Underground Airlines
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016
336
Novel • Fiction
Alternate United States • Contemporary
2016
Adult
18+ years
Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters is set in an alternate United States where slavery remains legal in four southern states. The novel follows Victor, an escaped slave now forced to work as a bounty hunter capturing runaway slaves, who undergoes a moral awakening as he aids a white woman named Martha in searching for her enslaved husband, ultimately uncovering dark government conspiracies. The narrative contains intense themes concerning slavery, racial injustice, and systemic oppression.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Challenging
Gritty
29,616 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Ben H. Winters’ Underground Airlines is praised for its imaginative and provocative alternative history, exploring a modern-day America where slavery still exists. Critics commend its compelling narrative and social commentary, though some feel the plot can be uneven. The book's ability to merge thriller elements with ethical dilemmas prompts intriguing discussions.
Fans of thought-provoking alternative history will enjoy Ben H. Winters's Underground Airlines. Readers who appreciate the speculative juxtapositions found in Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle and the complex explorations of race akin to Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad will find this novel compelling and engaging.
29,616 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
336
Novel • Fiction
Alternate United States • Contemporary
2016
Adult
18+ years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!