See You In The Cosmos: A Novel by Jack Cheng | PDF EPUB MOBI FB2 Download
See You In The Cosmos Download Epub Mobi Pdf Fb2 21
If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, think, and wonder, you might want to check out See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheng. This book is a heartwarming and hilarious adventure of an 11-year-old boy who wants to send his voice to outer space. In this article, we will give you a brief overview of what See You In The Cosmos is about, who wrote it and why, what are some of its main themes and messages, how you can download it in different formats such as epub, mobi, pdf, and fb2, and how it compares to other books in its genre.
See You In The Cosmos Download Epub Mobi Pdf Fb2 21
Introduction
See You In The Cosmos is a 2017 epistolary novel by Chinese-American author Jack Cheng. It is his second book, and his first for children. Written as transcription, the story follows astronomy-loving pre-teen Alex Petroski as he embarks on a journey to understand the life of his late father and records the journey in notes on his iPod to launch into space. Cheng composed the initial idea for the novel in 2012, after seeing a photo of the Pale Blue Dot, and was further inspired by a road trip he took in 2013.
The book is a tribute to Carl Sagan, the famous astronomer and science communicator who created the Golden Record, a collection of sounds and images that represent humanity and Earth, which was sent on board the Voyager spacecrafts in 1977. Alex names his dog after Carl Sagan, and hopes to follow his footsteps by sending his own Golden iPod into orbit. The book also explores themes such as family, friendship, identity, curiosity, resilience, and hope.
Summary of the plot
The book is divided into four parts: Earth (Colorado), Earth (New Mexico), Earth (Nevada), and Earth (California). Each part consists of several chapters that are transcripts of Alex's recordings on his iPod. The recordings capture Alex's thoughts, feelings, conversations, and experiences as he travels across different states.
In Part One: Earth (Colorado), we meet Alex Petroski, an 11-year-old boy who lives with his mother in Rockview, Colorado. His mother has "quiet days" when she barely talks or moves, and his older brother Ronnie lives in Los Angeles and works as a sports agent. Alex loves astronomy and rockets, and has built his own rocket with the help of a local hobbyist named Mr. Jameson. He plans to attend the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival (SHARF) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he hopes to launch his rocket with his Golden iPod attached to it. He wants to send his recordings to space, hoping that someone or something will listen to them and learn about life on Earth.
In Part Two: Earth (New Mexico), Alex takes a train to SHARF with his dog Carl Sagan. He meets a friendly man named Zed, who is also going to the festival. At SHARF, Alex meets other rocket enthusiasts, including a girl named Emma who helps him prepare his rocket. However, his rocket fails to launch properly, and his iPod falls back to the ground. Alex is disappointed, but he decides to continue his mission by finding another way to send his iPod to space. He also decides to find his father, whom he thought was dead until he received an email from Ancestry.com that suggested he had a DNA match with someone in Las Vegas. He convinces Zed to drive him to Las Vegas, along with Zed's roommate Steve, who is a journalist.
In Part Three: Earth (Nevada), Alex arrives in Las Vegas and tries to locate his father. He learns that his father is indeed dead, but he has a half-sister named Terra, who is a college student and an artist. Terra is surprised and curious about Alex, and agrees to help him find Carl Sagan, who got lost in the city. They also enlist the help of Alex's "maybe-dad", a man named Lester who claims to be Alex's father's friend and lawyer. Lester turns out to be a shady character who tries to scam Alex and Terra out of their inheritance. Alex and Terra manage to escape from Lester and reunite with Carl Sagan. They also discover more secrets about their father's past and their family history.
In Part Four: Earth (California), Alex flies to Los Angeles with Terra and Carl Sagan. He meets his brother Ronnie, who is shocked and angry to see him. Ronnie blames Alex for causing trouble and worries about their mother's condition. He also reveals that their mother has schizophrenia, a mental illness that makes her hear voices and have delusions. Alex is confused and scared by this revelation, and wonders if he has inherited the same illness. He also wonders if he should go back to Colorado or stay with Ronnie or Terra. He decides to visit the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he hopes to find a way to send his iPod to space. There, he meets Dr. Benjamin Fuchs, a scientist who works on the Mars rover project. Dr. Fuchs listens to Alex's story and offers him a chance to send his iPod on the next Mars mission.
The book ends with Alex making his final recording on his iPod, saying goodbye to Carl Sagan and thanking him for being his best friend. He also thanks all the people he met on his journey, and expresses his hope for the future. He says that he will see them in the cosmos, and signs off as "Alex Petroski, citizen of planet Earth".
Analysis of the characters
The book features a diverse cast of characters who have different backgrounds, personalities, and roles in Alex's life. Here are some of the main characters and their characteristics:
Alex Petroski: The protagonist and narrator of the book. He is an 11-year-old boy who loves astronomy, rockets, and Carl Sagan. He is curious, optimistic, naive, and brave. He embarks on a journey to find his father and send his voice to space, but ends up finding himself and his family along the way.
Carl Sagan: Alex's dog and best friend. He is named after the famous scientist who inspired Alex's mission. He is loyal, smart, and adventurous. He accompanies Alex on his journey and helps him make friends with other people and animals.
Ronnie Petroski: Alex's older brother who lives in Los Angeles. He is 28 years old and works as a sports agent. He is busy, successful, and distant from Alex and their mother. He cares about Alex but does not understand him or support his dreams.
Terra Petroski: Alex's half-sister who lives in Las Vegas. She is 19 years old and studies art at college. She is creative, kind, and independent. She bonds with Alex over their shared father and helps him discover more about their family history.
Analysis of the characters
The book features a diverse cast of characters who have different backgrounds, personalities, and roles in Alex's life. Here are some of the main characters and their characteristics:
Alex Petroski: The protagonist and narrator of the book. He is an 11-year-old boy who loves astronomy, rockets, and Carl Sagan. He is curious, optimistic, naive, and brave. He embarks on a journey to find his father and send his voice to space, but ends up finding himself and his family along the way.
Carl Sagan: Alex's dog and best friend. He is named after the famous scientist who inspired Alex's mission. He is loyal, smart, and adventurous. He accompanies Alex on his journey and helps him make friends with other people and animals.
Ronnie Petroski: Alex's older brother who lives in Los Angeles. He is 28 years old and works as a sports agent. He is busy, successful, and distant from Alex and their mother. He cares about Alex but does not understand him or support his dreams.
Terra Petroski: Alex's half-sister who lives in Las Vegas. She is 19 years old and studies art at college. She is creative, kind, and independent. She bonds with Alex over their shared father and helps him discover more about their family history.
Zed: A man who meets Alex on the train to SHARF. He is friendly, helpful, and mysterious. He has a tattoo of a snake on his arm and a secret past that he does not reveal to Alex.
Steve: Zed's roommate who drives Alex to Las Vegas. He is a journalist who writes for a website called TruthBeTold.com. He is cynical, sarcastic, and skeptical of everything. He loses Carl Sagan in Las Vegas and tries to find him with Alex and Terra.
Lester: A man who claims to be Alex's father's friend and lawyer. He is actually a con artist who tries to trick Alex and Terra out of their inheritance. He is greedy, dishonest, and dangerous.
Dr. Benjamin Fuchs: A scientist who works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. He is in charge of the Mars rover project. He is kind, generous, and supportive of Alex's mission. He offers to send Alex's iPod on the next Mars mission.
Evaluation of the style and structure
The book is written in a unique style and structure that reflects Alex's voice and perspective. The book consists of transcripts of Alex's recordings on his iPod, which he addresses to intelligent beings in outer space. The recordings capture not only Alex's thoughts and feelings, but also his conversations with other people, background noises, interruptions, pauses, and silences. The book uses different fonts, sizes, colors, symbols, and formats to indicate these elements.
The book also uses various literary devices and techniques to create humor, suspense, and emotion. For example:
The book uses irony to contrast Alex's naive understanding of reality with the reader's more informed knowledge. For example, when Alex says that his mother has "quiet days" when she barely talks or moves, the reader can infer that she suffers from mental illness.
The book uses foreshadowing to hint at future events or revelations that will affect Alex's journey. For example, when Alex receives an email from Ancestry.com that suggests he has a DNA match with someone in Las Vegas, it foreshadows his discovery of his half-sister Terra.
The book uses imagery to describe Alex's experiences and observations in vivid detail. For example, when Alex sees the Pale Blue Dot photo for the first time, he says: "It looked like someone had taken a picture of a black piece of paper with a hole puncher."
The book uses metaphors and similes to compare different things or concepts in creative ways. For example, when Alex explains why he likes rockets, he says: "Rockets are like arrows that you shoot at the sky."
The book uses repetition to emphasize certain words or phrases that are important or meaningful to Alex. For example, he often repeats the phrase "See you in the cosmos" as a sign-off and a hope for his mission.
The book also balances realism and fantasy in its story. On one hand, the book is based on real scientific facts and events, such as the Golden Record, the Voyager spacecrafts, the Mars rover, and the Pale Blue Dot photo. The book also addresses real social issues, such as mental illness, family dysfunction, child neglect, and identity crisis. On the other hand, the book also involves elements of fantasy and imagination, such as Alex's belief that he can communicate with aliens, his encounter with a cult that worships a giant eyeball, and his chance to send his iPod to Mars.
Comparison with other books
The book is related to Carl Sagan's work and legacy in several ways. First, the book is dedicated to Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan, who helped create the Golden Record and co-wrote the TV series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. Second, the book references many of Carl Sagan's ideas and quotes, such as "We are made of star stuff", "The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be", and "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known". Third, the book shares Carl Sagan's passion for astronomy, science communication, and exploration of the unknown.
The book also belongs to the genre of children's literature, but it differs from or challenges some of the conventions of this genre. For example:
The book deals with mature and complex topics that are not typically found in children's books, such as sex, violence, death, and mental illness. The book does not shy away from showing the harsh realities and challenges that Alex faces on his journey.
The book does not have a clear moral or message that is explicitly stated or taught to the reader. The book does not judge or condemn any of the characters or their actions, but rather presents them as they are and lets the reader form their own opinions and conclusions.
The book does not have a happy or conclusive ending that resolves all the conflicts or questions that arise in the story. The book leaves many things open-ended or ambiguous, such as Alex's fate, his mother's condition, his relationship with his siblings, and his communication with aliens.
Conclusion
See You In The Cosmos is a remarkable and memorable book that offers a unique and engaging reading experience. The book tells a compelling and touching story of a young boy who goes on an extraordinary adventure to find his place in the world and in the universe. The book also explores various themes and issues that are relevant and important for today's readers, such as family, friendship, identity, curiosity, resilience, and hope.
If you are interested in reading See You In The Cosmos, you can access it in different formats such as epub, mobi, pdf, and fb2. Epub is a format that is compatible with most e-readers and devices. Mobi is a format that is compatible with Amazon Kindle devices. Pdf is a format that can be viewed on any computer or device with a pdf reader. Fb2 is a format that is popular in Russia and can be read by some e-readers and devices.
To download See You In The Cosmos in any of these formats, you can visit one of these websites:
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about See You In The Cosmos:
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about See You In The Cosmos:
What age group is See You In The Cosmos suitable for?
See You In The Cosmos is classified as a middle-grade novel, which means it is intended for readers between 8 and 12 years old. However, the book can also appeal to older readers who enjoy realistic fiction, adventure stories, and science topics. The book deals with some mature and complex issues, such as mental illness, family dysfunction, child neglect, and identity crisis, so parents and teachers may want to discuss these topics with younger or sensitive readers.
How accurate is See You In The Cosmos in terms of science and history?
See You In The Cosmos is based on real scientific facts and events, such as the Golden Record, the Voyager spacecrafts, the Mars rover, and the Pale Blue Dot photo. The author Jack Cheng did extensive research on these topics and consulted with experts from NASA and other institutions. He also visited some of the places that Alex travels to in the book, such as the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival (SHARF) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). However, the book also involves some elements of fantasy and imagination, such as Alex's belief that he can communicate with aliens, his encounter with a cult that worships a giant eyeball, and his chance to send his iPod to Mars. The book does not claim to be a factual account of space exploration or extraterrestrial life, but rather a fictional story that is inspired by real science and history.
What are some of the literary influences or references in See You In The Cosmos?
See You In The Cosmos is influenced by and references various literary works and authors, especially those related to science fiction and children's literature. For example:
The book is dedicated to Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan, who helped create the Golden Record and co-wrote the TV series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. The book also references many of Carl Sagan's ideas and quotes, such as "We are made of star stuff", "The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be", and "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known".
The book is written in an epistolary format, which means it consists of letters or documents that tell a story. This format has been used by many authors and genres, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and R.J. Palacio's Wonder.
The book is a road trip story, which means it follows a character or a group of characters who travel across different places and have various adventures along the way. This genre has been popularized by authors such as Jack Kerouac's On the Road, John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Cheryl Strayed's Wild, and John Green's Paper Towns.
How can I learn more about See You In The Cosmos or Jack Cheng?
If you want to learn more about See You In The Cosmos or Jack Cheng, you can visit their official websites or social media accounts. Here are some links:
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