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Satellite
A teenage boy born in space makes his first trip to Earth.
He’s going to a place he’s never been before: home.
Moon 2 is a space station that orbits approximately 250 miles above Earth. It travels 17,500 miles an hour, making one full orbit every ninety minutes. It’s also the only home that fifteen-year-old Leo and two other teens have ever known.
Born and raised on Moon 2, Leo and the twins, Orion and Libra, are finally old enough and strong enough to endure the dangerous trip to Earth. They’ve been “parented” by teams of astronauts since birth and have run countless drills to ready themselves for every conceivable difficulty they might face on the flight.
But has anything really prepared them for life on terra firma? Because while the planet may be home to billions of people, living there is more treacherous than Leo and his friends could ever have imagined, and their very survival will mean defying impossible odds.
He’s going to a place he’s never been before: home.
Moon 2 is a space station that orbits approximately 250 miles above Earth. It travels 17,500 miles an hour, making one full orbit every ninety minutes. It’s also the only home that fifteen-year-old Leo and two other teens have ever known.
Born and raised on Moon 2, Leo and the twins, Orion and Libra, are finally old enough and strong enough to endure the dangerous trip to Earth. They’ve been “parented” by teams of astronauts since birth and have run countless drills to ready themselves for every conceivable difficulty they might face on the flight.
But has anything really prepared them for life on terra firma? Because while the planet may be home to billions of people, living there is more treacherous than Leo and his friends could ever have imagined, and their very survival will mean defying impossible odds.
453 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2017
189 people are currently reading
5386 people want to read
About the author
Nick Lake
22 books455 followersMy name is Nick and I write and edit books for young adults. My first YA novel IN DARKNESS, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012 and won the Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in YA Literature. I also wrote a book called HOSTAGE THREE about a girl kidnapped by Somali pirates.
THERE WILL BE LIES is coming in January 15 and is about a girl who learns that everything she knows is a lie. To say it's a book with a twist in the story would be a massive understatement. There is also a talking coyote in it.
I live with my wife, daughter and son in a 16th century house in England with almost 19th century amenities. Sometimes the heating even works.
I like: reading, art, music, food containing sugar, cities at night, the countryside in the daytime, vintage furniture, modern standards of heating (see above), travelling.
I dislike: being sick, failing, being underdressed in the cold, being overdressed in the heat, the unnecessary suffering of children, being punched in the face.
THERE WILL BE LIES is coming in January 15 and is about a girl who learns that everything she knows is a lie. To say it's a book with a twist in the story would be a massive understatement. There is also a talking coyote in it.
I live with my wife, daughter and son in a 16th century house in England with almost 19th century amenities. Sometimes the heating even works.
I like: reading, art, music, food containing sugar, cities at night, the countryside in the daytime, vintage furniture, modern standards of heating (see above), travelling.
I dislike: being sick, failing, being underdressed in the cold, being overdressed in the heat, the unnecessary suffering of children, being punched in the face.
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June 12, 2023“nothing in the universe loves like the moon loves the earth.”
if you look up the word obliterated in a dictionary, you will find my full name and an unflattering crying face. because that’s what this book did to me.
so heartbroken, yet so happy.
written in text-speak, it follows Leo’s space adventures, and trying to understand how to physically and mentally exist in a world he doesn’t recognise as home, when he is able to travel to earth.
if you look up the word obliterated in a dictionary, you will find my full name and an unflattering crying face. because that’s what this book did to me.
so heartbroken, yet so happy.
written in text-speak, it follows Leo’s space adventures, and trying to understand how to physically and mentally exist in a world he doesn’t recognise as home, when he is able to travel to earth.
did-not-finish
September 29, 2017I can't take a book seriously if it's written this way so I've decided to DNF it and leave no rating. Some people have told me that the story is enjoyable if you're able to overlook to insufferable writing style but I just cannot.
Read
October 1, 2017DNF for now.
Please let this book come out on audiobook.
I want to read it so bad, but I can't read "text-speak".
I'm only 22 and haven't used text-speak since middle school. I have no idea why adults use it in books, so I really don't know how so many people were ok with publishing a book in nothing but text speak.
I understand it's supposed to give the feeling of transcripts, but considering how rare text-speak is in the year 2017 I highly doubt it's going to be all a 16-year-old knows to use in the future. Which is another reason why I can't read it- the main character is 16 and I keep reading his story as though he's 12.
So to everyone who has any say with this book, please put out an audiobook. I want your story, but I literally cannot read this book.
Please let this book come out on audiobook.
I want to read it so bad, but I can't read "text-speak".
I'm only 22 and haven't used text-speak since middle school. I have no idea why adults use it in books, so I really don't know how so many people were ok with publishing a book in nothing but text speak.
I understand it's supposed to give the feeling of transcripts, but considering how rare text-speak is in the year 2017 I highly doubt it's going to be all a 16-year-old knows to use in the future. Which is another reason why I can't read it- the main character is 16 and I keep reading his story as though he's 12.
So to everyone who has any say with this book, please put out an audiobook. I want your story, but I literally cannot read this book.
December 23, 2025
My opinion of Nick Lake was still half-formed when I picked up Satellite. There Will Be Lies, released two years earlier, was not a favorite novel of mine. The writing was lovely and the wisdom valid, but the story logic wasn't easy to follow. Whisper to Me, which came out the following year, showed more narrative discipline without sacrificing the majestic writing, and I immediately reevaluated its author. Satellite goes a step further, capturing the breathtaking sensual experience of outer space, what it would be like to migrate from that extreme environment to Earth after a lifetime there, the sensory shock of such a transition...If Nick Lake could pull this off, he would earn the respect of anyone who loves masterful storytelling.
Leo, age fifteen, has had a life unlike anyone who came before. Born on a space station orbiting Earth, along with his friends Orion and Libra, Leo has never stepped foot on the planet considered his home. He has rarely met his mother in person, mostly interacting with her on Earth via video screen. The space program mandates exercise to keep his, Orion's, and Libra's bodies in shape for their imminent first trip to Earth, because they're used to living in an environment of zero g-force. As the day scheduled for the voyage nears, Leo and his two friends address every contingency for their terrestrial touchdown. How will it feel to walk on solid ground for the first time?
Reentry is more exciting and dangerous than anticipated, but Leo, Orion, and Libra make it to Earth. Gravity presses on them with disconcerting relentlessness, a pull none of them could comprehend before actually feeling it. The sky is blue fire, lit by the acetylene torch of the Sun. Greens, oranges, and reds dance across the planet surface in stark contrast to the drab tones of the space station the three teens lived in, stimulation so intense it's painful. But Leo feels at home when his grandfather comes for him, a man he's loved his entire life from the video calls they shared. Leo's mother is here, too. She's an astronaut like Leo's grandfather, but doesn't have his same easy affection for the boy. Leo's mother can't stay, but after a long, dull quarantine to acclimate Leo to his new environment, his grandfather drives him to the old-fashioned ranch the two of them will call home. What does a future on Earth hold for Leo?
A dog, for one thing. Leo's grandfather bought him a puppy for a surprise, and Leo loves having a smaller creature to love and learn about life beside. He and Comet enjoy romping across the farm's wide range of land. Leo may suspect there's more to his Earth homecoming than his mother or the government has told him, but it doesn't matter as long as he and Comet are thriving on this gorgeous tract of land that seems to stretch forever, tiny as it is in comparison to the rich darkness of outer space. Then Leo suffers a fall and breaks his leg. The injury isn't too bad, but the doctor is concerned about other symptoms. No boy Leo's age should have osteoporosis, but his bone density is cause for concern. Leo wonders why his grandfather won't inform medical personnel about him being born and raised in space, so they can factor it into the diagnosis and treatment plan. Every precaution was taken over the years to help Leo, Orion, and Libra develop sufficient bone density, but it doesn't seem to have worked; shouldn't the doctor be made aware of the unusual situation? Another red flag pops up when armed marauders invade the ranch the first night Leo is home on the mend, and one of them tries to kill him. Why would strangers attack like that? Leo's mother and grandfather have some major confessions to make. He's deserved all along to know the truth of his own existence, but now he must know to remain safe.
"funny, how we fall back on clichés when things go wrong.
all these things we say that can't possibly ever be real.
as if u could really lose ur mind.
if only.
as if u could really cry ur eyes out.
as if tears could stop u from seeing what's in front of u, what's real."
—Satellite, P. 281
Brace yourself for the answers, though some you may have already guessed. What was Leo's purpose in the space program? Why was his existence subsidized until almost age sixteen? Horror grips Leo as he finds out how poorly his body is reacting to conditions on Earth. His heart isn't used to the strain of gravity, and neither is his skeleton. It loses mass every day, making him prone to broken bones from even mild impacts. And why is he unable to contact Orion and Libra? Leo has thought of his friends every day since touching down on Earth, and they surely haven't forgotten about him. Only when Leo finds out how Orion and Libra are faring can he fathom Earth's devastating effect on three kids born in space. Their bodies can't withstand the pressure, and it's unlikely their response to it will improve. But now that they're among Earth's populace, they can't return to their birthplace, not when such a trip costs millions of dollars. Have they been sentenced to death by scientists who viewed them as nothing more than valuable experiments? Leo understands his destiny at last, and so do Orion and Libra, though theirs may each be different. Leo has already lived more than a decade in orbit and visited Earth as an extraterrestrial, but his grandest adventure is yet to come. His next voyage will be unlike any in human history.
Satellite works through its themes more subtly than There Will Be Lies or Whisper to Me. Some are faint impressions rather than robust lessons identifiable throughout the story, and aren't easy to pinpoint in the abstract. Moving from orbit down to Earth is an extreme change that demands a writer with staggering talent to do it justice, and Nick Lake meets and perhaps exceeds expectations in that regard. The experience feels naked and real, a deluge of sensations recognizable to anyone who has been in a situation even marginally as intense as Leo's. Charles Dickens or Patrick Ness maybe could have written it better, but not many others. After Leo's body starts breaking down, an important philosophical leitmotif is introduced. When humans aren't under pressure, when standing on our own feels like a chore because others have assisted us all our lives, bones turn brittle. We don't develop the strength to do for ourselves what we should, if it's never required of us. People need physical, intellectual, and psychological resistance to build their stamina. Being shielded from the gravity of the real world feels like a kindness, but it's not if it restrains us from living as we're intended to. Another theme in Satellite, though one traced only lightly, is a phrase quoted before page one of the book: "i love, like the moon loves the earth". Two chunks of rock and magma separated in space by nearly 250,000 miles would seem to have no subjective affection for each other. Yet Leo observes how the Moon, unique from every other natural object in the universe, circles only Earth. Its every motion revolves around us. Nothing in our solar system or beyond bears such attachment to Earth. Appreciate that while we have it, however long that is. Earth will never have another relationship like what it shares with the Moon.
After finishing Satellite, I say with conviction that I believe in Nick Lake. He's a literary artist whose words paint elaborate portraits of human experience. His treatment of pivotal scenes is awesome reading. He doesn't rely much on plot twists, and when he does fashion a twist there are many YA authors who do it better, but a book like Satellite doesn't require Nick Lake to outsmart us. The march of moments is gratifying in its raw humanity, and I love the lessons ingrained in the experience, which is how we usually learn in real life. Jason Heatherly's cover illustration sums up the entire story, an astronaut boy in silhouette reaching out to touch the home he's never known, wondering if Earth could possibly love him as he has grown up loving Earth. It's one of the most poignant pieces of cover art I've seen. If heated emotion is what compels you to read, Nick Lake might not be your style, but deep thinkers will be drawn to what he creates. I'll always have a heart connection to Satellite.
Leo, age fifteen, has had a life unlike anyone who came before. Born on a space station orbiting Earth, along with his friends Orion and Libra, Leo has never stepped foot on the planet considered his home. He has rarely met his mother in person, mostly interacting with her on Earth via video screen. The space program mandates exercise to keep his, Orion's, and Libra's bodies in shape for their imminent first trip to Earth, because they're used to living in an environment of zero g-force. As the day scheduled for the voyage nears, Leo and his two friends address every contingency for their terrestrial touchdown. How will it feel to walk on solid ground for the first time?
Reentry is more exciting and dangerous than anticipated, but Leo, Orion, and Libra make it to Earth. Gravity presses on them with disconcerting relentlessness, a pull none of them could comprehend before actually feeling it. The sky is blue fire, lit by the acetylene torch of the Sun. Greens, oranges, and reds dance across the planet surface in stark contrast to the drab tones of the space station the three teens lived in, stimulation so intense it's painful. But Leo feels at home when his grandfather comes for him, a man he's loved his entire life from the video calls they shared. Leo's mother is here, too. She's an astronaut like Leo's grandfather, but doesn't have his same easy affection for the boy. Leo's mother can't stay, but after a long, dull quarantine to acclimate Leo to his new environment, his grandfather drives him to the old-fashioned ranch the two of them will call home. What does a future on Earth hold for Leo?
A dog, for one thing. Leo's grandfather bought him a puppy for a surprise, and Leo loves having a smaller creature to love and learn about life beside. He and Comet enjoy romping across the farm's wide range of land. Leo may suspect there's more to his Earth homecoming than his mother or the government has told him, but it doesn't matter as long as he and Comet are thriving on this gorgeous tract of land that seems to stretch forever, tiny as it is in comparison to the rich darkness of outer space. Then Leo suffers a fall and breaks his leg. The injury isn't too bad, but the doctor is concerned about other symptoms. No boy Leo's age should have osteoporosis, but his bone density is cause for concern. Leo wonders why his grandfather won't inform medical personnel about him being born and raised in space, so they can factor it into the diagnosis and treatment plan. Every precaution was taken over the years to help Leo, Orion, and Libra develop sufficient bone density, but it doesn't seem to have worked; shouldn't the doctor be made aware of the unusual situation? Another red flag pops up when armed marauders invade the ranch the first night Leo is home on the mend, and one of them tries to kill him. Why would strangers attack like that? Leo's mother and grandfather have some major confessions to make. He's deserved all along to know the truth of his own existence, but now he must know to remain safe.
"funny, how we fall back on clichés when things go wrong.
all these things we say that can't possibly ever be real.
as if u could really lose ur mind.
if only.
as if u could really cry ur eyes out.
as if tears could stop u from seeing what's in front of u, what's real."
—Satellite, P. 281
Brace yourself for the answers, though some you may have already guessed. What was Leo's purpose in the space program? Why was his existence subsidized until almost age sixteen? Horror grips Leo as he finds out how poorly his body is reacting to conditions on Earth. His heart isn't used to the strain of gravity, and neither is his skeleton. It loses mass every day, making him prone to broken bones from even mild impacts. And why is he unable to contact Orion and Libra? Leo has thought of his friends every day since touching down on Earth, and they surely haven't forgotten about him. Only when Leo finds out how Orion and Libra are faring can he fathom Earth's devastating effect on three kids born in space. Their bodies can't withstand the pressure, and it's unlikely their response to it will improve. But now that they're among Earth's populace, they can't return to their birthplace, not when such a trip costs millions of dollars. Have they been sentenced to death by scientists who viewed them as nothing more than valuable experiments? Leo understands his destiny at last, and so do Orion and Libra, though theirs may each be different. Leo has already lived more than a decade in orbit and visited Earth as an extraterrestrial, but his grandest adventure is yet to come. His next voyage will be unlike any in human history.
Satellite works through its themes more subtly than There Will Be Lies or Whisper to Me. Some are faint impressions rather than robust lessons identifiable throughout the story, and aren't easy to pinpoint in the abstract. Moving from orbit down to Earth is an extreme change that demands a writer with staggering talent to do it justice, and Nick Lake meets and perhaps exceeds expectations in that regard. The experience feels naked and real, a deluge of sensations recognizable to anyone who has been in a situation even marginally as intense as Leo's. Charles Dickens or Patrick Ness maybe could have written it better, but not many others. After Leo's body starts breaking down, an important philosophical leitmotif is introduced. When humans aren't under pressure, when standing on our own feels like a chore because others have assisted us all our lives, bones turn brittle. We don't develop the strength to do for ourselves what we should, if it's never required of us. People need physical, intellectual, and psychological resistance to build their stamina. Being shielded from the gravity of the real world feels like a kindness, but it's not if it restrains us from living as we're intended to. Another theme in Satellite, though one traced only lightly, is a phrase quoted before page one of the book: "i love, like the moon loves the earth". Two chunks of rock and magma separated in space by nearly 250,000 miles would seem to have no subjective affection for each other. Yet Leo observes how the Moon, unique from every other natural object in the universe, circles only Earth. Its every motion revolves around us. Nothing in our solar system or beyond bears such attachment to Earth. Appreciate that while we have it, however long that is. Earth will never have another relationship like what it shares with the Moon.
After finishing Satellite, I say with conviction that I believe in Nick Lake. He's a literary artist whose words paint elaborate portraits of human experience. His treatment of pivotal scenes is awesome reading. He doesn't rely much on plot twists, and when he does fashion a twist there are many YA authors who do it better, but a book like Satellite doesn't require Nick Lake to outsmart us. The march of moments is gratifying in its raw humanity, and I love the lessons ingrained in the experience, which is how we usually learn in real life. Jason Heatherly's cover illustration sums up the entire story, an astronaut boy in silhouette reaching out to touch the home he's never known, wondering if Earth could possibly love him as he has grown up loving Earth. It's one of the most poignant pieces of cover art I've seen. If heated emotion is what compels you to read, Nick Lake might not be your style, but deep thinkers will be drawn to what he creates. I'll always have a heart connection to Satellite.
April 29, 2018
spinning around the earth, endlessly. an orbit of devotion. nothing in the universe loves like the moon loves the earth.
* * * * *
5 / 5
I don't really watch space films and I don't really read space books. But something about Satellite just said read me, read me and so, naturally, I obliged and I'm so glad that I did. This book was so raw and emotional and sort of made me want to go into space (although I'm sure it would make me puke my guts up, so maybe just one of those 0g chambers...), and Leo was just such a perfect character.
space is the wrong word, because this is something that goes on forever & is full of worlds, billions of them, pinpricks sparkling in the endless darkness.
Leo and Orion and Libra were born in space. More specifically, aboard Moon 2, a space station owned and maintained by the vaguely and a little ominously named corporation, The Company. Space is all these three children have ever known, but now it's almost time for them to voyage to earth. The scientists that monitor them reckon that sixteen is old enough for the force of re-entry not to harm Leo and the twins, for their delicate space-born bones not to shatter on impact, and these children cannot wait to finally walk, to sleep without being strapped down, but they are also a little wary of leaving the only place they have ever known: the infinite, cold, dark entity that is space.
The plot is unlike anything I have ever read but what really makes this novel is the characters. Our three central characters are all distinct: Orion is a music-lover, a devourer of poetry; Libra is green-fingered, an aspiring botanist and a thoughtful girl; Leo is a dreamer, a thinker, a boy whose mother, an astronaut, barely speaks to him, and who wants nothing more than to go and live on the ranch of his grandfather, an ex-astronaut and a wonderful character in his own right. Leo is our sole narrator, concerned with mathematics and engineering and all things to do with space, he's got an unvoiced crush on Orion and a desire to see mountains and to breathe fresh air and to know what it is like to live with gravity weighing you down.
flight: the noun for flying & the noun for fleeing
we flee the earth & my heart pounds with the joy of it. what's wrong with me? all i ever wanted was this place. the ranch. the feeling of the ground beneath my feet.
but when we take off, into the sky, my body sings with it
This story in uniquely Leo's, the world and it's conspiracies seen only through his eyes (perhaps sometimes to the frustration of the reader who might like to know more about what dwells in the shadows of The Company), so it makes sense that the style of the book is different. It's all in text speak. This surprised me and was a bit offputting when I first started reading Satellite; I don't think there's a single capitalised "i", and it's always "c" instead of "see" and "u" for "you". It was a touch odd and I suppose it was meant to reflect the modernity, the youth of the narrator, his strangeness from Earth and yet his connection to it. But once I got into the book, I felt that what the writing really did was ground you in Leo's experience, immerse you in his world. But if you well and truly hate text-speak, I would probably recommend that you avoid this particular book!
I adored Satellite. I thought the writing itself was beautiful, philosophical, and deliciously quotable, the main characters and particularly Leo were delightful and felt like real people, and that the plot had the right mix of action, space-related things, wonder, suspense, conspiracies, and drama. All in all, an excellent novel.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of Satellite.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * * * *
5 / 5
I don't really watch space films and I don't really read space books. But something about Satellite just said read me, read me and so, naturally, I obliged and I'm so glad that I did. This book was so raw and emotional and sort of made me want to go into space (although I'm sure it would make me puke my guts up, so maybe just one of those 0g chambers...), and Leo was just such a perfect character.
space is the wrong word, because this is something that goes on forever & is full of worlds, billions of them, pinpricks sparkling in the endless darkness.
Leo and Orion and Libra were born in space. More specifically, aboard Moon 2, a space station owned and maintained by the vaguely and a little ominously named corporation, The Company. Space is all these three children have ever known, but now it's almost time for them to voyage to earth. The scientists that monitor them reckon that sixteen is old enough for the force of re-entry not to harm Leo and the twins, for their delicate space-born bones not to shatter on impact, and these children cannot wait to finally walk, to sleep without being strapped down, but they are also a little wary of leaving the only place they have ever known: the infinite, cold, dark entity that is space.
The plot is unlike anything I have ever read but what really makes this novel is the characters. Our three central characters are all distinct: Orion is a music-lover, a devourer of poetry; Libra is green-fingered, an aspiring botanist and a thoughtful girl; Leo is a dreamer, a thinker, a boy whose mother, an astronaut, barely speaks to him, and who wants nothing more than to go and live on the ranch of his grandfather, an ex-astronaut and a wonderful character in his own right. Leo is our sole narrator, concerned with mathematics and engineering and all things to do with space, he's got an unvoiced crush on Orion and a desire to see mountains and to breathe fresh air and to know what it is like to live with gravity weighing you down.
flight: the noun for flying & the noun for fleeing
we flee the earth & my heart pounds with the joy of it. what's wrong with me? all i ever wanted was this place. the ranch. the feeling of the ground beneath my feet.
but when we take off, into the sky, my body sings with it
This story in uniquely Leo's, the world and it's conspiracies seen only through his eyes (perhaps sometimes to the frustration of the reader who might like to know more about what dwells in the shadows of The Company), so it makes sense that the style of the book is different. It's all in text speak. This surprised me and was a bit offputting when I first started reading Satellite; I don't think there's a single capitalised "i", and it's always "c" instead of "see" and "u" for "you". It was a touch odd and I suppose it was meant to reflect the modernity, the youth of the narrator, his strangeness from Earth and yet his connection to it. But once I got into the book, I felt that what the writing really did was ground you in Leo's experience, immerse you in his world. But if you well and truly hate text-speak, I would probably recommend that you avoid this particular book!
I adored Satellite. I thought the writing itself was beautiful, philosophical, and deliciously quotable, the main characters and particularly Leo were delightful and felt like real people, and that the plot had the right mix of action, space-related things, wonder, suspense, conspiracies, and drama. All in all, an excellent novel.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of Satellite.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
dnf
August 29, 2017if u can't c why i don't like this book, maybe u will like it. (Written in the style of the book.)
May 24, 2017
- got my copy from NetGalley in exchange for review blah blah blah books... -
I'm not sure what all to make of this book. On the one hand, the story is good and held my interest: three teens born and raised in zero G on a space station come down to Earth and experience things like gravity, getting sick, being outside, etc. for the first time. It's a great fish-out-of-water story and I'm a sucker for fish-out-of-water stories. There's just one problem: the whole thing is written in textspeak.
Seriously, the whole thing. There's no "see" or "you" just "c" and "u" and "ppl" and "dr.ate" instead of "doctorate" and I is never once capitalized. It's annoying and distracting and every time I'd see it, my eye would twitch. I spent this whole book in a state of constant eye-twitching.
But! The story is still pretty cool - it's five minutes into the future, there's no more NASA, it's now privately owned by a mysterious group referred to only as "The Company" (who seem pretty damn shady) which owns the space station, Moon 2, where these kids grew up. This company invested billions of dollars in these kids and yet did not bother to teach them proper grammar...? Again, if you're not able to take a breath and look past the textspeak, you might not make it all the way through this book, which would be a shame, as, again, it's got a good story featuring a protagonist of color and some strong, well-handled LGBTQ themes. Leo (our protagonist)'s first person narration does limit the scope of the story - we get all sorts of hints about something bigger going on outside the kids' world, including conspiracy theories and a major media scandal, but we never really get to see it as The Company keeps the kids pretty tightly in their control. It would've been nice to introduce a second perspective, perhaps from someone within the company, or Leo's mom or grandfather, but since this is Leo's story, you get to take everything in from his eyes.
In goddamned textspeak. Ugh.
Still, this book is worth it despite the textspeak. Though if it were up to me, I would have gotten my editor pen and taken all of that out. It's annoying. But if you can look past the writing (which is pretty hard, since this is a book) Satellite has a really good story behind it. It's got space adventures! I'm a sucker for space adventures.
Good thing I read a kindle edition of this book, if I had gotten a paper copy, I would've gone nuts with my red editing pen.
I'm not sure what all to make of this book. On the one hand, the story is good and held my interest: three teens born and raised in zero G on a space station come down to Earth and experience things like gravity, getting sick, being outside, etc. for the first time. It's a great fish-out-of-water story and I'm a sucker for fish-out-of-water stories. There's just one problem: the whole thing is written in textspeak.
Seriously, the whole thing. There's no "see" or "you" just "c" and "u" and "ppl" and "dr.ate" instead of "doctorate" and I is never once capitalized. It's annoying and distracting and every time I'd see it, my eye would twitch. I spent this whole book in a state of constant eye-twitching.
But! The story is still pretty cool - it's five minutes into the future, there's no more NASA, it's now privately owned by a mysterious group referred to only as "The Company" (who seem pretty damn shady) which owns the space station, Moon 2, where these kids grew up. This company invested billions of dollars in these kids and yet did not bother to teach them proper grammar...? Again, if you're not able to take a breath and look past the textspeak, you might not make it all the way through this book, which would be a shame, as, again, it's got a good story featuring a protagonist of color and some strong, well-handled LGBTQ themes. Leo (our protagonist)'s first person narration does limit the scope of the story - we get all sorts of hints about something bigger going on outside the kids' world, including conspiracy theories and a major media scandal, but we never really get to see it as The Company keeps the kids pretty tightly in their control. It would've been nice to introduce a second perspective, perhaps from someone within the company, or Leo's mom or grandfather, but since this is Leo's story, you get to take everything in from his eyes.
In goddamned textspeak. Ugh.
Still, this book is worth it despite the textspeak. Though if it were up to me, I would have gotten my editor pen and taken all of that out. It's annoying. But if you can look past the writing (which is pretty hard, since this is a book) Satellite has a really good story behind it. It's got space adventures! I'm a sucker for space adventures.
Good thing I read a kindle edition of this book, if I had gotten a paper copy, I would've gone nuts with my red editing pen.
October 2, 2017
PLOT
Can home be a place you’ve never even been? A place you can’t even truly understand or even imagine. But once you’re back there, is it really home?
Leo has lived all his life on Moon 2, a space station orbiting the earth, with his sibling-friends, twins Libra and Orion. They were born there, apparently by accident, to mothers who were working in orbit at the time, and being children, are deemed not strong enough to return home to earth until their 16th birthdays which are rapidly approaching as we enter the story.
Written from Leo’s perspective, it’s a fascinating look at being a true outcast, having very little human contact and absolutely no experience of everything that we know. We follow him on his journey from 0g to the gravity of earth, into quarantine and to his grandfather’s ranch. The struggles of him trying to understand how to physically and mentally exist in a world he doesn’t recognise as home.
MY THOUGHTS
I’ll address the obvious first; the thing that everyone’s pointing out and is meaning this book is being left unfinished by some: the text speak. “U” is used instead of “you”, “c” instead “see”, and numerical digits instead of the number written out as a word.
As a self-proclaimed grammar stickler (I’ve even got the T shirt), this bothered me at first. A lot. I thought it was because it was YA and written that way to try to fit in with that genre, even though I’m not entirely sure teens even use text speak any more (why bother when we no longer have to use the multi-tap method of typing?). Then I discovered it was because Leo is in space and astronauts write that way in order to convey a message more quickly – every second counts in space – and it made sense. From then on, it still bothered me a little but I eventually stopped seeing it. It seemed to bother me most in dialogue though as it made statements seem more casual and abrupt when that character actually wasn’t really that way, but that’s really the only issue I had with it in the later parts of the book.
Moving past that though, the rest of the writing was wonderful. Descriptions that can only be described as luxurious; perceptions of earth, of “home”, as being a completely new experience. The only experiences Leo and his friends have of earth is those in books, films, TV shows and what the Company chooses for them to see.
After finishing the book, I found myself actually thinking hard about the sensations described that I normally take for granted: gravity dragging me down to the ground; the feeling of a mattress pushing back up against me, the duvet weighing me down; scents in the moving air; the sound of birds wings; and tastes. All the tastes. The way that all of these things and more became so real for me that I was appreciating things I never would have thought twice about before.
The wider world the book is set in is fantastic. We’re in the near future, on a struggling earth, which is only made apparent through dropped hints and accidentally let-on secrets. NASA has been privatised, the Company (as they’re unsettlingly referred to) alone holds the monopoly on space. But the world is a different place to the one we know. Men are casually referred to as wearing mascara and nail polish. It’s stated as part of character-building occasionally, and as it’s all from Leo’s perspective, we see that this is not a big deal. Masculinity is being worn down. This is even more apparent thanks to Leo’s attraction to men rather than women, and the way that it’s so fleetingly referred to, like the make up, as if it’s the most natural thing, rather than being made a big deal of as so many YA novels might do. This was brilliant and I’d love to see more of it.
To be completely honest, I went into this book not really expecting not to like it all that much. Yes, it’s YA and it fits one of my favourite genres of isolated landscapes, but I thought it was going to be childish and stereotypical YA-y based – I have to stop thinking this because apparently I like that stereotype! There wasn’t an overload of romance like I was expecting (in fact, there was barely any aside from the occasional attraction) and it went much deeper than I expected. I honestly loved it. It was described as The Martian for teens in the description which drew me (as I loved The Martian) so I should have believed that!
The only thing that could have made the book better was if we got to see more of the world that’s been created around the story, but I understand that seeing it through Leo’s eyes, there’s only so much we could be shown. I’d be happy to read more books set in this landscape.
I really hope this book gets the attention it deserves. I can honestly see it being made into a film – it has space, it has adventure, it has emotion, and it has a really good story line. In fact, it felt like watching a film while reading it. I hope that happens!
Can home be a place you’ve never even been? A place you can’t even truly understand or even imagine. But once you’re back there, is it really home?
Leo has lived all his life on Moon 2, a space station orbiting the earth, with his sibling-friends, twins Libra and Orion. They were born there, apparently by accident, to mothers who were working in orbit at the time, and being children, are deemed not strong enough to return home to earth until their 16th birthdays which are rapidly approaching as we enter the story.
Written from Leo’s perspective, it’s a fascinating look at being a true outcast, having very little human contact and absolutely no experience of everything that we know. We follow him on his journey from 0g to the gravity of earth, into quarantine and to his grandfather’s ranch. The struggles of him trying to understand how to physically and mentally exist in a world he doesn’t recognise as home.
MY THOUGHTS
I’ll address the obvious first; the thing that everyone’s pointing out and is meaning this book is being left unfinished by some: the text speak. “U” is used instead of “you”, “c” instead “see”, and numerical digits instead of the number written out as a word.
As a self-proclaimed grammar stickler (I’ve even got the T shirt), this bothered me at first. A lot. I thought it was because it was YA and written that way to try to fit in with that genre, even though I’m not entirely sure teens even use text speak any more (why bother when we no longer have to use the multi-tap method of typing?). Then I discovered it was because Leo is in space and astronauts write that way in order to convey a message more quickly – every second counts in space – and it made sense. From then on, it still bothered me a little but I eventually stopped seeing it. It seemed to bother me most in dialogue though as it made statements seem more casual and abrupt when that character actually wasn’t really that way, but that’s really the only issue I had with it in the later parts of the book.
Moving past that though, the rest of the writing was wonderful. Descriptions that can only be described as luxurious; perceptions of earth, of “home”, as being a completely new experience. The only experiences Leo and his friends have of earth is those in books, films, TV shows and what the Company chooses for them to see.
After finishing the book, I found myself actually thinking hard about the sensations described that I normally take for granted: gravity dragging me down to the ground; the feeling of a mattress pushing back up against me, the duvet weighing me down; scents in the moving air; the sound of birds wings; and tastes. All the tastes. The way that all of these things and more became so real for me that I was appreciating things I never would have thought twice about before.
The wider world the book is set in is fantastic. We’re in the near future, on a struggling earth, which is only made apparent through dropped hints and accidentally let-on secrets. NASA has been privatised, the Company (as they’re unsettlingly referred to) alone holds the monopoly on space. But the world is a different place to the one we know. Men are casually referred to as wearing mascara and nail polish. It’s stated as part of character-building occasionally, and as it’s all from Leo’s perspective, we see that this is not a big deal. Masculinity is being worn down. This is even more apparent thanks to Leo’s attraction to men rather than women, and the way that it’s so fleetingly referred to, like the make up, as if it’s the most natural thing, rather than being made a big deal of as so many YA novels might do. This was brilliant and I’d love to see more of it.
To be completely honest, I went into this book not really expecting not to like it all that much. Yes, it’s YA and it fits one of my favourite genres of isolated landscapes, but I thought it was going to be childish and stereotypical YA-y based – I have to stop thinking this because apparently I like that stereotype! There wasn’t an overload of romance like I was expecting (in fact, there was barely any aside from the occasional attraction) and it went much deeper than I expected. I honestly loved it. It was described as The Martian for teens in the description which drew me (as I loved The Martian) so I should have believed that!
The only thing that could have made the book better was if we got to see more of the world that’s been created around the story, but I understand that seeing it through Leo’s eyes, there’s only so much we could be shown. I’d be happy to read more books set in this landscape.
I really hope this book gets the attention it deserves. I can honestly see it being made into a film – it has space, it has adventure, it has emotion, and it has a really good story line. In fact, it felt like watching a film while reading it. I hope that happens!
September 23, 2018
2 stars.
Satellite follows three teenagers named Leo, Orion, and Libra, who were born on Moon 2, which is a space station that orbits around two hundred and fifty miles above Earth. Finally old enough to take the dangerous trip to Earth, they've been "parented" by a team of astronauts since birth and have run countless drills to ready themselves for every difficulty they might face on the flight. But nothing has really prepared them for life on Terra Firma. Because while the planet may be home to billions of people, living there is more treacherous than Leo and his friends could ever have imagined or prepared for.
Nick Lake took a huge risk writing this book in the way he did, with lowercase letters and text-speak. It worked for some, and a lot of people were able to look past it, but I definitely couldn't. The lowercase didn't bother me too much (I text like that and use lowercase on every website besides Goodreads. I just don't think a book needs to be written like that), but the text-speak definitely did. I just can't take a book that uses "u" and "u're" and "c" for "see" seriously. Lake also capitalized proper nouns, and left everything else in lowercase, which bothers me more than I can tell you. It also didn't flow well at all and felt like it was trying a little too hard to be deep and relatable, but ended up falling completely flat for me.
For some positives: I loved the characters. Leo, Orion, and Libra were well developed and fun to read about, and definitely carried the entire book for me. I would've liked a little more world-building and a little less character focus, but at least the characters were well written and interesting to read about. Leo was a great choice for a narrator—he had a strong voice and a really great personality (great for a fifteen year old boy, anyway). If anything, I'm glad Lake focused so much on the characters, because otherwise this book would've been a DNF. So that says something, I suppose.
This is a short review, but I don't have much else to say about Satellite. It was slow paced and kind of boring, but it had great characters. The writing style and rather unrealistic dialogue had me completely detached from the story, which was pretty disappointing. This kind of book will definitely work for some people, but it's just not my type of book, sadly.
There won't be any quotes in this review,because the writing was kind of terrible, which bothers me to no end because it messes up my aesthetic. Thanks for nothing, Satellite.
Satellite follows three teenagers named Leo, Orion, and Libra, who were born on Moon 2, which is a space station that orbits around two hundred and fifty miles above Earth. Finally old enough to take the dangerous trip to Earth, they've been "parented" by a team of astronauts since birth and have run countless drills to ready themselves for every difficulty they might face on the flight. But nothing has really prepared them for life on Terra Firma. Because while the planet may be home to billions of people, living there is more treacherous than Leo and his friends could ever have imagined or prepared for.
Nick Lake took a huge risk writing this book in the way he did, with lowercase letters and text-speak. It worked for some, and a lot of people were able to look past it, but I definitely couldn't. The lowercase didn't bother me too much (I text like that and use lowercase on every website besides Goodreads. I just don't think a book needs to be written like that), but the text-speak definitely did. I just can't take a book that uses "u" and "u're" and "c" for "see" seriously. Lake also capitalized proper nouns, and left everything else in lowercase, which bothers me more than I can tell you. It also didn't flow well at all and felt like it was trying a little too hard to be deep and relatable, but ended up falling completely flat for me.
For some positives: I loved the characters. Leo, Orion, and Libra were well developed and fun to read about, and definitely carried the entire book for me. I would've liked a little more world-building and a little less character focus, but at least the characters were well written and interesting to read about. Leo was a great choice for a narrator—he had a strong voice and a really great personality (great for a fifteen year old boy, anyway). If anything, I'm glad Lake focused so much on the characters, because otherwise this book would've been a DNF. So that says something, I suppose.
This is a short review, but I don't have much else to say about Satellite. It was slow paced and kind of boring, but it had great characters. The writing style and rather unrealistic dialogue had me completely detached from the story, which was pretty disappointing. This kind of book will definitely work for some people, but it's just not my type of book, sadly.
May 11, 2024
3.5
she nods. 'i c.'
'&?'
I can get over Sally Rooney not using quotation marks but this writing style??
totally recommend on audio though because the story itself is really cool!!
she nods. 'i c.'
'&?'
I can get over Sally Rooney not using quotation marks but this writing style??
totally recommend on audio though because the story itself is really cool!!
Read
February 12, 2019[Gifted]
The voice in this book is going to be the main factor that effect whether people enjoy this book, I think - it's distinctly unusual, imitating the situation of the main character, who grew up on the ISS, and so learnt to speak from shortened NASA communications. It is annoying at first, but I found I didn't notice it after I'd been reading for a long time. I read this in one sitting - I imagine it's more noticeable if you dip in and out of it.
I loved the characters - Leo is struggling with his sexuality when he only knows two people his own age, who feel like siblings to him - and I'd happily read another book set in this world.
The voice in this book is going to be the main factor that effect whether people enjoy this book, I think - it's distinctly unusual, imitating the situation of the main character, who grew up on the ISS, and so learnt to speak from shortened NASA communications. It is annoying at first, but I found I didn't notice it after I'd been reading for a long time. I read this in one sitting - I imagine it's more noticeable if you dip in and out of it.
I loved the characters - Leo is struggling with his sexuality when he only knows two people his own age, who feel like siblings to him - and I'd happily read another book set in this world.
January 27, 2019
I am in a sci-fi kick right now and Satellite was exactly the kind of story I love. Astronauts - check, space - check, space-station - check, NASA lingo - check, science - check, beloved characters - check (especially Leo, Comet the dog, and grandpa!), and a fascinating storyline - check!
Leo, Orion, and Libra are born in space on the space station called Moon 2. They’ve never been home to Earth because their bodies are too soft and the gravity would be too hard on them. Once they turn old enough, and have done their best to get strong enough, the doctors approve them finally coming home to Earth.
I love space, and astronauts!! I loved the science of this story and learning all those strange things that happen to the astronauts when they’re in space. The author did a great job at conveying what it would be like.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
What I did NOT enjoy in any way, was the fact that this book is written entirely in text-speak. “i c u 2.” I almost threw this book across the room as the text-speak was so annoying. In fact, I came so close to DNF’ing about 50 pages in because I didn’t think I could take it any more. I’m glad I stuck with it because I loved the story itself. I checked to see if there was an audiobook version because reading the print version was SO annoying, the entire way through. I never really got used to it. Publishers, please don’t do that. Authors, please don’t do that. This was a novel full of science. I really don’t think that the people who would read this even use text-speak when texting. Ok, rant over.
Leo, Orion, and Libra are born in space on the space station called Moon 2. They’ve never been home to Earth because their bodies are too soft and the gravity would be too hard on them. Once they turn old enough, and have done their best to get strong enough, the doctors approve them finally coming home to Earth.
I love space, and astronauts!! I loved the science of this story and learning all those strange things that happen to the astronauts when they’re in space. The author did a great job at conveying what it would be like.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
What I did NOT enjoy in any way, was the fact that this book is written entirely in text-speak. “i c u 2.” I almost threw this book across the room as the text-speak was so annoying. In fact, I came so close to DNF’ing about 50 pages in because I didn’t think I could take it any more. I’m glad I stuck with it because I loved the story itself. I checked to see if there was an audiobook version because reading the print version was SO annoying, the entire way through. I never really got used to it. Publishers, please don’t do that. Authors, please don’t do that. This was a novel full of science. I really don’t think that the people who would read this even use text-speak when texting. Ok, rant over.
October 20, 2019
Leo, Orion and Libra have lived on a satellite in space for their entire lives. Born and raised there, it’s all they’ve ever known of the universe. Sure, they’ve seen images and videos of earth and life there, but soon it’ll all become real for them. They’re finally going to earth, the home they’ve never known.
“i wonder what it's like. it's impossible to imagine. when u have only known the absence of a thing, how do u construct its feeling in ur mind?”
Satellite was definitely an interesting book. Whether I mean that in a good or bad way, I’m not even sure. There were things I liked and others that had me bored.
This entire book is told by fifteen year old Leo, and the narration is done in text speech. For example, “i c u over there.” I know that most people weren’t a fan of this, and neither was I. There was a little bit of hope it would grow on me, but the narration didn’t.
I enjoyed Leo, Libra and Orion, and the plot twist did catch me by surprise, but I was skimming through a lot of the second half of this book. I don’t think it was necessary for this to be 450 pages long.
There isn’t much else I can say about Satellite. I wouldn’t recommend it, though I can definitely see how it would appeal to others.
“i wonder what it's like. it's impossible to imagine. when u have only known the absence of a thing, how do u construct its feeling in ur mind?”
Satellite was definitely an interesting book. Whether I mean that in a good or bad way, I’m not even sure. There were things I liked and others that had me bored.
This entire book is told by fifteen year old Leo, and the narration is done in text speech. For example, “i c u over there.” I know that most people weren’t a fan of this, and neither was I. There was a little bit of hope it would grow on me, but the narration didn’t.
I enjoyed Leo, Libra and Orion, and the plot twist did catch me by surprise, but I was skimming through a lot of the second half of this book. I don’t think it was necessary for this to be 450 pages long.
There isn’t much else I can say about Satellite. I wouldn’t recommend it, though I can definitely see how it would appeal to others.
April 5, 2018
So I was sent an arc of this novel to review, however this book was already released when I got sent it. So this isn't a promotion or part of a campaign; the only campaign it's a part of is me on a one woman mission to get all of you to read Satellite.
On the inside cover, it's advertised as The Martian for teenagers, and while I haven't read The Martian, that didn't fill me with much hope that I was going to like it. Moreover, you open the page and see that the prose is written more in text speak (which is, apparently, the way they message each other in NASA but don't quote me on that). I saw a lot of people complaining about that and why they couldn't read the book because of it, some even giving it two stars just because of that! But literally after the first two pages, I got used to it. If you've ever been a teenager, you've probably texted like that. I used to read whole MSN conversations written in that format. It took a moment, but fourteen year old Hollie sprang to life and got that hang of it pretty quickly. So, if you start reading Satellite and are at first put off by the text, keep going! Otherwise you're gonna miss out on an incredible story about a boy who's finally gonna be discovering Earth after being born and living on a space station all his life.
The world in Satellite is not like our own, but I strongly feel that it is something we are progressing and also hurtling dangerously towards. The way in which Nick Lake has written this society is so realistic and a world that we could find ourselves in pretty soon; the good and the bad. Firstly, as good progression, society has moved to dismantle gender norms and roles. I think we're already on that glorious road, but we are nowhere near the complete abandonment of it, and that's not the case either in Satellite. But in this society, clothes, makeup, hairstyles etc are less gendered, so it was great to see a 'futuristic' society that relates more to our future. This was just one aspect of why I loved this novel, but it was definitely one I couldn't ignore in my review. There are, of course, downsides to looking at society in the future; things that are dooming out planet. But I'm not going to talk about those because I don't want spoil the story!
Above all, Satellite is about Leo discovering what home means to him. He's a kid in extremely unique situation, with experiences that are nothing like anything on Earth (literally), and it was sad and funny and above all, really beautiful to read. I don't think I ever saw anyone talking about it until I started to when it came through the post box. Satellite is out now!
On the inside cover, it's advertised as The Martian for teenagers, and while I haven't read The Martian, that didn't fill me with much hope that I was going to like it. Moreover, you open the page and see that the prose is written more in text speak (which is, apparently, the way they message each other in NASA but don't quote me on that). I saw a lot of people complaining about that and why they couldn't read the book because of it, some even giving it two stars just because of that! But literally after the first two pages, I got used to it. If you've ever been a teenager, you've probably texted like that. I used to read whole MSN conversations written in that format. It took a moment, but fourteen year old Hollie sprang to life and got that hang of it pretty quickly. So, if you start reading Satellite and are at first put off by the text, keep going! Otherwise you're gonna miss out on an incredible story about a boy who's finally gonna be discovering Earth after being born and living on a space station all his life.
The world in Satellite is not like our own, but I strongly feel that it is something we are progressing and also hurtling dangerously towards. The way in which Nick Lake has written this society is so realistic and a world that we could find ourselves in pretty soon; the good and the bad. Firstly, as good progression, society has moved to dismantle gender norms and roles. I think we're already on that glorious road, but we are nowhere near the complete abandonment of it, and that's not the case either in Satellite. But in this society, clothes, makeup, hairstyles etc are less gendered, so it was great to see a 'futuristic' society that relates more to our future. This was just one aspect of why I loved this novel, but it was definitely one I couldn't ignore in my review. There are, of course, downsides to looking at society in the future; things that are dooming out planet. But I'm not going to talk about those because I don't want spoil the story!
Above all, Satellite is about Leo discovering what home means to him. He's a kid in extremely unique situation, with experiences that are nothing like anything on Earth (literally), and it was sad and funny and above all, really beautiful to read. I don't think I ever saw anyone talking about it until I started to when it came through the post box. Satellite is out now!
April 12, 2019
this is the best book i have ever read. i don't really know what else to say about it other than it is so beautifully written and the story is so beautiful and you need to read it for yourself to see how beautiful and wonderful it is
April 13, 2018
in honour of this book's writing style, i am going to write in all lowercase for this review. satellite isn't your typical sci-fi. it's slow and very character-focused, and a lot more scientific than i was expecting; a lot of the actual science stuff went over my head. but it was good. it reminded me of a sort of reverse gravity, in fact.
satellite focuses on three teenagers - libra, orion, and the narrator leo, who were born in space and their quest to go back down to earth. as far as i could tell it was set in the near future, which was really interesting, but since it was so character-focused there really wasn't too much worldbuilding - just enough to get you situated, but it kept you fully focused on the characters. the characterization was really wonderful for almost everyone, especially leo. i really liked his character, and his personality, and he had a really strong voice - though that may be in part the writing style.
lake did a really good job of setting the tone, too - it was so wistful and nostalgic and soft, and there's a lot of waiting around but it really goes with the book. it might have been slow, but it wasn't boring.
now: the writing style. i know that a lot of people hated it, and it does take a bit to get into. my critique isn't that it was written in lowercase and text-speak, it's that it wasn't cohesive enough to sound authentic. proper nouns like names were capitalized, but "i" wasn't; abbreviations like "c" and "u're" felt clunky, because they're just ... not used. for me, who spends a lot of the time writing in lowercase, thinking in lowercase and internet vernacular - it just felt weird. and i couldn't figure out why it was written like that - though it did set the tone for the book from the start as one that was going to be softer than most sci-fi we think of.
satellite is a beautiful book. even if you're not a fan of sci-fi you might like this because it's so character driven that the sci-fi aspect isnt overwhelming.
satellite focuses on three teenagers - libra, orion, and the narrator leo, who were born in space and their quest to go back down to earth. as far as i could tell it was set in the near future, which was really interesting, but since it was so character-focused there really wasn't too much worldbuilding - just enough to get you situated, but it kept you fully focused on the characters. the characterization was really wonderful for almost everyone, especially leo. i really liked his character, and his personality, and he had a really strong voice - though that may be in part the writing style.
lake did a really good job of setting the tone, too - it was so wistful and nostalgic and soft, and there's a lot of waiting around but it really goes with the book. it might have been slow, but it wasn't boring.
now: the writing style. i know that a lot of people hated it, and it does take a bit to get into. my critique isn't that it was written in lowercase and text-speak, it's that it wasn't cohesive enough to sound authentic. proper nouns like names were capitalized, but "i" wasn't; abbreviations like "c" and "u're" felt clunky, because they're just ... not used. for me, who spends a lot of the time writing in lowercase, thinking in lowercase and internet vernacular - it just felt weird. and i couldn't figure out why it was written like that - though it did set the tone for the book from the start as one that was going to be softer than most sci-fi we think of.
satellite is a beautiful book. even if you're not a fan of sci-fi you might like this because it's so character driven that the sci-fi aspect isnt overwhelming.
March 19, 2018
I didn't know whether I should give this book 4 or 5 stars but ultimately I decided on 5 stars and let me explain why I loved this book so much, even though it wasn't really something I usually read.
The story itself, about people being born in space and coming down to earth for the first time, intrigued me, especially with the "He's going to a place he's never been before - Home" quote on the cover of the book. And the cover alone is gorgeous and I couldn't not buy it.
When I first opened the book and started reading it, I was kind of startled by the way it was written. Everything lowercase, many abbreviations and so on. The beginning of the book was also packed with a LOT of physics, which I did not understand and I wasn't exactly put off by it, but it just wasn't what I expected at all. The story is told from Leo's perspective and he is kind of telling us the story. It does not play in the present. Everything that is in the book has basically already happened. I liked Leo from the start.He was such a sweet and curios kid, fascinated with space and very into physics and becoming an astronaut. All of the secondary characters were pretty well developed too, although Libra and Orion did feel kind of like stereotypes at the beginning. But they had these little quirks and mannerisms that made them unique and lovable.
I also like that the story is not focused on romance at all. I do like to read romance books, but I read them a lot, so reading this was refreshing. There were some hints about possible love interests for Leo, which were all male btw and he did talk about his sexuality being gay in some aspects (mentioning that he wants to kiss boys/how attractive boys are, telling Libra he will never have kids in the conventional way, etc), but he never outright labeled himself and I loved that, because this book wasn't about that; that was not the focus, just a nice thing to include.
The story didn't really pick up until 2/3rds into the book, but the second it did, shit went down quickly. It was very tense and action packed and I loved every minute of it. I couldn't stop reading it, it was very gripping.
One of the deaths in this book hit me really hard as well. I am still not over it btw. I don't think I'll ever be over it.
The ending was also very, very beautiful. The words Nick Lake chose fit the mood perfectly and I just loved his writing. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end it and it made me tear up as well.
I know this review is all over the place, but in my defense I literally just finished the book and just had to write this review immediately.
In conclusion: The book has its weaknesses. Slow start, a lot of physics/space talk I didn't fully understand, the death of a character I loved (it was very sweet but one of the jokes they made wan't very fitting. He was literally dying), words that describe a sound (e.g.: "shhh", "click", etc.) being used very often.
But despite its, what might seem like, many flaws, it has many strong points as well:
Great characters, interesting and inventive story, immersive and made me emotional, satisfying ending, action (but not too much of it), great relationship dynamics, Nick Lake seemed very knowledgeable, etc.
I loved this book from start to finish. I loved Leo and Libra and Orion from start to finish. It was a wonderful reading experience and I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter how different their usual taste in books might be.
I got lost in this world and I wish I could meet the characters in it. It has so many beautiful quotes in it and asked some hart hitting questions. Amazing book. Amazing Author.
The story itself, about people being born in space and coming down to earth for the first time, intrigued me, especially with the "He's going to a place he's never been before - Home" quote on the cover of the book. And the cover alone is gorgeous and I couldn't not buy it.
When I first opened the book and started reading it, I was kind of startled by the way it was written. Everything lowercase, many abbreviations and so on. The beginning of the book was also packed with a LOT of physics, which I did not understand and I wasn't exactly put off by it, but it just wasn't what I expected at all. The story is told from Leo's perspective and he is kind of telling us the story. It does not play in the present. Everything that is in the book has basically already happened. I liked Leo from the start.He was such a sweet and curios kid, fascinated with space and very into physics and becoming an astronaut. All of the secondary characters were pretty well developed too, although Libra and Orion did feel kind of like stereotypes at the beginning. But they had these little quirks and mannerisms that made them unique and lovable.
I also like that the story is not focused on romance at all. I do like to read romance books, but I read them a lot, so reading this was refreshing. There were some hints about possible love interests for Leo, which were all male btw and he did talk about his sexuality being gay in some aspects (mentioning that he wants to kiss boys/how attractive boys are, telling Libra he will never have kids in the conventional way, etc), but he never outright labeled himself and I loved that, because this book wasn't about that; that was not the focus, just a nice thing to include.
The story didn't really pick up until 2/3rds into the book, but the second it did, shit went down quickly. It was very tense and action packed and I loved every minute of it. I couldn't stop reading it, it was very gripping.
One of the deaths in this book hit me really hard as well. I am still not over it btw. I don't think I'll ever be over it.
The ending was also very, very beautiful. The words Nick Lake chose fit the mood perfectly and I just loved his writing. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end it and it made me tear up as well.
I know this review is all over the place, but in my defense I literally just finished the book and just had to write this review immediately.
In conclusion: The book has its weaknesses. Slow start, a lot of physics/space talk I didn't fully understand, the death of a character I loved (it was very sweet but one of the jokes they made wan't very fitting. He was literally dying), words that describe a sound (e.g.: "shhh", "click", etc.) being used very often.
But despite its, what might seem like, many flaws, it has many strong points as well:
Great characters, interesting and inventive story, immersive and made me emotional, satisfying ending, action (but not too much of it), great relationship dynamics, Nick Lake seemed very knowledgeable, etc.
I loved this book from start to finish. I loved Leo and Libra and Orion from start to finish. It was a wonderful reading experience and I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter how different their usual taste in books might be.
I got lost in this world and I wish I could meet the characters in it. It has so many beautiful quotes in it and asked some hart hitting questions. Amazing book. Amazing Author.
December 11, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Leo, along with Orion and Libra, were not born on Earth. They were born in space, on the Moon 2 Space Station. They’ve never had to walk with gravity and they aren’t deemed strong enough to go back to Earth until they are 16 years old. However, when they make it to Earth, there are unexpected consequences to their arrival.
Satellite is a book that I think will be either a hit or miss to a lot of people depending on how they take to the writing style. It is written in text speak, narrated by Leo. There is no capital letters, little punctuation, and abbreviated words. I’m not sure on why this type of writing style was chosen, perhaps to highlight Leo’s youth and perhaps his distance and unfamiliarity to Earth?
I do have to say though, I am slightly disappointed in this read. I was expecting a science fiction read full of thrilling survivalist scenes in space. I was expecting something like The Martian for teens, a ‘ highly original space thriller’. Satellite had a promising opening full of science and intense scenes. However, after about the 20% mark, they made their way to Earth, and then the action stopped and the pacing lagged. Little happened and the mystery and ‘conspiracy’ was hardly there and I guessed it from the get-go.
The characters were a highlight of this book. Leo is a dreamer and a thinker. He wants nothing more than to follow in his mother’s footsteps to be an astronaut. Libra is an aspiring botanist, who longed for the day she could step onto Earth and tend to her own garden. Orion was a favourite; a music and poetry lover. I do really wish we saw more of their relationship and friendship though. Also, it was never stated on-page, but Leo is gay and showed romantic interest in Orion.
Overall, definitely not a bad book just not the book for me. I loved the science, and loved the premise, was fond of the characters but wasn’t overly fond of the pacing or the plot of the book. If it seems like your thing then go for it, I believe it will work for some people, and not for others.
Leo, along with Orion and Libra, were not born on Earth. They were born in space, on the Moon 2 Space Station. They’ve never had to walk with gravity and they aren’t deemed strong enough to go back to Earth until they are 16 years old. However, when they make it to Earth, there are unexpected consequences to their arrival.
Satellite is a book that I think will be either a hit or miss to a lot of people depending on how they take to the writing style. It is written in text speak, narrated by Leo. There is no capital letters, little punctuation, and abbreviated words. I’m not sure on why this type of writing style was chosen, perhaps to highlight Leo’s youth and perhaps his distance and unfamiliarity to Earth?
I do have to say though, I am slightly disappointed in this read. I was expecting a science fiction read full of thrilling survivalist scenes in space. I was expecting something like The Martian for teens, a ‘ highly original space thriller’. Satellite had a promising opening full of science and intense scenes. However, after about the 20% mark, they made their way to Earth, and then the action stopped and the pacing lagged. Little happened and the mystery and ‘conspiracy’ was hardly there and I guessed it from the get-go.
The characters were a highlight of this book. Leo is a dreamer and a thinker. He wants nothing more than to follow in his mother’s footsteps to be an astronaut. Libra is an aspiring botanist, who longed for the day she could step onto Earth and tend to her own garden. Orion was a favourite; a music and poetry lover. I do really wish we saw more of their relationship and friendship though. Also, it was never stated on-page, but Leo is gay and showed romantic interest in Orion.
Overall, definitely not a bad book just not the book for me. I loved the science, and loved the premise, was fond of the characters but wasn’t overly fond of the pacing or the plot of the book. If it seems like your thing then go for it, I believe it will work for some people, and not for others.
December 1, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Let me get the bad out of the way first.
I did not like the way this was written in text speak.
Now the good bits.
The characters were great and the story was a real surprise.
Alter the text speak and this would be brilliant.
Let me get the bad out of the way first.
I did not like the way this was written in text speak.
Now the good bits.
The characters were great and the story was a real surprise.
Alter the text speak and this would be brilliant.
Want to read
June 4, 2017ooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!! Really excited for this one, darn it sounds interesting and good!!! OCTOBER!!! WHYYYYY!!!!!!!!
Also, that little quote on the top!
He's going to the place he's never been before- Home.
FRICKEN CLEVER!!!!
Also, that little quote on the top!
He's going to the place he's never been before- Home.
FRICKEN CLEVER!!!!
July 28, 2018
This book was annoying to read because of the grammar the author decided to use, and it was predictable. I gave it two stars instead of one because it was interesting enough that I continued to read it to the end rather than putting it down.
January 2, 2022
‘Satellite’ is a book about Leo and twins Orion and Libra who were born and raised in space. But soon they will be coming to Earth.
When I first heard of the plot line. I was fascinated by this book, but I do feel the plot is better then the actual writing. The concept is undeniably an amazing one but I don’t feel that the execution matched the idea.
This book is written in ‘text speech’, that at first I was distracted by, but knew it was worth trying to pull through, but the more I read the more this way of writing grew on me. By the end it was unnoticeable.
As someone who knows quite a lot about space I did appreciate they had all the correct facts, so for me that made the book more enjoyable.
I actually really enjoyed the ending, and although too young for me, I would say this book overall is very good.
I would recommend it for anyone who loves space (and longs for a novel factually correct) from age 8. Although this is not my favourite book, I am sure it would please many.
When I first heard of the plot line. I was fascinated by this book, but I do feel the plot is better then the actual writing. The concept is undeniably an amazing one but I don’t feel that the execution matched the idea.
Orion & Libra go to their quarters to give each other their gifts. i guess they don’t want me to see. i don’t know know why.
This book is written in ‘text speech’, that at first I was distracted by, but knew it was worth trying to pull through, but the more I read the more this way of writing grew on me. By the end it was unnoticeable.
As someone who knows quite a lot about space I did appreciate they had all the correct facts, so for me that made the book more enjoyable.
I actually really enjoyed the ending, and although too young for me, I would say this book overall is very good.
I would recommend it for anyone who loves space (and longs for a novel factually correct) from age 8. Although this is not my favourite book, I am sure it would please many.
November 29, 2024
This book is a disappointing mess. I hate to rate it so harshly since the premise looked very promising and the first act kept me relatively invested before the rapid decline in quality... Unfortunately these details pale in comparison to the infuriating and almost unreadable chatspeak ("silly orthography"), erratically paced plot, and tone-deaf racial/ethnic stereotypes that make up the rest of this book.
If you want proof that I really wanted to give this book a chance, I was so worried that my unabashed hatred for the "how do you do, fellow kids" writing style was making me a biased reviewer that I went in and rewrote the entire first act in regular English to see what I thought then. The results? It was much more readable, but all my other problems with the book remained. So if you're reading this book and not enjoying it, this is your sign not to do what I did and try to translate the entire novel in the futile attempt to make it a good read. It's at best tolerable. You'll have better luck training your brain to just ignore the stupid way everyone talks.
Frankly I still don't understand the "silly orthography" choice. It's more intrusive than anything and it also didn't make much sense in the context of the story, either. Is it because they're in the future? Because they're in space? Because they're teenagers? I first read this book when I was very comfortably within the target age range (I probably still am) and I remember showing it to my friends who agreed that it felt arbitrary and pandering.
If you want to read a science fiction novel about space written in silly, informal prose that actually makes sense in the context of the story and isn't painful to read, try The Martian by Andy Weir.
My complaints about the language of this novel are mainly a personal grievance. What actually truly disappointed me was the tasteless presentation of the LGBT+ storyline and stereotypical depictions of Asian characters. I was so excited to see that this novel had queer POC representation, only for my excitement to slowly morph into dread as the story went on and it was revealed to me that the author was definitely not equipped to be telling these kinds of stories. The details I can give without spoiling anything mostly pertain to the ethnic stereotypes/misrepresentations scattered throughout this story, of which the main ones go as follows:
- The half-Japanese character named "Soto?" Not only is this not a Japanese name, I can't find any evidence that it's a given name at all. Also I cringed internally at Leo guessing Soto's racial heritage. Why even include that? He's blond and green-eyed, too, which is possible though very genetically improbable. Is it just so we arbitrarily know he's half white? It mainly bothers me because it's another installment of a nonwhite character made more palatable by being given Eurocentric features.
- The Russian character that the other characters spend a lot of time poking fun at and whose entire personality is that he likes vodka.
- A man described as having an "Asian accent?" And his name is "Ku," continuing the theme of made-up Asian names. Also, where in Asia? Is there some pan-Asian accent that nobody bothered to tell me about?
My criticisms of the LGBT+ content will contain spoilers, so feel free to skip this section if you still want to read this book for some reason and would rather go in blind.
This last part of my review concerns the plot and pacing of this book, so I've marked all of it for spoilers. Feel free to skip to the TL;DR if you still want to go in blind.
Satellite had many individual moments of intriguing drama and beautiful prose. I just wish they could have been in a better book than this one, which somehow managed to make both the interesting premise and nice writing style into two little husks in a dull, annoying, unremarkable teen read.
If you want proof that I really wanted to give this book a chance, I was so worried that my unabashed hatred for the "how do you do, fellow kids" writing style was making me a biased reviewer that I went in and rewrote the entire first act in regular English to see what I thought then. The results? It was much more readable, but all my other problems with the book remained. So if you're reading this book and not enjoying it, this is your sign not to do what I did and try to translate the entire novel in the futile attempt to make it a good read. It's at best tolerable. You'll have better luck training your brain to just ignore the stupid way everyone talks.
Frankly I still don't understand the "silly orthography" choice. It's more intrusive than anything and it also didn't make much sense in the context of the story, either. Is it because they're in the future? Because they're in space? Because they're teenagers? I first read this book when I was very comfortably within the target age range (I probably still am) and I remember showing it to my friends who agreed that it felt arbitrary and pandering.
If you want to read a science fiction novel about space written in silly, informal prose that actually makes sense in the context of the story and isn't painful to read, try The Martian by Andy Weir.
My complaints about the language of this novel are mainly a personal grievance. What actually truly disappointed me was the tasteless presentation of the LGBT+ storyline and stereotypical depictions of Asian characters. I was so excited to see that this novel had queer POC representation, only for my excitement to slowly morph into dread as the story went on and it was revealed to me that the author was definitely not equipped to be telling these kinds of stories. The details I can give without spoiling anything mostly pertain to the ethnic stereotypes/misrepresentations scattered throughout this story, of which the main ones go as follows:
- The half-Japanese character named "Soto?" Not only is this not a Japanese name, I can't find any evidence that it's a given name at all. Also I cringed internally at Leo guessing Soto's racial heritage. Why even include that? He's blond and green-eyed, too, which is possible though very genetically improbable. Is it just so we arbitrarily know he's half white? It mainly bothers me because it's another installment of a nonwhite character made more palatable by being given Eurocentric features.
- The Russian character that the other characters spend a lot of time poking fun at and whose entire personality is that he likes vodka.
- A man described as having an "Asian accent?" And his name is "Ku," continuing the theme of made-up Asian names. Also, where in Asia? Is there some pan-Asian accent that nobody bothered to tell me about?
My criticisms of the LGBT+ content will contain spoilers, so feel free to skip this section if you still want to read this book for some reason and would rather go in blind.
This last part of my review concerns the plot and pacing of this book, so I've marked all of it for spoilers. Feel free to skip to the TL;DR if you still want to go in blind.
Satellite had many individual moments of intriguing drama and beautiful prose. I just wish they could have been in a better book than this one, which somehow managed to make both the interesting premise and nice writing style into two little husks in a dull, annoying, unremarkable teen read.
October 13, 2017
Satellite is the kind of book that makes me sad and happy at the same time. Like Tuck, Everlasting --you know that ultimately everyone made the decisions that were right for their situation, but they're decisions that will have negative repercussions and devolve into loneliness at some point if they haven't already.
Leo's choices were the same way for me. Ultimately I loved his story; he lived in zero g his entire life, thinking about all the things he would experience on Earth once he turned 16. Then when he's on Earth, he finds he's not equipped to be there at all. He, Libra and Orion all suffer when they touch down.
But they enjoy, too. Obviously Leo's relationship with his grandfather and mother are center stage, but it's also him getting a dog and feeling that love. Watching a bird dive and coast in the air. Feeling a breeze and reveling in the relative silence of the natural world compared to the space station. That scene with Orion and the orchestra... I turned into a slobbering mess at that point.
These types of books hit me hard and this was no different. At least there's that message of hope in the end!
Leo's choices were the same way for me. Ultimately I loved his story; he lived in zero g his entire life, thinking about all the things he would experience on Earth once he turned 16. Then when he's on Earth, he finds he's not equipped to be there at all. He, Libra and Orion all suffer when they touch down.
But they enjoy, too. Obviously Leo's relationship with his grandfather and mother are center stage, but it's also him getting a dog and feeling that love. Watching a bird dive and coast in the air. Feeling a breeze and reveling in the relative silence of the natural world compared to the space station. That scene with Orion and the orchestra... I turned into a slobbering mess at that point.
These types of books hit me hard and this was no different. At least there's that message of hope in the end!
July 26, 2022
At first glance, it seems crazy how Nick Lake’s Satellite could be around 460 pages and the plot itself isn’t that expansive so I was apprehensive at first starting this. However this doubt was washed away within seconds and I got entirely engrossed in the story. The characters were so raw, relatable and real and were so easy to empathise with. And the writing was just unlike most books, it harnessed the poetical, flowery and descriptive side of language but yet without sounding pompous and hitting at the exact angle to your emotions, also mixed with perfect plain and simple prose. All of the little details that textured the world of character’s eye makeup, and certain global events made this world feel visceral, plausible and perhaps worryingly inevitable. This novel is unlike most, not just by its formatting but by a lot of what it says, does and explores, this is a diamond in the rough and should be read by anyone who is a lover of sci-if or YA.
January 14, 2018
first book that i’ve read for 2018 and i loved it! this book was beautiful and the story was heart-gripping. I could care less about how the words were spelled or the “text talk” because in the end it is still a story and a good one at that. the people that miss out on this book because of how it’s wrote are REALLY missing out. i loved this!
November 29, 2021
It’s good, only thing I’d say someone would be annoyed at in this book is the writing style. I personally liked it, but I can see how someone wouldn’t.
November 7, 2017
"....it’s like seeing the gradual collapse of his corporate shell, of the covering that sustains him. “this is insane,” he says. “Leo, think about this. u’re just going to orbit thru space till u die.”
“yes,” i say. i reach out my hand, ready to cut the vid connection. below me, the earth spins at 177,000 miles an hour.
i pause. “but how is that any different to u?..."
If you already watched The Space Between Us, you know 70% of this book. Without the love story and the "quest."
The writing is unconventional. Some words are written as a shortcut like a number or a letter.
All-in-all, Satellite is a fun read.
February 19, 2018
*3.5 Stars*
Sci-fi books and I don't always get along- they are either wins or losses for me. However, I have read very few books that take place in outer space, so when I requested this book, I was so excited to read about characters who come from another part of the universe! For the most part, I am quite happy to say that I really enjoyed my time reading Satellite.
For a brief summary of the novel, it revolves around a teenage boy named Leo, who has spent his whole life living on a space station called Moon 2. Since Leo and two of his friends have reached the age and strength they'd need to take a trip to Planet Earth, they are all for it, taking numerous drills to prepare themselves. Will survival come easily to them while on Earth, or will they have to work extra hard to keep up with their lives?
I liked the brave and determined main character Leo and his space gang, and I loved the adventures that they went on, how they found themselves, and how they improved their relationships with each other throughout these journeys. The amount of character development in this novel was phenomenal, and I was extremely thankful to have witnessed it.
In spite of these characters, the book was written using mostly lowercase letters and texting language, and this took me a little while to get used to- it could get somewhat annoying. The plot also went by quite slowly, leaving me a tad bored at times. However, the story overall had quite an interesting, fun, and captivating plot.
All in all, Satellite is that novel about space that you didn't know you were even looking for. There is no denying that it is flawed in some respects, but the irresistible bonds between the characters and the intriguing premise will definitely have you on your feet, cheering for Leo and his crew and wondering what it would be like to live on the extraterrestrial Moon 2!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
Sci-fi books and I don't always get along- they are either wins or losses for me. However, I have read very few books that take place in outer space, so when I requested this book, I was so excited to read about characters who come from another part of the universe! For the most part, I am quite happy to say that I really enjoyed my time reading Satellite.
For a brief summary of the novel, it revolves around a teenage boy named Leo, who has spent his whole life living on a space station called Moon 2. Since Leo and two of his friends have reached the age and strength they'd need to take a trip to Planet Earth, they are all for it, taking numerous drills to prepare themselves. Will survival come easily to them while on Earth, or will they have to work extra hard to keep up with their lives?
I liked the brave and determined main character Leo and his space gang, and I loved the adventures that they went on, how they found themselves, and how they improved their relationships with each other throughout these journeys. The amount of character development in this novel was phenomenal, and I was extremely thankful to have witnessed it.
In spite of these characters, the book was written using mostly lowercase letters and texting language, and this took me a little while to get used to- it could get somewhat annoying. The plot also went by quite slowly, leaving me a tad bored at times. However, the story overall had quite an interesting, fun, and captivating plot.
All in all, Satellite is that novel about space that you didn't know you were even looking for. There is no denying that it is flawed in some respects, but the irresistible bonds between the characters and the intriguing premise will definitely have you on your feet, cheering for Leo and his crew and wondering what it would be like to live on the extraterrestrial Moon 2!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
October 8, 2017
Thank you NetGalley.
Satellite is one of those reads that had some wonderful moments but which also left me feeling rather flat. A tough one to review, and this will be one that I think splits views.
In this novel Lake focuses us on Leo, a young boy born in space who is desperate to ‘go home’, to earth. It’s a journey he and his two companions, Libra and Orion, have been looking forward to for as long as they can remember.
Our story is split into distinct parts. We watch the teens in space, planning their lives on earth. We see them journey to earth and look at their experiences. Then, perhaps most oddly, we return from whence we came.
Leo’s voice is distinctive. Overcoming the annoyance of the writing style will be a big factor in your response to the story. However, if you can look beneath this you’ll probably find yourself quite taken with these kids.
As we learn more about Leo’s family, and get a sense of just where he’s come from, it’s hard not to fall a little under his spell. Seeing the experience of life on earth from the view of someone who’s not physically prepared for it is intriguing. Watching the relationships Leo has develop is pretty compelling.
Unfortunately, much as I liked Leo and grew to care for him I felt the latter stages of the novel took us so far into the realms of incredibility that I really didn’t enjoy it as I’d hoped to.
Satellite is one of those reads that had some wonderful moments but which also left me feeling rather flat. A tough one to review, and this will be one that I think splits views.
In this novel Lake focuses us on Leo, a young boy born in space who is desperate to ‘go home’, to earth. It’s a journey he and his two companions, Libra and Orion, have been looking forward to for as long as they can remember.
Our story is split into distinct parts. We watch the teens in space, planning their lives on earth. We see them journey to earth and look at their experiences. Then, perhaps most oddly, we return from whence we came.
Leo’s voice is distinctive. Overcoming the annoyance of the writing style will be a big factor in your response to the story. However, if you can look beneath this you’ll probably find yourself quite taken with these kids.
As we learn more about Leo’s family, and get a sense of just where he’s come from, it’s hard not to fall a little under his spell. Seeing the experience of life on earth from the view of someone who’s not physically prepared for it is intriguing. Watching the relationships Leo has develop is pretty compelling.
Unfortunately, much as I liked Leo and grew to care for him I felt the latter stages of the novel took us so far into the realms of incredibility that I really didn’t enjoy it as I’d hoped to.
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