Into Unknown Skies: An Unlikely Team, a Daring Race, and the First Flight Around the World

Bestselling Randall (The Monster’s Bones) tells the thrilling story of the 1924 race to circumnavigate the globe for the first time by air. Just 20 years after the Wright brothers’ historic flight, aviation was still largely dismissed as a novelty, best for mail delivery or aerial stunts rather than commercial long-distance flight. Against this backdrop, a team of aviators from the United States took on the ultimate challenge, joining an audacious air race in which they vied to be the first to circle the globe in an airplane. In all, six teams entered the race, flying experimental planes across uncharted routes, braving harsh weather, and confronting the limits of early navigation tools. Against all odds, the Americans were the only ones to finish. Adam Verner narrates, energetically capturing the tension and exhilaration of the race, the death-defying landings, and the determination of the pilots. Verner’s pacing enhances the suspense, particularly during moments of peril.