A Light in Space
Illustrated by Ruth Ohi
(Also released as Mindblowing!)
first published: 1994
publisher: Annick Press, Canada
age group: 11 to 14 years
length: 139 pages
ISBN: 1-55037-368-4 (reinforced library binding)
Description:
When Andrew makes contact with a tiny, blobby alien, she promises to teach him lots of new tricks - but doesn't mention her plan to mine all the world's oxygen.
Excerpt:
Ysdran flew through the darkness, slowly and warily. Below her, the
planet's surface heaved in rhythmical, rolling waves. Landing was
impossible.
But there were lights ahead. Lights!
Curiosity fought with fear. Curiosity won. She pointed, and spacecraft
JE64792 ("The Bucket" Ysdran and Caneesh called it) flew a fraction lower.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed. The lighted area was on solid ground - but
that still didn't mean it was safe to land. Not when her instrument panel - every single control except the tiller and speed switches - had just so spectacularly blown up. read more
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Reviews:
"Beginning with an unusual alien view of Earth and its inhabitants, this is gripping, thoughtful science fiction." (From Australian Children's Book Council judges' report, 1995.)
"This is compelling science fiction with a likeable, nicely drawn young hero... Orr gives the readers a chance to enjoy the adventures and suspense as Andrew experiences them. Unusual and fun." (School Library Journal, USA, 1995)
 Wendy's Comments:
A news report of a UFO sighting left me wondering how it would feel to see
something that you'd always believed was impossible; it seemed natural to
extend it to whether the being inside the UFO might feel the same way. When
I first pictured the setting for the encounter, I imagined it on the
Scarborough Bluffs in Toronto, although when I decided the plot needed
whales, I changed it, in the Canadian version, to Nanaimo on Vancouver
Island. The Australian version was always set on the southeastern coast of
Australia. Ysdran's name was also changed to Zidran for the Australian
edition.
Although it's usual for a book to be edited and published in one country and
then sold to other markets, for this book I did two final drafts, one for my
Canadian publisher and one for the Australian, and they were edited and
published separately. There are therefore many small differences between the
books, including the ending.
Purchasing Information:
A Light in Space is currently in print and available in bookshops in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Or you can purchase it online:
in Australia at The Well
in the UK at Amazon UK
Awards:
Notable Book, Childrens Book Council of Australia, 1995
Editions and Translations:
 Published in Australia as Mindblowing! by Allen & Unwin, ISBN 1-86373-690-5 (139 pages)
Reissued in Australia as Mindblowing! by Allen & Unwin, 1999
Published in the UK by Allen & Unwin, 2000
Wendy's Recommendations:
If you liked A Light in Space, I think you'll also enjoy these books:
Dirtbikes
Leaving It To You
And by other authors:
Beyond the Labyrinth by Gillian Rubinstein
The Paperchaser by Penny Hall
More About This Book:
Teachers' Resources
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