The Aviator

Award-winning North Canterbury author Gareth Renowden’s new
book, The Aviator – his first venture into extended fiction – is the first
in a new series of speculative fiction stories set in The Burning World.

With a superb cover by New Zealand’s finest comics artist, Dylan Horrocks,
The Aviator mixes comedy and adventure with a satirical look at
some of the ideas that compete for influence in our modern world.

Synopsis: In a near future battered by rapid climate change and economic
collapse, Tasman Bay-based airship pilot Lemmy Newman explores
the planet, encountering the strange remnants of our civilisation
– technologically advanced Californians searching for the singularity, a
rocking bishop in his flying cathedral, the last climate sceptics, deep
green terrorists, billionaire libertarians in their bubble, and much, much
more. Not to mention the Fiordland goats, the girlfriend from Nelson
with bots in her head and the elixir of life (which is cheese).

Comments from early readers:
• A brilliant and wickedly satirical romp through a post-climate change world.
Sonny Whitelaw, author of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis novels
• A winning combination of wit and insight.
Professor Michael E. Mann, climate scientist
• An excellent resource for senior secondary teachers to use as the basis for discussion.
I loved it!
Alison Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Biology at the University of Waikato.

Early reviews:
Physicist Arthur Smith at Amazon.com:
At times the novel reminded me of some of the ambience and free-wheeling twists
and turns of Neal Stephenson's novels - "Snow Crash" and "Anathem" particularly.
[…] Renowden introduces conflicts and concerns which suggest a deep thoughtfulness
about what really matters in life and in our future.
Australian environmentalist Gavin Webber:
I found the story enthralling, entertaining, humorous, chilling in places, and believable.
It was also a definite page-turner.

About the author:
Gareth Renowden is a writer, photographer and truffle grower based in the Waipara Valley.
His last book, Hot Topic - Global Warming & The Future of New Zealand, was published by AUT Media in 2007 and shortlisted for the Royal Society of NZ's inaugural science book prize. The Truffle Book (Limestone Hills Publishing 2005) won the Special Jury Award at the 2007 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Beijing. He publishes the Hot Topic blog covering climate change science, policy and politics from a New Zealand perspective.