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An Alien Music
Sixteen-year-old Jesse relates the experiences of the Sky-Lab Seven crew as they become the sole survivors of the dying planet Earth only to have their plans to colonize Mars irreversibly shattered.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Annabel Johnson
31 books9 followersFrom the age of twelve, Annabel was dedicated to a future of being an author, so that by the time she was twenty she had begun to see the happenings of her life as material for books to come. Prior to her writing career she worked in publishing houses as a librarian, as a legal secretary, and in other secretarial posts.
In 1955 she and her husband Edgar began their co-authorship by writing historical novels of the old West, traveling the country, visiting the scenes of their stories and delving into their research while living in an eight-foot camping trailer, trying to make ends meet on an author’s meager royalties. They had no home base, except a certain spot in the Mojave Desert in winter, and another site in the National Forest in Wyoming in the summer.
The Johnsons co-authored many popular works of historical and science fiction both for young adults and adults. They began their career together, however, with several novels set in the Old West, intending to bring that period to life for children far removed from the country. They spent several years traveling throughout the western United States, seeking out little known facets of western history, and compiling accounts of old-timers they met, and of their own experiences. As time passed they shifted their focus more toward the present era, in an effort to help their readers come to terms with today's world.
In 1966, with the growing success of their books, they settled in Denver, but after Edgar’s death, Annabel came home to Arizona, to continue her career in the desert setting she has always loved. She bought a lovely home in Leisure World and settled in. With each new novel she wrote her excitement never left her.
Annabell Jones Johnson passed into a new life February 9, 2013.
In 1955 she and her husband Edgar began their co-authorship by writing historical novels of the old West, traveling the country, visiting the scenes of their stories and delving into their research while living in an eight-foot camping trailer, trying to make ends meet on an author’s meager royalties. They had no home base, except a certain spot in the Mojave Desert in winter, and another site in the National Forest in Wyoming in the summer.
The Johnsons co-authored many popular works of historical and science fiction both for young adults and adults. They began their career together, however, with several novels set in the Old West, intending to bring that period to life for children far removed from the country. They spent several years traveling throughout the western United States, seeking out little known facets of western history, and compiling accounts of old-timers they met, and of their own experiences. As time passed they shifted their focus more toward the present era, in an effort to help their readers come to terms with today's world.
In 1966, with the growing success of their books, they settled in Denver, but after Edgar’s death, Annabel came home to Arizona, to continue her career in the desert setting she has always loved. She bought a lovely home in Leisure World and settled in. With each new novel she wrote her excitement never left her.
Annabell Jones Johnson passed into a new life February 9, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 4, 2012
Okay, people. I know this one was published about a zillion years ago. I know you have probably never heard of it. But I just happened to notice it on my shelves downstairs, and you know what? This is one that I got out of the library fifty times when I was a teenager. And later, as an adult, I tracked this book down and got a copy for six times the cover price. That was before Google made it easy to find out-of-print books. It was worth the trouble, because it's just that good.
AN ALIEN MUSIC isn't exactly dystopian, though its plot is driven by the end of the world -- before the end of the world was cool. Rain stops, temps rise, and everyone dies, except for a small number of people who leave the world in a ship bound for Mars, where they plan to start over. That sounds so simplistic. But don't be misled. This is really a story about relationships, about growing up, about committing to hope when there doesn't seem to be any hope.
Jesse is one of my favorite YA protagonists ever. The writing is absolutely top-notch. If you love great YA, you should definitely keep an eye out for this one.
AN ALIEN MUSIC isn't exactly dystopian, though its plot is driven by the end of the world -- before the end of the world was cool. Rain stops, temps rise, and everyone dies, except for a small number of people who leave the world in a ship bound for Mars, where they plan to start over. That sounds so simplistic. But don't be misled. This is really a story about relationships, about growing up, about committing to hope when there doesn't seem to be any hope.
Jesse is one of my favorite YA protagonists ever. The writing is absolutely top-notch. If you love great YA, you should definitely keep an eye out for this one.
April 14, 2013
What a treasure! A realistic future science fantasy trip into space where the our hero is a woman, well 15, she is becoming a woman. Jesse a young and self-reliant female gets into space by knowing about a secret NASA Sky-Lab Space Station converted for travel out into space. Partly designed by her brother Cole who had predicted what a carbon dioxide build up would do to earth. She escapes with a select group of people to save the human race on the only ship to travel to a distant planet for new colonization. She has strong ideas of her own that gets her into trouble and conflicts around the Bio-sphere type spaceship that is complete with everything one needs to start a new world.
First book Annabell (she was my Cousin) wanted me to read and look at for possible movie idea. I was 24 at the time and working in Hollywood, wile trying to land a Disney job, my possibilities where endless and my future looked very bright. Years later offers were made on the book as a movie but Annabell turned them down. Yep, it is that good.
I read it back then but didn't truly appreciate it. I have completed it once again now I'm 55 years old. It flows nicely and pulls you in. A nice warning of our world today without preaching to us. Fine job Annabell!
First book Annabell (she was my Cousin) wanted me to read and look at for possible movie idea. I was 24 at the time and working in Hollywood, wile trying to land a Disney job, my possibilities where endless and my future looked very bright. Years later offers were made on the book as a movie but Annabell turned them down. Yep, it is that good.
I read it back then but didn't truly appreciate it. I have completed it once again now I'm 55 years old. It flows nicely and pulls you in. A nice warning of our world today without preaching to us. Fine job Annabell!
September 12, 2018
One of my favorite books when I was a teenager - I checked it out of the library multiple times. Jesse "expresses herself quite vividly," and the book is more about her interactions with the crew than it is about factual climate science or the realities involved in going to Mars. The story is written in as if Jesse was recording the story in her journal for posterity and to keep her own head on straight and make sense of some of what has happened since she inadvertently finds herself leaving a ruined Planet Earth. Never one to take orders without questioning "why" she clashes with the Commander of the mission from the get-go, but he always seems to be one step ahead to head off her trouble-making, until he isn't anymore. Light, fun read, but memorable.
I think the story holds up well even after all these years - enough so that I reread it occasionally. Jesse is part Native American and a strong, female character - blunt and gutsy but with an inner vulnerability that is easy to identify with.
I think the story holds up well even after all these years - enough so that I reread it occasionally. Jesse is part Native American and a strong, female character - blunt and gutsy but with an inner vulnerability that is easy to identify with.
April 19, 2022
Reread. Still a four star book. Definitely YA, but interesting enough for open-minded adults imo. Avl. free on openlibrary if you're ok with reading a scanned copy on your device. Not really sure what to say except that the heroine needed a bit more self-confidence & self-respect... I remember feminism back in the day and it was a slog getting girls to value themselves, to stick up for themselves. I hope we're mostly past that by now.
October 5, 2008
This book is totally out of print but I must've read it a hundred times as a teenager. What a shame it's not around anymore. Nice little story about the effects of global warming... way before its time.
October 8, 2008
This was one of the books I got out over and over from the library as a child. I bought it a few years ago and still enjoy it.
November 18, 2011
Not positive *why* I love this one so much, but I do reread it every year.
April 19, 2016
Absorbing story. Older Sci fi about post apocolyptic survival.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews