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Spacer and Rat
Jack knows who belongs out in the Black. And who doesn't -- until Kit comes walking into the pub and changes everything he believes about the Black, about the people who live there, about what it takes to be a human being. Margaret Bechard set out to write an adventure story with laser guns ad spaceships. Then, she says, "there was a big step and a long fall off a cliff while I realized that my characters didn't want to do the stuff I had in my mind; they had plans of their own." The a fast-paced space adventure and a short story about human feeling and growing up -- science fiction for those who love SF; riveting fiction for those who don't.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Bechard
11 books13 followersMargaret Bechard is the author of five novels for younger readers, and one other young adult novel, IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU, which SLJ praised for its "healthy dose of humor." She lives in Tigard, Oregon, with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 13, 2014
...I wanted to like this book so much. Not so much because I liked the blurb, but because I really loved the title/cover and it looked like it should have been a badass sci-fi that brought up the question of what it truely means to be human. HOWEVER. It was really just a story made from a hodgepodge of "science-y" sounding words that really come off as annoying/childish. (That's so flash! = That's so awesome! After reading it over 50 times I almost wanted to strangle a fictional speedster that shares the same name.) Also the word "cousins" for some reason no longer exists. Instead of getting smarter, the further we get into the future the more stupid humans get. Non-sensical explanations for how humans populated space and why not everyone has left Earth. (Despite it being assumingly terrible place or the slums of the Black A.K.A space after 400 years into the future it's still largely populated by people for uh...some reason?) And random racism that gets literally NO EXPLANATION. (Basically humans are split into two people rats/earthies ((Earth humans)) and spacers ((people who live in the Black.) For some reason spacers are able to spot a rat/earthies on sight even if they've disguised themselves in spacer costumes. Despite looking exactly the same ((they use the same modifications, are born the same, and don't look a thing differently) they are easily found because of the way they smell and look. Sadistic spacer children make it a came to torture any rat they find in terrible and inhuman ways for not fucking reason outside "they're different than us/less of a human." WOW HUMANITY LOOK AT THAT FUCKING PROGRESS. YOU POPULATE SPACE BUT YOU'RE STILL INFORCING PLAYGROUND BULLYING.
Outside of the annoying space lingo and nonsensical world building. The plot itself was boring and the characters well...I would toss self righteous spacer Jack into a distingrater after two hours spent in this company. Everyone was two demensional and annoying. There was a sentintent robot whose supposed "human nature" could have been explored more and make the story mildy thought provoking...but it wasn't. I didn't understand the story, I didn't like the characters, and I was really disapointed. 2 stars because I still adore the cover.
Outside of the annoying space lingo and nonsensical world building. The plot itself was boring and the characters well...I would toss self righteous spacer Jack into a distingrater after two hours spent in this company. Everyone was two demensional and annoying. There was a sentintent robot whose supposed "human nature" could have been explored more and make the story mildy thought provoking...but it wasn't. I didn't understand the story, I didn't like the characters, and I was really disapointed. 2 stars because I still adore the cover.
March 20, 2017
I recently picked up a copy of an old library book at a used book sale. It had a minimalistic, but interesting looking cover, an author I wasn't familiar with, and title I'd never heard. So of course I picked it up immediately. Spacer and Rat by Margaret Bechard is a young adult science fiction novel that I am very happy I discovered by accident.
This book is a story about two teenagers living on a space station. Jack is a Spacer, a native of the space stations that dot the galaxy, whose aptitude tests placed him in the food service industry. Food isn’t the only thing he deals with over at Gert’s place. It’s also known for its shadier deals. Kit is an Earther, born on the shattered remains of Earth, known most commonly as a Rat. Kit challenges everything Jack knows, including what it means to be human.
At a mere 192 pages with rather large typeface, I got through this novel very quickly. Whatever it may lack in page length it makes up for in content. A lot happens within these pages. The book explores friendship, loyalty, and what it means to be human.
Spacer and Rat felt a bit more speculative than some of the young adult speculative fiction I’ve read recently. It delves into some hard questions. What makes a person human? Who are the people important to you and why? Is family the people who you’re related to by blood, or is family something more than that? All of these questions and their answers are handled deftly and with a careful hand.
You know what made me happiest? There wasn’t any romance! I know, I know. What a killjoy.
But, honestly, it was very refreshing to find a novel where the main characters are enemies who learn to be friends rather than enemies who immediately enter a whirlwind romance. Both Jack and Kit grow a lot over the course of the novel. Both have insecurities and deep flaws to overcome. Kit will stop at nothing to make good on a promise to her deceased father. Jack just wants to make some extra cash before he’s transferred to a different, more affluent space station. Both must learn to trust one another, something made very difficult by Jack’s prejudice against Earthers.
And, my god, the prejudice here is deep, unrelenting, and horrible. Kit is rightfully horrified and afraid of the people Jack calls friend. But, slowly, Jack begins to question what he’s thinks and what he’s been taught. The amount of hate Spacers have for Earthers is intense, and there is a very real dystopic feel underlying the plot. We don’t get to see too much of this, however. This story focuses very much on the microcosm of Jack’s world – the shop he works at and the station in general.
The world this book is set in is very interesting. We get glimpses of a lot more of what’s happening outside of the space station. There’s dissent between different space stations. Earth is a toxic mess, a place where the only people live there are those who can’t afford to leave. It is unfortunate that this isn’t a series. At least, not to my knowledge. I would love to learn more about this universe, especially through a story of bigger scope.
The book is very atmospheric with decent world building. There isn’t really any time taken out to explain the history of this futuristic world or how humanity came to populate space. World building is done largely through dialogue while managing to never feel very exposition-y. This is something I loved and really admired, though I can see some readers not appreciating it as much I did.
However, there is one thing I want to warn readers about. The characters speak using slang, especially curse words, unique to their world. While I enjoyed this and think it added a lot to the setting, I can see a lot of people not liking this. Now, it isn’t as bad as some novels. But nearly no modern day curses, to use one example, are used, the characters instead using words and phrases unique to the place and time. This didn’t feel forced on part of the author and I never found it annoying, but for anyone who would, do be warned as this is used liberally throughout the novel.
There were a lot of cute, wonderful touches to the story as well. The vast majority of the space ships mentioned that dock at the space station are named after science fiction masters. There is the Larry Niven and the Ray Bradbury, among others. I also loved how the maintenance robot is named Waldo.
Speaking of Waldo, I really loved that character. The juxtaposition of a commonplace robot with sentience was wonderful. While incredibly advanced in some ways, he is still a regular looking, older model maintenance robot. Ironically, Waldo is probably the character with the most heart in the entire novel. For being a robot, he’s very human. It’s not every day that one of the characters you can identify the most closely with is a robot.
I definitely recommend reading Spacer and Rat by Margaret Bechard. This is a fantastic YA sci-fi story that will appeal to fans of young adult dystopian novels as well as general young adult novels. If you don’t like invented curse words or books with darker undertones, this one might not be for you.
This review and more can be found on Looking Glass Reads.
This book is a story about two teenagers living on a space station. Jack is a Spacer, a native of the space stations that dot the galaxy, whose aptitude tests placed him in the food service industry. Food isn’t the only thing he deals with over at Gert’s place. It’s also known for its shadier deals. Kit is an Earther, born on the shattered remains of Earth, known most commonly as a Rat. Kit challenges everything Jack knows, including what it means to be human.
At a mere 192 pages with rather large typeface, I got through this novel very quickly. Whatever it may lack in page length it makes up for in content. A lot happens within these pages. The book explores friendship, loyalty, and what it means to be human.
Spacer and Rat felt a bit more speculative than some of the young adult speculative fiction I’ve read recently. It delves into some hard questions. What makes a person human? Who are the people important to you and why? Is family the people who you’re related to by blood, or is family something more than that? All of these questions and their answers are handled deftly and with a careful hand.
You know what made me happiest? There wasn’t any romance! I know, I know. What a killjoy.
But, honestly, it was very refreshing to find a novel where the main characters are enemies who learn to be friends rather than enemies who immediately enter a whirlwind romance. Both Jack and Kit grow a lot over the course of the novel. Both have insecurities and deep flaws to overcome. Kit will stop at nothing to make good on a promise to her deceased father. Jack just wants to make some extra cash before he’s transferred to a different, more affluent space station. Both must learn to trust one another, something made very difficult by Jack’s prejudice against Earthers.
And, my god, the prejudice here is deep, unrelenting, and horrible. Kit is rightfully horrified and afraid of the people Jack calls friend. But, slowly, Jack begins to question what he’s thinks and what he’s been taught. The amount of hate Spacers have for Earthers is intense, and there is a very real dystopic feel underlying the plot. We don’t get to see too much of this, however. This story focuses very much on the microcosm of Jack’s world – the shop he works at and the station in general.
The world this book is set in is very interesting. We get glimpses of a lot more of what’s happening outside of the space station. There’s dissent between different space stations. Earth is a toxic mess, a place where the only people live there are those who can’t afford to leave. It is unfortunate that this isn’t a series. At least, not to my knowledge. I would love to learn more about this universe, especially through a story of bigger scope.
The book is very atmospheric with decent world building. There isn’t really any time taken out to explain the history of this futuristic world or how humanity came to populate space. World building is done largely through dialogue while managing to never feel very exposition-y. This is something I loved and really admired, though I can see some readers not appreciating it as much I did.
However, there is one thing I want to warn readers about. The characters speak using slang, especially curse words, unique to their world. While I enjoyed this and think it added a lot to the setting, I can see a lot of people not liking this. Now, it isn’t as bad as some novels. But nearly no modern day curses, to use one example, are used, the characters instead using words and phrases unique to the place and time. This didn’t feel forced on part of the author and I never found it annoying, but for anyone who would, do be warned as this is used liberally throughout the novel.
There were a lot of cute, wonderful touches to the story as well. The vast majority of the space ships mentioned that dock at the space station are named after science fiction masters. There is the Larry Niven and the Ray Bradbury, among others. I also loved how the maintenance robot is named Waldo.
Speaking of Waldo, I really loved that character. The juxtaposition of a commonplace robot with sentience was wonderful. While incredibly advanced in some ways, he is still a regular looking, older model maintenance robot. Ironically, Waldo is probably the character with the most heart in the entire novel. For being a robot, he’s very human. It’s not every day that one of the characters you can identify the most closely with is a robot.
I definitely recommend reading Spacer and Rat by Margaret Bechard. This is a fantastic YA sci-fi story that will appeal to fans of young adult dystopian novels as well as general young adult novels. If you don’t like invented curse words or books with darker undertones, this one might not be for you.
This review and more can be found on Looking Glass Reads.
February 26, 2019
04 October 2005 SPACER AND RAT by Margaret Bechard, Roaring Brook, October 2005, ISBN: 1-59643-058-3
"Have you seen the stars tonight?
Would you like go up on 'A' deck and look at them with me?
Have you seen the stars tonight?
Would you like to go up for a stroll and keep me company?"
--Paul Kantner, from Blows Against the Empire (1970)
Jack is an orphaned adolescent spacer. He's always lived on Freedom Station, which was formed from the asteroid X-117 and moved to its current site (just inside the Asteroid Belt) in 2217. The Station serves and services the ships that move Earthies away from their troubled planet heading for the similarly-troubled colonies in the Belt. Apprenticing at Gert's Pub, Jack comes into contact with all types. But heading into work one day:
"Jack stopped beside the fence that ran around the pub's side yard. The inorganics recycler was humming, processing a load of Gert's empties. A cool breeze fanned up from the South Dock. Cycle Four of the weather program. Jack took a deep breath and caught the smell of the fish farm, heavy and musty. Gert would say it was the ventilation glitching again. Gert would say the Company admins should get off their big, soft, fat butts and fix a few things around here.
"But Jack had always kind of liked that smell.
"Over the soft drone of the recycler, he heard a thump. And then a bump.
"Slowly, carefully, Jack set down the sling bag and peered over the fence.
"A rat was sneaking out from behind the bin of the recycler.
" 'Hey!' Jack shouted. 'Hey!'
"The rat froze. Its head turned, and just for a nano, it stared up at Jack.
"And then it made a dash for freedom.
" 'No!' Jack leapt over the sling bag. He reached the gate just as the rat did. His fingers hooked into its shirt collar. 'Got you!'
"A booted foot shot out and whacked him, hard, on the knee.
" 'Ow! Ow! Drekking...ow!'
" 'Let me go,' the rat hissed. 'Let me go, you toxic spacer!' The foot shot out again.
"Jack jumped back, lost his grip on the collar, and barely managed to grab the rat's sleeve.
"And realized it was a girl. Spam. Girl rats were the worst. They cried. They whined.
" 'You some kind of perv?' the rat said. And she slapped him, hard, right across the face.
"Jack let go of her and rubbed his cheek. 'Jupiter's eye. You don't have to hit people, you dim rat.'
"The Earthie girl glared at him, her hands on her hips, all wild, wiry white hair and eyes as bright green and iridescent as fish scales. They had to be gen mods, no way they could be natural, but Jack had never seen them in the catalog. 'You don't have to grab people.' She sounded just like a school vid, teaching the basic regs. 'And don't call me "rat." '
"Jack laughed. 'You are a rat. True fact. Your parents dumped you here.' "
So begins SPACER AND RAT, a sweet, little space adventure featuring futuristic performances of Macbeth, return-of-the-sun parties in zero gee, a cast of thousands (of little bots that perform all the menial tasks), intrigue and double-crossings, a young man searching for himself and longing for family, and the young, green-eyed woman with the unusual sibling, both of whom will change Jack's life forever.
Author Margaret Bechard has great fun with the technology and the terminology, such as having colony and ship names alude to Shakespeare characters and classic twentieth century sci-fi icons. But, in addition, readers will unquestionably be affected by Jack and Kit's story. Bechard provides both the despair of a solar system which has never succeeded in solving its health, political, or environmental problems, along with the hope that comes from this young man coming to see his universe in a new way.
True fact. SPACER AND RAT is one stellar trip.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
"Have you seen the stars tonight?
Would you like go up on 'A' deck and look at them with me?
Have you seen the stars tonight?
Would you like to go up for a stroll and keep me company?"
--Paul Kantner, from Blows Against the Empire (1970)
Jack is an orphaned adolescent spacer. He's always lived on Freedom Station, which was formed from the asteroid X-117 and moved to its current site (just inside the Asteroid Belt) in 2217. The Station serves and services the ships that move Earthies away from their troubled planet heading for the similarly-troubled colonies in the Belt. Apprenticing at Gert's Pub, Jack comes into contact with all types. But heading into work one day:
"Jack stopped beside the fence that ran around the pub's side yard. The inorganics recycler was humming, processing a load of Gert's empties. A cool breeze fanned up from the South Dock. Cycle Four of the weather program. Jack took a deep breath and caught the smell of the fish farm, heavy and musty. Gert would say it was the ventilation glitching again. Gert would say the Company admins should get off their big, soft, fat butts and fix a few things around here.
"But Jack had always kind of liked that smell.
"Over the soft drone of the recycler, he heard a thump. And then a bump.
"Slowly, carefully, Jack set down the sling bag and peered over the fence.
"A rat was sneaking out from behind the bin of the recycler.
" 'Hey!' Jack shouted. 'Hey!'
"The rat froze. Its head turned, and just for a nano, it stared up at Jack.
"And then it made a dash for freedom.
" 'No!' Jack leapt over the sling bag. He reached the gate just as the rat did. His fingers hooked into its shirt collar. 'Got you!'
"A booted foot shot out and whacked him, hard, on the knee.
" 'Ow! Ow! Drekking...ow!'
" 'Let me go,' the rat hissed. 'Let me go, you toxic spacer!' The foot shot out again.
"Jack jumped back, lost his grip on the collar, and barely managed to grab the rat's sleeve.
"And realized it was a girl. Spam. Girl rats were the worst. They cried. They whined.
" 'You some kind of perv?' the rat said. And she slapped him, hard, right across the face.
"Jack let go of her and rubbed his cheek. 'Jupiter's eye. You don't have to hit people, you dim rat.'
"The Earthie girl glared at him, her hands on her hips, all wild, wiry white hair and eyes as bright green and iridescent as fish scales. They had to be gen mods, no way they could be natural, but Jack had never seen them in the catalog. 'You don't have to grab people.' She sounded just like a school vid, teaching the basic regs. 'And don't call me "rat." '
"Jack laughed. 'You are a rat. True fact. Your parents dumped you here.' "
So begins SPACER AND RAT, a sweet, little space adventure featuring futuristic performances of Macbeth, return-of-the-sun parties in zero gee, a cast of thousands (of little bots that perform all the menial tasks), intrigue and double-crossings, a young man searching for himself and longing for family, and the young, green-eyed woman with the unusual sibling, both of whom will change Jack's life forever.
Author Margaret Bechard has great fun with the technology and the terminology, such as having colony and ship names alude to Shakespeare characters and classic twentieth century sci-fi icons. But, in addition, readers will unquestionably be affected by Jack and Kit's story. Bechard provides both the despair of a solar system which has never succeeded in solving its health, political, or environmental problems, along with the hope that comes from this young man coming to see his universe in a new way.
True fact. SPACER AND RAT is one stellar trip.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
August 8, 2021
I did and didn't like this book. I liked it, because I liked the idea of what the book could have been. But something was missing. I never really figured out why Silver and the Company was after the robot guy Waldo -- was it because he had developed feelings like a regular person or was it because of some other foreign reason that I somehow missed? There were just too many unanswered problems in this book, this one included as one of them. The others would be like why exactly the rat (Kit) came into the story. She was connected with Waldo, but then that leads me back to why Waldo specifically was so important that people were hunting him and the others who had him down.
While I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan because there is way too much terminology about the entire world and spacecraft that makes no sense to me (at least that is a big part of it), this was sort of an exception because I did kinda like it aside from what felt like unanswered questions I'm stuck with.
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
Other:
While I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan because there is way too much terminology about the entire world and spacecraft that makes no sense to me (at least that is a big part of it), this was sort of an exception because I did kinda like it aside from what felt like unanswered questions I'm stuck with.
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
Other:
Read
May 8, 2020Jack has lived his whole life on Freedom Station, so he knows just what it takes to make it in The Black, what spacies call outer space. When new colonist from Earth show up, he shakes his head at their confused looks and outdated ways. Well, they've got a lot to learn, that's for sure.
Jack thinks, "They just don't get it, Earthies. You could talk to them until you used up all the atmo on the entire station, and they'd never get how it worked out in the Black. They ruined Earth and now they're going to ruin the rest of the solar system"
But Jack has always kind of liked the musty smell that comes from the hydroponic farms and fish farms. Although he wouldn't know, that is what Earth smells like. One day, Jack spies a rat running through the space station. He makes a grab for it, before it wastes the stations resources.
Read p. 9 "A rat was sneaking … don't call me rat." Rat is spacer slang for orphans or children abandoned at the space station.
Her stories of Earth make Jack rethink all that he has ever thought about what it takes to be a human.
Jack thinks, "They just don't get it, Earthies. You could talk to them until you used up all the atmo on the entire station, and they'd never get how it worked out in the Black. They ruined Earth and now they're going to ruin the rest of the solar system"
But Jack has always kind of liked the musty smell that comes from the hydroponic farms and fish farms. Although he wouldn't know, that is what Earth smells like. One day, Jack spies a rat running through the space station. He makes a grab for it, before it wastes the stations resources.
Read p. 9 "A rat was sneaking … don't call me rat." Rat is spacer slang for orphans or children abandoned at the space station.
Her stories of Earth make Jack rethink all that he has ever thought about what it takes to be a human.
April 11, 2024
Spacer and Rat is a space opera clearly aimed at middle-schoolers. Kit, a stowaway “land rat” newly arrived in the asteroid belt, is bullied by station-born spacer kids. Spacer Jack overcomes his prejudice, rescues her, and helps her retrieve an illegal sentient robot named Waldo. The kids may like the fast-paced adventure, and adults old enough to remember will appreciate the many direct and indirect allusions to Asimov, Heinlein, and Clarke.
December 22, 2016
A quick, easy science fiction read. It was enjoyable for me, and I'm sure a younger reader would be enthralled. The description of deep open space was particularly beautiful and the characters were likeable.
February 24, 2020
A quick and fun read. Doesn’t clear up much, but was an exciting journey!
January 10, 2025
Unexpected and delightful from start to finish! Definitely recommend to spacers AND rats alike.
February 2, 2020
The reason I was initially drawn to this book was because of the name and the cover, but as soon as I started reading it, it became evident that it was just a sci-fi novel left on the stove too long. It was honestly just confusing and unnecessary, especially when the author replaced words and phrases for more "sci-fi"-y terms. In addition to that, the plot itself was confusing, and I feel like some unnecessary parts were overly detailed and stretched out, while some key parts that could have made the story deeper were just glazed over. For example, there were 3 pages about trying to turn a scooter, but just when Jack and Kit were about to give up, this sentient robot could suddenly just control the entire web of other robots to save them all. The only reason this isn't doesn't have a lower rating is that it kind of tries to teach a lesson about discrimination with the whole "spacer" and "earthie" thing.
September 18, 2011
Jack is looking forward to leaving Freedom Station (a space station). He’s lived there his whole life, apprenticed to Gert, who owns the best pub on Freedom, and he’s about to leave for a new position (also in food service – his Company assigned calling) when he meets Kit. Kit is from Earth and was traveling with her father when he died mid-flight (from contaminants in his sleepbag). Without any credit to her name, Kit is stranded on Freedom (she’s what’s called a ‘rat’ by the ‘spacers’ – those that live on space stations) with a maintenance bot her father secretly and illegally modified (making it simultaneously intelligent and self-aware). There are some not so nice people who are after Kit and her bot, and Jack accidentally gets himself involved when he attempts to make a little extra credit on the side working for one of them. After he meets the bot (Waldo) and hears Kit’s story, however, he changes his mind about the ‘rat,’ and decides he wants to help them escape. It will be dangerous, but Jack is determined to succeed.
This is a short, fast-paced, science fiction story, where spacers and earthies are at loggerheads. It’s a little spare (at 183 pages), but the immediate story and characters pull you right into their world. The ending is somewhat abrupt and disappointing (Waldo gets away, but Kit and Jack are slated to return to Freedom , where it will be business as usual), and one wants a little more – what happens next? Margaret Bechard leaves some clues (Waldo has big plans), but it looks like this one might be a standalone!
This is a short, fast-paced, science fiction story, where spacers and earthies are at loggerheads. It’s a little spare (at 183 pages), but the immediate story and characters pull you right into their world. The ending is somewhat abrupt and disappointing (Waldo gets away, but Kit and Jack are slated to return to Freedom , where it will be business as usual), and one wants a little more – what happens next? Margaret Bechard leaves some clues (Waldo has big plans), but it looks like this one might be a standalone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2016
A great introductory science fiction work for young readers. I've been reading quite a lot of Laurie Halse Anderson lately in my journey through some popular YA books, and this book provided a nice break from the teenage existential angst with a plot geared toward younger readers. When I was growing up, I used to hear people rave about Margaret Bechard, and while I wasn't exactly blown away by this book, I can see the value for younger readers.
Not only does Spacer and Rat provide a great space adventure, but it also tackles the issues of prejudice and stereotypes without hitting you over the head with a lesson. Jack and Kit, while perhaps not the most fleshed out characters, demonstrate the tensions in cross-cultural encounters. As they both begin to learn from each other, Jack begins to reexamine his prejudices and past actions in new light. At the end, he has begun to question his own goals and plans for the future. Overall, this was an entertaining read. Adults might wish for a bit more character development and nuanced plot, but younger readers will probably find it engrossing and highly suspenseful.
Not only does Spacer and Rat provide a great space adventure, but it also tackles the issues of prejudice and stereotypes without hitting you over the head with a lesson. Jack and Kit, while perhaps not the most fleshed out characters, demonstrate the tensions in cross-cultural encounters. As they both begin to learn from each other, Jack begins to reexamine his prejudices and past actions in new light. At the end, he has begun to question his own goals and plans for the future. Overall, this was an entertaining read. Adults might wish for a bit more character development and nuanced plot, but younger readers will probably find it engrossing and highly suspenseful.
April 7, 2011
Jack is a Spacer. He lives on the space station Freedom and spends his time working in Gert's pub to save up credits for a new zip scooter and sometimes hanging out with his friends. But Jack's understanding of his world turns upside-down when he meets Kit, an Earthie fresh off the latest space freighter to dock at Freedom. Before he really knows what's happening, Jack is helping Kit escape the station and finding out that the things he thought he knew might not be true after all.
Margaret Bechard has created one of the most interesting sci-fi settings I've read in awhile. Her characters are interesting, and their future slang is easy to pick up on and fun to read. Like all really good science fiction, Spacer and Rat brings up questions about life and humanity, but it does so subtly and gracefully. I would absolutely *love* to see this book made into a movie - Bechard's space station setting would be fantastic on the big screen.
Margaret Bechard has created one of the most interesting sci-fi settings I've read in awhile. Her characters are interesting, and their future slang is easy to pick up on and fun to read. Like all really good science fiction, Spacer and Rat brings up questions about life and humanity, but it does so subtly and gracefully. I would absolutely *love* to see this book made into a movie - Bechard's space station setting would be fantastic on the big screen.
February 28, 2012
This little sci-fi escapade zips and zaps out of the station with a refreshing cast of characters, a well-built future landscape, and plenty of surprises along the way, but unfortunately, runs out of fuel at the end. Still, it’s a solid tale with a lot of deeper meaning and plenty of action to keep readers hooked. Hopefully, it’ll lead younger readers to a galaxy of other science fiction greats.
Full review at my blog: http://splinteredfragmentsoflight.blo...
Full review at my blog: http://splinteredfragmentsoflight.blo...
December 26, 2008
A little slow at the start but over all a fun sci-fi read. It took a little to long to get into the main plot of the story and some of the issues weren't fully resolved but if you can overlook those small issues it is a fairly good start to sci-fi. It could be a good gateway into bigger and better sci-fi for young readers. Definitely a young reader book so don't come looking for a sophisticated and complicated read.
March 3, 2012
Quick Read: A fun, short, and fast-paced work of unexpectedly original science fiction. Character-driven novels are my favorites, and this one definitely was, but the world building was concrete too. I was surprised by the depth of the characters - their resilience, humanity, and development. The spacer jargon and tech references were easy enough to follow, and fun to read. It’s a solid little story, with a quick plot and startling deep message lurking beneath.
April 22, 2011
Jack's predictable life on Freedom Station is turned upside down the moment he meets the Rat, Kit. He should turn her in to the company for wasting resources, yet he hides and abets her instead. Now Jack and Kit are on the run from the authorities, trying to protect Waldo, a sentient robot forbidden to exist, yet valuable for weapons research.
June 6, 2012
Pretty good for a Sci Fi. Kudos to the author for not making it Dystopian!
The world building, though often vague, was really interesting. The story could have been longer, but all in all it was alright. It would be cool if Bechard made a sequel for Waldo.
My favorite part of this book was the interactive chessboard! I loved how the pieces yelled at each other. LOL
The world building, though often vague, was really interesting. The story could have been longer, but all in all it was alright. It would be cool if Bechard made a sequel for Waldo.
My favorite part of this book was the interactive chessboard! I loved how the pieces yelled at each other. LOL
March 26, 2014
Jack lives on the space station and he works in Gert's pub and he is a spacer, he work there because he needs to save to buy a scooter. one day jack meets kit, but he didnt knew him enough and didnt know what was happening, and jack was actually helping Kit escape the station and find out that things werent as he tought they were.
July 26, 2007
I am halfway through Space and Rat and even though I am not a sci fi reader, I love Jack and the world Bechard creates is believable,funky and faking out the powers that be. I want to keep on reading and finding out more about Kit, the earthie rat.
July 4, 2009
If you're into sci fi star wars type business, this book is all for you. Even if you aren't a total space lover it is still worth a look. It has got very intriguing characters and quite the twist at the end I thought.
December 31, 2014
I was expecting the action and adventure to continue longer than it did. I felt like the story came to a halt rather abruptly, and the ending seemed a bit cliche. However, I bought into the characters. An interesting take on a futuristic society.
August 14, 2021
Awwwwww the first book I ever professionally reviewed. No memory of it otherwise.
This is not a useful review, sorry.
This is not a useful review, sorry.
May 28, 2008
Speedy, accessible, engrossing science fiction for kids and young teens - SO hard to find! This is a good one, and it has an excellent cover as well.
Read
June 21, 2008This fast-paced space adventure story about growing up centers around Jack, who knows he belongs out in the Black and who doesn’t—until Kit walks into the pub and challenges everything Jack believes.
August 25, 2008
I was probably predisposed to like this book because I'm currently in love with WALL-E. A short-and-sweet far-future space story.
January 2, 2009
I am admittedly not a Sci-Fi fan, but this book really didn't do anything for me. All of the techno jargon like drekking, spam, stellar, took awa from my enjoyment of the plot.
July 22, 2009
YA Sci-Fi.
May 27, 2009
Robot, Robot! Science Fiction novel taking place in space in the future. Pretty good story, especially the parts that include robot interaction.
September 23, 2010
Quick, easy read for an adult. Sucked me in enough that I kept reading past my bed time. Recommended for teen/pre-teens looking for age-appropriate sci fi.
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