Welcome to a world where the discovery of a special natural gas allows airships to ply their trade across the skies, facilitating trade and travel in an elegant, classic manner. Among these magnificent airships is the Aurora, a huge vessel catering to wealthy passengers and exotic cargo. Aboard the Aurora is young Matt Cruse, a cabin boy who dreams of someday captaining the Aurora, if not another airship of her caliber. However, he has a long way to go before that day. In the meantime, he does his best to fulfill the myriad duties of his station, occasionally going above and beyond the call of duty as needed. When he rescues a dying balloonist, he unknowingly opens the door to greater adventure, for the balloonist’s diary hints at strange creatures dwelling in the clouds.
Later, when the man’s granddaughter takes passage on the Aurora, she enlists Matt’s help in trying to prove her grandfather wasn’t sick or mad, but indeed did discover something no one else had ever seen. However, they’re soon sidetracked when vicious air pirates brazenly attack the Aurora, causing the airship to crash on a deserted island, whose secrets may be worth killing for. It’s action and adventure over the sea, through the jungles, and in the air, as Matt and Kate dodge pirates and unknown creatures and other threats. Combining the very best of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Airborn manages to capture the very essence of “retro-cool.” After all, what science fiction fan doesn’t have a soft spot for pirates, airships, or both? Not only is it classic, it’s classy. This is a book just begging for a sequel.