First published 1978
Paul Garrison crafts an unusual work of fiction disguised as reference material. The book follows characters whose lives intersect through their shared fascination with hot air ballooning. Garrison weaves together technical details about balloon construction, navigation, and history with personal stories of adventure and discovery. The narrative explores how these magnificent floating vessels become vehicles for human transformation. Characters grapple with questions of freedom, risk, and the pull between earth and sky. Garrison grounds his storytelling in authentic details about ballooning culture and equipment while building tension around the inherent dangers of flight. The book captures both the technical precision required for safe ballooning and the emotional release that comes from leaving solid ground behind.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, aviation
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, found-family
128 pages · Hardcover · Drake Publishers