The Space Between Us

by Doug Johnstone

Overview

When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, they're convinced their ordeal is connected to the alien creature discovered on a nearby beach... an adrenaline-soaked, deeply humane, life-affirming first-contact novel from one of Scotland's most revered authors...

Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don't know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes...

...only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered.

When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call 'Sandy' and goes on the run.

But they aren't the only ones with an interest in the alien ... close behind are Ava's husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy's arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781914585456
Publisher:	Orenda Books
Publication date:	03/02/2023
Series:	The Enceladons Trilogy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
Sales rank:	21,588
File size:	427 KB

About the Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of fourteen previous novels, most recently Black Hearts (2022). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year. He's taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years.

Editorial Reviews

"Doug Johnstone has written a science fiction novel with all the drive, curiosity and wonder one expects to find from his crime and mystery novels because building suspense and storytelling are his hallmarks . Johnstone makes it fun and science fiction gains a new author." —Derek B. Miller, author of Norwegian by Night.

"A wonderfully short book, it nevertheless manages to cram in so much. The cast of characters are so deftly drawn you can't help but care for them or hate them as required. . . All in all another brilliant read from Doug, who just keeps getting better and better with each book. . . I very much hope there's going to be a sequel." —James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro series and the Constance Fairchild series.

"Doug Johnstone has given us the excellent and exciting Skelfs series of crime thrillers, which are among the best in the genre of recent times. But long term-admirers know he is a versatile and skilful writer. . . A thrilling and inventive novel." —Snack Mag

"A science fiction thriller that really crackles and an impressive meditation on human connection. I absolutely loved it." —Neil Williamson, author of The Moon King.

"Johnstone’s book is a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective, and a celebration of our capacity to connect with one another, shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonder." —Herald Scotland.

"Doug Johnstone has written an article for The Big Issue titled: How a stroke led to my first contact with aliens' to celebrate publication of The Space Between Us." —The Big Issue.

"A fantastic, life-affirming read." The Space Between Us is a Book of the Year in Prima Magazine

From the Publisher