World-Eater

by Robert Swindells

'There's something in the sky... something terrible!'On the night of the great storm, a mysterious new planet suddently appears in the sky. Orbiting the sun between Mercury and Venus, the huge blue-grey sphere has scientists baffled as probes reveal its surface to be flat and bare and its interior liquid.Eleven-year-old Orville, absorbed in witing for his favourite pigeon to hatch her first eggs, is the first to suspect the true nature of the planet. But will anyone listen to his theory? And, if they do, can they avert disaster? For if Orville is right, the world is doomed . . .

Genres: Science Fiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 1996

About the author

Robert Swindells was born in Bradford in 1939, the eldest of five children. He left the local Secondary Modern School at fifteen to work as a copy holder on the local newspaper. At seventeen he enlisted in the RAF and served for three years, two in Germany. On being discharged he worked as a clerk, engineer and printer until 1969 when he entered college to train as a teacher having obtained five 'O' levels at night-school. His first book 'When Darkness Comes' was written as a college thesis and published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1972. In 1980 he gave up teaching to write full time. He likes travelling and visits many schools each year, talking and reading stories to children. He is the secutatry of his local Peace Movement group. Brother in the Land is his first book for Oxford University Press. He is married with two grown-up daughters and lives in Bradford.

Author description taken from Brother in the Land.

Reviews

[Rozz Dyett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another children's book that was being thrown away that I couldn't resist. Nice to see some serious work for children as well as books to make them laugh.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember my grandad giving me this book and him writing a paragraph in the front about how he and Robert played together as children. I admit that was the most touching part about the book, I’m not a huge pigeon fan!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very weak premise with a child saving the world.

[Julianne Alcott]

This has a brilliant first few paragraphs. I always use it to show children how to start writing a story.