Of all the things ten-year-old Cory Wilson expects to do when he moves to Midway Space Station, saving aliens from humans isn't one. An important conference is about to start at the station, not usually the sort of thing kids care about, not even when the conference is between humans and aliens, and half your family is alien. However, when bullies tease Cory, he ends up in a prohibited area where he overhears some men planning to plant a bomb at the conference. Because the terrorists hide their messages in computer games, no one believes Cory, not even his father, the station director. Kids at school think he’s crazy, some even think aliens should be bombed. The conference starts, the aliens have brought a very important person, and Cory's teacher, one of the terrorists, locks Cory in the classroom. Can he get out in time? If he does, will anyone listen?
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
This is a book for anyone from the age of ten and up.
When my children were in late primary school, I used to read lots to them, and one thing that used to bug me was that there is a lot of fantasy for younger readers, but hardly any science fiction that is not humorous.
I wrote this book with parents reading to their children in mind. While the subject matter can be understood by children, I've aimed--much in the way popular animated movies do--to include remarks that hint at a deeper meaning so that adults who read this book will enjoy it was well. As you can see in the reviews, this has proven to be the case.
If you've enjoyed this book, there is more. Cory Wilson, the main character of this book, will return in my very adult novel Ambassador, which will be published by Ticonderoga Publications in 2013.
Want to keep up-to-date with Patty's fiction? Join the mailing list here: eepurl.com/qqlAb
When my children were in late primary school, I used to read lots to them, and one thing that used to bug me was that there is a lot of fantasy for younger readers, but hardly any science fiction that is not humorous.
I wrote this book with parents reading to their children in mind. While the subject matter can be understood by children, I've aimed--much in the way popular animated movies do--to include remarks that hint at a deeper meaning so that adults who read this book will enjoy it was well. As you can see in the reviews, this has proven to be the case.
If you've enjoyed this book, there is more. Cory Wilson, the main character of this book, will return in my very adult novel Ambassador, which will be published by Ticonderoga Publications in 2013.
Want to keep up-to-date with Patty's fiction? Join the mailing list here: eepurl.com/qqlAb
About the Author
Award-winning author Patty Jansen lives in Sydney, Australia. She writes science fiction and fantasy mainly for adults, but sometimes for children. She is a member of SFWA, and has sold fiction to genre magazines such as Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Redstone SF and Aurealis. Her novel Ambassador will be published in 2013 by Ticonderoga Publications. And she self-publishes, because it's fun.
Product Details
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Characters
Cory is a 10 year old boy who finds himself in over his head when he moves to Midway Space station with his father. Though I like Cory as a character, I believe he should have been a bit older because, as someone who has way too much experience working with children, I don't see how any child, even one in the future, could be as intuitive and clever as Cory at only 10 years of age.
John is Cory's father and the new Station Director at Midway Station. He is a serious man who very much loves his family, and is passionate about his political beliefs.
Erith, Cory's new stepmother who also happens to be an alien, is a bit of a confusing character. She is portrayed to be someone who cares only about technology and facts, and has no knowledge of how to be part of a family. However I later learned that she feels with more emotion than I had thought possible for her character. The more I read of Erith, the more I liked her.
Plot
The plot starts off slow. I found myself reading about a whiny child who was upset about his father re-marrying, and I was sure after the first 5 or so pages that I wouldn't enjoy the book. However, the book rapidly picks up pace and does not slow down, and I am very very glad I did not stop reading. The story's ending was action-packed and full of suspense.
Design
The book's cover will absolutely attract a younger fan-base. Olivia Kernot, the designer, did an excellent job.
World Building
I like that Jansen doesn't take the world building too far. She gives just enough of a description of the space station to put an image in your head, but doesn't deter from the storyline to do it.
Writing
It is easy to tell that Jansen has written a thing or two in her time. Her writing has an excellent flow to it. However I felt like almost every thing Cory said when speaking to other people in the book was far beyond his age. This might be justified by saying that he does live in the future, but I don't find that entirely believable.
Overall
I like a book to grab me from the beginning, and though this book didn't really have that effect for me, I devoured it once the story got going. By the time I was 20 pages in I didn't want to put it down. As a reader, I would definitely read more of Jansen's work based on this experience.
Three and a half out of five stars.
Review by: Kayelee of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
Cory is a 10 year old boy who finds himself in over his head when he moves to Midway Space station with his father. Though I like Cory as a character, I believe he should have been a bit older because, as someone who has way too much experience working with children, I don't see how any child, even one in the future, could be as intuitive and clever as Cory at only 10 years of age.
John is Cory's father and the new Station Director at Midway Station. He is a serious man who very much loves his family, and is passionate about his political beliefs.
Erith, Cory's new stepmother who also happens to be an alien, is a bit of a confusing character. She is portrayed to be someone who cares only about technology and facts, and has no knowledge of how to be part of a family. However I later learned that she feels with more emotion than I had thought possible for her character. The more I read of Erith, the more I liked her.
Plot
The plot starts off slow. I found myself reading about a whiny child who was upset about his father re-marrying, and I was sure after the first 5 or so pages that I wouldn't enjoy the book. However, the book rapidly picks up pace and does not slow down, and I am very very glad I did not stop reading. The story's ending was action-packed and full of suspense.
Design
The book's cover will absolutely attract a younger fan-base. Olivia Kernot, the designer, did an excellent job.
World Building
I like that Jansen doesn't take the world building too far. She gives just enough of a description of the space station to put an image in your head, but doesn't deter from the storyline to do it.
Writing
It is easy to tell that Jansen has written a thing or two in her time. Her writing has an excellent flow to it. However I felt like almost every thing Cory said when speaking to other people in the book was far beyond his age. This might be justified by saying that he does live in the future, but I don't find that entirely believable.
Overall
I like a book to grab me from the beginning, and though this book didn't really have that effect for me, I devoured it once the story got going. By the time I was 20 pages in I didn't want to put it down. As a reader, I would definitely read more of Jansen's work based on this experience.
Three and a half out of five stars.
Review by: Kayelee of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By B. Beard
Format:Kindle Edition
The Far Horizon, by Patty Jansen, is a fantastic novel with the misfortune of a very poor cover and a somewhat slow start. In the novel, we meet 10 year-old Cory who has suffered through the death of his mother and now must watch his father remarry. To make matters worse, his father is marrying a female from another planet. The story touches on the transition a child must make when adding new people to the family, along with the racial and social implications of such a marriage. When the danger surrounding the move to a space station and terrorist attacks was added to the strong character elements and intriguing thematic explorations, the book proved to be a page turner.
Cover Art: 2 Stars
Although the cover does accurately show what the book is about, the overall effect is very amateurish, mainly due to the picture of the boy and its relation to the background.
Note to the readers: Don't ruin the book by reading the description on Amazon. I feel that entirely too much is given away in the product description, and it will spoil parts of the book for you.
Characters: 5 Stars
It is not often that I can say the characters were just perfect, but I loved the different characters. I was so very surprised by how distinct and varied they were. Generally, it seems like supporting characters often end up as some variant of the main character, but this book managed to avoid that entirely. In the end, I really cared what happened to the characters and was sad to say goodbye to them.
Plot: 4 Stars
Despite how much I liked the book, there were some problems with the beginning. I felt that it took way too long to hook me, especially for a middle grade book. Although there was a short action scene in the beginning, it could have been emphasized more. There were also a few issues with objects being mentioned multiple times and then forgotten, never to be mentioned again. It was like a red herring without ever really meaning to be and very confusing to the reader given the implied links with the central plot mysteries. After the main plot kicked in, the book was a real page turner. The themes may not be totally original, but the execution of these themes is what makes this book stand out.
Writing: 3.5 Stars
First, I feel it important to note that the author is Australian so there are punctuation and spelling differences that are regional in nature. Aside from the writing style difference, there were a few spots with missing words or poor word choices. This wasn't often but enough that it needs noting. I also felt that this book suffered from an excess of description at times. Descriptive writing is important to set the scene but can really detract if it does nothing to enhance the scene. I believe this excess description is what created the red herrings. When the author spends a decent amount of time on a subject, then the reader is left to assume that this is essential to the plot. When that later proves to not be true, the reader is left feeling confused and distracted from what is important. Other than these issues, the writing really was very good.
Overall: 4 Stars
The slow start and an overabundance of descriptions were slightly distracting but only detracted in a minor way from the fantastic characters and interesting plot. Once the story got going, it was a fun read with a nice exploration of discrimination, blended families and acceptance. It is something I feel will resonate with younger readers and should be on the reading list of any middle grade boy.
Happy reading!
My indie, my tea and me
Cover Art: 2 Stars
Although the cover does accurately show what the book is about, the overall effect is very amateurish, mainly due to the picture of the boy and its relation to the background.
Note to the readers: Don't ruin the book by reading the description on Amazon. I feel that entirely too much is given away in the product description, and it will spoil parts of the book for you.
Characters: 5 Stars
It is not often that I can say the characters were just perfect, but I loved the different characters. I was so very surprised by how distinct and varied they were. Generally, it seems like supporting characters often end up as some variant of the main character, but this book managed to avoid that entirely. In the end, I really cared what happened to the characters and was sad to say goodbye to them.
Plot: 4 Stars
Despite how much I liked the book, there were some problems with the beginning. I felt that it took way too long to hook me, especially for a middle grade book. Although there was a short action scene in the beginning, it could have been emphasized more. There were also a few issues with objects being mentioned multiple times and then forgotten, never to be mentioned again. It was like a red herring without ever really meaning to be and very confusing to the reader given the implied links with the central plot mysteries. After the main plot kicked in, the book was a real page turner. The themes may not be totally original, but the execution of these themes is what makes this book stand out.
Writing: 3.5 Stars
First, I feel it important to note that the author is Australian so there are punctuation and spelling differences that are regional in nature. Aside from the writing style difference, there were a few spots with missing words or poor word choices. This wasn't often but enough that it needs noting. I also felt that this book suffered from an excess of description at times. Descriptive writing is important to set the scene but can really detract if it does nothing to enhance the scene. I believe this excess description is what created the red herrings. When the author spends a decent amount of time on a subject, then the reader is left to assume that this is essential to the plot. When that later proves to not be true, the reader is left feeling confused and distracted from what is important. Other than these issues, the writing really was very good.
Overall: 4 Stars
The slow start and an overabundance of descriptions were slightly distracting but only detracted in a minor way from the fantastic characters and interesting plot. Once the story got going, it was a fun read with a nice exploration of discrimination, blended families and acceptance. It is something I feel will resonate with younger readers and should be on the reading list of any middle grade boy.
Happy reading!
My indie, my tea and me
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
This little book just got better and better. It's good, old-fashioned science fiction, the kind that's just perfect for curling up with.
With a ten-year old hero, I guess the book qualifies as YA or middle grade. But it kept my interest all the way through, with good, complex characters, and a story-line busy enough for the adult mind. The space station setting is accurate and rich, and portrayed quite well through the story, without pages and pages of exposition to "describe" everything.
In this well-developed world, humans are struggling to establish their presence in space, simultaneously helped and hindered by a more-advanced species. Ten-year-old Cory Wilson literally lives with this reality - his father is Director of the space station and his new stepmother is one of the aliens. Cory is not happy about his new life, but when he stumbles upon a terrorist plot to bomb the station, he has to act fast... and learns a lot of truths along the way.
Highly recommended.
With a ten-year old hero, I guess the book qualifies as YA or middle grade. But it kept my interest all the way through, with good, complex characters, and a story-line busy enough for the adult mind. The space station setting is accurate and rich, and portrayed quite well through the story, without pages and pages of exposition to "describe" everything.
In this well-developed world, humans are struggling to establish their presence in space, simultaneously helped and hindered by a more-advanced species. Ten-year-old Cory Wilson literally lives with this reality - his father is Director of the space station and his new stepmother is one of the aliens. Cory is not happy about his new life, but when he stumbles upon a terrorist plot to bomb the station, he has to act fast... and learns a lot of truths along the way.
Highly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
FANTASTIC!!
From the first sentence to the last, I could hardly put this book down! Plot was great, kept me interested right till the end, definetly should be on the reading list for anyone... Read more
Published 5 months ago by cocoqueen31
5.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't wait for my son to read it!
Cory Wilson wasn't happy when his father married Erith, an alien from the Union. However, when Cory's father was assigned to Midway Space Station, Cory never thought the residents... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lisa A. Metlak
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well conceived
Good imagination, and a well-timed spiral of anxiety distinguish this novella. since this is told through the eyes of a 10 year old,the author does try to get away with some... Read more
Published 7 months ago by PG
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good tale, full of rich detail
This science fiction novel aimed at children over 10, starts slowly, seeming to focus more on the main character Cory's dislike at the way his life is changing, seeming almost a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Katie Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, serious science fiction for readers 9-12
The Far Horizon is a junior science fiction novel intended for ages 9-12. At the beginning the protagonist, Cory, is having trouble accepting his father's new partner. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Simon Haynes
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Space Tale That Hits Close To Home
A quick but excellent sci-fi adventure. The Far Horizon may take place in the future at a space station, but it touches on themes of racism, acceptance, and doing the right thing... Read more
Published 12 months ago by P. Christopher Colter
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very enjoyable read.
It's a book you want to keep on reading, and then look for more works by the author. Young adult in tone, but, like any good YA book, quite enjoyable for an adult. Five stars.
Published 12 months ago by T
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hooks right from the start.
While obviously aimed at a younger audience, even as an adult I found this book to be excellent. The characters (even the aliens) are believable and the story hooks you from very... Read more
Published 13 months ago by B. J. Baye
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid MS Sci-fi
This is a good, solid novel. Well worth the read. It's the story of early contact with aliens, and how the life of a 10 year old boy named Cory is changed by those encounters. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Clwedd
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good quick read
A good quick read - interesting enough that I'm going to look up Jansen's other work. Nice plot-building, nice character-shaping given the short space she has to work in. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Janis Ian
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More About the Author
Patty Jansen lives in Sydney, Australia, where she spends most of her time writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. Her story This Peaceful State of War placed first in the second quarter of the Writers of the Future contest and was published in their 27th anthology. She has also sold fiction to genre magazines such as Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Redstone SF and Aurealis.
Her novels (available at ebook venues) include Watcher's Web (soft SF), The Far Horizon (middle grade SF), Charlotte's Army (military SF) and Fire & Ice, Dust & Rain and Blood & Tears (Icefire Trilogy) (dark fantasy). Her novel Ambassador will be published by Ticonderoga Publication in 2013.
Want to keep up-to-date with Patty's fiction? Join the mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/qqlAb
Patty is a member of SFWA, and the cooperative that makes up Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and she has also written non-fiction.
Patty is on Twitter (@pattyjansen), Facebook, LinkedIn, goodreads, LibraryThing, google+ and blogs at: http://pattyjansen.com/
Her novels (available at ebook venues) include Watcher's Web (soft SF), The Far Horizon (middle grade SF), Charlotte's Army (military SF) and Fire & Ice, Dust & Rain and Blood & Tears (Icefire Trilogy) (dark fantasy). Her novel Ambassador will be published by Ticonderoga Publication in 2013.
Want to keep up-to-date with Patty's fiction? Join the mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/qqlAb
Patty is a member of SFWA, and the cooperative that makes up Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and she has also written non-fiction.
Patty is on Twitter (@pattyjansen), Facebook, LinkedIn, goodreads, LibraryThing, google+ and blogs at: http://pattyjansen.com/
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