DIVISIBLE MAN - ENGINE OUT & OTHER SHORT FLIGHTS

“A captivating, altruistic hero and appealing cast propel this enjoyable collection of supernatural-flavored tales.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“In this installment of a thriller series, a pilot capable of floating while invisible runs into danger and desperate people.

“Will Stewart survived a plane crash and acquired a new special ability. He can render himself invisible, at which point his body defies gravity. He essentially floats, but it’s easy to navigate with the propulsion devices he keeps handy. This short story collection features characters from the series’ preceding books, some of whom headline their own tales. The opening story, “Andy,” for example, tells of Will’s first encounter with the titular woman he one day marries—a savvy local patrol sergeant in their Wisconsin town. Most of those who surround Will are people he works with at Essex County Air Service. His boss, Earl Jackson, revisits his own past in “Earl Jackson’s Last Mission,” a time when he smuggled drugs, although, as he explains to Will, “not voluntarily.” Luckily, Will uses his supernatural ability for good, and he’s quick to respond when someone is in trouble, be it an Air Service client or a person he bumps into at a store. He comes to the aid of a meek man who is dead set on revenge and later joins fellow pilot/co-worker Cassidy “Pidge” Page in getting a young mother far away from her abusive boyfriend. These situations often put Will in jeopardy: He’s in the cockpit during a snowstorm, and he stares at the business end of a gun. But his special skills make him a formidable opponent to anyone who would dare threaten someone he knows or loves.

“Seaborne offers a superpowered hero who’s sympathetic. Will is a pleasantly ordinary guy who uses his abilities in moderation, and only a few people know what he can do. Will’s attempts to vanish as covertly as possible make certain dilemmas more precarious or, on occasion, lightens the book’s generally somber tone. In one instance, copious police officers and security cameras prevent invisible Will from rematerializing until he finally ducks into a men’s room. In the same vein, there’s nothing flashy about Will’s abilities; they’re merely talents that couple nicely with his aviation expertise. In fact, his piloting seems more impressive, as jargon-filled descriptions of aircraft prove keen and concise. This includes the ostensibly mundane task of refueling: “As I poured 100LL Avgas into the last of four tanks, I examined the ramp. A shallow downslope flowed away from the gas pumps. I decided to see if I could simply push the airplane a few fuselage lengths away from the pumps, rather than start the engines and taxi clear.” In contrast, the author simplifies the hero’s vanishings and reappearances with a delightful cue, “Fwooomp!” (a “deep and breathy” sound Will apparently hears). Despite featuring such villainous deeds as robbery and murder, the volume isn’t excessively violent. Abundant profanity comes mostly from charmingly gruff Pidge, who “drops F-bombs on everything”—whether she’s angry or complimenting someone. This engaging compendium will surely pique new readers’ interest in earlier series installments.

“A captivating, altruistic hero and appealing cast propel this enjoyable collection of supernatural-flavored tales.” — Kirkus Reviews