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Nightflyer
Discovering that he has the ability to leave his body and travel, fifteen-year-old Jonathan Petrie develops his special powers and devises a plan to seek revenge on the classmates who humiliate him, his disinterested father, and his drunken mother
- GenresHorror
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2017
Hidden among the thousands of cheesy 80's horror paperbacks are some real jewels, and NIGHTFLYER is one of them. It gracefully handles a far-fetched scenario with flawless prose from start to finish. A bullied teen out for revenge is nothing new, but this book brings enough flair and subtle pleasures to make it a quick worthwhile read.
**** Stars
**** Stars
July 10, 2022
Meet Jon, a 15 year old myopic kid who is bullied mercilessly at school and life at home is not much better. Jon is super smart and loves things like collecting butterflies and stamps, but his father, a real macho type, cannot understand why Jon does not like ball games; why he is such a sissy. His mother takes pills and drinks and his only friend at school or elsewhere has brain damage. In a way, Nightflyer is a classic tale of an abused kid who finds a way to get even, but is much more than that as well. First published in 1982, Nightflyer is a vicious punch to the gut and one that has aged very well. How many stories are out there of bullied high school kids who finally crack and go postal? For that matter, how many in real life?
Nightflyer actually made me cringe at times in empathy with Jon's plight. Four stoners in his class force him to do their homework, cough up his money and give him frequent 'reminders' of what horrible things they can do to him if he stops. Fahy takes us through this 'torture porn' remorselessly and yes, it is ugly. One day, however, Jon discovers a new talent-- the ability of astral projection for lack of better words, that allows him to leave his body and soar around anywhere. Now he can really see the world and its events, and what he sees confirms his suspicion that almost everyone is at best apathetic or at worst just evil. Nightflyer takes you on a journey down 10 miles of bad road, and then 20 miles more.
Hard to believe this was Fahy's first book given its polish and excellent pacing (although it does have numerous typos and such). Nightflyer sucks you in and just does not let go and Fahy pulls out all the stops for the denouement. Jon is such a believable character and you really feel for him, even when he starts using his new talent to get even. Its been a while since a horror novel left such an impression on me. Timeless and gut wrenching. 4.5 stars, rounding up for the killer ending!
Nightflyer actually made me cringe at times in empathy with Jon's plight. Four stoners in his class force him to do their homework, cough up his money and give him frequent 'reminders' of what horrible things they can do to him if he stops. Fahy takes us through this 'torture porn' remorselessly and yes, it is ugly. One day, however, Jon discovers a new talent-- the ability of astral projection for lack of better words, that allows him to leave his body and soar around anywhere. Now he can really see the world and its events, and what he sees confirms his suspicion that almost everyone is at best apathetic or at worst just evil. Nightflyer takes you on a journey down 10 miles of bad road, and then 20 miles more.
Hard to believe this was Fahy's first book given its polish and excellent pacing (although it does have numerous typos and such). Nightflyer sucks you in and just does not let go and Fahy pulls out all the stops for the denouement. Jon is such a believable character and you really feel for him, even when he starts using his new talent to get even. Its been a while since a horror novel left such an impression on me. Timeless and gut wrenching. 4.5 stars, rounding up for the killer ending!
October 9, 2017
Four and a half stars, easy, but I'll bump it up because of that ending.
I've never read a book like this, and maybe part of that unique experience was because I thought of it as a YA book when it's actually horror. This story is truly horrific, heartbreaking, and shocking, and the ending will haunt me for a long time. A reader wants things to work out, ultimately. In this book, disaster after disaster happens until, finally, something good has to happen…right? Nightflyer is a journey into the mind of a teenage boy who gets a taste of power and unravels because of it. It takes a lot of guts to write a book this beautifully tragic—and a character we root for but also despise.
I've never read a book like this, and maybe part of that unique experience was because I thought of it as a YA book when it's actually horror. This story is truly horrific, heartbreaking, and shocking, and the ending will haunt me for a long time. A reader wants things to work out, ultimately. In this book, disaster after disaster happens until, finally, something good has to happen…right? Nightflyer is a journey into the mind of a teenage boy who gets a taste of power and unravels because of it. It takes a lot of guts to write a book this beautifully tragic—and a character we root for but also despise.
May 13, 2014
The book was very interesting. I bought this on a whim at a local bookstore because the title sounded cool and looked like it had an interesting premise.
I really enjoyed the book overall and I really want to check out more books by the author.
The book is about a teenage boy named Jonathan. Jonathan keeps getting picked on and tormented everyday by three kids at his high school . He has to do their homework assignments and give them his allowance every week. One day at home, he finds what he had a thought to be dead bird on his patio. But this bird is not just any ordinary bird, it has special powers. One day his bird escapes through his window, and then he is giving the ability to fly out of his body without ever leaving his room. He can fly through walls, he can walk through anything without being harmed, and he can spy on anybody he chooses to. He does it for fun at first, but then it starts to turn into a way to get revenge on all who bully him and do him wrong.
The book is definitely worth a read. I would highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed the book overall and I really want to check out more books by the author.
The book is about a teenage boy named Jonathan. Jonathan keeps getting picked on and tormented everyday by three kids at his high school . He has to do their homework assignments and give them his allowance every week. One day at home, he finds what he had a thought to be dead bird on his patio. But this bird is not just any ordinary bird, it has special powers. One day his bird escapes through his window, and then he is giving the ability to fly out of his body without ever leaving his room. He can fly through walls, he can walk through anything without being harmed, and he can spy on anybody he chooses to. He does it for fun at first, but then it starts to turn into a way to get revenge on all who bully him and do him wrong.
The book is definitely worth a read. I would highly recommend it.
October 21, 2020
Awesome young adult book about a kid who starts having out of body experiences, then eventually learns to control them.
August 4, 2022
Stuff like this is why I try to find obscure things like this. This is easily one of the best forms of media about bullying and revenge I've subjected myself to. Completely unsanitized and real, even with the horror elements.
July 3, 2020
In this great "killer kid" book we meet Jon, an introverted, prehormonal fifteen-year-old so mortified by the onset of sexuality that he completely dissociates from his own body. He discovers an ability to project his consciousness and travel invisibly through space and buildings. As he is liberated he is free from arousal, boredom, and especially from pain. This way he escapes the painful part of beatings from bullies. At one point he goes to the dentist and declines painkiller before the drill!
Primarily Jon flies into bedrooms, which keeps him very busy as apparently everyone he meets is maintaining a scandalous affair for him to discover and disapprove. He also accidentally watches a dirty movie, which nauseates him, and spies on two nasty youth gangs to learn about drug abuse and physical intimidation. The book makes an interesting point that his body exists as an ideal in his mind, so he still relates physically to what he encounters as he flies, usually laughing or screaming but also 'closing his eyes'.
As the story continues, Jon becomes addicted and deranged. A stuffed animal functions as a sort of 'Portrait of Dorian Gray' for Jon's childhood empathy, which once allowed him to draw strength from having caring relationships and learning. His spying and scheming saps this strength and leads to a tragic but very exciting conclusion.
NIGHTFLYER is very well written, impossible to put down and loaded with interesting ideas, allusions and references.
Primarily Jon flies into bedrooms, which keeps him very busy as apparently everyone he meets is maintaining a scandalous affair for him to discover and disapprove. He also accidentally watches a dirty movie, which nauseates him, and spies on two nasty youth gangs to learn about drug abuse and physical intimidation. The book makes an interesting point that his body exists as an ideal in his mind, so he still relates physically to what he encounters as he flies, usually laughing or screaming but also 'closing his eyes'.
As the story continues, Jon becomes addicted and deranged. A stuffed animal functions as a sort of 'Portrait of Dorian Gray' for Jon's childhood empathy, which once allowed him to draw strength from having caring relationships and learning. His spying and scheming saps this strength and leads to a tragic but very exciting conclusion.
NIGHTFLYER is very well written, impossible to put down and loaded with interesting ideas, allusions and references.
July 21, 2018
This is a surprisingly good bullied-teen-gets-supernatural-revenge tale. Totally involving, with an almost Shakespearean moral complexity (yeah, you heard me right) and a great, chilling ending. Horror fans, snap this up.
April 19, 2022
A coming of age tragic tale. Involves themes of depression, bullying, teen love, parental neglect and the consequences of it. A teen boy discovers a hidden talent and unfortunately abuses his power resulting in tragedy for all involved.
July 29, 2013
Patron Review:(SPOILER ALERT!!) Very emotional, intense & descriptive about a teenager bullied by others & his partner & how he gets back at them all which in the end leads to his own death.
July 30, 2024
I enjoyed this. A bullied boy with abilities gets revenge in the best way he can. A twist where the protagonist becomes a deranged antagonist by books end. Good character development and dynamic, but the end seemed a little too rushed, but overall a recommended read.
July 18, 2024
Could have had a more powerful impact if dwelled more on the existential consequences of such ability, rather than on the more mass market horror elements.
March 31, 2024
A re-read after many years, but it still works. I loved it.
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June 11, 2018This has to be the darkest book I have ever read. I can't give the book a rating because I cannot say I enjoyed it-It invoked a fear in me I didn't know existed. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone because it honestly depressed me to the point I couldn't read it at times...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews