I really wanted to like Above the Timberline, The artwork is just beautiful -- and it has dirigibles. But unfortunately the story, style and text don't match the high standard set by the art. The book is large format with spectacular full-colour full-page artwork overlaid by the text of the story. The story in and of itself is weak. The science is so bad I have to classify the book as fantasy. The style is a mix of events and journal entries from various people, jumping back and forwards in time. I found it extremely hard to follow. The text itself, well, I would just say the words don't match the standards set by the art.

With a rewrite to change the story to more focused, the style to a more direct linear narrative, and the text to more artful, this could be a great book. ( )