I imagined those broken rocks as the broken bodies of my enemies, their bones shattered, their trembling arms reaching upward in a useless gesture of total and complete defeat. A lot of the rocks in the tunnel were broken and cracked, most likely from Krell bombings-things I’d experienced down below as a rattling of dishes or trembling of light fixtures. I hurried after my father, carrying a lantern to light the rubble-strewn cavern. I was seven years old, though in my mind I was completely grown-up and utterly capable. I was still surprised when one day, after years of listening to me beg, he finally agreed to take me up with him. I supposed by my mother’s definition that made him extra foolish, but I always considered him extra brave.

Of course, my father traveled to the surface basically every day-he had to, as a pilot. Not only were there near-constant debris showers from the rubble belt, but you never knew when the Krell would attack. It was stupid to put yourself in danger like that, my mother always said. Start reading chapters 1-15 now! PROLOGUE Skyward by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson is the first book in an epic new series about a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot in a dangerous world at war for humanity’s future.

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