Into the Abyss
Carol Shaben
We've received two takes on this extraordinary tale of tragedy and survival.
An Intertwining of Lives
Frequent fliers may experience apprehension
when reading this story. While this tale is indeed founded on a tragic event in
1984, its subject matter extends well beyond the realm of a terrible plane
crash. Of course, any such experience would be life-changing for anyone involved;
however, for the four survivors of this particular accident, their lives became
intertwined. How this occurred is both thought-provoking and, ironically, inspiring.
Carol Shaben’s writing draws connections that accentuate the special
relationship between these four men. The
crash was a defining moment for all four, but in drastically different ways. Each individual’s
experience was profoundly moving and unexpected. Two of the survivors experienced
moments of brilliance after the crash, to later find themselves trapped in a
rut of unfortunate events. The third survivor found new meaning in his life
through his “near death” experience. He re-assessed his livelihood and created
the ultimate bucket list for himself. The final survivor rediscovered the
importance of family and friends, which served as a great motivator in his life, which was lived in the public eye.
Overall, Into the Abyss demonstrates the challenges faced by normal people
every day. The stories can help anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with his or her own
life. The lives of these four previously unrelated people are vastly
different, yet they are all bound together by one crash. Despite all obstacles, these
four men pressed onward with their lives, unknowingly building a great legacy.
- Charles Bryer
A Riveting Account That Reads Like an Action Thriller
When VP Publisher Anne Collins read Carol Shaben’s proposal for Into the Abyss, she could feel every single hair on her arms rising. This riveting account of the deadly 1984 plane crash in the Canadian wilderness reads like an action thriller.
On a stormy night in northern Alberta, a young rookie pilot ignored his better judgment and flew an unsafe Piper Navajo commuter plane into the skies. Six of the nine passengers died, leaving behind the pilot and three other survivors, among them a politician, an RCMP officer, and a criminal.
After surviving a night of sub-zero temperatures and injuries, the men embarked on their own versions of the hero’s journey. The pilot took responsibility for his role in the crash and went on to become a safety compulsive. The RCMP officer continued to work with the criminal justice department, but is no longer “the black-and-white, rigid, career-driven, typical kick-down-the-door cop.” After leaving the Alberta legislature, the politician dedicated himself to philanthropic and volunteer work. The criminal was not really a bad guy, just a hard-luck guy who struggled with the hero label that followed him after the crash.
Author Carol Shaben, the politician’s daughter, devoted most of her adult life to the research and development of this book. She also wrote award-winning articles exposing the need for improved government regulations in Canada’s commuter airline industry.
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