The Book of Flying

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A bold, vivid, fantastical first novel follows a young librarian on a magical journey to gain his wings and win the heart of the girl he loves. Pico, an orphaned librarian, has lived his life sustained by stories. When love finally arrives, it is forbidden, as the girl of his dreams belongs to the winged people of the City by the Sea, while Pico remains wingless. Discovering an ancient letter in his library about the mythical Morning Town, where the flightless can gain wings, he embarks on a quest with his four favorite books in a knapsack. His journey is filled with encounters with a robber queen, a lonely minotaur, a dream seller, a despairing cannibal, and an immortal beauty, each imparting lessons and stories. Through these experiences, Pico learns to kill, love, persevere, and ultimately, to fly. His journey reflects Everyman's path but is uniquely a reader's journey, revealing lessons through stories as much as life itself. In this impressionable debut, the author creates a tantalizingly foreign yet familiar world, inviting readers to explore their imaginations and discover themselves. The author, born in Tanzania and raised in Kenya, wrote this novel while traveling in southern Sudan and now lives in Egypt, working as a design consultant and art teacher for refugees.