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A Beginner's Guide to Ruling the Galaxy
A brilliantly funny story of what happens when a galactic princess moves in next door and almost brings about the end of the world. Exciting fiction from the best-selling, award-winning author of My Brother Is a Superhero.
Gavin’s got a new neighbour and she’s really annoying. Niki follows him everywhere, bosses him about and doesn’t care that her parents will obliterate Earth with their galactic warships if she doesn’t stop running away from them. Can Niki and Gavin sort out the alien despots (aka Mum and Dad) and save the planet? Possibly. Will they become friends along the way? Doubtful....
Gavin’s got a new neighbour and she’s really annoying. Niki follows him everywhere, bosses him about and doesn’t care that her parents will obliterate Earth with their galactic warships if she doesn’t stop running away from them. Can Niki and Gavin sort out the alien despots (aka Mum and Dad) and save the planet? Possibly. Will they become friends along the way? Doubtful....
- GenresMiddle Grade
Audible Audio
First published July 7, 2022
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
David Solomons
42 books56 followersDavid Solomons has been writing screenplays for many years. His first feature film was an adaptation of ‘Five Children and It’ (starring Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Izzard, with gala screenings at the Toronto and Tribeca Film Festivals). His latest film is a romantic comedy set in the world of publishing, ‘Not Another Happy Ending’ (Karen Gillan, Iain de Caestecker), which closed the Edinburgh International Film Festival. My Brother is a Superhero is his first novel for children. He was born in Glasgow and now lives in Dorset with his wife (and novelist) Natasha, and son, Luke.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2022
Well, this was great fun. Our hero is the kind of boy who likes to keep himself to himself – with reason, we later discover – but the new kid at school, with all her talk of re-enacting "Alien" and having servants, is peculiarly fixated on being with him and around him at all times. The other kid who joined the school at the same time is supposed to be her brother, although that never once seems likely. Yes, we're in "Third Rock" territory, as aliens have infiltrated, to some extent, and are passing as us. But just who and what and why they are is for the reader to find out...
This moves at a lovely pace, even when being more expository or meaningful and emotional. It also has a success rate with the sense of humour many other books can only dream of – even including Ones for the Adults, like the quote from "Bladerunner" that surely will go over the heads of the target reader, joining the Human League riff. Oh, and the maths teacher's name.
Ultimately it is a fun comedy science fiction book. Yes, it has a lot of human heart at its core, but of course the sci-fi genre only ever wanted to talk about the human condition, and here, we definitely get that a lot. For this is a romp that is also about family, kinship and friendship. I mean, it had better be about something when you consider all that is wrong about the sci-fi – people walking across spaceship hangars during a launch into space, five people somehow in a command unit for four, people lip-reading what must be assumed to have been an alien tongue, etc etc.
It's also a great thing the exuberance of the book lets all that slide, and the fun and heart and cleverness in the comedy and so much else is really quite memorable. A spirited little read, and a four and a half star achievement.
This moves at a lovely pace, even when being more expository or meaningful and emotional. It also has a success rate with the sense of humour many other books can only dream of – even including Ones for the Adults, like the quote from "Bladerunner" that surely will go over the heads of the target reader, joining the Human League riff. Oh, and the maths teacher's name.
Ultimately it is a fun comedy science fiction book. Yes, it has a lot of human heart at its core, but of course the sci-fi genre only ever wanted to talk about the human condition, and here, we definitely get that a lot. For this is a romp that is also about family, kinship and friendship. I mean, it had better be about something when you consider all that is wrong about the sci-fi – people walking across spaceship hangars during a launch into space, five people somehow in a command unit for four, people lip-reading what must be assumed to have been an alien tongue, etc etc.
It's also a great thing the exuberance of the book lets all that slide, and the fun and heart and cleverness in the comedy and so much else is really quite memorable. A spirited little read, and a four and a half star achievement.
March 14, 2023
A Beginner’s Guide To Ruling The Galaxy is humorous with much hi-jinx in a fast-paced sci-fi adventure.
Children will find it fun finding out about Gavin, who is generally quite a private person and his strange new neighbour, Niki. The quirks and adventure is the type of fun that children can really get stuck into. There is a lot to like in this packed-full book. It’s a book that is great for reading for pleasure alone and with an adult together as there are certain quips that adults would appreciate but children would see very differently, much like in family films, there’s something for everyone.
The book makes me remember tv drama My Parents Are Aliens and Third Rock From the Sun but with the quick humour of the likes of David Walliams. That aside, the book has its own originality too with its own blend of relatable characters, who are interesting to discover more about, throughout its themes of family, friendship and kinship.
The premise of aliens walking among us is always going to be fun, but with the way this is written, the author has nailed it!
Children will find it fun finding out about Gavin, who is generally quite a private person and his strange new neighbour, Niki. The quirks and adventure is the type of fun that children can really get stuck into. There is a lot to like in this packed-full book. It’s a book that is great for reading for pleasure alone and with an adult together as there are certain quips that adults would appreciate but children would see very differently, much like in family films, there’s something for everyone.
The book makes me remember tv drama My Parents Are Aliens and Third Rock From the Sun but with the quick humour of the likes of David Walliams. That aside, the book has its own originality too with its own blend of relatable characters, who are interesting to discover more about, throughout its themes of family, friendship and kinship.
The premise of aliens walking among us is always going to be fun, but with the way this is written, the author has nailed it!
August 5, 2022
Full disclosure, I struggled to finish it. It's enjoyable enough, competently written, quite funny in places, and I appreciated some of the cultural references scattered throughout (like "Don't You Want Me?" by The Human League, on page 94), and there's no denying the author's sci-fi writing chops. I've tried to put my finger on it, and all I can come up with is that it irritated me. I'm not sure if it's the various aliens who are played for laughs and who consequently offer no real peril, or the fact that the character of Niki is so irredeemably unlikeable, or the fact that's it's unquestionably over-long. But as time wore on, as much as that gorgeous cover made me want to love it, I just...didn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2022
So what happens when aliens go to visit the most boring place on earth?
Gavin has only been living in Middling for a short while with his Foster family when he is followed by Niki - there is something not quite right about her, but Gavin really can't figure out what - well until he gets the shock of his life spying on her!
This was a fun read about friendship and family and it was great to have a main character that was fostered and how that affected him in every day life.
I would say this was for older MG, some of the words were tough even for me (which maybe I should be worried about, now I think about it more!)
Anyway, recommend this one, it was amusing but though provoking.
Gavin has only been living in Middling for a short while with his Foster family when he is followed by Niki - there is something not quite right about her, but Gavin really can't figure out what - well until he gets the shock of his life spying on her!
This was a fun read about friendship and family and it was great to have a main character that was fostered and how that affected him in every day life.
I would say this was for older MG, some of the words were tough even for me (which maybe I should be worried about, now I think about it more!)
Anyway, recommend this one, it was amusing but though provoking.
January 25, 2023
I have read Solomon's other books and really liked them but I was pretty bored listening to this book (I feel awful saying that, I am sorry David!) The plot just did pull me in like the other series My Brother is a Superhero did. I did like that the two main characters were able to relate to each other and I hope that it brings solace to other children reading it that are feeling a similar way
*** slight spoiler ***
(the main character goes through the foster system and is living with a foster family and is worried about being displaced due to a baby arriving, the other main character is also living away from her parents and moves around a lot.)
*** slight spoiler ***
(the main character goes through the foster system and is living with a foster family and is worried about being displaced due to a baby arriving, the other main character is also living away from her parents and moves around a lot.)
April 25, 2024
Simply nothing like it - both amusing and heartbreaking. Definitely recommend
July 3, 2022
Read & reviewed for The Bookbag
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/A...
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/A...
July 27, 2022
Gavin thought his life was normal, or unremarkable, even. Living with Nan and Grandad and the Tiny Horror was fine, but then, Niki moves in next door and his whole universe is flipped. You see, Niki isn’t just a normal neighbour. She’s a galactic princess with despot parents at war with one another and Gavin’s home planet Earth is in their way! Can Gavin and Niki learn to see past their differences and work together to save the universe?
A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy is both a fantastically funny and silly story. Easy to read and easy to enjoy, this is sure to be a hit with kids. As well as being funny with all of the insults thrown around and annoyances from Niki, there’s true heart to this novel. Throughout the story, the reader sees Niki avoiding her parents and not wanting anything to do with her family whilst actually finding a new family and a new home. It’s hard to describe it, but it’s that warm fuzzy feeling you get at the end of a Disney film when everything feels wonderfully resolved – I loved that kindness and love shown!
As expected, the cast of characters are all fabulously funny. I love Niki’s family of Sam, Mercedes and Bart. Bart as the human organ donor really develops a sense of self across the novel and I liked the way he came into his own autonomy. I particularly enjoyed the unicorn AI that controls the ship and his fear of space after watching space horror films! Hilarious and heart warming too!
Humour and heart, A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy is perfect for all your little tyrants. 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Nosy Crow for a review copy.
A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy is both a fantastically funny and silly story. Easy to read and easy to enjoy, this is sure to be a hit with kids. As well as being funny with all of the insults thrown around and annoyances from Niki, there’s true heart to this novel. Throughout the story, the reader sees Niki avoiding her parents and not wanting anything to do with her family whilst actually finding a new family and a new home. It’s hard to describe it, but it’s that warm fuzzy feeling you get at the end of a Disney film when everything feels wonderfully resolved – I loved that kindness and love shown!
As expected, the cast of characters are all fabulously funny. I love Niki’s family of Sam, Mercedes and Bart. Bart as the human organ donor really develops a sense of self across the novel and I liked the way he came into his own autonomy. I particularly enjoyed the unicorn AI that controls the ship and his fear of space after watching space horror films! Hilarious and heart warming too!
Humour and heart, A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy is perfect for all your little tyrants. 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Nosy Crow for a review copy.
October 16, 2022
Very funny - the idea that the annoying girl next door can be an actual alien, the heir to the galaxy because she's the daughter of two warring aliens who want to destroy both each other and the rest of the galaxy. And the way to resolve things includes convincing those warriors to act like normal parents for a month. Add in a cat/bounty hunter, references to popular culture of the 1980s/1990s, and how an invisible foster child can become the most important person on Earth and, well, it's a easy step from this to Hitchhiker's Guide.
Sadly, not available here in the US (I purchased via Blackwells).
Sadly, not available here in the US (I purchased via Blackwells).
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews