The Space Between Us: This year's most life-affirming, awe-inspiring read – Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023 (Volume 1) (The Enceladons Trilogy)

Product Information

As well as firmly making the point that Sandy is a refugee in a very hostile environment, the genre allows Johnstone to explore deeply and inventively the theme of belonging. His protagonists all feel, in their own ways, isolated from the world around them, and the shared purpose they find in taking responsibility for Sandy binds them together, moulding them into a surrogate family. But their sense of becoming part of something bigger than themselves is taken to another level by the telepathic link with Sandy, felt most strongly by Lennox, which gives them visions of what it’s like to swim through an alien sea in a collective consciousness for whom “the human idea of being singular, apart, alone, was a ridiculous and lonely way of looking at life.”

Even if you are not a science fiction aficionado, you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend you give it a try.

Most Popular Trails

Sandy manages to communicate with Lennox initially which guides all three in the direction where Sandy needs to go. As the pace ramps up, danger lurks at every corner. But through connections and understanding, Lennox, Ava and Heather realise the enormity of what they are involved with and the consequences of every action they take or do not take. Lennox, Ava, and Heather feel a pull towards the creature, which Lennox names Sandy. They need to get to them to help them… All the drive, curiosity and wonder of his crime and mystery novels ... science fiction gains a new author' Derek B Miller

A sci-fi novel that is as moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park again’ Mark Billingham Each of out characters were deeply personable, instantly recognisable with their distinct voices as we hear from each perspective; the switches happening smoothly, quietly telling us that they are all part of something larger if we can just find the link. All of them are suffering with something, looking for a way out but never really knowing what that could look like. The relationships between them grew beautifully, a connection and bond forming not only over their shared experiences but something much more meaningful as they recognise something within each other. a b "Doug Johnstone promises a dead good read". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 5 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Johnstone's mesmeric story artfully puts Scotland centre stage in a sci-fi drama that is as much about the smallness of mankind and the importance of kinship … Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches All three feel a compulsive and inexplicable draw to a beach where an octopus-like creature has been washed up. There is media curiosity but, in most cases, it is thought to be just an odd looking creature that needs disposing of. But there are others out there who think differently. Lennox, Ava and Heather put together a plan to rescue this creature and what follows is a race against time as they all fear for their own safety and the safety of this creature they have affectionately named Sandy.

Featured Book

Doug Johnstone (born 22 July 1970) is a Scottish crime writer based in Edinburgh. His ninth novel Fault Lines was published by Orenda Books in May 2018. [1] His 2015 book The Jump (published by Faber & Faber) was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel. [2] Our cephalopod, Sandy, is no different. They have found themselves homeless – forced from their home and looking for a safe place to live without fear. They are refugees and first we need to understand them, learn how to communicate with them and finally, find a way to live side by side with them in harmony. This book reminded me of a cross between the movies ET and Alien. ET because the alien was kept hidden and was pursued by the authorities, and Alien because of the physicality of the lifeform and its ability to “talk” to humans using rudimentary language. I also liked the fact that Sandy was a refugee of sorts, a homeless being washed up on a shore, looking for a place to live without fear. How timely. This book has a lot of layers to it and it all worked for me. Recommended. The Space Between Us is an amazing and life affirming book that I never wanted to end. The characters draw you into their story, and make you really care about what happened to them. Sandy was probably my favourite, they had more humanity than humans and it is through Sandy that we are reminded of the human need to belong, to have friends and family and be part of something. I adored this book, it is full of hope and really touched my heart and soul and I was genuinely sad when I finished it. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and is a must read for everyone.