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The Other Things
With the discovery of a fossil on Mars and the threat of an asteroid heading for Earth, a frustrated American President is forced to reconsider his legacy. He decides to do something big for humanity, and orders the first manned mission to Mars. Surmounting seemingly impossible hurdles, the maverick scientist Ford Harris discovers how to make it happen. There is one crucial the weight of any ordinary crew would be too great for the rocket to return home. And so Ford proposes a bold new idea – replacing the adult crew with a group of gifted children. An exciting and fascinating story, featuring beautiful illustrations and informative scientific notes, The Other Things explores our sense of wonder. Are we alone in the universe? How do we make our existence count? And what could still be possible for humankind?
Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 6, 2019
A fab book, really great read, loved the illustrations and I think it definitely deserves the 5 stars. I really enjoyed the mix of character development and occasional side "missions" as well as the science - I don't know how accurate some of the space-y stuff in the book is, don't need to, it seemed authentic enough!
BUT, a couple of very very minor criticisims and you might not want to read on unless you want a little light spoilage about the end.
First off, and really sorry for being so picky but that strapline - it tells you the kids will be the ones. I could have happily read the book without the knowledge - perhaps Jonathan didn't want you to have to wonder as you read.
Second, the end.
Really moderate spoilers ahead.
Ahem.
I let out an audible groan on turning the last page. I wanted more! Could be a sequel - there's definitely scope.
But I'm being super fussy. It was still a really great read very engaging and told in a really interesting way with some likable characters.
Thanks!
BUT, a couple of very very minor criticisims and you might not want to read on unless you want a little light spoilage about the end.
First off, and really sorry for being so picky but that strapline - it tells you the kids will be the ones. I could have happily read the book without the knowledge - perhaps Jonathan didn't want you to have to wonder as you read.
Second, the end.
Really moderate spoilers ahead.
Ahem.
I let out an audible groan on turning the last page. I wanted more! Could be a sequel - there's definitely scope.
But I'm being super fussy. It was still a really great read very engaging and told in a really interesting way with some likable characters.
Thanks!
June 20, 2019
The Other Things tells a quirky little story about an American president's fervent (and almost impossible) dream to send a human mission to Mars, after Oddity Rover's unexpected discovery of a human-like fossil on it. A ragtag group of people is quickly assembled, the head of which none other than the crazy experienced and resourceful scientist Ford Harris. Within two years, and on a questionably tight budget, two groups of humans are successfully sent off to Mars - but they are not your normal space crew. To allow for a complete journey to Mars and back to Earth, weight limits have to be set, and the decision was made to send a group of children with different talents as the second crew.
The premise of the story was fantastic - sending children to space in place of adults?! Which psycho would do that? And how would the children cope? However, Dransfield has managed to convince me with the science that it isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. There's Mo, who excels at collecting fossils; Buzz has practiced on his flight simulator thousands of times; Elin, who comes from Iceland and is used to living in harsh conditions; Chao-Xing was raised by her astronaut mother from China; deaf but lively Bheki who is incredibly good at craftsmanship; and lastly the chef, Enza from Italy (which is my favourite, because who doesn't love food?). The liveliness of the children brought joy to what would be an overly technical story. It was hard not to love them, although they did seem a bit unrelatable at first, with them being so gifted.
Another lovely aspect of this book are the sporadic addition of doodles as well as the side-notes explaining a technicality. They were surprising extras in the book and helped illuminate the story even better.
I loved the effort at incorporating diversity into the story. It was insisted that the children's space crew would consist of only one American even though the original plan was made by the American president. The story also took part in Europe, South Africa and China. It made the character dynamics more well-rounded and it was interesting to see how different cultures around the world interacted with one another. One thing that was a bit lacking in this aspect was the inclusion of China, but the under-representation of their everyday lives and culture. Yes, some parts of the story did take place in China, but they were mostly work trips and the Chinese astronauts were not given as much characterisation as the other characters were. It was a bit awkward when Chao-Xing (the child astronaut) was initially portrayed as being grammatically incorrect in her speech but later morphed into someone who spoke in perfect English.
It was hard for me to get into the story at first because the world-building was all over the place. Within the same chapter, different characters were introduced in totally different settings and that was really confusing at times. The transition did not take place well enough and I would have preferred it if a whole chapter was dedicated to a single setting and set of characters. In addition, there were some parts in the story that got real deep into the technicalities (for example, when the scientists were nerding out over the mission) and, whilst I tried to understand as much as I could, prevented me from fully enjoying the story.
Nonetheless, the build-up and tension in the story towards the end was great! Additional hurdles due to rivaling forces and contrasting opinions within the team threatened to destroy the mission's existence and all the hard work of the team that came before. I was really keeping my fingers crossed for the mission and the the way the team pushed through these adversities made for a thrilling end to this delightful story. I would recommend this book, especially for readers keen on science fiction!
My overall rating for this book: 3.5 stars
An electronic copy of The Other Things was kindly provided by Publishing Push in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
The premise of the story was fantastic - sending children to space in place of adults?! Which psycho would do that? And how would the children cope? However, Dransfield has managed to convince me with the science that it isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. There's Mo, who excels at collecting fossils; Buzz has practiced on his flight simulator thousands of times; Elin, who comes from Iceland and is used to living in harsh conditions; Chao-Xing was raised by her astronaut mother from China; deaf but lively Bheki who is incredibly good at craftsmanship; and lastly the chef, Enza from Italy (which is my favourite, because who doesn't love food?). The liveliness of the children brought joy to what would be an overly technical story. It was hard not to love them, although they did seem a bit unrelatable at first, with them being so gifted.
Another lovely aspect of this book are the sporadic addition of doodles as well as the side-notes explaining a technicality. They were surprising extras in the book and helped illuminate the story even better.
I loved the effort at incorporating diversity into the story. It was insisted that the children's space crew would consist of only one American even though the original plan was made by the American president. The story also took part in Europe, South Africa and China. It made the character dynamics more well-rounded and it was interesting to see how different cultures around the world interacted with one another. One thing that was a bit lacking in this aspect was the inclusion of China, but the under-representation of their everyday lives and culture. Yes, some parts of the story did take place in China, but they were mostly work trips and the Chinese astronauts were not given as much characterisation as the other characters were. It was a bit awkward when Chao-Xing (the child astronaut) was initially portrayed as being grammatically incorrect in her speech but later morphed into someone who spoke in perfect English.
It was hard for me to get into the story at first because the world-building was all over the place. Within the same chapter, different characters were introduced in totally different settings and that was really confusing at times. The transition did not take place well enough and I would have preferred it if a whole chapter was dedicated to a single setting and set of characters. In addition, there were some parts in the story that got real deep into the technicalities (for example, when the scientists were nerding out over the mission) and, whilst I tried to understand as much as I could, prevented me from fully enjoying the story.
Nonetheless, the build-up and tension in the story towards the end was great! Additional hurdles due to rivaling forces and contrasting opinions within the team threatened to destroy the mission's existence and all the hard work of the team that came before. I was really keeping my fingers crossed for the mission and the the way the team pushed through these adversities made for a thrilling end to this delightful story. I would recommend this book, especially for readers keen on science fiction!
My overall rating for this book: 3.5 stars
An electronic copy of The Other Things was kindly provided by Publishing Push in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
July 3, 2019
This is a wonderful tale of how a group of children ended up being the first humans to be sent up in a rocket to Mars. It is extraordinarily well plotted and told, and is packed full of interesting and generally appealing characters. It is also funny and includes many informative explanations of scientific matters, along with thoughtful consideration of ethical and moral issues. What struck me most most was how the author manages to get the tone spot on whether he is telling a joke or explaining science or delving into moral choices. It is a remarkable skill that not many have - and it is why the book works so well and will appeal to both teenagers and older people who enjoy a good and uplifting story. Another reason is that the book is full of terrific illustrations, all drawn by the author, Jonathan Dransfield. Given the book's ending, I suspect that he has a sequel in mind. Now there is something to look forward to!
July 15, 2019
This was such an amazing title from author Jonathan Dransfield! This middle grade novel is one of a kind where 6 kids are sent to space to save the world. Along with stunning illustrations with locations of each one this was a one of a kind story that the kids couldn’t put down!! I will say that this seemed to be just a tad long for the age group. But for kids that love space and want to read more about it then this book is the one you are looking for. The characters were great and the story itself was one that the kids couldn't put down.
January 15, 2020
Fantastic - modern day Moby Dick. I loved this book from the very first page through to the end. Particularly enjoyable is the combination of a jolly entertaining story line with all the technical and factual interest of space travel, geology, astronomy and geography. The wonderful interplay between characters of different generations is brilliantly depicted by Mr Dransfield. Finding all these elements in one book is unusual to say the least - I can think of two ..... Jonathan Dransfield and some bloke called Herman Melville.
March 23, 2019
5* 'The Other Things' has depth and breadth in its originality. The story has a balanced and natural lightness of touch in its insight, humour and intellect - provoking thought, laughter and inspiration.
A delight to read - you'll probably find yourself quoting from it!
A delight to read - you'll probably find yourself quoting from it!
March 23, 2019
Great book with beautifully detailed illustrations! Could not stop reading ! ...
July 3, 2019
An excellent book for both adult and young readers. Adventure, history and science all in one enjoyable reading. Plus lovely illustrations to complement the text.
July 29, 2019
Such a unique book, thoroughly enjoyed it, especially loved the illustrations throughout the book, engaging and humurous, I hope there will be a sequel!
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January 6, 2020Fantastic plot line, well written book, The illustrations really make the book a fun and an engaging experience through out.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews