What do you think?
Rate this book
The Spaceman
After the sudden death of his mother, videogames journalist Gordon Freeman arrives home to the small Scottish village of Dunure to attend the funeral. He and his retired physicist father are forced to confront the events of the tragic accident which caused their estrangement when Gordon was a teenager, and which left Gordon’s best-friend Danny in a coma. When Gordon meets local artist, Gail, he realises all is not what it seems in the village. Could a supernatural occurrence in his back garden have opened up a portal to another world? And what links this with Gail’s paintings, and the mysterious, supernatural photograph of the spaceman that Gordon first saw in his teens, and which indirectly led to Danny’s accident?
The Spaceman is the first of three books that make up the novel Many Worlds Apart.
Excerpts of reviews from Scribophile:
“I was intrigued…Is the world as we know it some kind of cosmic reality game?” Stephen Lamont.
“An interesting story with much mystery.” Michael Bee.
The Spaceman is the first of three books that make up the novel Many Worlds Apart.
Excerpts of reviews from Scribophile:
“I was intrigued…Is the world as we know it some kind of cosmic reality game?” Stephen Lamont.
“An interesting story with much mystery.” Michael Bee.
77 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2021
About the author
Graham Stanley
9 books20 followersI am an educator currently working as for the British Council in Mexico City.
I hold a Master's in ELT & Educational Technology (Manchester, UK) and have written two books for teachers:
- 'Digital Play: computer games and language aims' (2011) with Kyle Mawer, and which won the British Council's ELT Innovation award (ELTon) for Teacher Resources.
- 'Learning Languages With Technology' (CUP, 2013), winner of the English Speaking Union's HRH Duke of Edinburgh award for best English language teaching book.
I am also writing fiction: mystery, thrillers, sci-fi, weird, and have just published a novella, the Spaceman (Many Worlds Apart, Book 1)
I hold a Master's in ELT & Educational Technology (Manchester, UK) and have written two books for teachers:
- 'Digital Play: computer games and language aims' (2011) with Kyle Mawer, and which won the British Council's ELT Innovation award (ELTon) for Teacher Resources.
- 'Learning Languages With Technology' (CUP, 2013), winner of the English Speaking Union's HRH Duke of Edinburgh award for best English language teaching book.
I am also writing fiction: mystery, thrillers, sci-fi, weird, and have just published a novella, the Spaceman (Many Worlds Apart, Book 1)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2021
Graham Stanley is a great story teller. This is the first book I’ve read from this Author and this book catches and holds your attention from start to finish. I Didn’t want to put the book down. He not only tells the story of the tragic accident of his best friend and the supernatural occurrences in his back yard, he brings to light the relationship of Gordan and his estranged father who are forced back together when his mother dies and goes home for her funeral. I can’t wait the read the next book to find out what happened in Gordan’s garden, what the spaceman figure was, what it means and what will happen in Gordan’s and Gail’s relationship.
October 6, 2021
A great read!
The Spaceman definitely had me intrigued from the beginning from covering the death of Gordon's mam, the estrangement with his dad, the strange occurrences in his childhood's home backyard, and the relationship with Gail and his own sexuality. The fact that this book covers a little of quantum mechanics and the like drew me in even more and things like that draws my attention. A great book and I'll be watching out for the next book to find out what happened to Gordon. Great work and highly recommend.
The Spaceman definitely had me intrigued from the beginning from covering the death of Gordon's mam, the estrangement with his dad, the strange occurrences in his childhood's home backyard, and the relationship with Gail and his own sexuality. The fact that this book covers a little of quantum mechanics and the like drew me in even more and things like that draws my attention. A great book and I'll be watching out for the next book to find out what happened to Gordon. Great work and highly recommend.
January 5, 2021
Funny how GoodReads lets authors write reviews of their own book. Decided to take advantage of this and give myself five stars.
About The Spaceman:
After the sudden death of his mother, videogames journalist Gordon Freeman arrives home to the small Scottish village of Dunure to attend the funeral. He and his retired physicist father are forced to confront the events of the tragic accident which caused their estrangement when Gordon was a teenager, and which left Gordon’s best-friend Danny in a coma. When Gordon meets local artist, Gail, he realises all is not what it seems in the village. Could a supernatural occurrence in his back garden have opened up a portal to another world? And what links this with Gail’s paintings, and the mysterious, supernatural photograph of the spaceman that Gordon first saw in his teens, and which indirectly led to Danny’s accident?
The Spaceman is the first of three books that make up the novel Many Worlds Apart.
Here are some of the things that the beta readers said about the book:
“I was intrigued…Is the world as we know it some kind of cosmic reality game?” Stephen Lamont.
“An interesting story with much mystery.” Michael Bee.
About The Spaceman:
After the sudden death of his mother, videogames journalist Gordon Freeman arrives home to the small Scottish village of Dunure to attend the funeral. He and his retired physicist father are forced to confront the events of the tragic accident which caused their estrangement when Gordon was a teenager, and which left Gordon’s best-friend Danny in a coma. When Gordon meets local artist, Gail, he realises all is not what it seems in the village. Could a supernatural occurrence in his back garden have opened up a portal to another world? And what links this with Gail’s paintings, and the mysterious, supernatural photograph of the spaceman that Gordon first saw in his teens, and which indirectly led to Danny’s accident?
The Spaceman is the first of three books that make up the novel Many Worlds Apart.
Here are some of the things that the beta readers said about the book:
“I was intrigued…Is the world as we know it some kind of cosmic reality game?” Stephen Lamont.
“An interesting story with much mystery.” Michael Bee.
December 29, 2025
The Spaceman is a quietly powerful and deeply atmospheric novel that blends grief, memory, and speculative mystery into a moving exploration of loss and reconciliation. Graham Stanley crafts a story where emotional truth is just as important as its supernatural intrigue.
At its core, the novel is about fractured relationships and unresolved trauma. Gordon Freeman’s return to his childhood village following his mother’s death forces him to confront not only his strained relationship with his father, but the long shadow cast by a tragic accident that altered multiple lives. The emotional weight of Danny’s coma and the years of guilt and silence surrounding it give the story a grounded, human core.
The speculative elements are introduced with restraint and care. The possibility of another world hinted at through the mysterious photograph, the spaceman, and the strange occurrence in Gordon’s garden unfolds slowly, creating a sense of unease and wonder rather than spectacle. Gail’s artwork adds a compelling visual and symbolic layer
At its core, the novel is about fractured relationships and unresolved trauma. Gordon Freeman’s return to his childhood village following his mother’s death forces him to confront not only his strained relationship with his father, but the long shadow cast by a tragic accident that altered multiple lives. The emotional weight of Danny’s coma and the years of guilt and silence surrounding it give the story a grounded, human core.
The speculative elements are introduced with restraint and care. The possibility of another world hinted at through the mysterious photograph, the spaceman, and the strange occurrence in Gordon’s garden unfolds slowly, creating a sense of unease and wonder rather than spectacle. Gail’s artwork adds a compelling visual and symbolic layer
October 21, 2021
What Happened to Gordon?
For part of this book, I felt I was in an episode of the Big Bang Theory and Sheldon was trying to explain physics to me.
But on to the real truth, the book is short and definitely a page turner. I read it in one sitting and wanted to know what happened to Gordon.
The story of him trying to reconnect with his father was sweet. But most of all, I love a little bit of romance so Gordon and Gail made me happy.
I’m intrigued to know more about Danny and why he doesn’t know he was in a coma and if that is something to do with the Spaceman too.
Overall, this is a great well-written story and look forward to the next one.
For part of this book, I felt I was in an episode of the Big Bang Theory and Sheldon was trying to explain physics to me.
But on to the real truth, the book is short and definitely a page turner. I read it in one sitting and wanted to know what happened to Gordon.
The story of him trying to reconnect with his father was sweet. But most of all, I love a little bit of romance so Gordon and Gail made me happy.
I’m intrigued to know more about Danny and why he doesn’t know he was in a coma and if that is something to do with the Spaceman too.
Overall, this is a great well-written story and look forward to the next one.
October 25, 2021
Slow start but builds and leaves you wanting more.
The books builds slowly as Gordon returns home to his sleepy English village after his mother's death. The title says its all but the dialog was stiff and unnatural at times but the overall relationships ring true. The ending is a cliffhanger which is fine but it did feel a bit abrupt. Makes you absolutely want to read the next novella. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment in this bizarre mystery.
The books builds slowly as Gordon returns home to his sleepy English village after his mother's death. The title says its all but the dialog was stiff and unnatural at times but the overall relationships ring true. The ending is a cliffhanger which is fine but it did feel a bit abrupt. Makes you absolutely want to read the next novella. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment in this bizarre mystery.
November 4, 2021
I enjoyed this book as I'm fascinated about extra terrestrial and the idea of multiverse.
This is by far one of the best books I've read.
It is well written with no errors or misuse of punctuations.
I recommend this book even if you read only one genre.
I promise you'll enjoy it.
It deserves five stars and more.
This is by far one of the best books I've read.
It is well written with no errors or misuse of punctuations.
I recommend this book even if you read only one genre.
I promise you'll enjoy it.
It deserves five stars and more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews