YA/Juvenile SF race in space
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1deepikasd
Hello. I first came across this book in the 1990s when I was a school student. It was my first read ever on science fiction.
I don't remember much about the book since I was around 10-13 years old and was reading basically everything I could find in the school's library.
I can't give you a date that the book was published either. I know for a fact that the book was published before the 1990s. I remember at the time thinking that the book was old, though now I'm a bit hesitant to say why; it could have been the yellowing of the pages or the cover (though this could be due to the how the book was treated).
The basic story plot of the book is at follows.
The story is set in the future when humanity has traveled and colonized other planets in different galaxies. The main character either comes from Earth or a planet or moon near Earth. Earth is either a planet of trash or is uninhabitable (sorry I don't remember this part; I just remember that everyone looked down on those from Earth/or around Earth).
The main character is a boy in his teens. I don't remember much except that he ends up traveling to I think another galaxy where they hold a race. The race is something similar to the Olympics. Basically, the humans from all the other planets gather every so often together and hold this event in which the participants compete in different obstacles. (One thing I remember clearly is that one planet that was inhabited is a water planet and either humans have adapted their bodies or at least their lifestyles to water.)
There is a slight mention at the beginning of the book that mankind has not made contact with alien life.
As the series goes on the main character, who is participating on Earth's behalf starts to make headway. He meets the other people in the event and makes some friends. Finally, it is the last obstacle and the boy has a chance to win. However, (I don't really remember exactly what happens) but he ends up stopping somewhere else and discovers that one of his friends/person whom he has met is actually an alien and thanks to his kindness to this alien(s), the alien race finally decides to make contact with humans.
The book ends with the aliens and humans meeting and connecting with each other; the race/event forgotten.
I'm hoping that someone knows which book I'm talking about. I think it's a book that is not that wildly known. Though I can't give any other specifics. I remember thought that the plot was so focused on the race/event that the whole alien part of the story kind of came as a surprise ending in a sense.
Thanks for all your help.
I don't remember much about the book since I was around 10-13 years old and was reading basically everything I could find in the school's library.
I can't give you a date that the book was published either. I know for a fact that the book was published before the 1990s. I remember at the time thinking that the book was old, though now I'm a bit hesitant to say why; it could have been the yellowing of the pages or the cover (though this could be due to the how the book was treated).
The basic story plot of the book is at follows.
The story is set in the future when humanity has traveled and colonized other planets in different galaxies. The main character either comes from Earth or a planet or moon near Earth. Earth is either a planet of trash or is uninhabitable (sorry I don't remember this part; I just remember that everyone looked down on those from Earth/or around Earth).
The main character is a boy in his teens. I don't remember much except that he ends up traveling to I think another galaxy where they hold a race. The race is something similar to the Olympics. Basically, the humans from all the other planets gather every so often together and hold this event in which the participants compete in different obstacles. (One thing I remember clearly is that one planet that was inhabited is a water planet and either humans have adapted their bodies or at least their lifestyles to water.)
There is a slight mention at the beginning of the book that mankind has not made contact with alien life.
As the series goes on the main character, who is participating on Earth's behalf starts to make headway. He meets the other people in the event and makes some friends. Finally, it is the last obstacle and the boy has a chance to win. However, (I don't really remember exactly what happens) but he ends up stopping somewhere else and discovers that one of his friends/person whom he has met is actually an alien and thanks to his kindness to this alien(s), the alien race finally decides to make contact with humans.
The book ends with the aliens and humans meeting and connecting with each other; the race/event forgotten.
I'm hoping that someone knows which book I'm talking about. I think it's a book that is not that wildly known. Though I can't give any other specifics. I remember thought that the plot was so focused on the race/event that the whole alien part of the story kind of came as a surprise ending in a sense.
Thanks for all your help.
2dukedom_enough
Maybe Stadium Beyond the Stars by Milton Lesser? I don't actually remember much of the plot, but here's a summary that somewhat matches your description.
The Winston books were common in the 1960s, and good library material, but I haven't seen many of them in libraries in more recent decades.
The Winston books were common in the 1960s, and good library material, but I haven't seen many of them in libraries in more recent decades.
3deepikasd
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, I do not believe that this is the book; though I will first try to acquire a copy to make sure. The only reason I say that I don't believe that this is the book is because I don't remember them finding a spaceship; though my lack of memory might be the culprit. I will check out the book however. And thank you so much for your reply.
4dukedom_enough
Unfortunately, I'm not much help for YA's published later than the 1960s.
5deepikasd
thank you anyways~ but i will say that the date seems familiar. i will try to get a copy of the book you mentioned and see if it is the one that i am searching for.
6deepikasd
BTW: the book that I have acquired the book "Stadium Beyond the Stars" and do believe (so far) that this is the book that I am searching for. Thank you for everyone's help.
7dukedom_enough
Glad you found it!
8ThomasHarrington
I'm not sure which one came first, but both Stadium Beyond the Stars or The Year When Stardust Fell, both in the Winston Science Fiction Series, caught my eye in my sixth grade school's library (1959-1960) and introduced me to science fiction. In later grades and other school libraries, I found more books from this fondly-remembered series. I've never stopped reading (and collecting) SF since, though both of these books have so far managed to elude acquisition for my personal library.
