Is it space travel that children dream of, or merely visiting other worlds? Todd had always set his heart on being an astronaut, but when he meets an alien and travels to another world, he doesn’t use a spaceship; he just hangs out in his own backyard.
In Space Boy, Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game, takes listeners into a strange and wonderful future, where people from another world regularly visit Earth, usually without being noticed. And when humans travel to their world, they find themselves dangerously weak and powerless, until Todd finds a way to set both worlds to rights.
By turns funny and painful, Space Boy is Card at his best, exploring human nature for the entertainment of readers young and old.
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"Very quick read - I read it in one sitting. I did have weird dreams that night, but that's pretty normal for me after reading an OSC book."
— Karla (4 out of 5 stars)
“Card works both pathos and humor into this tale of a family pulling together to rescue one of their own.”
— Publishers Weekly“[Rudnicki’s] deep voice is full of pathos, wisdom and resonance…Card takes his time developing the characters, which allows Rudnicki room to bring them to life…Another terrific addition to the Orson Scott Card audiobook-shelf.”
— SFFAudio.com“In a break from many young adult science fiction novels, Todd is…an early-teenage character…who is competent and capable and does not suffer from the Superman problem or being insufferable…The relationships at [the book’s] heart, between Todd and his father, his absentee mother, and his brother, form the core of the novella.”
— SFSite.com“Space Boy offers readers that perennial delight, space travel without the hardware…Card writes with a deceptively simple clarity here, the kind of smart science fiction fairy tale that is exciting and rewarding for anyone who wants to wrap their brain around the present clothed as the near-future.”
— Trashotron.com" Warning: Written for young boys! Lots of poop jokes! "
— Kristen, 2/18/2014" This was ok, I picked it up for a short and easy book. There were somethings I loved about it, and I thought it was a good concept. But, maybe it was the length of the book, or something else, it just wasn't great. "
— Ali, 2/15/2014" very good for such a short book "
— Steven, 2/12/2014" He could have done a lot more with this. the plot was bland, characters were all stupid, annoying too read. "
— Elliotwoodward, 2/4/2014" A kind of fun little book. Nothing much to say, except that adults often take kids for granted. "
— Josh, 1/14/2014" Pretty wild concept. My 10 year old would probably have liked it but there were a few parts that would be too mature for that age. "
— Leslie, 1/11/2014" Not Card's best work. Sticking things in a space worm's anus. Repeatedly. Right. Read Ender's Game instead. "
— Lyn, 1/11/2014" A short book aimed at about an 11 year old boy. Not my favorite by of Orson Scott Cards books but it was entertaining. "
— Inspired, 1/7/2014" don't understand why this book was in the adult section...maybe I'm missing some greater meaning but it's a kid book in my view... "
— Julie, 12/18/2013" Uninteresting young adult book that is readable in an hour or two, which is probably about how long it took Card to write it. "
— Ben, 12/13/2013" Not one of Cards best. Actually this is one of his more forgettable books. Although the worm concept and the density issues is fun to explore, I just think that it could have been done better. "
— Stephannestacey, 11/3/2013" This is an odd little book. Kinda like an innocent little adventure story but full of all sorts of stuff that kids wouldn't understand (cultural references) or parents would disapprove of (all the nakedness and scatological terminology). "
— Eremite, 11/1/2013" Fun short story (more than a novel) about a boy who wants to go to space and has the opportunity in a way he'd never imagined. This seems to be what Card might call an Idea story, and the main character does a great job solving the puzzle he is confronted with. "
— Kathleen, 10/11/2013" I found a signed copy of this in my library. It should have been on the YA shelf. I thought it was cute. Very much for young boys in the 8-14 age range. Lots of smelly body humor. The story was cute though and focused on the importance of family and trust. "
— Michelle, 9/26/2013" Definitely something teenage boys will like with plenty of toilet references. "
— JoAnn, 6/29/2013" Incredibly juvenile with a lot of unnecessary potty humour. I usually love Orson Scott Card's novels and short stories, but this one was almost a complete waste of my time. I didn't hate it (hence two stars instead of one), but it is certainly not one I'd recommend. "
— Lady, 6/11/2013" Short story bound as a book about a boy who wants to travel in space. He gets his wish when he has to enter an interplanetary worm that has landed in his brother's closet to rescue his mother who was sucked in to another world. Kind of Freudian. "
— Beverly, 6/6/2013" An entertaining parable about the value of following ones dreams. The humor is geared to 5 - 10 year old boys but the overall story can capture a wider audience. "
— Terry, 5/17/2013" it was ok, did the audiobook, so only a 2 hour investment of time. not the best OSC i've ever read by far, and an interesting premise for sure. if fleshed out further (and far less "potty" themed) it probably would have been a great adult sci-fi book. "
— Brian, 12/18/2012" Interesting. . . definately for the sci-fi lover. You've got to give this guy credit for his imagination! :) It's a super quick read (less than 100 pages). Kind of fun. "
— Rae, 9/5/2012" This was a very original story, and it was pretty good even though it was a bit strange. The ending had a Gulliver's Travels feel to it, too. "
— Cara, 7/23/2012" Cute, interesting story. My only complaint is Orson Scott Card's analogy to a certain body function. I think he could have found another way to incorporate that particular element into the story. "
— Antoinette, 1/4/2012" read in 2008. Juvenile. Seemed thrown together. Not of this author's usual quality. "
— Jenny, 11/23/2011" This slight tale of a boy rescuing his mother from another planet (she was accidentally sucked through a bedroom-closet wormhole) is more reminiscent of a Heinlein "juvenile" than of the masterful storytelling that is Card's hallmark. Not actually terrible, just not up to his usual standards. "
— Elizabeth, 9/9/2011" wow was this story really about an interstellar anus? yes, yes it was. "
— Kim, 7/10/2011" This is a fun book for tween boys, and older boys (like me) might find it fun too. Though there are several logical fallacies and some of the vocabulary was beyond even me. Be prepared for juvenile potty humor. It's integral to the plot. "
— Dan, 5/10/2011" A charming short story about a boy and his dreams that come true in a most inconvenient way. Adolescent and funny. "
— Roger, 5/7/2011" Pretty wild concept. My 10 year old would probably have liked it but there were a few parts that would be too mature for that age. "
— Leslie, 4/24/2011" A kind of fun little book. Nothing much to say, except that adults often take kids for granted. "
— Josh, 3/10/2011" A little wonky, but interesting. "
— Jennie, 3/7/2011" He could have done a lot more with this. the plot was bland, characters were all stupid, annoying too read. "
— Elliotwoodward, 7/29/2010" wow was this story really about an interstellar anus? yes, yes it was. "
— Kim, 4/18/2010" An interesting short story, obviously not thick in plot. Interesting concepts and some fun depictions. "
— Vaughn, 4/1/2010" Short story bound as a book about a boy who wants to travel in space. He gets his wish when he has to enter an interplanetary worm that has landed in his brother's closet to rescue his mother who was sucked in to another world. Kind of Freudian. "
— Beverly, 1/7/2010" A short book aimed at about an 11 year old boy. Not my favorite by of Orson Scott Cards books but it was entertaining. "
— Inspired, 12/19/2009" Not one of Cards best. Actually this is one of his more forgettable books. Although the worm concept and the density issues is fun to explore, I just think that it could have been done better. "
— Stephannestacey, 8/7/2009" Not one of Card's best books. "
— Anne, 6/27/2009" read in 2008. Juvenile. Seemed thrown together. Not of this author's usual quality. "
— Jenny, 4/7/2009" I found a signed copy of this in my library. It should have been on the YA shelf. I thought it was cute. Very much for young boys in the 8-14 age range. Lots of smelly body humor. The story was cute though and focused on the importance of family and trust. "
— Michelle, 10/31/2008" This is an odd little book. Kinda like an innocent little adventure story but full of all sorts of stuff that kids wouldn't understand (cultural references) or parents would disapprove of (all the nakedness and scatological terminology). "
— Eremite, 10/21/2008Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.