Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow's nest, being the ship's eyes. We were two nights out of Sydney, and there'd been no weather to speak of so far. I was keeping watch on a dark stack of nimbus clouds off to the northwest, but we were leaving it far behind, and it looked to... read more
Airborn is one of my favorite books by the author Kenneth Oppel. This novel takes place in a fictional past in which airships dominate the skies and strange technologies shape the world. Oppel uses his powerful imagination to craft an interesting plot that keeps you entertained all through... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
“"And remember, you're still young! The baby of the ship! Why, I remember when we first brought you aboard, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Ahhh, those were the sweet days, when I got to bottle feed you--"”Baz
“"Then explain this, please!" "That is a femur."”Miss Simpkins and Kate de Vries
“True,” she said. “I’ve seen chimps much friendlier than my parents.”Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers
“You two were in a cave together?” said Miss Simpkins in horror. “Yes,” said Kate, “and it was very, very dark.”Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers
“Good boy. You’re a good boy. Now go and tell my idiot cooks to hurry up with those mangoes.”Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
“Everyone’s agreed I found it, right, and I had to fight a crocodile and piranhas on the way? Good. Thank you very much, Miss de Vries. You’re a font of wisdom.”Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
At night when the sky is scalloped with clouds and the moon does a vanishing act, you fall back on instinct when looking for moving objects. Almost like looking for shadows on shadow.Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers
It was a pale panther. It was a bat. It was a bird of prey. With its wings pulled in, it was sleek, almost scrawny. It had jutting shoulders and a humped back, but then I realized these were its massive wings, bundled tight. From head to tail it was no more than four or five feet. Its face was a cat face, only longer, with a lower forehead, the nostrils more pronounced and dark against the pale fur. It was a panther’s face but altogether more streamlined, designed to cut through wind. Its large eyes danced with intelligence and sunlight. It was exquisite. It was terrifying.Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
“That was very nice,” she said. “That was the second time I’ve been kissed.” “You were kissed before?” I said jealously. “Yes, just now by you, but I thought I’d count each time.”Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
She looked at me as if I’d suggested we stop breathing for a few hours.Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
“I make good acquaintance with duck. Little water bird, splash splash, yes? No, that is not my problem. Problem, Mr. Lisbon, is this. Problem is duck is not on menu tonight!”Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
“It’s membrane from cows’ intestines, actually. Specially treated to make it impermeable to gas.” This didn’t seem to revolt her in the slightest. “It must have taken a great many cows,” she commented solemnly.Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
1. Ship's Eyes
2. Up Ship!
3. Kate
4. Hot Chocolate for Two
5. The Log of the Endurance
6. Szpirglas
7. Sinking
8. The Island
9. Bones
10. Shipshape
11. The One That Fell
12. Shipwrecked
13. Hydrium
14. Nest
15. The Cloud Cat
16. Rescue
17. The Pit
18. Ship Taken
19. Airborne
20. Airborn
21. At Anchor
Followed by Skybreaker.
Preceded by Flush, and followed by Stumptown Kid.
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