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Across the Universe (novel series)

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Across the Universe
First edition
AuthorBeth Revis
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
Young adult
Murder mystery
Dystopian
PublisherRazorbill
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (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.[1]

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.[2]

Short Fiction in this universe

  • The Other Elder
  • Love is a Choice
  • Night Swimming
  • As They Slip Away [3]

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,[4] and received a Kirkus starred review.[5] It was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal,[6] and chosen as a YALSA Teens Top Ten book for 2012.[7]

The sequel, A Million Suns, debuted on the bestseller list at #10.[8] It was named a Best Teen Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.[9]

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.[10]

References

  1. ^ "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE | Kirkus Reviews".
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "As They Slip Away". Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Schuessler, Jennifer. "Best Sellers - The New York Times - January 30, 2011". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Starred Review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "The CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominations for 2012". Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  7. ^ "YALSA's Teens Top Ten 2012". 7 July 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Cowles, Gregory. "Best Sellers - The New York Times - January 29, 2012". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  9. ^ "Best Teen Books of 2012". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  10. ^ "See Beth Revis' 'Shades of Earth' launched into space". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 1, 2013.