FICTION

The Sky Was Ours

by Joe Fassler
Penguin. Apr. 2024. 464p. ISBN 9780143135685. pap. $18. F
COPY ISBN
DEBUT Deeply disappointed and deeply in debt, twentysomething Jane abandons a less-than-satisfying career path as a software programmer, only to land in Lack, a small rural town in New York State. Thus begins Fassler’s (The Atlantic’s “By Heart” series) creative retelling of the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. In Lack, Jane encounters Ike and his brilliant albeit offbeat father Barry, who is obsessed with designing wings to enable humans to fly, seeing it as the path to human transcendence. Jane succumbs to Barry’s charisma as much as his revolutionary ideals, while Ike’s patience, thoughtfulness, and reason offer a different approach. Fassler skillfully describes Jane’s diving and soaring flight toward growth and maturity, a struggle to avoid flying too close to the sun that Barry’s fanaticism depicts.
VERDICT Fassler excels at detailing the nuances of his three characters’ personalities as well as the landscape of Lack and the beauty of human flight. True to its original source, this is a powerful parable about the promise of freedom through flight, balanced against the perils of human hubris and the limits of technology and innovation.
Reviewed by Faye A. Chadwell , May 03, 2024
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

Help Wanted
by Waldman, Adelle
MEDIA

A Dream in the Dark
by Justice, Robert
MEDIA

The River View
by Harrison, Jamie
MEDIA

Signal to Noise
by Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
FICTION

Dogs and Monsters: Stories
by Haddon, Mark
FICTION

Shred Sisters
by Lerner, Betsy
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?