From Publishers Weekly
Bach returns to critter fables with the first two installments (three more are due over the course of the next year) of The Ferret Chronicles, creating an imaginary world based on the exploits of ferrets who have abandoned their utopian world to aid the human race. Rescue Ferrets at Sea is by far the better book, mostly because Bach sticks to a coherent, straightforward plot with a story that is touching and satisfying (despite the high treacle level). Bethany Ferret is the seagoing heroine who dreams of being part of the fleet that rescues animals lost at sea, and she fulfills her dream when she makes it through officer training. The icing on the cake is a project in which she restores her battered rescue vessel, but her superiors throw her a curve when they place rock star cum journalist Chloe Ferret on board to chronicle the adventures of the crew. But Chloe proves to be up to the difficult job; after winning the crew over, she even provides a dramatic assist when she helps recover some data from an explorer ship. Air Ferrets Aloft, concerning a cargo airline that shuttles food and toys around the country, is clumsy and muddled by comparison. The protagonists are two heroic pilots, Stormy and Strobe, who are destined to meet during a series of flights between California and Seattle. But the headstrong would-be lovers keep screwing up the meeting, forcing a pack of ferret angels to lend an assist by messing up the weather in a series of jumbled scenes that take the luster off the inevitable happy ending. Bach's fondness for flying shines through in the airborne book, and he wears his love of animals and his fondness for sappy endings on his sleeve in both novels. But he never manages to bring his animal conceit to life, failing to project the unique, simple innocence that made Jonathan Livingston Seagull such a huge commercial success 30 years ago. (June 25) Forecast: Even with the repromotion of Jonathan Livingston Seagull in April, the trick will be getting adults to read what is essentially children's literaturemarketing plans include support from the S&S children's divisionbut these ferrets are no Harry Potter, so expect sales to be... ferrety. Major ad/promo; author appearances; foreign rights sold in Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Russia. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Bach has graduated from seagulls to ferrets (he has nine), which in these two books perform selfless acts of heroism. The start of a new series. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
In this ferret chronicle, Stormy Ferret, captain of the Air Ferrets SkyFreighter, and Captain Strobe Ferret, captain of the FerrJet, find their expertise tested when both captains fly through the worst storms of their careers. Bach escorts listeners on this terrifying trip, which coincidentally causes both pilots to make an unscheduled landing in the same unusual location. As in all his ferret chronicles, Bach provides life lessons. Here Bach's story provides hope in the face of disaster by way of a fateful meeting for two lost ferret-souls. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
This is Stormy Ferret's story. Cargo pilot, captain of an Air Ferrets SkyFreighter, she had earned her name by delivering her freight on time through every weather the night could set against her. Her destiny, she thought, was her dependability. That was true until, on a run south from Seattle to Salinas, she plunges into a supernatural tempest like nothing she has ever known. Flying north in his sleek FerrJet, Captain Strobe Ferret hits equally violent weather. As chief pilot of the giant MusTelCo, his long experience at the controls had taught him to accept whatever the sky set before him. He had adjusted to life alone in the wild pure arena of air. The two pilots meet by chance in the most powerful twin storm ever to sweep Airway Victor 23, her voice in the night helping him survive, his voice helping her. Coincidence turns to destiny as they battle through the clouds toward an unscheduled landing and a meeting that will forever change their lives -- and the lives of thousands of others. Air Ferrets Aloft is a tale of skill and commitment, of powerful coincidence set in motion by unseen forces from another dimension, of the life-changing consequences when like souls meet, of love discovered after all hope for it had passed.


Download Description
"This is Stormy Ferret's story. Cargo pilot, captain of an Air Ferrets SkyFreighter, she had earned her name by delivering her freight on time through every weather the night could set against her. Her destiny, she thought, was her dependability. That was true until, on a run south from Seattle to Salinas, she plunges into a supernatural tempest like nothing she has ever known. Flying north in his sleek FerrJet, Captain Strobe Ferret hits equally violent weather. As chief pilot of the giant MusTelCo, his long experience at the controls had taught him to accept whatever the sky set before him. He had adjusted to life alone in the wild pure arena of air. The two pilots meet by chance in the most powerful twin storm ever to sweep Airway Victor 23, her voice in the night helping him survive, his voice helping her. Coincidence turns to destiny as they battle through the clouds toward an unscheduled landing and a meeting that will forever change their lives -- and the lives of thousands of others. Air Ferrets Aloft is a tale of skill and commitment, of powerful coincidence set in motion by unseen forces from another dimension, of the life-changing consequences when like souls meet, of love discovered after all hope for it had passed. "


About the Author
Richard Bach is the author of twelve books, including the bestselling Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions and Rescue Ferrets at Sea. A former USAF fighter pilot, gypsy barnstormer and airplane mechanic, he flies a seaplane today. He writes this series with his ten ferret advisors.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This is Stormy Ferret's story. Cargo pilot, captain of an Air Ferrets SkyFreighter, she earned her name by delivering her freight on time through every weather the night could set against her. Her destiny, she thought, was her dependability. That was true until, on a run south from Seattle to Salinas, she plunges into supernatural tempest like nothing she has ever known.

Flying north in his sleek FerrJet, captain Strobe Ferret hits equally violent weather. As chief pilot of the giant MusTelCo, his long experience at the control has taught him to accept whatever the sky set before him. He had adjusted to life alone in the wild pure arena of air.

The two pilots meet by chance in the most powerful twin storm ever to sweep Airway Victor 23, her voice in the night helping him survive, his voice helping her. Coincidence turns to destiny as they battle through the clouds toward an unscheduled landing and a meeting that will forever change their lives -- and the lives of thousands of others.

Air Ferrets Aloft is a tale of skill and commitment, of powerful coincidence set in motion by unseen forces from another dimention, of the life-changing consequences when like sould meet, of love discovered after all hope for it had passed.

SYNOPSIS

Daring to ask the question, "What could happen if everyone did their best all the time?" Richard Bach's The Ferret Chronicles intermingles fantasy, philosophy, and spirituality to spin a timeless tale full of soaring adventure and delightfully infectious optimism.

Air Ferrets Aloft is the story of Stormy Ferret's flight from Seattle to Salinas through dark night and violent weather, carrying a precious cargo of "bellballs' for the baby ferrets of California. It is an inspiring story of devotion to an ideal, of perseverance in the face of fierce storms and devastating machine failure and of love rediscovered just as hope begins to perish.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Bach returns to critter fables with the first two installments (three more are due over the course of the next year) of The Ferret Chronicles, creating an imaginary world based on the exploits of ferrets who have abandoned their utopian world to aid the human race. Rescue Ferrets at Sea is by far the better book, mostly because Bach sticks to a coherent, straightforward plot with a story that is touching and satisfying (despite the high treacle level). Bethany Ferret is the seagoing heroine who dreams of being part of the fleet that rescues animals lost at sea, and she fulfills her dream when she makes it through officer training. The icing on the cake is a project in which she restores her battered rescue vessel, but her superiors throw her a curve when they place rock star cum journalist Chloe Ferret on board to chronicle the adventures of the crew. But Chloe proves to be up to the difficult job; after winning the crew over, she even provides a dramatic assist when she helps recover some data from an explorer ship. Air Ferrets Aloft, concerning a cargo airline that shuttles food and toys around the country, is clumsy and muddled by comparison. The protagonists are two heroic pilots, Stormy and Strobe, who are destined to meet during a series of flights between California and Seattle. But the headstrong would-be lovers keep screwing up the meeting, forcing a pack of ferret angels to lend an assist by messing up the weather in a series of jumbled scenes that take the luster off the inevitable happy ending. Bach's fondness for flying shines through in the airborne book, and he wears his love of animals and his fondness for sappy endings on his sleeve in both novels. But he never manages to bring his animal conceit to life, failing to project the unique, simple innocence that made Jonathan Livingston Seagull such a huge commercial success 30 years ago. (June 25) Forecast: Even with the repromotion of Jonathan Livingston Seagull in April, the trick will be getting adults to read what is essentially children's literaturemarketing plans include support from the S&S children's divisionbut these ferrets are no Harry Potter, so expect sales to be... ferrety. Major ad/promo; author appearances; foreign rights sold in Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Russia. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature - Norah Piehl

Ferret society is guided by loyalty, kindness, and above all else, the pursuit of "the highest sense of right." Ferret society is also characterized by a love of flight. No two ferrets harbor this love more than Stormy Ferret, a gutsy freight pilot, and Strobe Ferret, corporate pilot for the ferret world's most powerful corporation. These two find adventure, joy, and a sense of purpose in the air, but their personal lives are somewhat less fulfilled. One stormy night, their angel ferret fairies hatch a plan to bring the two ferrets together. Unknowingly accompanied by their helicopter-piloting guardian angels, Stormy and Strobe fly toward their destiny. This achingly sweet fable may appeal to adult aviation buffs, who will be clued in to the heavy-handed aeronautical jargon, as well as to fans of the author's previous novels, to whom many of the philosophical platitudes will be familiar. Younger readers, though, will likely be distinctly disappointed by the lack of plot￯﾿ﾽas it turns out, an entire society seeking nothing but "the highest sense of right" is also kind of boring. 2002 (orig. 1999), Scribner,

Library Journal

Bach has graduated from seagulls to ferrets (he has nine), which in these two books perform selfless acts of heroism. The start of a new series. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews