Airman

This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (February 2011)

Airman
Author(s)	Eoin Colfer
Country	Ireland
Language	English
Genre(s)	Fantasy Science Fiction
Publisher	Hyperion
Publication date	United States 19 December 2007 Ireland United Kingdom 3 January 2008 Australia 5 February 2008
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	412 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 1-4231-0750-0 (first edition, hardback)

Airman, by Eoin Colfer, is a best-selling^[1] historical adventure novel set in the 19th century. It was released in the UK, Ireland and USA in January 2008. The novel was shortlisted for the 2009 Carnegie Medal.^[2]

Colfer was inspired to write the book after a frightening skydiving experience.^[3] He combined this with his childhood observation that the Saltee Islands would make an excellent prison.^[3]

Most of the story is completely fictional. The Saltee islands have been uninhabited since the 19th century, and all of the main characters in the story are fictional.

Characters

Conor Broekhart - the book's main protagonist. He is thrown in prison and branded a traitor by the main antagonist Hugo Bonvilain after he witnesses the latter murder the king and his teacher, Victor Vigny. He is known as "Conor Finn" in prison. He escapes two years later on a glider he invented. He originally planned to travel to America after his escape from Little Saltee but abandoned the idea after learning that his family was in danger. He is dubbed as the "Airman" by the townspeople after seeing him fly. After saving his family from Bonvilain, he travels to London for his studies. Conor is described to be tall, has blond hair and is very pale. He is considered to be handsome by village girls. He loves science and has always been fond of flying ever since he was little. He is in love with Isabella.

Isabella - Conor's childhood friend. She is the princess of Great Saltee and the daughter of King Nicholas. After her father is murdered, she becomes Bonvilain's puppet queen, unaware that he was the one behind her father's murder. She is later crowned the official queen after she turned seventeen. She becomes more mature throughout the book and eventually overpowers Bonvilain. She is described to have a pretty face, dark hair and brown eyes. She is in love with Conor.

Declan Broekhart - Conor's father. He is the captain of Saltee's sharpshooters and is a real expert, as he has been described to have never missed a shot. He is tricked by Bonvilain that Victor murdered the king and that his son was killed in the struggle. He spends the next two years heart broken. He comes to his senses when he finds out Conor is alive and that Bonvillain was the one responsible for the king's murder. In the climax, Decland angrily stabs Bonvillain in revenge for framing his son and killing the king, leaving Bonvillain to jump off the castle to his death.

Catherine Broekhart - Conor's mother. She is a scientist and supports Conor in his science expeditions with Victor. She refuses to believe Victor is a traitor and doesn't trust Bonvilain. She often acts as an adviser to the young queen, Isabella.

Victor Vigny - King Nicholas' friend and Conor's tutor. He is an aeronaut and is an expert in several fields, including fencing and Tai Chi. He is hired as the royal tutor at the beginning of the book for Isabella. He takes an interest in Conor after seeing him save the princess from a burning tower and decides to teach him as well. He also discovers that he and Conor share their love for flying. He is murdered by Bonvilain after he and King Nicholas discover his crimes and decide to have Bonvilain thrown into prison.

King Nicholas - the king of Great Saltee and the father of Isabella. Connor thinks of him as a second father. Unlike the past kings, he helps a lot of the needy in Great Saltee. He loves experiments almost always uses his diamonds in conducting research. He is murdered by the power-hungry Bonvilain.

Hugo Bonvilain - the book's main antagonist. He is the Marshall of Little Saltee. He is believed to be insane, as his lust for power drives him to do anything to reach his goal. He kills the king and Victor, and after discovering Conor as a witness, throws him in Little Saltee and lies to Conor's family, telling them that Conor died. He later plans to kill Isabella and the Broekharts by poisoned wine but is interrupted by Conor. His crimes are later discovered and he is cornered. He apparently jumps off the castle and into his death after being stabbed by an angry Declan.

Arthur Billtoe - the warden of Little Saltee, the prison. He is described to be very stout and has a cheerful personality, but is fond of torturing the prisoners. He is fooled by Conor into accepting some of his ideas, unaware that they were part of Conor's escape plan. He is branded a prisoner by Bonvilain after learning of Conor's escape.

Linus Wynter - a blind American spy who was sent by King Nicholas to spy on Bonvilain in Little Saltee. He befriends Conor. He is later believed to be killed but Conor meets him again in an inn after escaping. He is a talented musician. He persuades Conor to abandon his escape plan to America and save his family from Bonvilain.

Sultan Arif - Bonvilain's right hand man. He is Bonvilain's most trusted man and accompanies him in his exploits. He later abandons Bonvilain, wanting to redeem himself from being involved in Bonvilain's schemes.

Otto Malarkey - a prisoner from Little Saltee. He is part of a group called the "Battering Rams" and is hired to "break" Conor every day in a diving bell. Conor defeats him and then strikes a deal with him. Although angry at first, they befriend each other, with Conor deciding to teach him fencing. He later persuades Conor to join the Rams. He has a brother named Zeb and sends Conor to him after Conor escapes. It is unknown whether he was released from prison, but it is most likely since Conor asked for his release.

Pike - an airhead prison guard. He witnesses the Airman flying and tries to steal his glider. He often helps the Battering Rams.

Uncle - the de facto leader of a small band of boys. He is an expert mechanic and helps Conor assemble his aeroplane. He hates baths. He is later left in charge of Conor's tower after the latter leaves for Glasgow.

Sean Broekhart - Conor's little brother. He is born in the two years of Conor's absence.

Film Adaptation

A film is being planned for this book. It is set to be directed by Gil Kenan and written by Ann Peacock. The movie will be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. No cast has been chosen so far, but the release date is set to be in 2013.

Release details

• 2008, USA, Hyperion Books for Children ISBN 1-4231-0750-0, January 2008, Hardback
• January 2008 source Colfer Confidential

References

This article about a children's book is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e