- Intriguing Concept of Aerial Exploration: The novel explores the thrills and dangers of early aviation, focusing on an attempt to break the world’s altitude record. It dives into the mystery and unknowns of the upper atmosphere, blending adventure with speculative science fiction.
- Complex Characters with Dual Lives: The main characters, Kidwell and Dexter, are not just adventurous aviators; they are also implicated in a dramatic bank robbery. This adds a layer of complexity to their characters, intertwining their thrilling aerial exploits with a ground-based criminal investigation.
- Dramatic and Suspenseful Plot: The narrative is rich with tension and suspense, especially as the aviators encounter unexpected aerial phenomena and hostile creatures in the high atmosphere. Their fight for survival against natural forces and the mysterious creatures adds a gripping survival element to the story.
- Creative World-Building: Orndorff vividly imagines a vibrant ecosystem existing at extreme altitudes, complete with floating islands of vegetation and unique, bat-like creatures. This speculative aspect of the novel showcases creative world-building that challenges the boundaries of known science.
- Moral and Existential Questions: The story raises questions about the ethics of exploration and the consequences of human intrusion into unknown territories. It also touches on themes of deception and the thin line between truth and fabrication, as the true nature of the aviators’ journey comes under scrutiny.
These elements combine to create a novel that is not only an adventure in the skies but also a thought-provoking exploration of human ambition and the mysteries that lie beyond the reach of early 20th-century technology.
“The Terrors of the Upper Air” by Frank Orndorff is a thrilling novel that combines early aviation with speculative science fiction, set against a backdrop of a daring altitude record attempt. The plot weaves together the dual lives of its main characters, Kidwell and Dexter, who are adventurous aviators and also suspects in a dramatic bank robbery. This adds a layer of complexity and suspense, especially as they encounter hostile creatures and mysterious phenomena in the upper atmosphere. The novel’s rich world-building introduces a unique ecosystem at extreme altitudes, featuring floating vegetation islands and exotic, bat-like creatures. Throughout, the narrative raises moral and existential questions about the ethics of exploration and the impact of human actions, making it not only an adventure story but also a contemplation of deeper themes.
