The Night of the biplanes

Cornwall, 1916. The First World War is upon us. A waitress, a miner and a young lord (Mary, John and Arthur) are bound by a deep friendship and dream of flying biplanes equipped with TBC (Tactical Bio-Computer) technology, which allows the pilots to become one with the biplanes, which can then be controlled as if they were an extension of the body. Arthur and Mary are eager to join the Air Force, but John is against it, believing in peace. But when their mentor, Sir Richard, suddenly disappears while working on a device that appeals to both the Central Powers and the Western Alliance, the three of them find themselves catapulted into cloud-filled skies and air battles. English biplanes, zeppelins and German triplanes seal their friendship and fate. “Night of the biplanes” is set in an alternate 1916. A 1916 where war is imminent and young pilots must be able to tune their brainwaves to military computers in order to fly biplanes. In this alternate universe, computer advances are far ahead of the wars we know, fought with coded messages and machines to decipher them. Experimental tanks, submarines, aeroplanes, brain connections that allow you to control the vehicles at the same speed as you think, and much more pass before the reader's eyes. However, as in the war fought just over a century ago, it is the younger generations who are paying a very high price, and not just in the trenches. The human body is unable to bear the strain of such a powerful technology. Morosinotto plays with the most disparate narrative expedients, which makes for an extra-special reading experience. Sometimes the story is entrusted to email exchanges, sometimes to reports, and now to the novel itself. All of this adds up to a steampunk-infused reading journey, complete with comic strips by Claudio Prati. From first loves, first battles, and first flights, "The Night of the Biplanes" is an exhilarating journey through the challenges of growing up. It's about embracing reality, becoming adults, and always finding the strength to soar as much as to stay grounded when needed.  

La notte dei biplani
Davide Morosinotto
Il Castoro, 2024