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Our Child of the Stars
- Author
- Stephen Cox
- Narrator
- Patricia Rodriguez
- Publisher
- Quercus
- Publish Date
- 1 November 2018
- Run Time
- 13 hours 37 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Molly and Gene Myers were happy, until tragedy blighted their hopes of children. During the years of darkness and despair, they each put their marriage in jeopardy, but now they are starting to rebuild their fragile bond.
This is the year of Woodstock and the moon landings; war is raging in Vietnam and the superpowers are threatening each other with annihilation.
Then the Meteor crashes into Amber Grove, devastating the small New England town - and changing their lives for ever. Molly, a nurse, caught up in the thick of the disaster, is given care of a desperately ill patient rescued from the wreckage: a sick boy with a remarkable appearance, an orphan who needs a mother.
And soon the whole world will be looking for him.
Cory's arrival has changed everything. And the Myers will do anything to keep him safe.
A remarkable story of warmth, tenacity and generosity of spirit, set against the backdrop of a fast-changing, terrifying decade.
(P)2018 Quercus Editions Limited
Critics Review
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This strong and generous first novel wears its heart on its sleeve and embeds all the thrills and chills in credible human, and non-human, emotions
Daily Mail
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A pleasing, big-hearted read, its late-1960s setting well evoked
Financial Times
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Sympathetic characterisation and fine storytelling . . . What makes this such a satisfying read, apart from the thrillingly rendered chase (and the refreshing notion that not all aliens are bent on inimical invasion), is the characterisation of Molly and Gene, a childless couple given this one miraculous chance to show love for an adopted son. This is an optimistic take on the ET theme, done without the schmaltz of the film
Guardian
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Part ET, part Wonder, part Snow Child, it has the same combination of science fiction and heart-tugging tenderness that Stephen King does so well
Grazia
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An endearing story well told and I would recommend it as an uplifting tale to read on a dark and stormy winter night
My Weekly
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Cox takes a straightforward SF idea and turns it into something wholly fresh and intensely gripping. A tightly personal story draws readers deep into a couple's struggle to protect an innocent caught up in (literally) world-shaking events. By looking back to the '60s space race, and what might have been, Cox invites us to muse on events and ideas that have shaped the societies we live in today, and asks us where we might want humanity to go
Juliet McKenna, author of the No.1 bestselling The Green Man's Heir
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A powerful combination of warm-hearted hope and steely-eyed realism . . . Idealism collides with harsh reality, hope battles violence and a family desperately tries to hold on . . . A heartfelt, richly imaginative and gripping story
SciFiNow
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I dare anyone not to fall in love with the Meyers family . . . I could gush about this book forever, so I am just simply going to say, go read it. Read this beautiful, wonderful book
Angie Groves, Waterstones Blackpool
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Dark and compelling reading
Irish Examiner
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I loved this book. It was one of those I couldn't put down but didn't want to end. It is beautifully written and certainly stirs the emotions. It is a tale of love, loss, friendship, loyalty and doing the right thing
Sue Tingey, author of the Soulseer Trilogy
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An uplifting tale of love and kindness
Candis
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Rich layers of depth and superbly drawn characters that are a joy to read . . . a finely crafted adventure with pacing that expertly ramps up throughout . . . I tore through it
Dominic Dulley, author of Shattermoon
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Cox takes a classic SF idea and turns it into something wholly fresh and intensely gripping. Highly recommended reading
Interzone
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A hybrid of more than one genre, a thrilling sci-fi tale that also poses the question of how far a mother will go to keep her precious son safe
Mature Times
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A gripping, remarkable story that will stay with you days after you've read it. Stephen Cox is the new big name in fantasy
Pulped Machina
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A great SF story, a great story of humanity, full of action but also of heart. Strongly recommended
Blue Book Balloon
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An emotional story that is filled with tension and one that has an underlying intensity to it. It is a quietly impactful enchanting story, a poignant portrait of a family life . . . Arevelation. It is something unexpected and something wonderful. I highly recommend it
Tattooed Book Geek
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An amazing debut
Rea's Book Review
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I got through this in a matter of hours and was hooked . . . Gripping . . . 5 stars
Just Katherine
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A story that will touch your heart . . . This heartwarming story reminds you of the lengths parents will go to to protect their children
Amanda J Evans
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A gentle science fiction tale that is more about the depth of human compassion than it is whizzy alien technology and laser swords. You don't have to be a science fiction fan enjoy this book . . . Set against the backdrop of a small, decent, American town, Our Child of the Stars celebrates diversity, togetherness and the incomparable depths of human compassion
GeekDad
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An out of this world winner
Weekend Sport
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A book about flawed, complex people who can do good things . . . If you need some positive science fiction in your life to make you feel less hopeless about the fate of humanity then go read this book
Red Train Blog
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A heart-warming read and a book that I believe will appeal to many people who are fans of Sci-Fi and family-oriented fiction in general
Sammy's Shelf
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A standout debut . . . I got lost in it and I think you will too
Books and Lovely Things
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A captivating tale
BookPhace
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This glorious, enchanting novel spellbound me . . . All-powerful and astonishing . . . A very special novel indeed and, even though it's just January, this is a clear favourite for my book of the year
For Winter Nights
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An exciting, heart-warming read to brighten up these cold winter months
Epping Forest Guardian
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A wonderfully emotional, heart-warming journey of what it really means to be a parent and a reminder that at times it feels like society as a whole hasn't really become any more accepting of those who are different since the 1960s
LA Times
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An emotional rollercoaster from start to finish . . .Stephen Cox's writing style is effortless and totally compelling
Storgy
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A good story, that packs danger, curiosity and most of all what it means to be family
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
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Like a Jodi Picoult novel in a Halloween costume. (In fact, Picoult fans trying out their comfort with speculative fiction might well enjoy starting here, with an author who shares Picoult's craft for producing story from domestic emotional strain.) Appealing to readers of mainstream commercial fiction who might not ordinarily pick up a science fiction novel . . . a creative achievement of its own
Strange Horizons
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Beautifully written . . . wonderfully realised
British Fantasy Society
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Stephen Cox
- Narrator
- Patricia Rodriguez
- Duration
- 13 hours 37 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 November 2018
- ISBN
- 9781787478886
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Quercus
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Science fiction
Synopsis
A lost child, the family who try to protect him and the secret that refuses to stay hidden . . .Molly and Gene Myers were happy, until tragedy blighted their hopes of children. During the years of darkness and despair, they each put their marriage in jeopardy, but now they are starting to rebuild their fragile bond.This is the year of Woodstock and the moon landings; war is raging in Vietnam and the superpowers are threatening each other with annihilation. Then the Meteor crashes into Amber Grove, devastating the small New England town - and changing their lives for ever. Molly, a nurse, caught up in the thick of the disaster, is given care of a desperately ill patient rescued from the wreckage: a sick boy with a remarkable appearance, an orphan who needs a mother.And soon the whole world will be looking for him.Cory's arrival has changed everything. And the Myers will do anything to keep him safe.A remarkable story of warmth, tenacity and generosity of spirit, set against the backdrop of a fast-changing, terrifying decade.(P)2018 Quercus Editions Limited
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