Space Boy

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 1 hr and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Is it space travel that children dream of, or merely visiting other worlds? Todd had always set his heart on being an astronaut, but when he meets an alien and travels to another world, he doesn't use a spaceship; he just hangs out in his own back yard.

In Space Boy, Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, takes listeners into a strange and wonderful future, where people from another world regularly visit Earth, usually without being noticed. And when humans travel to their world, they find themselves dangerously weak and powerless, until Todd finds a way to set both worlds to rights.

By turns funny and painful, Space Boy is Card at his best, exploring human nature for the entertainment of readers young and old.

©2007 Orson Scott Card (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Card works both pathos and humor into this tale of a family pulling together to rescue one of their own." ( Publishers Weekly)

Short and Strange

This is a wierd and silly story that plays on universal relativity theories in a fairy tale sort of way. I wasn't impressed by the story either way. Nothing was developed in either the characters or the story line to endear the reader to them one way or another... Like the shortest science fiction story (Frederic Brown's "Knock"). There's little for anyone to be impressed or unimpressed.

Both author, and reader are are among the best at

What they do. I came to love Sci-Fi as a boy of 10 years. You can take the word of a seasoned critic at 73 years now.
If you too enjoy Sci-Fi you will enjoy "Space Boy," a much better story than the title name...

It's not long, but it is an interesting story!

If you don't mind that this is just a little story that isn't in any way connected to a bigger picture you may like this story. It's a little odd, and different and uses the word anus more times then I have EVER heard in any other book- but it's sweet and worth listening to!

Space Boy

A very nice short family Sci Fi story. Narration was excellent. I will be buying more of Orson Scott Card's books.

Enjoyed this quick one

Card is a great writer. Even in his short books he never fails to deliver a believable story that takes you somewhere else and makes you think about what you would do in these circumstances. Well worth the money.

Nice entertainment "snack"

What other book might you compare Space Boy to and why?

This Card short story actually reminded me a lot of some Heinlein's early books for teens - a young anti-hero with a bit of sci-fi/fantasy mixed in.

What does Stefan Rudnicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Stefan Rudnicki made the story a lot of fun - I think this was more entertaining because the reader was good than it might have been just reading it for myself.

Any additional comments?

The Sale price made this a great buy. Orson Scott Card is much better with a longer format, but Space Boy makes for a nice little OSC snack.

Solid

Enjoyable, interesting, OSC working very well in small scale. Suitable for any age. Great for a car ride.

Not his best work

I think this must be a story written for kids, based on the way characters act. I really didn’t like it and didn’t want to finish it even though it’s only an hour and a half long.

Space Boy, a short young adult Sci Fi story

If you could sum up Space Boy in three words, what would they be?

Strong Family Bond

What did you like best about this story?

A young teen with problems, but evokes the aid of an adult to help solve them

Which scene was your favorite?

Finding the "worm hole" and dad pushing the nozzle of a garden hose in its invisible rectum to create a water trail to the other dimension.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions to Space Boy. I just enjoyed the story overall

Any additional comments?

A nice short trip into fantasy, with a happy ending.

Fun Story

This book is geared to youngsters. Card does a good job of making the story credible and the characters realistic. The book was pretty short and easily listened/read. It had a strong moral point about the importance of family, was not very twisty--straightforward with a young cast typical of OSC's writing. Fun listen.