Everyday we put our lives in the hands of someone else: airline pilots with a phobia of flying; psychiatrists in need of therapy and air hostesses trying to 'do the right thing'. So meet an apparently disparate group of people all connected to the tragic death of a stowaway in 1978. It's twenty-three years later, and despite their attempts to build new lives, the connections begin to emerge and, along with them, the truth. A truth held on blackbox recordings, answermachine tapes, sitcom outtakes, and court transcripts.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Review
'An original and well-received debut' -- Publishing News
'Bizarre, compelling and totally original in structure. Not only a dynamic debut but, more importantly, a cracking good read' -- Luton on Sunday
'Blackbox is an intense conceptual comic thriller. It's very skilfully done' -- Big Issue
'Brilliantly developed... Darkly comic' -- Independent
'Funny, black as soot and totally fascinating' -- Big Issue in the North
'Nicely judged blend of black comedy and mystery...morbidly funny' -- Leeds Guide
'Nick Walker's Blackbox is the best first novel I've read for a while: original, intelligent, compelling and written in perfect bite-sized chunks’ -- Patrick Neate, Guardian
'One of the year's outstanding debuts' -- Time Out
‘Admirable...moving’ -- Observer
‘Walker offers an active imagination, wild morbidity, a sense of Ballardian mythology and wonder... prose of pared distinction’ -- Guardian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'Bizarre, compelling and totally original in structure. Not only a dynamic debut but, more importantly, a cracking good read' -- Luton on Sunday
'Blackbox is an intense conceptual comic thriller. It's very skilfully done' -- Big Issue
'Brilliantly developed... Darkly comic' -- Independent
'Funny, black as soot and totally fascinating' -- Big Issue in the North
'Nicely judged blend of black comedy and mystery...morbidly funny' -- Leeds Guide
'Nick Walker's Blackbox is the best first novel I've read for a while: original, intelligent, compelling and written in perfect bite-sized chunks’ -- Patrick Neate, Guardian
'One of the year's outstanding debuts' -- Time Out
‘Admirable...moving’ -- Observer
‘Walker offers an active imagination, wild morbidity, a sense of Ballardian mythology and wonder... prose of pared distinction’ -- Guardian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
Cross a road, take a train or get on an aeroplane and you put your life in the hands of a stranger - as screwed up, as fallible, as human as you are. Then they turn out not to be a stranger at all, and suddenly it's much worse.
So, meet an apparently disparate group of people - a comedian whose sole gag consists of committing suicide, an airline pilot terrified of flying, a psychiatrist more in need of therapy than his patients and an air hostess trying to do the right thing - all of whom are connected to the tragic death of a stowaway on a flight into Birmingham in 1978.
Twenty three years later, and despite their attempts to build new lives, the connections begin to emerge and, along with them, the truth about what happened. It's a truth held on stolen black box recordings, answer machine tapes, sitcom out-takes and court transcripts.
Blackbox is the story of an attempt to erase a life on tape. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Five miles high, over the Atlantic. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Five miles high, over the Atlantic. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Don Vercoe
Format:Paperback
I do a lot of flying, and I'm often wondering "is the pilot's mind really on the job in hand", and "is there anyone hiding in the undercarriage". This book tells the complex and amusing story of a group of apparently unconnected individuals who are in fact all linked by a tragic event long ago. The best part of the book is the way in which the characters all interweave in and out of each others lives, before the plot resolves itself in a gripping and dramatic climax.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cleverly put together and original story, with brilliant flashes of humour. Frequent and nervous fliers included.
By A. Green
Format:Paperback
the structure of this book at first appears like a gimmick, however it very quickly becomes an essential element in creating the feel and pace of the story. The characters are deep, the world vivid, the plot twisting and the pace rapid; what more could you want?
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bought this book after all the reviews and was really looking forward to reading it - felt let down. The book takes a while to 'lift off' and when it does, still fails to deliver a coherent and interesting story - I gave up reading it as it was so disjointed and dull. If you want my copy you're welcome to it.
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Great book
I just finished my advance reader copy and thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish. I think more time could've been spent exploring the relationship between Edward, Beth,... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2003 by Darrin Matteson
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Amazing!
I just finished reading it 10 minutes ago. My goodnes! That was a ride! Do yourselves a favour and read this book now. Read more
Published on 6 April 2003 by Jimmy
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