Lighter Than Air

By Ed Leefeldt and George Mahlberg

Paris, 1901. The Heady Days of La Belle Epoch When Flight was only a Distant Possibility...Except for a Few.The Wright Brothers have Yet to Make Aviation History when a Wealthy Frenchman Offers a Million Francs to Anyone Who can Fly around the Eiffel Tower. The Challenge Leads to Intrigue, Sabotage and Murder when Three Nations Compete to Rule the Skies.Into this Glittering Universe comes a Young American Woman with the Courage to find Adventure-and Love-in the Skies above the most Beautiful City at its most Beautiful moment in Time.A Vision of the Past and a Parable of the Future, lighter than Air is Based on a Real-Life Flight around the Eiffel Tower in 1901. The Book Recreates the Look, Feel and Texture of the Penny Dreadful Novels Popular at the Turn of that Century.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967953502
• ISBN13: 9780967953502
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Lighter Than Air, L.P.
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Avid Reader in the Know

I've read all my life and am a professional in publishing, but lately, I haven't had the pleasure of coming across such marvelous, well-constructed turns of phrase and great story lines until "Lighter Than Air." Thanks, Mr. Leefeldt, for a can't-put-it-down page turner. I'll be picking up a few more copies for gifts and looking forward to your next piece.

Different, interesting plot

The sounds, smells, and scenes of late nineteenth-century Paris are painted so clearly in this book that the reader steps back in time. Any yet, realities of everyday life remain all-too-familiar: the uncertainty of love, the power of politics, the finality of death, the forboding of evil. I enjoyed the memorable mix of characters caught in a race for fame and fortune as well as the well-crafted, tighly woven plot. This book goes far beyond the typical coming-of-age story--it's a celebration of the creative spirit kept aloft only through human connection.

Great Stuff!

I really liked this book. It had an old-fashion action quality and something that turned me on a lot when I used to look at my dad's hardcover books--illustrations that perk up the story. The story itself grabs you from the first page. It's set in a time when aviation had a kind of sci-fi edge, and people were still romantic about the miracle of flight. There are good guys (and girls) and bad ones. There are surprises. There's some wonderful insights into the technology of early 20th century flying machines. This would make an absolutely dynamite movie. I hope some producer has the good sense to turn it into one.

Lighter Than Air

"Lighter Than Air" was given to me as a gift. At first glance, didn't think this story would interest me. To my surprise, found myself drawn to the characters in this book.The author did an incredible job in describing the characters and the time period. The research must have been extensive. More importantly, the romantic adventure kept me reading on.Mary Ann Pitman was my favorite. She was a woman ahead of her time. Daring and brave without losing her feminity.Woman will be surprised by this book. As for men, Harding Cooper is a man everyman would like to know.This book was a great suprise.

Many threads woven together

This book is a wonderful combination of story lines. It's a romance, of course, but with twists.It's the story of a technological paradigm shift in an era when such changes weren't always appreciated. It's a tale of skulduggery, honor and redemption. And underneath it all is a thread of hope for the capacities of human growth that makes this story very contemporary, though it's set a century ago. It's a light, entertaining read, with enough of the unexpected to keep the pages turning well into the night.