Interstellar Pig (Silver) [Paperback]

William Sleator (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2001 | Series: Silver

Barney's new next-door neighbours are unlike anyone he's ever met - utterly charming, slightly odd, and completely obsessed with a board game. When they invite Barney to join in a game of Interstellar Pig, he's delighted...until things start to get a little strange. The game involves rival aliens traversing the universe to gain possession of 'The Piggy', often destroying one another in their efforts. But it soon becomes clear that this is not just a game. The trio is searching for a real pig, and Barney can't resist joining in the hunt. He outwits them, finds the pig and hides it in his cottage. And then he realises that the Pig isn't the only thing that's real. Zena, Manny and Joe are in fact aliens in disguise - aliens who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Pig. And so, one dark night, Barney finds himself battling for his life against three vicious life-forms, each equipped with incredible powers...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Barney, 16, is drawn into a board game with strangers who have moved into the house next door; only when he is fully controlled by the three does he find out that the game is real, and losing means the destruction of Earth. PW reported that "Sleator's taut tale will undoubtedly raise reader's hackles and incite nervous laughs."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"1 FOR INTERSTELLAR PIG 'A riveting adventure... Terrifying vivid, coupled with a high-flying sense of humour.' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW 2 'Will raise readers' hackles and incite nervous laughs... a taut tale.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Childrens (December 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340850620
• ISBN-13: 978-0340850626
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,609,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interstellar Piglet, July 24, 2002

By 

Stephan Cano (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interstellar Pig (Paperback)

I just read Interstellar Pig over the summer of 2002. I am 31 and thought that it would be a poorly written kids sci-fi book. Boy was I wrong. This is one of the most imaginitive sci-fi books I have ever read. I was surprised by the writing style and the ideas. There were numerous twists and turns. It's not just about aliens but about choices, about making quick snap decisions. Not necessarily a guide for life but still a good book for anyone to read. I really could not predict what was going to happen next. It has supsense, action, and at times it just makes you think about life, and about what it is we are here to do on earth. I wish it were longer, I wish he would have went more in depth but I was still very pleased.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interstellar Pig: Worthy of Keeping in A Golden Temple, July 12, 2005

By 

DannyV - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interstellar Pig (Paperback)

I first read this book at a young age. I re-read it at least once a year to rediscover it's brilliance. The plot is extremely original, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the main character's actions. It is richly developed and does not have a single page that does not have subtexts and foreshadowing-- little bits you discover as you read it again. I won't ruin the book, but there is a very good reason some of the characters seem shallow-- this is not due to bad writing, but to well thought out character traits-- which are simply brilliant once you understand them.

What also makes the book great is Barney(the main character)'s imagination. He himself is a science fiction fan and allows his thoughts to manifest themselves proving an exciting story-telling method.

The book comes to a terrific showdown. What makes it exciting is that the character is so real, and not a rambo-type person, but one you can relate to and his descisions. The book is exceptionally exciting and thought-provoking.

My entire family has read this book, and we all love it dearly. So much, we've even gone as far to create our own 'prototype' board game of Interstellar Pig, which we created by extracting every scrap of information we could from the book, and is a lot of fun to play because William Sleator obviously thought it out before writing the book.

All in all this is very likely my favorite book of all time, and I am drawn to the logic and of the characters, the high-tension sequences, and the well thought-out plot that seems to be lacking in many books today. William Sleator is without a doubt a very fine writer, and has crafted a book that is worthy of obsession.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and original tale, April 25, 2003

By 

kaduzy - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Interstellar Pig (Paperback)

This book is great. It's all about Barney and the neighbors he meets one summer at the beach. They're mysterious people who apprear different to everyone who sees them and are oddly fascinated by the island not far from the their rented house . . . and a game called Interstellar Pig. When Barney becomes a player, he has no idea that the game he's getting into is real -- and possibly deadly! Fans should be sure to check out Sleator's other works, particularly Singularity and The Boxes. There's a sequel to this book called Parasite Pig that's worth a read, but don't buy it; check it out from the library; it's not that great. Definitely not Sleator's best. Another recommendation: when you read his books, it's best if you don't read the backs. That way you don't quite know what you're getting into and the plot comes as a surprise. If I had known what was coming in Interstellar Pig, I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much.