ACHUKA Children's Books UK

children's & YA recommendations on the go

You are here: Home / Archives for sci-fi

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 18 Nov 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“A dazzling blend of Chinese history, myth and mecha sci-fi” VoiceMag
“If you like mechs, Chinese myth, and badass female leads, written by an author who certainly knows their stuff, this is the novel for you.” FinFiAddict

Science fiction and East Asian myth combine in this dazzling retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history

The boys of Huaxia dream of the celebrity status that comes with piloting Chrysalises – giant transforming robots that battle the aliens beyond the Great Wall. Their female co-pilots are expected to serve as concubines and sacrifice their lives.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, her plan is to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But on miraculously emerging from the cockpit unscathed after her first battle, the Iron Widow sets her sights on bigger things. The time has come to take on the entire patriarchal military system.

Xiran Jay Zhao  is a first-generation immigrant to Canada from  China and recent graduate from Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University. Iron Widow is her first novel.

Follow the author on Instagram:

The Memory Thieves by Darren Simpson

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 25 Aug 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“There are wonderful imaginative constructs here: buildings that transform, cruise-ships as playgrounds, whale bones for messages. Darren Simpson is like a combination of Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan for children: the writing tense, surreal and mind-bendingly imaginative. The characters of Cyan, Jonquil, Teal and the others are brilliant too, and their dialogue is some of the best I’ve read this year. This is a challenging and rewarding read, suited for the more able in Upper Key Stage Two and arguably as a crossover title from middle grade to YA.” Chris Soul
“Pacy, profound and original.” Kitty Empire

An impressive second novel from the author of Scavengers. A sinister sci-fi mystery.

Cyan has lived at the Elsewhere Sanctuary for as long as he can remember, freed by Dr Haven from dark memories of his past life. But when Cyan finds a mysterious warning carved into the bones of a whale skeleton, he starts to wonder what he had to forget to be so happy. New resident, Jonquil, begins to resist the sanctuary’s treatment, preferring to hold on to her memories – even the bad ones. So when Dr Haven resorts to harsher measures, Cyan embarks on a secret mission to discover the truth about the sanctuary…and himself.

Sticky Pines: The Thing At Black Hole Lake by Dashe Roberts

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 Mar 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

The sequel to The Bigwoof Conspiracy takes us back to Sticky Pines, a small US town where weird things happen. Milo, loyal to his double-crossing, business-mogul father, has taken a trip to Black Hole Lake, leaving Lucy to continue her search into alien life and the Truth that she knows is out there. Milo’s discovery of a sinister, dark creature in the Lake will put them both in terrible danger and also – if they survive their adventure – make them friends again. Perfect for younger siblings of Stranger Things’ fans, The Thing at Black Hole Lake is laugh-out-loud, hair-raising sci-fi that will raise more questions about extraterrestrial life on earth than it answers…

Take a look inside…

City Of Rust by Gemma Fowler

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

In this sci-fi adventure, Railey dreams of winning the drone races with her bio-robotic gecko friend, Atti. But when a bounty hunter crashes their biggest race yet, the pair are forced to flee to the feared Junker clans who mine the rubbish orbiting the Earth. Rescued by a couple of Junker kids, they discover a danger bigger than anything they’d imagined – but can three kids, a gecko and an ancient computer save the world against the huge trash bomb (and its power-crazed creator) threatening to destroy the world?

This original and thrilling adrenaline-powered middle-grade debut from Gemma Fowler is an ecologically-themed mystery adventure. Railey and Atti are a great double act.

Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gem_fowler/

Jinxed by Amy McCullough

By Leave a Comment

“An original and gripping sci-fi thriller” BookTrust

Brand-new series from the author of the POTION DIARIES adventures. 

Lacey Chu has big dreams of working for the company behind the ‘baku’ – a customizable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion for its user. The only problem is, she’s just been rejected from Profectus Academy – the elite academy for cutting-edge tech.

Waterstones

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

By Leave a Comment

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, sixteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation and receiving a sign that one day, she, too, will have adventures, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects.

Waterstones

Guardian Review: Railhead by Philip Reeve reviewed by SF Said

By Leave a Comment

Railhead by Philip Reeve reviewed by SF Said:

guardiansmall

Its greatest pleasures are its details, which are as richly imagined as in the best adult science fiction. But like much of the new wave of children’s SF – and perhaps precisely because of his audience – Reeve also does many other things very well. There’s a lot of humour here, as when a list of old Earth languages is thought to include Klingon and “Ancient Geek”. Above all, he delivers an unflaggingly propulsive narrative that is never derailed by world-building. Rather, it rattles along like an interstellar express, leaving you eager for the next thrilling ride.

Full review via Railhead by Philip Reeve review – all aboard the space train | Books | The Guardian.

Guardian Review – Lost On Mars

By Leave a Comment

Lost on Mars by Paul Magrs, reviewed by SF Said

At the heart of this novel is a deep love of stories. Library books are Lora’s greatest pleasure; spaceships are named after Victorian authors, as are pets. The book is studded with playful intertextual references: an Emerald City recalls The Wizard Of Oz, while the name “Robinson” evokes the Swiss family.

While it will certainly appeal to Doctor Who fans, it has much to offer all readers of children’s and YA literature, as well as adult science fiction.

via Lost on Mars by Paul Magrs review – a coming-of-age tale set in space | Books | The Guardian.

Gollancz Sci-Fi And Fantasy Festival, 13 Aug 2014

By Leave a Comment

from The Bookseller:

Gollancz is to hold a one-day multi-media science fiction and fantasy festival at Waterstones Piccaddilly, featuring authors including Joanne M Harris, Ben Aaronovitch and Patrick Rothfuss.

The event will include readings and panels at the shop, with activities also taking place across platforms including Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube.

The Gollancz Festival will take place on 13th August, in between two major science fiction and fantasy conventions in the capital – Nine Worlds Geekfest on 8th and 9th August, and the World Science Fiction Convention, Loncon 3, from 14th to 18th August.

Gollancz associate publisher Simon Spanton said the festival grew out of the publisher’s desire to offer readers more than just author signings.

“This is one day where we can bring lots of our activities together,” he told The Bookseller.

“Combining that with a time that seemed to be busy [for SFF in London] was a good thing.
“I think there is an unusually good coming together of circumstances that make it a good thing to do this year.”

http://www.gollancz.co.uk/gollanczfestival2014/