Title: Aussie Pilot
Author: Kevin Johnson
Publisher: XilbrisAU
ISBN: 1543408532
Pages: 296
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel

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Aussie Pilot finds the life of David to be quite ordinary. He has a relatively idealistic childhood before entering into the Air Force which soon brings him to the United States. His life takes several new directions as he finds himself deeply involved in politics, studying medicine, and developing his own company. But nothing can prepare him for the two biggest changes of his life: his budding romance with Helen and the mysterious abilities he acquires that are the key to a secret world. After tragedy strikes, David struggles to pick up the pieces as he finds a new beginning for his life and is brought further into a world of magic.

The first part of the story focuses on the ordinary life of David which is told with in a style that is more literary in tone. His life progresses quickly from the Air Force to his budding romance with Helen, their eventual marriage, and first child, to his foray into medicine. The literary tone has elements of a military thriller as he travels to various places of the world, gets involved with politics, forms friendships, and gets involved in a mystery when they discover someone has falsified records and it’s up to them to find who it is.

The story takes a shift in tone when David discovers a pathway leading to a voice belonging to a computer named Orack. This introduction blends science fiction and fantasy, allowing David’s friendships to strengthen as he, Peter, and James receive powers and discover Atlantis. The inclusion of fantasy puts a twist on the time period and creates an alternate history with a talking computer, witches and warlocks, magic, and a zapping ability. The story is told in the form of someone telling a hero’s tale so it feels biographical as if the story could sincerely be telling someone’s story which pairs well with the illustrations included which gives the feel like looking at a photo album.

The story undergoes another serious shift in tone when David’s happy life quickly turns to tragedy when his wife Helen is murdered and from this his mourning is briefly swept over going into his second chapter of his book. Then the story focuses heavily on Atlantis, magic, and his second chance at love with Pam. The second half of the book also ups the violence and details as he takes revenge against the man responsible for killing his wife. Justice is a primary theme throughout, being more subtle in some parts and more obvious in others, but it’s a consistent trend seen in David’s life. The closer to the end it becomes the deeper into the magical elements it journeys by bringing David into this other society and what sends him forward into his journey to become a hero. The powers are fantasy based while also being derived from a scientific approach such as when David used electricity to subdue thieves. Each of the chapters is headed with titles that summarize key moments that occur in the chapter, inciting just enough of what’s to come to be intriguing and keep you reading. Author Kevin Johnson blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, military thriller, and adventure for a hero’s journey like no other.