Sleepwalker's Introduction to Flight [Hardcover]

Sion Scott-wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2008

'Funny and filled with heart ...a sparky debut' - Alexandra Heminsley, "The London Paper". Dreaming of joining the brotherhood of Acapulcan cliff-divers, young Mikey Hough rigs a diving platform in the garden of his suburban Berkshire home. Two years later, when he awakes from his coma, Mikey befriends Roger, an elderly ex-pilot hospitalised when his precious Distinguished Flying Cross was violently stolen from him. Mikey soon learns that his own disastrous attempt at flight has damaged his Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, destroying his ability to sleep. The medical profession can do nothing for him. He is sent home from hospital to die. One night, a despondent Mikey stumbles across Livia, the cynical teenage ward of a neighbouring councilman.Together they decide to track down Roger's stolen medal. So begins a remarkable, picaresque journey into the dark heart of suburban England, during which the fearless Mikey and Livia confront a sprawling cast of pensioners, policemen and criminals - including the profoundly sinister man-child 'The Fat Controller'. As they hurtle towards daybreak, they persuade Roger to undertake one last, gut-wrenching sortie into the night skies. "The Sleepwalker's Introduction to Flight" is a heart-rending and riotous mini-epic, a brilliantly subversive coming-of-age tale about what happens when dark and light collide, and society's marginalised find their voice. 'A humorous, moving and eloquent debut' - "Bookseller".

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

British teen Mikey aspires to be a Clavadista, one of the legendary brotherhood of Acapulcan high divers. Unfortunately, a practice dive from a tree in his backyard results in a two-year coma and a clinical condition that leaves him unable to sleep, a fatal condition. With only a few weeks to live, Mikey decides to turn detective and recover a Distinguished Flying Cross that has been stolen from an elderly friend. The bad news: this will put him at loggerheads with a sinister fellow called The Fat Controller. The (arguably) good news: Mikey’s partner in, uh, recovery is the beautiful but troubled Livia, who has an unfortunate predilection for toot and other stimulating but equally illegal substances. First-novelist Wilson has created a sporadically amusing caper adventure of the madcap sort that is diverting when it isn’t requiring a too strenuous suspension of disbelief (why does Mikey jump out of that tree in the first place?). --Michael Cart --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Sion Scott-Wilson was born in Britain but currently lives in New Zealand. He works in advertising and has won many industry awards for his television work, including a BAFTA nomination. He is married with two children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan (May 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230705448
• ISBN-13: 978-0230705449
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,266,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new writer, February 2, 2010

By 

Alison J. Wright "Alison" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sleepwalker's Introduction to Flight (Macmillan New Writing) (Paperback)

Wonderful cast of colorful characters play out this superfast read. A dark and touching tale with great cheeky laughs along the way! You'll learn a thing or two..... :)