Airframe

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space

Every now and then, you discover a book you just can’t put down.  If you’re drawn to aviation and enjoy a well-paced mystery, Michael Crichton’s Airframe is one of these.

Airframe gives us six days alongside a vice president of a commercial aircraft manufacturer while she works to uncover the cause of a fatal incident involving one of the company’s widebody jets.  Along the way, she navigates corporate politics, labor problems, and sensation-seeking news media.  In the end, Crichton ties it all up neatly, and delivers a satisfying resolution.

Crichton’s structure makes this an easy read.  He divides the novel into six sections—Monday through Saturday.  He uses short chapters—sometimes only a page or two—and each one starts with a location and time stamp.  His approach creates a smooth flow to maintain context throughout the book.

As with most of his novels, Crichton did his homework on the technology.  His descriptions of aircraft operations and maintenance are based on the real deal.  Although vital to the plot, he doesn’t bog you down in the detail.  He gives you just enough information to make sense of the action.

When you reach that final chapter, you might hate to see it end.  In fact, you may find yourself going back through the book to revisit some key moments—not because it demands it, but because the ride is genuinely enjoyable.  Airframe is a story you can sink into, and simply have a good time for awhile.

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Quotes

The irony of the Information Age is that it has given new respectability to the uninformed opinion.

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