History Literature / Airman

* GenreRoulette: The book frequently switches the kind of story it's telling. It's a nine-year-old's adventure. No, wait, it's a coming-of-age story. No, wait, it's prison life. No, wait, it's a GreatEscape. No, wait, it's a one-man [[TheCaper caper]]. No, wait, it's ClearMyName. [[TropesAreNotBad This is not a bad thing.]]

* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: Conor is one to Literature/ArtemisFowl, from another one of Eoin Colfer's works. Both boys were {{Child Prodig|y}}ies who grew up in priviledged environments, but one day a tragedy took their former lives away and they were forced to become a criminal genius to get by. However the contrast comes with Artemis beginning as a VillainProtagonist and had to learn humility to gain a HeelFaceTurn and become a true hero. While Conor started off as an IdealHero before being framed for murder and being thrown in jail hardened him into an AntiHero who had to resort to becoming a morally questionable thief to survive. Ultimately, the two had almost opposite moral journeys, with Conor being a GoodCounterpart to Artemis to a degree.

* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: Conor is one to Literature/ArtemisFowl, from another one of Eoin Colfer's works. Both boys were {{Child Prodg|y}}ies who grew up in priviledged environments, but one day a tragedy took their former lives away and they were forced to become a criminal genius to get by. However the contrast comes with Artemis beginning as a VillainProtagonist and had to learn humility to gain a HeelFaceTurn and become a true hero. While Conor started off as an IdealHero before being framed for murder and being thrown in jail hardened him into an AntiHero who had to resort to becoming a morally questionable thief to survive. Ultimately, the two had almost opposite moral journeys, with Conor being a GoodCounterpart to Artemis to a degree.

* {{Expy}}: Conor is one to Literature/ArtemisFowl, from another one of Eoin Colfer's works. Both boys were {{Child Prodg|y}}ies who grew up in priviledged environments, but one day a tragedy took their former lives away and they were forced to become a criminal genius to get by. However this also crosses into {{Foil}} territory, as Artemis was always a VillainProtagonist and had to learn humility to gain a HeelFaceTurn and become a true hero. Conor started off as an IdealHero before being framed for murder and being thrown in jail hardened him into an AntiHero who had to resort to becoming a morally questionable thief to survive. Ultimately, the two had almost opposite moral journeys, with Conor being a GoodCounterpart to Artemis if the latter had always been on the side of good.

Conor Broekhart lives on the Saltee Islands with his family off the coast of Ireland, the time period being the late 19th century. The islands are independent, ruled over by the benevolent King Nicholas, an old friend of Conor's parents. Conor's childhood is spent both playing around the island with the princess, Isabella, and studying with the Frenchman Victor Vigny, from whom he learns all about flight, swordplay, and other fun things.

* AlternateHistory
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: King Nicholas. He was a skirmisher and balloonist during the American Civil War, and he's said to sleep on the window seat in his chambers because the bed is too soft.
* BadassBookworm:
** Conor. Aeronautics are his real passion, but Vigny trained him well in a variety of subjects.

* BreakTheCutie: This happens to [[spoiler: Conor multiple times once he is sent to prison.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Quite a few of the characters. Conor and Vigny often sparred verbally during sword practice, and they're just two examples. This enters WorldOfSnark at times.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: Otto Malarkey.]]

** Sultan Arif is quite unnerved at having to shove an old blind man to the ground, much less kill him.

* GeniusBruiser: King Nicholas and Bonvilain.

* GreatEscape: Conor's escape from Little Saltee.
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Conor starts off like this, being a straight-up hero who grew up with a loving family. Eventually his moral compass becomes clouded, and he swings into AntiHero for a time.
* HistoricalFiction

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Decklan Broekhart, when he realizes that [[spoiler: the man he cursed and sent to prison was his own fourteen-year-old son.]]

** King Nick, and how. Not only does he run the place, he's also responsible for ensuring its technological progress while still having time for his own research projects on the side. [[spoiler:This is the reason Bonvilain kills him.]]

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Although he doesn't put himself in the spotlight, Bonvilain is in a position of power and is generally well-respected.

* WhatTheHellHero: Linus gives this talk to Conor multiple times but it doesn't sink in until [[spoiler:Bonvilain attacks Linus and Conor realizes that if he leaves his family will be killed.]]

* GreatEscape

* BadassBookworm: Conor. Aeronautics are his real passion, but Vigny trained him well in a variety of subjects. Vigny himself also qualifies.

* BreakTheCutie: Happens to [[spoiler: Conor multiple times once he is sent to prison.]]
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Conor and Isabella are on the verge of one, but then plot happens and Conor gets thrown in prison.
* ClearMyName
* DeadpanSnarker: Quite a few of the characters. Conor and Vigny often sparred verbally during sword practice, and that's just one example. Enters WorldOfSnark at times.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Sultan Arif is quite unnerved at having to shove an old blind man to the ground, much less kill him.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Bonvilain actually has 'villain' in his name. And yes, that's a real surname.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: King Nick, and how. Not only does he run the place, he's also responsible for ensuring its technological progress while still having time for his own research projects on the side.

* ScienceHero
* ShownTheirWork: Colfer's descriptions of the period's aircraft are spot-on regarding their reliability (or lack thereof), fragility, and handling problems. He also accurately describes the effects of a stall and a forward slip.

* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: Bonvilain has his [[TheDragon Dragon]] Mix a poison, Wolvesbane, which he will put in his wine and serve to his guests (Isabella and Conor's family). The poison is fatal if an entire glass is drunk, Bonvilain would only drink half his glass while everyone else would empty theirs. He also tests it on his Dragon to see if he was telling the truth (he was chafing at this point), he was, but it still reduced him to a puking pained fit (symptoms which he warned Bonvilain about). This comes back to bite him in the climax.

* WarriorPoet: Bonvilain fancies himself one of these.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Conor is able to pass himself off as older because of his height. This is not necessarily a good thing, since Bonvilain was able to use it against him.

* [[spoiler: VictoriousChildhoodFriend]]

* BigBad: Sir Hugo Bonvillain, high-ranking traitor and the man behind the plot for the throne.

* GeniusBruiser: King Nicholas and Bonvillain.

* MeaningfulName: Everyone in the Broekhart family has their heart broken. Also, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Bonvillain]]'s name means "good villain".

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Bonvillain actually has 'villain' in his name. And yes, that's a real surname.

* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: Bonvillain has his [[TheDragon Dragon]] Mix a poison, Wolvesbane, which he will put in his wine and serve to his guests (Isabella and Conor's family). The poison is fatal if an entire glass is drunk, Bonvillain would only drink half his glass while everyone else would empty theirs. He also tests it on his Dragon to see if he was telling the truth (he was chaffing at this point), he was, but it still reduced him to a puking pained fit (symptoms which he warned Bonvillain about). This comes back to bite him in the climax.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Although he doesn't put himself in the spotlight, Bonvillain is in a position of power and is generally well-respected.
* WarriorPoet: Bonvillain fancies himself one of these.
* WhatTheHellHero: Linus gives this talk to Conor multiple times but it doesn't sink in until [[spoiler:Bonvillain attacks Linus and Conor realizes that if he leaves his family will be killed.]]
* WickedCultured: Bonvillain may be a soldier, but he's also a man of taste.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Conor is able to pass himself off as older because of his height. This is not necessarily a good thing, since Bonvillain was able to use it against him.

''Airman'' is an AlternateHistory adventure novel by EoinColfer.

* WhatTheHellHero: Linus gives this talk to Conor multiple times but it doesn't sink in until [spoiler: [Bonvillain attacks Linus and Conor realizes that if he leaves his family will be killed.]]

* WhatTheHellHero: Linus gives this talk to Conor multiple times but it doesn't sink in until [[Bonvillain attacks Linus and Conor realizes that if he leaves his family will be killed.]]

%%* HairOfGold: Conor.

* HairOfGold: Conor.