Alien showdown in Ullapool As pregnant Ava comments near the start of Doug Johnstone’s heart-pounding sci-fi thriller The Space Between Us – “You can learn to live with anything.” I absolutely LOVED this book (I had to write it in capitals). I felt the storyline was fresh and exciting. This book reminded me of a cross between the movies ET and Alien. ET because the alien was kept hidden and was pursued by the authorities, and Alien because of the physicality of the lifeform and its ability to “talk” to humans using rudimentary language. I also liked the fact that Sandy was a refugee of sorts, a homeless being washed up on a shore, looking for a place to live without fear. How timely. This book has a lot of layers to it and it all worked for me. Recommended.

This was an entertaining, gritty, sci-fi thriller that, despite doing a bit of a double-take at the blurb, I am a huge fan of this authors work and trust the publisher enough to know that it was definitely worth a read, and I wasn't wrong! It is beautifully written story about the power of connections of all kinds, with some very human characters alongside our extra-terrestrial visitor. Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes … A group of people suffer a mysterious striking down. Some die, but a few, Lennox, Heather and Ava, miraculously recover. And when they do, they find themselves coming together to try and understand what has happened to them. It all centres around a cephalopod they find washed up on a beach and whom they call Sandy.

Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics. There’s a wonderful 4th human character too. Ewan is a veteran local newspaper reporter. Disillusioned by how social media is eroding good journalism and pushed to the margins by obsolescence, Ewan senses an opportunity for a big story. Determined to find the truth, he too comes under Sandy’s sway, becoming a fourth person helping the cause. For me, Ewan is the glue in the binding that holds the book together (possibly just because he was close to me in age and obsolescence). The George Harrison of the novel, if you will. What Doug does well is characters. Whether it’s a teenager coerced into a life of crime, a woman in fear of her abusive husband or a drum playing grandmother in her 70s, he creates people that are real and relatable. He certainly did it again in this book and he’s so good that he even had me empathising with an alien octopus in this book – some talent! Doug Johnstone is an author, musician and long-time Big Issue books critic. Here he describes how suffering a stroke changed his outlook, and his writing.

An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding for our instinctual need to connect' Rachelle Atalla I don’t normally go for science/ alien fiction, but as a child I was pretty obsessed with The X-Files, and this book felt like an episode of my childhood’s favourite series. The human characters are as nuanced as ever - Johnstone creates wonderful whole, flawed people - but in creating Sandy he has excelled himself. The colour-changing body, tentacles and telepathy are simply but masterfully described; the empathy and wisdom on the inside shown in scene after scene that moved this reader to laughter and tears. Sandy is also capable of pure joy, seen especially in the underwater trips they and Lennox take, and helps all three make connections in various ways.

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Maybe it’s the octopus like creature but there were definitely vibes of remarkably bright creatures throughout the book. I find myself slowly falling in love with these remarkable sea creatures. Not only do the trio save Sandy but he also saves them. In connecting with each other, examining their lives and each finding a way forward. I guess it’s easier to see your problems as small when the wealth of the universe has opened up for you. I absolutely LOVED this book!! Despite having no idea what to expect I bought it as it was recommended on BBC Between The Covers; which is usually a safe bet. The gap that is the space between us has to close if we are ever to realise the true potential of the human race. Along the way, Lennox, Ava and Heather form new bonds among themselves and with the life form Lennox christens “Sandy”; revive old connections with the people they call for help along the way; and find ways to heal - both physically and emotionally.

Yup, fair to say I was a bit conflicted about this one as I’m really not much of a sci-fi fan but I’m certainly a fan of Doug’s work.a b "Doug Johnstone promises a dead good read". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 5 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. I fell in love with Sandy – such a gentle giant and I adored how they talked. I found conversations between Sandy and Lennox quite amusing and funny. Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don't know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes... The Space Between Us reminded me of one of my favourite sci-fi movies Arrival, and although I don’t think it’s quite as brilliant as that movie, I still really appreciated what it did. The story shines in its portrayal of these three protagonists, and the interweaving of their storylines. There’s a deep sense of loneliness to all of them at the start, and their journey of connection to each other, themselves and the humans around them is a wonderful one to witness. Ironically wonderful, as it took an alien visitor to begin with. Without spoiling any of their story- and character-arcs, Heather, Ava and Lennox were all well-rounded and memorable character, and I enjoyed their arcs equally.

Yes, there are elements reminiscent of ET; but this is much more grown up. It’s not sentimental pap, but it is about human connection. In The Space Between Us, by Doug Johnstone, an unlikely trio of heroes have medical episodes that defy unexplanation, then go on the lam to help an extraterrestrial cephalopod evade those who wish to harm it, and reunite with the larger organism it belongs to. A sci-fi novel that is as moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park again' Mark Billingham

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This book is taking an epic tour around some of the best book blogs there are so please do visit some of them and see what they have to say about the novel: There’s lots of great stuff going on in this book. Firstly, it’s effortless reading; I inhaled the book over a couple of days. The story of each character in the book is extremely compelling. Every chapter is filled with hooks that keep you reading, long after you should have put the book down and gone to sleep, done some work, or fed the kids. The story behind The Dead Beat - Online by Doug Johnstone". upcoming4.me. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. The Space Between Us did remind me a little bit of that classic Stephen Spielberg movie, ET. A cute alien trying to reconnect with their own, who gets assistance from a couple of humans. These humans understand and are willing to do anything to save this creature from the experimental hands of the scientists and government officials. All written with a few very modern twists, no bicycles in this one!