Liam Callanan - Stone Age Astronaut

What makes an extraordinary accomplishment disappear from the history books? And what does it take to leave one life behind and begin another? Liam Callanan, author of four novels, a short story collection, and his first work of nonfiction, Stone Age Astronaut, joins host William Miller for a conversation about aviation history, the art of storytelling, and the surprising connections between the two. Stone Age Astronaut tells the story of Lester Maitland, who piloted the first plane to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1927, just weeks after Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. While Lindbergh became a household name, Maitland's achievement largely faded from public memory. Callanan explores why, examining the extraordinary risks of the flight, the experimental navigation technology that helped guide the plane toward Hawaii, and the courage required to cross thousands of miles of open ocean in an era when aviation was still in its infancy. The conversation also explores Callanan's fiction, including The Cloud Atlas, Listen, All Saints, Paris by the Book, and When in Rome. Callanan discusses the historical research behind his work, the recurring presence of water and bears in his stories, the importance of emotional honesty, and the mysteries that draw readers deeper into a narrative. He also reflects on redemption, the possibility of changing one's life, and the people who help us find our way when we take a chance on something new. Find out more about Liam Callanan and his writings here. Topics Discussed Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger's historic 1927 flight from California to Hawaii Why Maitland's achievement became less famous than Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight The dangers of early aviation and the experimental technology used to navigate the Pacific The radio-beacon system, sextants, chronometers, and other tools used during the flight The disastrous Dole Air Derby and the risks of early attempts to fly to Hawaii The growth of aviation and the development of commercial air travel across the Pacific The archival research behind Stone Age Astronaut and the challenge of reconstructing forgotten history The Japanese balloon weapons that inspired Callanan's novel The Cloud Atlas How Callanan's short stories and novels evolve through research, revision, and discovery The role of water as both a barrier and a means of connection in Callanan's fiction The use of gesture, silence, and emotion to reveal a character's inner life The mysteries, unexpected turns, and recurring themes that connect Callanan's books How characters confront major life changes, leave familiar circumstances behind, and seek new beginnings Redemption, mercy, and the people who help us navigate life's turning points Key Takeaways Lester Maitland's historic flight deserves a place alongside Lindbergh's achievement. Maitland and navigator Albert Hegenberger crossed the Pacific to Hawaii in 1927, accomplishing a remarkable feat at a time when aviation technology was still developing. Their flight was dangerous, technically demanding, and important to the future of military aviation. Yet its significance was overshadowed by Lindbergh's solo flight and the publicity surrounding it. Early aviation required extraordinary courage and ingenuity. The pilots and navigators of the 1920s had to rely on experimental equipment, astronomical navigation, radio signals, and careful calculations. Even the most promising technology could fail, leaving crews to fall back on older methods. The risks were real, and subsequent attempts to fly to Hawaii demonstrated just how unforgiving the Pacific could be. Historical research can uncover remarkable details hiding in the archives. Callanan describes finding original documents from Maitland and Hegenberger's flight, including a note passed between the men as they attempted to determine their position over the ocean. These artifacts brought the experience to life and helped Callanan reconstruct not only what happened, but what the flight felt like for the people involved. The best fiction often begins with a question that will not go away. Callanan's The Cloud Atlas grew out of research into Japanese balloon weapons used during World War II. A postcard discovered in the historical record helped spark the story. He explains how research can lead a writer toward a narrative that eventually becomes something more than the original facts alone could tell. Water, time, and survival connect many of Callanan's stories. Across his fiction and nonfiction, Callanan returns to people crossing boundaries, confronting the past, and discovering what it means to survive. Water can divide people and places, but it can also provide a route between them. Looking back across time can reveal patterns and connections that were not apparent in the moment. Emotion is most powerful when it feels honest rather than forced. Callanan discusses how writers can communicate emotion through physical gestures, silence, and carefully chosen words. He aims to let readers understand what characters feel without becoming overly sentimental or relying on violence and death as shortcuts to dramatic stakes. Changing your life is rarely something you accomplish alone. Callanan reflects on leaving a career in public relations and corporate communications to pursue writing and teaching. He sees a similar willingness to make a dramatic change in Lester Maitland, who later left his civil service career to become an Episcopal priest. Both stories underscore how important it is to have people and communities that help make a new beginning possible. “The courage these guys showed, or lack of fear, is remarkable.” “Sometimes stories, we're finished with stories, but then sometimes stories aren't finished with us.” “I do believe in redemption. I believe in the quality of mercy.” #LiamCallanan #StoneAgeAstronaut #AviationHistory #LiteraryFiction #WritingCraft #UpstartCrow For more information about our guests, hosts, upcoming events, and ways you can support the show, be sure to visit our website. Like and subscribe to our Facebook page. Recorded and produced by Jon D PodCom of Old Hundred Productions LLC. Upstart Crow is part of Watershed Lit Radio. © 2026 Upstart Crow Podcast. All rights reserved.