VOLUME 3 - TO ASHES. The thrilling conclusion: adapted from The Airshipmen. (The Airshipmen Trilogy is also available as one volume, without photographs and maps. For details and reviews go to The Airshipmen page.)
This is a big story, layered and cinematic-one that I did not want to end. I could not imagine myself reading a book about airships, but it's much more than that-it's about blinding love, vaulting ambition, loyalty, greed, deception and the whole gamut of human frailty. It's about a wonderful group of people that I came to love-full of secrets and surprises. I could not put this book down. Edith Schorah, editor.
Hats off! A gripping story masterfully told, the book reverberates in the reader's mind long after it is over. The characters are believable and involving, complicated, rich and conflicted. The chronicle renders these historical characters in flesh and blood, their saga replete with concrete and exquisite details. This is a wonderful book-humane and filled with the love of the men for their wives and families, while at the same time, highly attuned to the highest levels of power and the effect that the decisions made at those echelons influence, not only the course of human events on the grand scale, but the very humble small-scale lives of the men caught in the crossfire. It illuminates a fascinating period of recent history almost lost from view and it does justice to the complexities of the personalities of the people involved. Steven Bauer, Hollow Tree Press.
Lou Remington has returned safely from Canada aboard the private enterprise-built airship, Howden R100. Whilst in North America, he made a personal trip down to Washington, D.C. and Virginia to see his family. It is the height of the Depression and Lou was shocked to see the state of affairs in America. He was also saddened to see what has become of his family during his ten-year absence. His visit was further enlivened by a brush with the Ku Klux Klan and a reunion with his old flame, Julia, who revealed she is still in love with him and whom the family believe he has jilted. The stakes were high with Howden R100's trip to North America. The Vickers team had been approached before leaving in a bid to postpone the voyage, as the government airship was not fit to make its own transcontinental flight to India. An extra bay must be inserted in order to provide more lift - she is perilously overweight. The private team has triumphantly achieved its goal-a round trip to Canada-although, not without some terrifying moments. Now, with the gauntlet thrown down, can the government-built Cardington R101 match Howden R100's splendid accomplishment? With the world watching, the country's prestige is on the line, while the backs of the brave men of the Royal Airship Works are against the wall.
