National Network for Equitable Library Service

Mid-winter medical evacuations from the Antarctic; determined and often tragic searches for lost people and planes; daring feats of aviation pioneers; amazing lifestyles of those who choose to live and fly in the Far North – these are the against-all-odds success stories in Shirlee Smith Matheson’s new book. On the other side of the flying field are those who used flight as an opportunity for personal escapes or hijacking capers, or whose fates were suddenly decided by bad luck – engine failure, unpredictable weather changes, or chances taken with unfamiliar machines and terrain. The remarkable stories in Amazing Flights and Flyers encapsulate nearly every human emotion and scenario, and range from the early days of the 20th century to the present.