 First edition | |
| Author | Beth Revis |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction Young adult Murder mystery Dystopian |
| Publisher | Razorbill |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback), Audiobook |
Across the Universe is a trilogy of young adult science fiction novels written by American author Beth Revis. Chronicling the life of Amy Martin aboard a generation ship hundreds of years in the future, Across the Universe, the first novel published in 2011 by Razorbill, received a starred Kirkus review and made the New York Bestseller List for Children's Chapter Books.
Plot summary
Hundreds of years in the future, the spaceship Godspeed travels toward a distant, earth-like planet with 100 cryogenically frozen settlers on board. Seventeen year old Amy, frozen along with her parents, wakes early and only to find herself in the middle of a strange, regimented society made up of those born on the ship over generations. With the help of Elder, the ship's only teenager and future leader, she must solve a murder mystery, and save the ship. They must hurry before the murderer kills any more people, and before time runs out of life.
Books in this universe
- Across the Universe (2011)
- A Million Suns (2012)
- Shades of Earth (2013)
- The Body Electric (2014)
The first three books in the series make up the original trilogy, published by Penguin Books. The fourth book is a standalone novel set in the same universe, and was self-published by Revis.
Short Fiction in this universe
- The Other Elder
- Love is a Choice
- Night Swimming
- As They Slip Away
Revis has also written short fiction that takes place in the universe of her trilogy, including As They Slip Away, a novella available as a free download from Penguin Teen, as well as short stories in the anthologies After (edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling), which includes The other Elder; Shards and Ashes (edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong), which includes Love is a choice; and Defy the Dark (edited by Sandra Mitchell).
Reception
Across the Universe debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List for Children's Chapter Books at #7 in January 2011, and received a Kirkus starred review. It was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal, and chosen as a YALSA Teens Top Ten book for 2012.
The sequel, A Million Suns, debuted on the bestseller list at #10. It was named a Best Teen Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.
When the final book in the series, Shades of Earth, received more pre-orders than the previous two books combined, Revis' publisher launched a copy of Across the Universe into space.
References
- "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE | Kirkus Reviews".
- "The Hardest Part/Coming to Town: Beth Revis on The Body Electric". Bull Spec: A Magazine of Speculative Fiction. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- "As They Slip Away". Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- Schuessler, Jennifer. "Best Sellers - The New York Times - January 30, 2011". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Starred Review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "The CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominations for 2012". Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "YALSA's Teens Top Ten 2012". 7 July 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- Cowles, Gregory. "Best Sellers - The New York Times - January 29, 2012". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "Best Teen Books of 2012". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "See Beth Revis' 'Shades of Earth' launched into space". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
External links
- Across the Universe official website
- Across the Universe title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
