Terra - Hardcover

Benn, Mitch

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0575132086 ISBN 13: 9780575132085

Publisher: Gollancz, 2013

Synopsis

No-one trusts humanity. No-one can quite understand why we're intent on destroying the only place we have to live in the Universe. No-one thinks we're worth a second thought. And certainly no-one is about to let us get off Rrth. That would be a complete disaster.

But one alien thinks Rrth is worth looking at. Not humanity, obviously, we're appalling, but until we manage to kill every other living thing on the planet there are some truly wonderful places on Rrth and some wonderful creatures living in them. Best take a look while they're still there.

But on one trip to Rrth our alien biologist causes a horrendous accident. The occupants of a car travelling down a lonely road spot his ship (the sort of massive lemon coloured, lemon shaped starship that really shouldn't be hanging in the sky over a road). Understandably the Bradbury's crash (interrupting the latest in a constant procession of bitter rows). And in the wreckage of their car our alien discovers a baby girl. She needs rescuing. From the car. From Rrth. From her humanity.

And now eleven years later a girl called Terra is about to go to school for the first time. It's a very alien experience ...

TERRA is a charming and hilarious satirical fable. A story about how odd and alien we are. And a story about how human odd aliens are. It tells the story of a girl who grows up in a very different world, who gains a unique perspective on our world and a unique perspective on her new home. A girl who can teach us and them a lot. A girl living in an extraordinary world that is spiralling into a terrible war.

About this title

Review:

entertainting and thought provoking (Heather McGregor Management Today)

Short chapters and a brisk style including plenty of dialogue, ensures that the plot moves along with enough pace to keep the pages turning to a dramatic climax (Books for Keeps)

Both comic and satircal, earning comparisons with Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl and Terry Pratchett (Eric Brown The Guardian)

An enjoyable debut novel. (Books for Keeps)

My whole family (ages 14 to 57) read this during our summer break and loved it. Entertaining and thought-provoking. (Heather McGregor Management Today)

Mitch Benn's Terra was properly charming, funny and memorable - and disproved the carpers who thought its author only got his book deal off the back of his amiable media celebrity. (Adam Roberts The Guardian)

It's light, it's fun. (David V Barrett Interzone)

Book Description:

A science fiction fable for the young-at-heart from stand-up comedian and satirical song-writer Mitch Benn.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0575132086
• ISBN 13: 9780575132085
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272