Traveling In Space [Paperback]

Steven Paul Leiva (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2011

A unique science fiction first contact novel from the aliens' point-of-view; a 21st Century "Gulliver's Travels" with Homo sapiens as the Lilliputians.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Superbly entertaining and unique...thought provoking." -- The Mindquest Review of Books

"Many of the aliens' encounters with human beings are downright funny...much to think about and I'm sure that "Traveling in Space" will play on my mind for some time to come" -- Russell Blackford, Neworld Review & Metamagician and the Hellfire Club blog

"A unique spin of science fiction... With much humor and much to think about...not to be overlooked" -- Midwest Book Review

From the Author

PRAISE FOR STEVEN PAUL LEIVA AND "TRAVELING IN SPACE"

• "Steven Leiva not only promises, but delivers!" --Ray Bradbury.
• "Leiva's immense gifts are matched only by his wry, biting wit" -- Paul Provenza; author of "¡Satiristas!" director of "The Aristocrats," host of Showtime's "The Green Room with Paul Provenza."
• "Wry humor, intellectual insight and terrific story telling are the consistent signatures of Leiva's work." -- Ken Kragen, legendary Hollywood producer/manager and space buff.
• "This book is bloody brilliant!" -- Nate, "NoMoreCrazyPeople" on the Rational Response Squad Forum.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Bluroof Press (October 21, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615478506
• ISBN-13: 978-0615478500
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #714,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

STEVEN PAUL LEIVA is a writer who lives in Los Angeles. His play, "Made on the Moon", had its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has been performed in America by such actors as Paul Provenza, Robert Picardo and John Billingley.

His novel, "Blood is Pretty: the First Fixxer Adventure", a satiric thriller, was followed by "Hollywood is An All Volunteer Army", not surprisingly the second Fixxer Adventure.

Leiva's most recent novel, a science fiction satire on man's place in the universe, is "Traveling in Space".

His novelization, "The 12 Dogs of Christmas," based on his own film adaptation of the best-selling picture book of the same name, won the Scribe Award for the Best Young Adult Adapted Novel from the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers.

He has written essays and commentaries for the "Los Angeles Times", "Huffington Post", "KCET.org", "Neworld Review", and "The Quarterly", the magazine of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, among other publications.

Leiva's novels can be found in print, digital, and audiobook editions on Amazon.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I Don't Care for Science Fiction September 3, 2012

By Darrel W. Ray

Format:Paperback

I don't care for science fiction. I have read, maybe 4 scifi books in my entire life. The only one I liked was Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. When I was asked to "take a look" at Traveling in Space, I did so with great reluctance. I figured I'd read a few pages and then give it to a friend of mine. 200 pages into it, I realized that my friend would have to wait. This is an interesting read. I am no expert on the genre, so take my opinion for what it is, that of a novice. The premise is unlike anything I have seen or heard before. Quite contrary to the "space aliens invade earth" of the War of the Worlds or Plan Nine from Outer Space (My all time favorite Ed Wood movie. Still can't believe it wasn't a parody.) But I digress. Traveling in Space reverses the role most aliens take and creates an fascinating opportunity to look at ourselves through in interesting mirror. This is a story of largely benevolent higher intelligence encountering Earth, with the inevitable miscalculation on the part of both civilizations. The questions it raises had me thinking for days after. I did not read this book all at once, I read it in chunks of 50-100 pages over a week's time - largely because of my limited time this week, but I found myself contemplating the questions that the book raises between readings. I am author of four books and my goal is to get my readers to think, to examine their assumptions, to recognize their blind spots, among other things. I consider my own writing a success if it causes thought and consideration of new viewpoints. Traveling in Space, did that for me. It challenged me to consider many new angles to our existence, relationships, sexuality, and religion. If you are not a science fiction fan, but open to challenge, I think you will like it. If you are a science fiction fan, I am not sure what you will think, you have a lot more data than I have. Yet, I somehow think you will like it as well.

Last night I gave it to my friend. I am curious what he will think of it.

Darrel Ray, author of The God Virus and Sex and God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Traveling in Space January 29, 2013

By Naomi J. McAfee

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

An interesting take on what the future could hold and how an advanced humanoid civilization would view us primitives. A fun read

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, quirky, and very engaging January 14, 2013

By M. Robinson

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I heard the author on a favorite podcast of mine, Ardent Atheist, and bought the book right away. It is a ton of fun, a good story told with wit and insight. The characters are well developed, the alien culture is interesting, and the approach is unique. I was really glad to find this one, and recommend it highly.