Flying Hero Class [Hardcover]

Thomas Keneally (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 1992

The author of To Asmara provides a stirring and powerful tale of magic, terrorism, frustrated hopes, and the transformation of ordinary humans into heroes. (Adventure & Suspense).

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A jet carrying an Australian aboriginal dance troupe and its white tour manager is hijacked.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

YA-- A tale of intrigue and hijacking. Frank McCloud is the manager for the international dance tour of the Barramatjara, a remote Australian tribe. On the troupe's flight to Europe, a small band of Arab terrorists hijack the plane in hopes of obtaining the release of political prisoners. McCloud and two other men are singled out as the people's enemies. Taliq, the terrorists' leader, accuses him of exploiting the tribe for their land and begins brainwashing the crew, passengers , and the Barramatjara themselves to turn them against the scapegoats. Keneally, in a slow methodical plodding style, allows readers to see, and sometimes feel, the plight McCloud and his companions experience. The tension and psychology at play here are believably presented and add greatly to the book's appeal.
-Diane Goheen, Topeka West High School , KS
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (November 10, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517092107
• ISBN-13: 978-0517092101
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars action packed, March 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Flying Hero Class (Hardcover)

This is an action-packed novel, lighter than most of Keneally's works, with a flawed central character who makes a living as the manager of a tribe of Aboriginees who travel from city to city to put on performance art pieces. When their flight is hijacked during one such trip, undercurrents of prejudice, exploitation and social hierarchy in anarchical situations come to the fore. I read this straight through on a flight last year and was, for a time, transported- just what a well-written novel should do! Though written some years ago, this novel remains fresh today- fresher than ever given recent hijackings, and evidence that some things have not changed - we have just chosen to look the other way. Gripping.

1.0 out of 5 stars Rubbish in parts, better in others, September 6, 2005

By 

Marc R. Lucas (Bristol UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Hero Class (Paperback)

This book bored me if I am honest, it did not hit the spot like I expected it too. The plot jumped around far too much, to the point where I skipped sections and went back to the "on board drama" which in parts was also dull.

I was disappointed

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible, March 22, 2000

By 

Alexander Basman (Foster City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Hero Class (Paperback)

This book is astonishingly poor. Characters are primitive and underdeveloped. Plot develops in jumps. I must admit the idea is not too bad, but the result is horrible. Waste of time.....