Author: Mac Montandon
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Genre: Non-fiction
Pages: 261 pages
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Jetpacks are synonymous with the unfulfilled promises of the future. It first appealed to the Greatest Generation through Buck Rogers, and then teased their kids through James Bond. And while many sci-fi visions have come to pass, and rather unexcitedly at that (I’m looking at you, moving sidewalks), jet- and rocket-powered devices for single-person flight remain elusive.

Through a highly personalized account, Jetpack Dreams follows the early inventors and government projects that explored this mode of transport. Unfortunately, there are only about 50 pages of interesting information, which are interspersed with lengthy, exasperating passages about the author and his dorky love of the subject.

Not that there’s anything wrong with obsession (I am, ahem, a Rush fan), but I found myself skipping the personal stuff to get to the meat. Perhaps it’s simply that I don’t share the love. Sure, who doesn’t love Boba Fett, but I grew up in the 80s watching The Goldblum in The Fly remake and waiting impatiently for instant teleportation. Who needs heavy brackets on your shoulders and rocket fuel burning a hole in your ass when you’ve got quantum leaping Scott Bakulas and time-traveling DeLoreans? There was a good reason why 1991’s The Rocketeer bombed, and it had nothing to do with the acting chops of Billy Campbell.

To be fair, the historical information is somewhat interesting and some of the geeking out can be amusing. Rather that soaring high, though, Jetpack Dreams will be enjoyed mainly by readers who like a healthy dollop of personal anecdote with their nonfiction.

Bottom Line: As the subtitle states, it’s more about “one man’s search” than about the would-be invention itself.
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