Book Blurb:
The unwritten Code of the Air directs aviators to come to the aid of all who share the sky. But does this obligation end even when man-made wings become eternal ones?
Ever since he could remember, Tom Rawlings has had his sights set on becoming a pilot. Growing up around a small-town airport, he soaks up everything he can about flying from the ragtag community of pilots who become his makeshift family.
But Tom’s dreams are almost cut short after a near-fatal midair collision, one that was only avoided by the wise words of a mysterious man, Richard Clarke. He’s a gone-but-not-forgotten pilot legend and becomes Tom’s mentor.
As Tom moves from awed rookie to commercial airline captain, he soon learns that his dream job comes with real life-or-death stakes, and being a pilot is about much more than just technical skills. As he advances in his career, he finds himself guided by unexplained encounters with mysterious airmen from bygone days known as the Couriers. Even as aviation technology progresses, the timeless wisdom of the Couriers endures.
Drawn into a secret fraternity, Tom questions how far he will go to decipher the mystic signs and join the ranks of the dead who never fully depart.
Based on actual events, The Couriers of Herodotus maneuvers into the balance between age-old wisdom and technology, community and solos, and aviation’s past and future. Soar along with Tom and rediscover the magic that first took flight in the pioneering days of aviation. With vivid historical detail and dashes of high-flying fantasy, this is a novel for dreamers of all ages.
Strap yourself in and unlock the magical mysteries of the skies.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/bSRWymY
Author Bio:
Steve is retired from a fulfilling career as a captain with a major U.S. airline flying domestic and international routes. Throughout his career he also served in several management capacities in flight standards, training and operations.
An avid historian, he enjoys researching the early days of the air mail system. These brave aviators proved that aviation could be a reliable and valuable commercial service. The lonely flights, many at night and under adverse weather, were the foundation of the great industry we enjoy today.
He and his wife divide their time between Texas and New England.
Questions and comments to: SnarkyPilot@gmail.com
Editorial Review:
“As 16-year-old Andrew Clarke leaned his bicycle carefully against the corrugated steel of the hangar wall, Cubbie, the yellow mixed-breed airport dog, appeared by his side. They spent a lot of time together and Cubbie could sense that today might be a special day. Andrew paused for just a moment to greet his airport partner by scratching the special spot behind his ears, but Andrew was focused on the task at hand. As he walked toward the little yellow airplane sitting with its pug nose pointing jauntily skyward, he mentally reviewed his next steps. He vowed to neglect not a single item in his preparation to show his instructor that he was more than capable to fly this Piper J3 Cub safely.”
Buckle up for the safety briefing and a much anticipated return to the land – or skies! – of aviation-themed historical fiction. “The Couriers of Herodotus” by Steve Williams initially commences in 1947 and switches backwards and forwards in time to eventually span over 100 years. The novel evolves to show the main character as pilot Tom Rawlings, but the central focus of the storyline is – as it should be – flying and the world of aviation. Williams revels in it, and those who, like this reviewer, have a similar passion for the world of airplanes will be in their happy place, with talk of airfields, checklists, solo flights, and banter between pilots. The technical detail will likewise be feasted on by those readers with an appreciation of all things mechanical. Each flight is described with immediacy, with the split-second decision making and weather knowledge that can often mean the difference between life and death.
For all the bravado of life-as-a-pilot, Williams balances this with emotion, with reference to those pilots who aren’t lucky, who fall from the sky, and those who survive merely by chance. The story is also transformed by the inclusion of its namesake(s), the couriers of Herodotus, who guide Tom and help him with his career. These men are fellow pilots who appear in Tom’s life – and on his flights – at pivotal times, helping him and making suggestions. Richard Clarke is another fellow pilot, a mysterious legend who fascinates Tom, and the mystical element to this novel is what elevates it (pun intended!) above so many other aviation tales. Earlier aviation history is expertly woven into the storyline, with the redoubtable De Havilland airplane also making an appearance, in scenes set in 1927.
“Tom took the stairs two at a time and Lindy could scarcely keep up. Only teenage boys and dogs could tangle legs while climbing stairs and maintain balance. The lock seemed easier to turn today, as if welcoming him, now that the room felt confident of Tom’s intent. He opened the door and window to continue his mission. The room felt renewed beyond just the removal of the dust, and it had a warm presence. He began at the desk. First he took the chair down and righted it, wiped it clean, and sat in it ready to explore the desk further. He opened the drawer and removed the old photo. Yes, definitely father and son. Based on the clothes and an old car in the background, he figured the photo had been taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Tom felt like a famous detective.”
The dialogue and all characterisations are authentic, and even within the world of driven, highly competent pilots Williams is able to differentiate the personalities and the conversations between them. Tom and his wife Nancy have a happy marriage and the references to the personal sphere of Tom’s life round him out as a character. The novel is well-paced and the reader can easily follow the switches in time and technology, (even if this reviewer left the De Havilland scenes with a deep sense of nostalgia and regret!). The deeply emotional ending of “The Couriers of Herodotus” is completely appropriate, and best left to the reader to discover.
“As I see it, there are not nearly as many airline pilots on the list as there should be, and the number seems to be getting smaller. Many of them are in the cockpit for the wrong reasons. Some start out with a lot of promise but after a while they lose it, and we take them off.” Tom processed this new information and his momentary pride at being on the “list” was dashed by the knowledge that the position had to be continuously maintained. Clarke’s gaze froze Tom, and his clear, blue eyes spoke with his words. “You remember one thing, young fella. The merit of a true aviator has nothing to do with the kind of airplane or the kind of work. It only has to do with how he does his work and what’s in his heart.”
“The Couriers of Herodotus” by Steve Williams is an incredibly moving and emotional novel. It has people at its heart, despite the strong focus on aviation and life as a pilot. The references to airplanes and aviation history is a highlight, together with the support Tom receives during his career. Recognition of the source of that support, and the consequences, will keep the reader musing over the storyline for some time after the last page turns. A thought-provoking and special read.
*****
"The Couriers of Herodotus” by Steve Williams receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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