Astra
The Gaia Chronicles Book 1
Published on 30. January 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-78087-634-4 (ISBN)
Description
A powerful coming-of-age story, and the beginning of a new trilogy, set on an Earth struggling to recover from global environmental collapse.
Like every child in Is-Land, all Astra Ordott has ever wanted is to get her Security Shot, do her National Service and defend her Gaian homeland from Non-Lander 'infiltrators'. But when one of her Shelter mothers, the formidable Dr Hokma Blesser, tells her the shot will limit her chances of becoming a scientist and offers her an alternative, Astra agrees to her plan.
Then the orphaned Lil arrives to share Astra's home and Astra is torn between jealousy and fascination. Lil's father taught her some alarming ideas about Is-Land and the world, but when she pushes Astra too far, the heartache that results goes far beyond the loss of a friend.
If she is to survive, Astra must learn to deal with devastating truths about Is-Land, Non-Land and the secret web of adult relationships that surrounds her.
Like every child in Is-Land, all Astra Ordott has ever wanted is to get her Security Shot, do her National Service and defend her Gaian homeland from Non-Lander 'infiltrators'. But when one of her Shelter mothers, the formidable Dr Hokma Blesser, tells her the shot will limit her chances of becoming a scientist and offers her an alternative, Astra agrees to her plan.
Then the orphaned Lil arrives to share Astra's home and Astra is torn between jealousy and fascination. Lil's father taught her some alarming ideas about Is-Land and the world, but when she pushes Astra too far, the heartache that results goes far beyond the loss of a friend.
If she is to survive, Astra must learn to deal with devastating truths about Is-Land, Non-Land and the secret web of adult relationships that surrounds her.
Reviews / Votes
A complex and daring literary story * Upcoming4.me * I enjoyed Astra immensely. The novel's plot is fascinating . . . all of it set down in Foyle's smooth and flowing writing style * A Fantastical Librarian * This is excellent Science Fiction and I heartily recommend it . . . reminiscent of LeGuin * Birmingham SF Group * A friend recommended Astra as an invigorating sort of escapism. She was right. My first experience of SF enchanted and stimulated me * Dervla Murphy, author of Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle * It's hard-hitting, but it's poignant and incredibly thought-provoking . . . Naomi Foyle has a mastery of plotting and a way with words that's truly remarkable * Over the Effing Rainbow * Foyle has built a fascinating portrait, often reminiscent of Ursula K. Le Guin in its layered complexity, and threaded into a fascinating coming of age story. Gripping * Love Reading * This ambitious, thought-provoking take on a dystopian future paints a depressingly credible picture of environmental collapse . . . as events go hurtling towards the book's dramatic conclusion, I couldn't put it down . . . * Brain Fluff *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quercus Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
524 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78087-634-4 (9781780876344)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Naomi Foyle was born in London, grew up in Hong Kong, Liverpool and Canada, and currently lives in Brighton. She spent three years in Korea, teaching English, writing travel journalism and acting in Korean educational television. She is a highly regarded poet and performer.