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Flying Blind (novel)
Encyclopedia
Flying Blind is a mystery
novel by Max Allan Collins
that was first published in 1999. The book was part of Collins' ongoing series of novels featuring private detective Nathan Heller.
In the Heller series, the lead character is frequently featured interacting with historical figures of the 1930s and 1940. In Flying Blind, set in the mid-1930s, Heller is hired by book publisher and publicist George P. Putnam
to act as a bodyguard for his wife, strong-willed celebrity aviatrix
Amelia Earhart
, and at the same time investigate who might be sending her threatening letters.
Heller is initially reluctant to act as a "babysitter" and he and Earhart have a rocky relationship at first, but eventually their relationship progresses to the point where they become lovers. (This reflects historic evidence that in real life Earhart asked Putnam for an open marriage
(http://www.ncbuy.com/news/2003-02-25/1006223.html, http://news.uns.purdue.edu/html4ever/030224.Mobley.Earhart.html).
Before Heller is able to solve the case, Earhart leaves on her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world and disappears. The book picks up again several years later when Heller learns that Earhart is being held captive by the Japanese
(which in reality is often suggested in speculations about her ultimate fate). Heller then attempts to rescue her from her prison.
, the first American publishers of the book, is affiliated with Penguin Books
, which in turn took over G. P. Putnam's Sons
, the publishing firm established George P.'s grandfather. The back cover of the 1999 Signet Books edition (Signet being an NAL imprint
) includes the URL
"www.penguinputnam.com" but although Earhart's husband is described on the cover blurb
as "publicity-hungry", he is never identified by name.
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
novel by Max Allan Collins
Max Allan Collins
Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms...
that was first published in 1999. The book was part of Collins' ongoing series of novels featuring private detective Nathan Heller.
In the Heller series, the lead character is frequently featured interacting with historical figures of the 1930s and 1940. In Flying Blind, set in the mid-1930s, Heller is hired by book publisher and publicist George P. Putnam
George P. Putnam
George Palmer Putnam was an American publisher, author and explorer. Known for his marriage to and being the widower of Amelia Earhart, he had also achieved fame as one of the most successful promoters in the United States during the 1930s.-Early life:Born in Rye, New York, he was the son of John...
to act as a bodyguard for his wife, strong-willed celebrity aviatrix
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, and at the same time investigate who might be sending her threatening letters.
Heller is initially reluctant to act as a "babysitter" and he and Earhart have a rocky relationship at first, but eventually their relationship progresses to the point where they become lovers. (This reflects historic evidence that in real life Earhart asked Putnam for an open marriage
Open marriage
Open marriage typically refers to a marriage in which the partners agree that each may engage in extramarital sexual relationships, without this being regarded as infidelity. There are many different styles of open marriage, with the partners having varying levels of input on their spouse's...
(http://www.ncbuy.com/news/2003-02-25/1006223.html, http://news.uns.purdue.edu/html4ever/030224.Mobley.Earhart.html).
Before Heller is able to solve the case, Earhart leaves on her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world and disappears. The book picks up again several years later when Heller learns that Earhart is being held captive by the Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(which in reality is often suggested in speculations about her ultimate fate). Heller then attempts to rescue her from her prison.
The Putnam connection
In Flying Blind, Collins does not paint a positive picture of George P. Putnam. Ironically, New American LibraryNew American Library
New American Library is an American publisher based in New York, founded in 1948; it produced affordable paperback reprints of classics and scholarly works, as well as popular, pulp, and "hard-boiled" fiction. Non-fiction, original, and hardcopy issues were also produced.Victor Weybright and Kurt...
, the first American publishers of the book, is affiliated with Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, which in turn took over G. P. Putnam's Sons
G. P. Putnam's Sons
G. P. Putnam's Sons was a major United States book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group.-History:...
, the publishing firm established George P.'s grandfather. The back cover of the 1999 Signet Books edition (Signet being an NAL imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
) includes the URL
Uniform Resource Locator
In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
"www.penguinputnam.com" but although Earhart's husband is described on the cover blurb
Blurb
A blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually used on books without giving away any details, that is usually referring to the words on the back of the book jacket but also commonly seen on DVD and video cases, web portals, and news websites.- History :The...
as "publicity-hungry", he is never identified by name.