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Into the Abyss

An Extraordinary True Story

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Into the Abyss

Written by: Carol Shaben
Narrated by: Tiffany Morgan
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Read the "gripping and emotionally affecting" book where four men survived the plane crash. The pilot. A politician. A cop... and the criminal he was shackled to (Washington Post).

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. Adventure Travel Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Engineering Sociology Aviation Air Force Crime
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What the critics say

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
"As a concept, it doesn't get much better [than this]... Into the Abyss is in the best traditions of true-life journalism and grips from beginning to end."—Iain Finlayson, The Times
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the reader didn't seem to understand what she was reading. This took away from the story which was excellent and well reserched.

reader could have been better.

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I enjoyed the story leading up to the main event. but after it was hard to stay engaged. was well performed though

good book but about 3 hours to long.

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I loved hearing this book and was moved by the mens' stories, well worth the read. However the narrator did nothing to learn how to pronounce simple names. Premier Loughheed was "look-heed", Gjoa Haven was "yoah-haven", Metis was pronounced something like "matiss". I actually don't know how these common words can be so mangled, even if the narrator is in California, some research could be done.

Good story but pronunciations embarassing

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This book is a wonderful account of a true story centred around a tragedy that shook both the aviation and political worlds in the mid ‘80s. As a pilot’s wife who spent many years in municipal government and also was an aviation claims and insurance specialist, this story’s details are absolutely right on. My husband spent many years flying Canada’s arctic and the pressure he and so many other pilots faced is heartbreaking. The writing in this book is true to life and so well told. I found myself feeling every possible emotion as each of these strangers lives unfolded. Wonderful to the last words.

A true Canadian gem

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The narrator did not do much research into pronunciation. It was hard to listen to ‘Métis’ bring read as ‘may tiz’. There were other words as well.

The story was good. Mine must have glitched because I listened to the beginning then the end and felt confused. Then I went back and figured out that I had missed the middle.

If you are not too fussy on the narrator, I would recommend this book.

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