5 sensational books set in space
Author Steve Cole recommends five super stories that are out of this world.
Steve Cole
I was born in 1971 during the Apollo Moon missions, and the thrill of what humanity might find out there in the cosmos sent me hurtling through the pages of every science fiction book I could find.
Of course, the years have brought a more measured reality to how far we can go and what we can expect to find on our galactic doorstep.
Still, space is vast beyond imagination, and its mysteries are endless – and books give us a way to travel beyond the stars without leaving home.
It’s 20 years since I first launched my Astrosaurs series into the world (and many others across the Jurassic Quadrant, naturally). I’m so excited to be joined by my 21-year-old son Tobey in bringing them back in graphic novel form, illustrated by the wildly brilliant Alex Lopez.
And I hope these adventures will encourage children to read further space adventures.
For even if science fiction doesn’t always come true, the curiosity it sparks can be every bit as powerful.
Here are five excellent books that take the reader into all kinds of alien territory… guaranteed to get the imagination blazing like a Saturn V rocket!
1. The Jamie Drake Equation by Christopher Edge
Jamie’s dad is an astronaut orbiting high above the Earth. But when Jamie accidentally picks up a strange alien signal on his phone, things go very wrong, very quickly.
What follows is a story full of heart and adventure, mixing family life with cosmic danger. I love Christopher Edge’s stuff – he does a brilliant job of explaining science in ways that feel exciting, not complicated.
2. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
The latest edition of this classic has fantastic illustrations by Steven Lenton. Imagine being a 12-year-old boy who is tall enough to pass for a grown-up. Now imagine blagging your way into a space mission because of it. That’s what happens to Liam, the main character in this laugh-out-loud book.
Cosmic is as funny as it is adventurous, taking readers from ordinary life on Earth to the very edge of space.
3. The Cosmic Diary of a Future Space Explorer by Tim Peake
What could space travel look like in 20, 50, or even 100 years? Tim Peake, British astronaut (and one of the nicest co-writers a guy could ever hope for), shares his insights and predictions in this engaging book.
Including imaginary journals from astronauts of the future and challenges from their robotic helpmates, this book explores Moon colonies, Mars missions, new types of spacecraft, visits to Saturn and Venus – and the kind of training you’d need if you wanted to sign up yourself!
4. Doctor Who and the Daleks by David Whitaker, illustrated by Robert Hack
The first ever Doctor Who novelisation from 1964 gets a bold new look in this huge illustrated version. Readers can step onto the alien world of Skaro, where the Doctor and his friends face the terrifying Daleks for the very first time.
The artwork brings the action to life with dark, moody style, while the story captures all the excitement of the programme’s earliest epic. This prose inspired every showrunner of the modern Doctor Who series, and many of those who still write the Doctor’s adventures in print (myself included).
5. The ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Trilogy by Madeleine L’Engle
From Doctor Who to Mrs Who and friends! This classic American trilogy has inspired generations of young readers. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin journey through time and space to battle an enormous evil that threatens the universe.
The science is wild, the adventures are strange, and the themes of courage and love are timeless. If you want a series that makes you think about space in both scientific and emotional ways, this is a must-read. The graphic novel, adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson, is also well worth a look!
Astrosaurs: Mission to Infinity by Steve Cole and Tobey Cole, illustrated by Alex Lopez, is out now.
