOOOOO EXCITING!!! I loved it. (And of course I did.... it is "recommended to listeners ages 12 to 17"... durrrrr...)
It ended so well! *giggly-happy sigh* :)
Okay, so I suppose you want to know what it's about, eh? Well, it's about this kid, Conor Broekhart (Irish), who is 15 (after the prologue, which tells about how he was born in a hot-air balloon), who dreams of flying. He lives on a little island called Great Saltee. His father, mother, and he are close friends with the King and his daughter, Isabella. (Side note: I'm surprised to say, hearing her name NEVER reminded me of Bella (Twilight)! Shocking!) He kinda becomes sidekick to the royal scientist.
I don't want to get into too much detail, but I'll write what's on the back of the CD:
"Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king's daughter, Princess Isabella [who routinely threatens to have him hanged... :)]. But the boy's idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a deadly conspiracy against the king. When Conor tries to intervene, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life, as he and the other prisoners are forced to mind for diamonds in inhumane conditions.
"There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly...."
There's more, but holy spoilers, Batman! That was bad enough!
It was fascinating and I loved it.
Has it really been that long since I read this book? Sad! It's sooooo good! I went to my 3rd grader's book fair, which was in their school library, and saw this on the shelf. I was like, "Yaaaasss I want to read it again!!!" So I did. :) What a great book!!
November 1-3, 2013
Only 42 stars, Past Sara? Really? I know you were trying to be funny with the Hitchhiker's reference there, but you were seriously undervaluing this book!
It's AWESOME. Conor is THE BEST EVAR!!! It's kind of a teenage boy book, as it's about a teenage boy, but whatever! Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books are really great, but this is my favorite of all his books!
The audiobook is really great, too! LOVE IT!!!!!!
August 25-27, 2010
Fabulous the second time around, too! :)
November 9, 2008
If I could give it 42 stars, I would.
Ahhhhh!!!! It was SOOO SOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! Seriously... listening to it in the car probably wasn't safe, as periodically, I would slam the steering wheel in frustration or anticipation and yell, "HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!!" It was SOOOOOOO EXCITING!!! I loved it. (And of course I did.... it is "recommended to listeners ages 12 to 17"... durrrrr...)
It ended so well! *giggly-happy sigh* :)
Okay, so I suppose you want to know what it's about, eh? Well, it's about this kid, Conor Broekhart (Irish), who is 15 (after the prologue, which tells about how he was born in a hot-air balloon), who dreams of flying. He lives on a little island called Great Saltee. His father, mother, and he are close friends with the King and his daughter, Isabella. (Side note: I'm surprised to say, hearing her name NEVER reminded me of Bella (Twilight)! Shocking!) He kinda becomes sidekick to the royal scientist.
I don't want to get into too much detail, but I'll write what's on the back of the CD:
"Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king's daughter, Princess Isabella [who routinely threatens to have him hanged... :)]. But the boy's idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a deadly conspiracy against the king. When Conor tries to intervene, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life, as he and the other prisoners are forced to mind for diamonds in inhumane conditions.
"There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly...."
There's more, but holy spoilers, Batman! That was bad enough!
It was fascinating and I loved it.
November 22, 2016
'Airman', de Eoin Colfer, constituye todo un homenaje a los folletines decimonónicos de aventuras, sobre todo a un autor, Alejandro Dumas, y una novela, 'El conde de Montecristo', con algún ligero toque de 'El hombre de la máscara de hierro'.
La historia trascurre a finales del siglo XIX, en las Islas Saltee (que constituyen un reino en sí mismas), frente a las costas de Irlanda, compuestas de dos islas, Great Saltee, donde residen los habitantes de este principado, y Little Saltee, donde está su sustento, las minas de diamantes; al mismo tiempo, Little Saltee sirve de cárcel, y son los presidiarios quienes sacan los diamantes. El protagonista es Conor Broekhart, cuyo destino viene marcado desde su mismo nacimiento, a bordo de un globo aerostático. La vida en Great Saltee transcurre tranquilamente, con Conor y la princesa Isabella creciendo juntos, y estudiando junto a Vigny, un enamorado de los aparatos aéreos, y con el rey Nicholas llevando a cabo una serie de reformas en todo el reino, sobre todo en la prisión. Pero la vida de Conor dará un vuelco cuando Bonvilain, uno de los hombres del rey con grandes ansias de poder, lo implique en sus planes de hacerse con el reino. Sus problemas no harán más que empezar, y lo único que le hará seguir adelante serán sus ansias de venganza... Como se puede apreciar, muy del Edmundo Dantés de 'El conde de Montecristo'.
La novela se lee de un tirón, ya que las aventuras se suceden constantemente, siempre están sucediendo cosas. Colfer es un escritor correcto, que ha escrito una historia sin pretensiones, con algún toque steampunk, cuya mayor ambición es hacer pasar un buen rato al lector, algo que logra con creces.
La historia trascurre a finales del siglo XIX, en las Islas Saltee (que constituyen un reino en sí mismas), frente a las costas de Irlanda, compuestas de dos islas, Great Saltee, donde residen los habitantes de este principado, y Little Saltee, donde está su sustento, las minas de diamantes; al mismo tiempo, Little Saltee sirve de cárcel, y son los presidiarios quienes sacan los diamantes. El protagonista es Conor Broekhart, cuyo destino viene marcado desde su mismo nacimiento, a bordo de un globo aerostático. La vida en Great Saltee transcurre tranquilamente, con Conor y la princesa Isabella creciendo juntos, y estudiando junto a Vigny, un enamorado de los aparatos aéreos, y con el rey Nicholas llevando a cabo una serie de reformas en todo el reino, sobre todo en la prisión. Pero la vida de Conor dará un vuelco cuando Bonvilain, uno de los hombres del rey con grandes ansias de poder, lo implique en sus planes de hacerse con el reino. Sus problemas no harán más que empezar, y lo único que le hará seguir adelante serán sus ansias de venganza... Como se puede apreciar, muy del Edmundo Dantés de 'El conde de Montecristo'.
La novela se lee de un tirón, ya que las aventuras se suceden constantemente, siempre están sucediendo cosas. Colfer es un escritor correcto, que ha escrito una historia sin pretensiones, con algún toque steampunk, cuya mayor ambición es hacer pasar un buen rato al lector, algo que logra con creces.
September 4, 2013
Wow. That's all I can really say. This book, and my feels, took a beating. There were some points when I wanted to throw it across the room and go hurt something. It's that good.
I advise, before you start this book, to invest in a good psychiatrist. The plotting is so...thick...so complex that I could hardly put it down. (Unfortunately, I had to, as I had to see to my life and feed myself.) But, really, Eoin Colfer, I love you dearly. The characters, the plot, the whole world is just fantastic. And, Mr. Colfer doesn't make you swim through pages of gelatinous prose. (Thank you, for that.)He's concise, descriptive, and legendary.
The villains are delightfully...villainous. The protagonists--and there are many--are complex, and at times, flawed. I just...I can't believe that I stumbled on this book and wasn't sure of it at first. It changed. My. Life.
Okay, so, as far as "adult-ish" situations go, I can't recall any, offhand. Language, a few H words, and...the D word. Violence--well, Conor is kind of beaten-up quite a few times. Nothing severely graphic. And, it's subtly steampunk, and that makes my day.
Basically, it's a great book if you want to be emotionally attached to a bunch of characters who get beat up on by the world. Which, I'm all for. Thank you, Eoin Colfer, I bow to you, o great entity of spectacular words!
Read
October 8, 2024In the nicest way, this felt like a Boy Book.
I loved the speculative elements (alternate history and all of the aeronautic elements), but the characters didn’t quite gel for me, and it was a bit higher stakes than I enjoy in a book this light.
However, I’d recommend this as a MG/YA read, especially if you are looking for an old fashioned swashbuckler for boys in which the female characters are respectfully portrayed.
I loved the speculative elements (alternate history and all of the aeronautic elements), but the characters didn’t quite gel for me, and it was a bit higher stakes than I enjoy in a book this light.
However, I’d recommend this as a MG/YA read, especially if you are looking for an old fashioned swashbuckler for boys in which the female characters are respectfully portrayed.
Read
February 12, 2011First of all, let me say that I am a total Eoin Colfer fan. Really. I bought this book without knowing anything about it except that Eoin Colfer wrote it--and I usually don't do that. He is such a skilled writer though. He effortlessly juggles pacing, dialogue, action, internal thought, characterization, description--all of it. He makes it look easy. And in omniscient point of view too.
That said, I had a major problem with this book. One part was totally unbelievable.
*spoiler alert*
Oh, I was willing to believe that Connor, as a child, could make a hang glider out of a flag and toothpicks to save himself and the princess from a burning tower. (Okay, it wasn't toothpicks, but still . . .) I was willing to believe that he could escape from prison hanging onto a basketless air balloon, and even that he was able to sit down with some local lads and put together an airplane before the Wright brothers.
Here is the scene that had me ejecting the CD and moaning, "Why Eoin? Why would you write that?"
Obvious villain, Hugo, has just killed a man who is not only king, but also a close friend of Connor's family. He and the princess have been friends since birth and now have romantic feelings for each other.
Fourteen year old Connor hears the murder happen, bursts into the room and tries to stop Hugo. Hugo beats him senseless, puts him in chains and tells Connor's father that Connor has killed the king.
Connor's father, who happens to be captain of guards, goes to see his son in prison and--get this--never even asks Connor if he did it. He doesn't listen to his obviously beaten son, say anything. Instead he yells at Connor for being a traitor and disowns him.
What??????!!!! Come on, the kid is fourteen!
There's absolutely no evidence that Connor has done this crime and he has no motivation for doing it.
Any half-way decent parent would at least ask if the allegation were actually true. Even a bad parent would try to defend their child if for no other reason then they wouldn’t want to be tainted with the crime themselves. But not Connor's dad. He sends him off to a prison camp where he will be beaten some more.
And if that isn't hard enough to believe, once Conner escapes, he harbors no ill feelings toward his father. Excuse me, my children harbor ill feelings toward me when I tell them they'll be excused from the dinner table if they don't use good table manners. (Really, I have one son who is still going on about a certain toast incident.)
I never could really get over that aspect of the story.
Still, it's always nice to listen to a guy with an Irish accent narrate the story. And the last Artemis Fowl book was totally awesome so I still love you, Eoin.
That said, I had a major problem with this book. One part was totally unbelievable.
*spoiler alert*
Oh, I was willing to believe that Connor, as a child, could make a hang glider out of a flag and toothpicks to save himself and the princess from a burning tower. (Okay, it wasn't toothpicks, but still . . .) I was willing to believe that he could escape from prison hanging onto a basketless air balloon, and even that he was able to sit down with some local lads and put together an airplane before the Wright brothers.
Here is the scene that had me ejecting the CD and moaning, "Why Eoin? Why would you write that?"
Obvious villain, Hugo, has just killed a man who is not only king, but also a close friend of Connor's family. He and the princess have been friends since birth and now have romantic feelings for each other.
Fourteen year old Connor hears the murder happen, bursts into the room and tries to stop Hugo. Hugo beats him senseless, puts him in chains and tells Connor's father that Connor has killed the king.
Connor's father, who happens to be captain of guards, goes to see his son in prison and--get this--never even asks Connor if he did it. He doesn't listen to his obviously beaten son, say anything. Instead he yells at Connor for being a traitor and disowns him.
What??????!!!! Come on, the kid is fourteen!
There's absolutely no evidence that Connor has done this crime and he has no motivation for doing it.
Any half-way decent parent would at least ask if the allegation were actually true. Even a bad parent would try to defend their child if for no other reason then they wouldn’t want to be tainted with the crime themselves. But not Connor's dad. He sends him off to a prison camp where he will be beaten some more.
And if that isn't hard enough to believe, once Conner escapes, he harbors no ill feelings toward his father. Excuse me, my children harbor ill feelings toward me when I tell them they'll be excused from the dinner table if they don't use good table manners. (Really, I have one son who is still going on about a certain toast incident.)
I never could really get over that aspect of the story.
Still, it's always nice to listen to a guy with an Irish accent narrate the story. And the last Artemis Fowl book was totally awesome so I still love you, Eoin.
December 16, 2015
I picked this book up quite a while ago, but never got around to reading it until I decided to give it away. I'm not sure why I never read it, because everything about this seems like it would be to my taste. I really enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series, and laugh like a loon whenever I read them, so I had a pretty good idea that I would like his other books, but still I put this off.
Well I'm glad that I decided to give it away, because it gave me an excuse to read this sooner than later, and I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it.
This was nothing like the AF series. There's not really any fantasy here, or magic or ridiculous jokes or gutter-humor or any of the stuff that I loved about the AF series, but I enjoyed this as much for the lack of those things as I loved AF for them. This book definitely has a more serious, somber tone, and in many ways it reminded me of one of the greats, The Count of Monte Cristo. That is a huge compliment coming from me, because COMC is without a doubt one of the greatest books about betrayal and revenge ever written, and I adored all 1300 pages of it. This is not a YA reproduction of The Count of Monte Cristo, however. The storyline here veers off in its own direction, and follows its own trail, but the tone, and some of the details just brought the classic to mind.
I glanced at a few reviews of this book and see that a common complaint was the darkness and bleak feeling of the story, the hopelessness. I don't agree that that's how the story was portrayed. Yes, overall it was far from light and happy, but again the story warranted a darker and hopeless feeling. I thought the somber tone was appropriate for this story, considering all that poor Conor endured, and all that he lost: his freedom, his family, his love, his country, his honor. These are not happy events. Even so, Colfer did a great job at weaving some threads of lightness and humor into the story to break up the solemnity of the main story. It was done in a very subtle manner, not at all overstated and blatant like the humor in the Artemis Fowl series, but it had me giggling all the same. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the tone fit the story for me, and anything much lighter would have been out of place.
Moving on to the characters, I have to say that I really liked all of them. I would have liked a little bit more depth, especially in Conor. As much as I liked him, and I really did, his only real flaw was in his despair and willingness to move on and start over without even trying to bring out the truth and set things to rights. I know that he'd been through a torturous 3 years, but considering that he was so determined in everything else, you'd think that his determination, and the anger at his mistreatment would spark a vengeance in him. He was just a little too perfect, a little too noble and charitable.
I really liked Declan, Conor's father, and felt for his loss. He was grieving and feeling guilty and angry and lost himself. Even though I empathized with him, I still would have liked a bit more personal grief and anger from him. It was told, not felt. It served the purpose, but I would have just liked a bit more.
The Marshall was decidedly villainous and evil, and even though I immensely disliked him, I could not help but laugh at some of his wittier comments and thoughts. He's so unabashedly bad that he becomes a bit funny, but not funny to the point at which he's no longer awful, but just funny as in "Wow, I can't believe people are really THAT horrible!"
I really liked the scientific and engineering historical references in this story. It lent the book a feeling of realism and groundedness that it would have been lacking otherwise. I would still classify it as an adventure story, but with these details, it has a more real historical feel.
I must admit that I was so engrossed in the story that I was surprised to find that 3/4 of it had passed in build-up, and that the resolution was yet to be hinted at. You'd think that the end would feel rushed in this kind of a situation, but I didn't feel that way after everything was said and done. The resolution, while very different than what I thought would occur, fit the story very well, and left the reader an opening to extend the ending as they choose.
Overall, I really liked this one, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking for something enjoyable and interesting to read.
Well I'm glad that I decided to give it away, because it gave me an excuse to read this sooner than later, and I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it.
This was nothing like the AF series. There's not really any fantasy here, or magic or ridiculous jokes or gutter-humor or any of the stuff that I loved about the AF series, but I enjoyed this as much for the lack of those things as I loved AF for them. This book definitely has a more serious, somber tone, and in many ways it reminded me of one of the greats, The Count of Monte Cristo. That is a huge compliment coming from me, because COMC is without a doubt one of the greatest books about betrayal and revenge ever written, and I adored all 1300 pages of it. This is not a YA reproduction of The Count of Monte Cristo, however. The storyline here veers off in its own direction, and follows its own trail, but the tone, and some of the details just brought the classic to mind.
I glanced at a few reviews of this book and see that a common complaint was the darkness and bleak feeling of the story, the hopelessness. I don't agree that that's how the story was portrayed. Yes, overall it was far from light and happy, but again the story warranted a darker and hopeless feeling. I thought the somber tone was appropriate for this story, considering all that poor Conor endured, and all that he lost: his freedom, his family, his love, his country, his honor. These are not happy events. Even so, Colfer did a great job at weaving some threads of lightness and humor into the story to break up the solemnity of the main story. It was done in a very subtle manner, not at all overstated and blatant like the humor in the Artemis Fowl series, but it had me giggling all the same. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the tone fit the story for me, and anything much lighter would have been out of place.
Moving on to the characters, I have to say that I really liked all of them. I would have liked a little bit more depth, especially in Conor. As much as I liked him, and I really did, his only real flaw was in his despair and willingness to move on and start over without even trying to bring out the truth and set things to rights. I know that he'd been through a torturous 3 years, but considering that he was so determined in everything else, you'd think that his determination, and the anger at his mistreatment would spark a vengeance in him. He was just a little too perfect, a little too noble and charitable.
I really liked Declan, Conor's father, and felt for his loss. He was grieving and feeling guilty and angry and lost himself. Even though I empathized with him, I still would have liked a bit more personal grief and anger from him. It was told, not felt. It served the purpose, but I would have just liked a bit more.
The Marshall was decidedly villainous and evil, and even though I immensely disliked him, I could not help but laugh at some of his wittier comments and thoughts. He's so unabashedly bad that he becomes a bit funny, but not funny to the point at which he's no longer awful, but just funny as in "Wow, I can't believe people are really THAT horrible!"
I really liked the scientific and engineering historical references in this story. It lent the book a feeling of realism and groundedness that it would have been lacking otherwise. I would still classify it as an adventure story, but with these details, it has a more real historical feel.
I must admit that I was so engrossed in the story that I was surprised to find that 3/4 of it had passed in build-up, and that the resolution was yet to be hinted at. You'd think that the end would feel rushed in this kind of a situation, but I didn't feel that way after everything was said and done. The resolution, while very different than what I thought would occur, fit the story very well, and left the reader an opening to extend the ending as they choose.
Overall, I really liked this one, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking for something enjoyable and interesting to read.
October 26, 2016
Immediately on reading this book, I wasn’t hooked. Swashbuckling action is what it promised and I can certainly agree that it didn't disappoint on that level. However, I concede that I am probably too old for this kind of book which I think is targeted at teenagers.
The narrative centres around Conor Brockhart, which is every bit the hero. Young, handsome, gifted and with connections to the royal family. And every hero must have a worthy villain, (of course) and this was found in Hugo Bonvilian - the name itself giving away how good a villain he was. And I must admit, he was the most enjoyable bit of the tale for me.
He had an arrogance that is only found in narratives, with an English air that was aloof, independent and cocky. This smug know-it-all commanded the allegiance of lesser men who were cowed by his violent acts. He had plans to rule the kingdom (of course) under a puppet queen whose father was dispatched of (as you do) so that he could rule where his family failed. Kind of like the steward with ideas above his station. And he would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for those meddling little kids! (Conor and his child queen Isabella.)
My second favourite character was Wynter with a Y… (very predictable) a character that was the opposite of the cold of winter; very warm and friendly towards our hero when he needed it most. He was blind and, of course, played the piano like a concert pianist. And he could write full compositions within his mind, cast them to paper (or a wet prison wall) and they're brilliant. Worthy of lofty halls with royalty in the audience. The blind concert pianist with extraordinary talents of hearing the impossible, because of course, with one sense gone, another is on the verge of a super power (!)
This book was cheesy beyond belief. At at times, it was satisfying and made me smile, but other times, caused me to groan and roll my eyes. I did like the idea of the Airman though, (the back pages were certainly educational). There was the history of man’s flying machines at the back of my edition, which was interesting. I learnt about Da Vinci’s sketches that I hadn’t known before, and the author really seemed to have done his research in how an aircraft works. A little too much explaining of stuff I wasn’t interested in. I mean, do I really need to know the intricate mechanics of how his light aircraft worked? I found this book trying in places… and struggled to stay awake, but I was also reluctantly entertained in other areas.
It reminded me of the old Sunday matinees I used to watch when there was nothing else on. I’d enjoy the odd explosion or two, the death defying feats of leaping off tall buildings, crashing into raging seas and diving to the depths of oceans for diamonds. It is all here in this book, without the instant gratification of a film - patience is needed with this one.
Teenagers, I think, will enjoy it. Adults, well… depends on what you want from your books. Old fashioned swashbuckling adventure - yes. Nail biting tension and excitement - not so much although it does try. If you like the language to do something more sophisticated than just tell a straightforward narrative, I’d look further afield. And because of this, I give it 2 stars out of five.
The narrative centres around Conor Brockhart, which is every bit the hero. Young, handsome, gifted and with connections to the royal family. And every hero must have a worthy villain, (of course) and this was found in Hugo Bonvilian - the name itself giving away how good a villain he was. And I must admit, he was the most enjoyable bit of the tale for me.
He had an arrogance that is only found in narratives, with an English air that was aloof, independent and cocky. This smug know-it-all commanded the allegiance of lesser men who were cowed by his violent acts. He had plans to rule the kingdom (of course) under a puppet queen whose father was dispatched of (as you do) so that he could rule where his family failed. Kind of like the steward with ideas above his station. And he would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for those meddling little kids! (Conor and his child queen Isabella.)
My second favourite character was Wynter with a Y… (very predictable) a character that was the opposite of the cold of winter; very warm and friendly towards our hero when he needed it most. He was blind and, of course, played the piano like a concert pianist. And he could write full compositions within his mind, cast them to paper (or a wet prison wall) and they're brilliant. Worthy of lofty halls with royalty in the audience. The blind concert pianist with extraordinary talents of hearing the impossible, because of course, with one sense gone, another is on the verge of a super power (!)
This book was cheesy beyond belief. At at times, it was satisfying and made me smile, but other times, caused me to groan and roll my eyes. I did like the idea of the Airman though, (the back pages were certainly educational). There was the history of man’s flying machines at the back of my edition, which was interesting. I learnt about Da Vinci’s sketches that I hadn’t known before, and the author really seemed to have done his research in how an aircraft works. A little too much explaining of stuff I wasn’t interested in. I mean, do I really need to know the intricate mechanics of how his light aircraft worked? I found this book trying in places… and struggled to stay awake, but I was also reluctantly entertained in other areas.
It reminded me of the old Sunday matinees I used to watch when there was nothing else on. I’d enjoy the odd explosion or two, the death defying feats of leaping off tall buildings, crashing into raging seas and diving to the depths of oceans for diamonds. It is all here in this book, without the instant gratification of a film - patience is needed with this one.
Teenagers, I think, will enjoy it. Adults, well… depends on what you want from your books. Old fashioned swashbuckling adventure - yes. Nail biting tension and excitement - not so much although it does try. If you like the language to do something more sophisticated than just tell a straightforward narrative, I’d look further afield. And because of this, I give it 2 stars out of five.
May 18, 2013
“A monkey glances up and sees a banana, and that's as far as he looks. A visionary looks up and sees the moon.”
― Eoin Colfer, Airman
-> "An average human sees a book as pages and ink. An avid reader looks up for an adventure and knowledge"
- Numey
Airman by Eoin Colfer, about a crisp-sarcastic-determined-soft.from.heart-knighted-flyer aka Conor Broekhart
((Will write later, soon))
My 'soon' never comes :/ Even after my tomorrow goes, my soon never comes, no idea why!
― Eoin Colfer, Airman
-> "An average human sees a book as pages and ink. An avid reader looks up for an adventure and knowledge"
- Numey
Airman by Eoin Colfer, about a crisp-sarcastic-determined-soft.from.heart-knighted-flyer aka Conor Broekhart
((Will write later, soon))
My 'soon' never comes :/ Even after my tomorrow goes, my soon never comes, no idea why!
June 1, 2012
Wonderful! Amazing! I can still feel the air in my face!
January 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ for this thrilling middle grade adventure story set in the late 19th century Saltee Islands off the coast of Ireland. It’s a time of innovation and progress, and 14 year old Conor Broekhart dreams of flight - testing out his scientific theories and building a flying machine.
Conor becomes collateral damage in a wicked plot to usurp the throne and is shipped off to a prison dungeon. But when all hope seems lost, Conor perseveres. His story is far from over.
I miss books like this where the good guys are truly GOOD - straight as an arrow, loves his family, loyal, and full of heart and bravery. And where the bad guys are classic villains. None of this tortured-past moral ambiguity. This bad guy is literally named Bonvilain, and you hate this man with every fiber of your being. It’s perfect.
I cannot recommend this audiobook reader highly enough. He does an extraordinary amount of acting with only his voice and an impressive arsenal of accents. Irish, Cockney, American, ‘king’s English’, French….this guy can do anything.
You will love this book if you love adventure and old-fashioned heroism.
Conor becomes collateral damage in a wicked plot to usurp the throne and is shipped off to a prison dungeon. But when all hope seems lost, Conor perseveres. His story is far from over.
I miss books like this where the good guys are truly GOOD - straight as an arrow, loves his family, loyal, and full of heart and bravery. And where the bad guys are classic villains. None of this tortured-past moral ambiguity. This bad guy is literally named Bonvilain, and you hate this man with every fiber of your being. It’s perfect.
I cannot recommend this audiobook reader highly enough. He does an extraordinary amount of acting with only his voice and an impressive arsenal of accents. Irish, Cockney, American, ‘king’s English’, French….this guy can do anything.
You will love this book if you love adventure and old-fashioned heroism.
August 15, 2012
Much of Airman is very enjoyable. Set when mechanical flight is on the verge of becoming a reality, it's both a Count of Monte Cristo-esque revenge tale and a fictional origin of manned flight. As historical fiction, Colfer does a good job of getting the flavor of the period. As a revenge story, he makes his hero (Conor) sufficiently noble and his villain (Bonvilain) sufficiently ruthless anc calculating. So far, so good.
But the characters are barely more than sketches. Perhaps Isabella, Conor's sweetheart and princess, suffers most for this. She has barely any development, which made her romance with Conor slightly less convincing. A shame, because they could have been a very cute couple. Bonvilain also suffers by becoming so wildly over the top that he feels like far less of a threat than he evidently is. He's thwarted as much by his overly elaborate plans as by anything Conor does. And honestly, I stopped taking him quite so seriously when he gave himself a slow clap halfway through the book.
The ending also seems very rushed, wrapping up with the bare minimum of explanation. I just felt like it needed a little more. That's not to say that it's an unsatisfactory ending, because it is, mostly. Just rushed. And the book overall is a fun read, mostly.
But the characters are barely more than sketches. Perhaps Isabella, Conor's sweetheart and princess, suffers most for this. She has barely any development, which made her romance with Conor slightly less convincing. A shame, because they could have been a very cute couple. Bonvilain also suffers by becoming so wildly over the top that he feels like far less of a threat than he evidently is. He's thwarted as much by his overly elaborate plans as by anything Conor does. And honestly, I stopped taking him quite so seriously when he gave himself a slow clap halfway through the book.
The ending also seems very rushed, wrapping up with the bare minimum of explanation. I just felt like it needed a little more. That's not to say that it's an unsatisfactory ending, because it is, mostly. Just rushed. And the book overall is a fun read, mostly.
July 21, 2012
My wife mentioned the other day that I am "all about the ending" when it comes to books or movies. And that is why I can't bring myself to give Airman 5 stars even though it is one of the most enjoyable books I've read.
A royal romance, a plot to overthrow the government, a prison break, and high-flying (literally - of course everything in a book is literal) adventure, and awesome names (Declan Brokehart is such a cool name) abound in this wonderfully written adventure following Conor Brokehart's tale of tragedy and triumph.
Colfer made me care about the characters and kept me turning pages. And while I wanted Conor to get out of trouble as quickly as possible, Colfer did a wonderful job of not rushing events or escapes. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and the settings are cold and suitable for the plot to unfold.
My only problem was that after being totally engrossed in the first 9/10 of the book the last bit left me going "that's how it wraps up?" I just wanted more from the ending. Otherwise Loved it!
A royal romance, a plot to overthrow the government, a prison break, and high-flying (literally - of course everything in a book is literal) adventure, and awesome names (Declan Brokehart is such a cool name) abound in this wonderfully written adventure following Conor Brokehart's tale of tragedy and triumph.
Colfer made me care about the characters and kept me turning pages. And while I wanted Conor to get out of trouble as quickly as possible, Colfer did a wonderful job of not rushing events or escapes. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and the settings are cold and suitable for the plot to unfold.
My only problem was that after being totally engrossed in the first 9/10 of the book the last bit left me going "that's how it wraps up?" I just wanted more from the ending. Otherwise Loved it!
May 31, 2022
This book was like reading a mash-up of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Lost Baron, twisted around the theme of aeronautics and perfectly packaged into a daring, noble adventure. Airman is so cleverly written, so rich and enjoyable. It's one of those books that makes me look forward with anticipation to picking it up for a reread. Wonderful!
March 10, 2017
Who couldn't love this book. Dare I say, this is Eoin Colfer's best work. I mean, I'll always be AF af, but this is pretty darn good. It kept me hooked all the way through, and it's got such great progression.
Also, can we just take a second to appreciate that name? CONOR BROEKHART
Not to mention, Hugo Bonvilain, who is surprisingly the villain. Plot twist.
But really, this is a fantastic book and I absolutely loved it.
Also, can we just take a second to appreciate that name? CONOR BROEKHART
Not to mention, Hugo Bonvilain, who is surprisingly the villain. Plot twist.
But really, this is a fantastic book and I absolutely loved it.
February 20, 2011
Several students had raved about this story so I gave it a shot. The plot was predictable but solid; it was really the long descriptive paragraphs which failed to move me. If an author is going to devote several paragraphs to describe the scenery, it better be either uniquely arresting or beautifully written. In this case it was neither.
January 7, 2014
I have never read the Artemis Fowl books so I did not know Eoin Colfer's name. We were looking for an audiobook for a drive and this sounded like it might please everyone and it did.
This is not something that will be a classic but it is a very good book for boys nonetheless. It has all the elements of being the right-kind-of-book which C.S. Lewis would have wished Eustace to have read.
This is not something that will be a classic but it is a very good book for boys nonetheless. It has all the elements of being the right-kind-of-book which C.S. Lewis would have wished Eustace to have read.
June 8, 2018
An inventive, imaginative story. Simple, but intelligent and emotionally complex. Good character development, even without getting very deep into the characters head. It started out very MG, and as the character grew the narrative grew a bit. But it never got to the point that I would consider it YA, even though the character was 17 at the end.
I did have one small complaint, which is probably a manner of taste. (some spoilers) The text was very clear that the character's family was the main driving factor behind everything. The emotional damage he received from his father through the lies of the antagonist, and the love for his family that caused him to keep his distance for their safety even if they hated him.
However, we only see maybe two paragraphs describing his revelation that his father had been lied to just as he had been, and the guilt of that moment. And no real resolution. But we get a whole chapter about the girl he liked, when their relationships as kids, sure, was great but it wasn't the focus of the book. I really would have liked to see some of the effects of the family. But, that was maybe a bit heavy for an MG novel, so I get why it wasn't included.
Overall, it was a great book. A nice, straightforward read that gave me some great inspiration and kept me very involved.
I did have one small complaint, which is probably a manner of taste. (some spoilers) The text was very clear that the character's family was the main driving factor behind everything. The emotional damage he received from his father through the lies of the antagonist, and the love for his family that caused him to keep his distance for their safety even if they hated him.
However, we only see maybe two paragraphs describing his revelation that his father had been lied to just as he had been, and the guilt of that moment. And no real resolution. But we get a whole chapter about the girl he liked, when their relationships as kids, sure, was great but it wasn't the focus of the book. I really would have liked to see some of the effects of the family. But, that was maybe a bit heavy for an MG novel, so I get why it wasn't included.
Overall, it was a great book. A nice, straightforward read that gave me some great inspiration and kept me very involved.
July 21, 2017
Imagine a mash-up of an Ironman graphic novel with The Count of Monte Cristo, and you have Eoin Colfer’s The Airman. The beginning of The Airman feels a little like a superhero origin story. Our young protagonist, Conor, is the son of a king’s guard, and he spends his time exploring the castle. We meet his childhood friend, the princess, and following along while he learns a crazy amount of skills from his wise and talented tutor—who happens to believe that someday humans will be able to fly the skies in heavier-than-air machines.
Many years pass, and the king is murdered. Unfortunately Conor find himself caught up in the conspiracy and thrown in prison. His friends and family believe he’s dead. Eventually Conor meets some new friends, and he begins crafting an ingenious plan for revenge against those who have wronged him. His plan has to do with a flying machine.
The ending did feel a little rushed, and details of the supporting cast were scant, but overall, The Airman was a wild ride and entertaining revenge adventure.
Many years pass, and the king is murdered. Unfortunately Conor find himself caught up in the conspiracy and thrown in prison. His friends and family believe he’s dead. Eventually Conor meets some new friends, and he begins crafting an ingenious plan for revenge against those who have wronged him. His plan has to do with a flying machine.
The ending did feel a little rushed, and details of the supporting cast were scant, but overall, The Airman was a wild ride and entertaining revenge adventure.
August 3, 2021
An excellent story with a well-developed emotional arc. The characters—good and evil—are true to their natures and act accordingly. The writing is sharp and clear, and though I have never been to the land described, I saw it vividly in my mind's eye. Airman was never boring but always drew me deeper into the story.
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April 28, 2018good book, upbeat
April 13, 2020
This book is a fun read! I feel like it can appeal to many age groups, and had an interesting storyline.
May 25, 2021
4.5 stars
August 24, 2016
Well, I think I'll go ahead and give this one 4 stars, which is fairy high praise from me. I didn't care for Artemis Fowl when I read it years ago, but still decided to give this stand-alone novel a shot. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE stand-alone novels compared to fluffed trilogies or endless series?
This book felt a bit like a superhero origin tale. Although it was a bit far fetched in some areas (of course our young protagonist learns fencing, wrestling, AND karate from a master, how convenient), you just kind of go along with the ride for the sake of the adventure. I mean, it all COULD happen, it's just a bit unlikely. Suspend a little disbelief, and just look at it like that superhero origin.
Another reviewer compared this to the Count of Monte Cristo mixed with Batman and/or Ironman. That seems about right. The son of a king's guard, Conor, spends his days exploring the royal castle with his childhood friend the princess, while learning insane amounts of skills from his ridiculously talented tutor who is also obsessed with the idea that humans could someday fly on heavier-than-air machines. Years later, the king is murdered, and as part of the conspiracy Conor is tossed into prison while his family and friends think he's dead. In prison, he makes some powerful friends, and also squirrels away some of the diamonds that he and his fellow prisoners are forced to mine for. A daring escape later, and Conor is able to set about plans to build flying machines and seek revenge.
So yeah...very Monte Cristo, and very much like a steampunk Ironman. Again, there were some things that were quite far fetched, but that's fine. I do wish that the female characters (Conor's mother and Princess Isabella) had gotten more screentime and development, but I guess that's the problem with spending so much time imprisoned. The ending also felt a bit weak and abrupt, so for these things I'll detract a star.
This book felt a bit like a superhero origin tale. Although it was a bit far fetched in some areas (of course our young protagonist learns fencing, wrestling, AND karate from a master, how convenient), you just kind of go along with the ride for the sake of the adventure. I mean, it all COULD happen, it's just a bit unlikely. Suspend a little disbelief, and just look at it like that superhero origin.
Another reviewer compared this to the Count of Monte Cristo mixed with Batman and/or Ironman. That seems about right. The son of a king's guard, Conor, spends his days exploring the royal castle with his childhood friend the princess, while learning insane amounts of skills from his ridiculously talented tutor who is also obsessed with the idea that humans could someday fly on heavier-than-air machines. Years later, the king is murdered, and as part of the conspiracy Conor is tossed into prison while his family and friends think he's dead. In prison, he makes some powerful friends, and also squirrels away some of the diamonds that he and his fellow prisoners are forced to mine for. A daring escape later, and Conor is able to set about plans to build flying machines and seek revenge.
So yeah...very Monte Cristo, and very much like a steampunk Ironman. Again, there were some things that were quite far fetched, but that's fine. I do wish that the female characters (Conor's mother and Princess Isabella) had gotten more screentime and development, but I guess that's the problem with spending so much time imprisoned. The ending also felt a bit weak and abrupt, so for these things I'll detract a star.
April 20, 2013
We liked this book a lot - drawn to it by Eoin Colfer, of course - but I have to say I am a bit sorry that my 11-year old daughter read it. I know that is a bit crazy because she has done the Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Divergent and they are filled with violence and stress that I hope neither she or any of her friends ever deal with or even think they'll come close to seeing in their lives but the details in those series seem to be on the edge of entertainment, as if there isn't ever a chance that they could happen. With Airman it's not something that our generation of kids could experience but the way that Eoin writes the main character - Conor - is so compelling that it was hard NOT to believe that this was happening and hard not to keep thinking about his situation after we were finished our nightly reading (I actually read on through the book without her - not a good thing to admit but I really needed to see what was going to happen).
Any description of the book would be too much of a spoiler for anyone but I will say that this would be a wonderful choice for an older boy and a fine option for someone who had enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's current books about Young Frankenstein. If I were talking with kids or parents in the library I would caution them that the level of violence and torture in a section of the book that deals with a prison is enough to cause a sensitive stomach to turn over a bit but the power of the story and the way that Eion Colfer approaches it is worth that burbling stomach. Not for younger kids, even if they have the reading level, it is a teen read for sure.
Any description of the book would be too much of a spoiler for anyone but I will say that this would be a wonderful choice for an older boy and a fine option for someone who had enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's current books about Young Frankenstein. If I were talking with kids or parents in the library I would caution them that the level of violence and torture in a section of the book that deals with a prison is enough to cause a sensitive stomach to turn over a bit but the power of the story and the way that Eion Colfer approaches it is worth that burbling stomach. Not for younger kids, even if they have the reading level, it is a teen read for sure.
May 26, 2014
Truly, this summary doesn't give the book justice. You read it and it's like, "Oh sure, sounds fine." But the book contains so much more.
This takes a young boy and after being thrown into jail is transformed into a hardy, cunning young man with a mind for inventions and flying.
Eoin Colfer once more gives us his brilliance for winding a web of the plot, making you think one thing only to discover you were completely wrong; setting you on the edge of your seat when you're practically begging for Conor to bring justice and reestablish the link with his family. It's nerve-wracking, but is one of the best books I've read.
It took me a little while to get into it (mostly due to school issues) but one weekend I managed to score some time and I flew through this book--pardon the pun. The pages were just gone as I read. I couldn't wait to get to the end and discover whether or not Conor gets his revenge, if he meets once again with his family, if he gets the girl.
Signed with his signature humor, "Airman"'s suspense is as light-hearted as it is heavy-hearted.
A thrilling ride. Eoin Colfer does it again.
Technical Info:
* 5/5 for Best Books Ever, Best Cast of Characters, Best Original Idea, Best Plot
* Pages - Hardcover, 412
* Hardly any swear words, all of them mild.
* No sequel reported. :(
* Other books by Eoin Colfer: The "Artemis Fowl" series, "Half Moon Investigations", "The Supernaturalist", "The Wish List"
This takes a young boy and after being thrown into jail is transformed into a hardy, cunning young man with a mind for inventions and flying.
Eoin Colfer once more gives us his brilliance for winding a web of the plot, making you think one thing only to discover you were completely wrong; setting you on the edge of your seat when you're practically begging for Conor to bring justice and reestablish the link with his family. It's nerve-wracking, but is one of the best books I've read.
It took me a little while to get into it (mostly due to school issues) but one weekend I managed to score some time and I flew through this book--pardon the pun. The pages were just gone as I read. I couldn't wait to get to the end and discover whether or not Conor gets his revenge, if he meets once again with his family, if he gets the girl.
Signed with his signature humor, "Airman"'s suspense is as light-hearted as it is heavy-hearted.
A thrilling ride. Eoin Colfer does it again.
Technical Info:
* 5/5 for Best Books Ever, Best Cast of Characters, Best Original Idea, Best Plot
* Pages - Hardcover, 412
* Hardly any swear words, all of them mild.
* No sequel reported. :(
* Other books by Eoin Colfer: The "Artemis Fowl" series, "Half Moon Investigations", "The Supernaturalist", "The Wish List"
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