Alan Doughty
The story starts with Nathaniel Ravenscroft, the 12 year old hero, enjoying a bike ride with his friend Tyler, playing children’s fantasy games, griping about how mundane their life in small town Littlehampton is, and, as with all great children’s fiction, unaware of the fantastic adventures he will face ahead. Neilson introduces the main protagonist early which nicely sets the tone for the remainder of the book. The heroes and villains are easily accessible. Nathaniel is a likable young man, smart and sporty who obviously cares for his physically weaker, bookish friend Tyler, nicely highlighted by the banter the two share in the early chapters - probably the most endearing character relationship in the book. The supporting cast all help to build Nathaniel’s character and the story, Professor Ravenscroft, the Archetypal ‘Absent Minded Professor, the ‘Evil Uncle’ Sebastian and, of course, Ruben and Octavia, the Cosmic Aviators of the title. The main cosmic story arc is enjoyable, without being overly complicated and Neilson displays a talent for understanding what young readers will find exciting.
The two worlds, one ordinary and one fantastical has obviously been used before in children’s fiction, but very rarely in a Science Fiction setting, and I have to admit it works. What could have easily been a generic Fantasy, with Wizards and Elves is transformed into an action/adventure perfect for a generation growing up with Star Wars and Doctor Who. I particularly liked the boys mistaking the aliens as witches and their weapons for wands, a nice little twist that marks this book apart from others of the same genre. Neilson’s writing style is fluid, with an obvious affection for the characters, which pulls the reader into the story. The most enjoyable aspect of the book is the authors understanding of how to set an adventure that will keep the younger reader hooked. The pace is perfect, allowing time for the characters to define themselves, but with the action building slowly to keep the reader’s attention. Neilson does not patronise her target audience with overly simplistic language, a trap that too many Children’s Authors fall into, but writes with a rare acknowledgment of the language skills of the young. There may be times when some readers will need to ask the meaning of a word, but anything that increases a child’s vocabulary can only be a good thing.
Overall, the book is challenging, but not overly so as to be off putting. It’s a great adventure story, entertaining, well thought out and will keep its readers turning the page to see what happens next. As this is listed as Nathaniel's first adventure, I really do hope we see more of his escapades in the forth-dimension in the future. This book has the makings of a fantastic series, more please.