Marian Graves
The novel is dominated primarily by two characters. One is Marian Graves who is an example of that unique iconic figure that exists briefly but spectacularly for a short period in American history: the celebrity aviatrix. Marian comes along toward the tail end of that exciting period. She begins her barnstorming success while Amelia Earhart is still just a rival, but her big move for legendary status—an ill-fated flight between the North and South Poles—comes several years after Earhart’s mysterious disappearance makes her a figure of myth whose fame cannot be eclipsed even by her Marian’s own seemingly tragic ending.
Hadley Baxter
Hadley Baxter is a 21st century Hollywood starlet looking to make the leap to big time serious actress by playing Marian Graves in a movie. She is also hoping to use the film to turn around a career dip caused by scandal. She has just been fired from a successful film franchise due to a paparazzi-induced revelation of relationship with a musician which had better been left private. As she dives into the role of Marian, new revelations of the aviatrix reveal just how inaccurate the biopic will be.
Barclay Macqueen
Macqueen is a somewhat sinister figure involved in racketeering takes a shine to Marian while she is still just a teenager. It is through the influence of Macqueen that Marian’s ambition to become a pilot begins to take shape as his infatuation extends to the point of trying to seduce her by hiring a pilot willing to instruct her. It works, they marry, and things go very badly for both of them, but especially for Macqueen.
Ruth Bloom
Ruth Bloom is short, busty, mischievous, and the beard for a gay husband. Marian falls in love with Ruth and they enjoy a romantic relationship for a brief period of time. Eventually Ruth dies her and her husband, Eddie, joins Marian as co-pilot on her final ill-fated attempt at a pole-to-pole flight.
