Books

Into the Abyss

An Extraordinary True Story
By Carol Shaben (Hardcover Book, 2013)
Only four men survived the plane crash. The pilot. A politician. A cop... and the criminal he was shackled to.

On an icy night in October 1984, a commuter plane carrying nine passengers crashed in the remote wilderness of northern Alberta, killing six people. Four survived: the rookie pilot, a prominent politician, a cop, and the criminal he was escorting to face charges. Despite the poor weather, Erik Vogel, the 24-year-old pilot, was under intense pressure to fly. Larry Shaben, the author's father and Canada's first Muslim Cabinet Minister, was commuting home after a busy week at the Alberta Legislature. Constable Scott Deschamps was escorting Paul Archambault, a drifter wanted on an outstanding warrant. Against regulations, Archambault's handcuffs were removed-a decision that would profoundly impact the men's survival.

As the men fight through the night to stay alive, the dividing lines of power, wealth, and status are erased, and each man is forced to confront the precious and limited nature of his existence.
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  • Grand Central Publishing

    • Format: Hardcover Book

    • Price: $24.99 US

    • ISBN-13: 9781455501953

    • On Sale Date: 05/21/2013

    • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

    Full Details

    Formats Available: Hardcover Book, Audiobook, Electronic Book

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Only four men survived the plane crash. The pilot. A politician. A cop... and the criminal he was shackled to.

On an icy night in October 1984, a commuter plane carrying nine passengers crashed in the remote wilderness of northern Alberta, killing six people. Four survived: the rookie pilot, a prominent politician, a cop, and the criminal he was escorting to face charges. Despite the poor weather, Erik Vogel, the 24-year-old pilot, was under intense pressure to fly. Larry Shaben, the author's father and Canada's first Muslim Cabinet Minister, was commuting home after a busy week at the Alberta Legislature. Constable Scott Deschamps was escorting Paul Archambault, a drifter wanted on an outstanding warrant. Against regulations, Archambault's handcuffs were removed-a decision that would profoundly impact the men's survival.

As the men fight through the night to stay alive, the dividing lines of power, wealth, and status are erased, and each man is forced to confront the precious and limited nature of his existence.

Carol Shaben won two Canadian National Magazine Awards -a Gold Medal for Investigative Reporting and a Silver Medal for Politics and Public Interest-for articles that highlighted the subject of this book.

  • Praise for Into the Abyss:



    "With Into the Abyss Carol Shaben gives us an astonishing true story of catastrophe and redemption. Shaben writes from the inside out, as in the best non-fiction, creating a nuanced and tightly braided portrait of four men and their shared trauma that is by turns terrifying and deeply humane. Every line in this story rings true." (John Vaillant, author of The Tiger).

Formats

Product Details

Into the Abyss
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
  • Price: $24.99 US
  • Pages: 320
  • Physical Dimensions: 6" x 9"
  • ISBN-13: 9781455501953
  • On Sale Date: 05/21/2013
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Into the Abyss
© 2013 Hachette Book Group