Richard

Richard is the main character of this book. He is a famous 59-year-old writer who has an obsession with flight—both in the sporting world and in relationships. A former pilot, he loves flying his airplane, Daisy, and partaking in other means of flight such as paragliding.

Richard is very good at blocking his emotions, but when he allows himself to feel, he feels deeply. The reader sees this in his devotion to his wife, Leslie. He is a man who would rather rely on himself than others. As the story progresses, Richard discovers that he enjoys being a teacher.

He enjoys philosophy and has, in his own opinion, pretty much figured out the universe and how it runs. He is not hard-line about it all, though. When others disagree with his philosophies, he is willing to listen to them and discuss their theories until he can...