Az Gabrielson is one of the Airborn, a people who, with a stretch and a beat of their eight-foot wings, travel effortlessly around and between their cities, perched high above the clouds amidst a life of ease and airy beauty. Az, however, has no wings, making him a pained and isolated oddity in his glorious world of freedom and flight. Then one day he is selected for a job below the clouds. The system of massive automated elevators, which send up everything the Airborn need to survive, are breaking down—and threatening to take the Airborn society with them. Someone must travel to the Ground to find out what has happened, and Az, with his wingless similarity to the prehistoric Groundlings, seems perfect for the task of hunting for answers beneath the clouds. But in the vast shadows of the cities on the Ground, Az finds more questions than answers when he discovers that the Groundlings worship a dim notion of the Airborn and aspire to be like them. Filling the elevators with tributes to their winged deities, the Groundlings are beginning to think that their way of life is part of a very unnatural order of things. Az also meets a girl named Cassie Grubdollar, who's definitely no angel!
Industry Reviews
'Amory's short brisk chapters with succinct headings keep the plot revelations coming and the pages turning. And particularly successful are the vivid scenes where Cassie's family scour the predator-ridden landscape in the 'murk comber for items that fell from the sky cities. THE FLEDGING OF AZ GABRIELSON is an entertaining read, and though part of a trilogy stands on its own' STARBURST Armory also alludes to the abuse of religious dogma, a theme that is explored so dazzlingly in 'His Dark Materials'. However, I think that The Fledging of Az Gabrielson does have an appeal of its own; the story taps straight into that atavistic human desire to fly and there are some intriguing, ambiguous characters (I loved Mr Mordadson) who are often beautifully named (Ramona Orifielsdaughter Enochson!)' ACHUKA REVIEWS 'Amory peppers the ground with an absolutely wonderful cast of characters. All great stuff! Despite the turbulence early in the journey, Amory is a writer with an innate social conscience and a voice that calls to readers of all ages. I look forward to seeing how the story develops in the next volume.' SF REVU "The novels themes of unthinking faith, blind consumerism and segregated society, as well as the problems of the "disabled" young hero must overcome, are perfect for the young adult market. Do buy this for your kids." SFX "One of the greatest fantasy novels that's ever been written by a groundling. You can read this book as an allegory of western civilization and our exploitation of the third world... or you can just enjoy it." TEEN TITLES