Nicholas Fisk facts for kids

David Higginbottom (born October 14, 1923 – died May 10, 2016) was a British writer. He was best known by his pen name, Nicholas Fisk. He wrote many exciting science fiction books, mostly for young readers.

Some of his most famous books include Grinny, You Remember Me, Space Hostages, and Trillions. He also wrote a popular series called Starstormers. Nicholas Fisk passed away in May 2016 when he was 92 years old.

Who Was Nicholas Fisk?

Nicholas Fisk was born in London, England. His father, William, was an artist and art teacher. William also wrote a book about art. Nicholas Fisk went to school at Ardingly College in West Sussex.

Nicholas Fisk's Amazing Books

Nicholas Fisk wrote many imaginative stories. Most of them were about science fiction. Let's explore some of his popular books.

Space Hostages: An Adventure in Space

Space Hostages was published in 1967. In this book, a group of children get taken by a sick pilot. They are on a very secret spaceship. The children are left alone to fly the ship. They must work together to find their way back home safely. The story also looks at how people get along, even during big world events like the Cold War.

Trillions: Tiny Crystals, Big Mystery

Published in 1971, Trillions tells a strange tale. Tiny, mysterious crystals fall all over Earth. No one knows where they came from or what they are for. These crystals act very strangely. They stick together to form odd and sometimes scary shapes. A young boy with a microscope might just figure out the mystery before the world's top scientists.

Grinny: Aliens in Disguise

Grinny came out in 1973. It's about a normal family in England. Their lives change when aliens visit them. The alien looks like a kind old relative. This alien can play mind tricks on adults. But it chooses not to trick the children. The children are very clever. They figure out that this "Granny" is not a normal human. For example, she thinks a "cast-iron conker" is actually made of metal! This book was even made into a cartoon episode for a show called CBS Storybreak.

You Remember Me: The Aliens Return

In You Remember Me, published in 1984, the same aliens from Grinny come back to Earth. They try to take over the planet again. This time, they pretend to be a popular TV presenter. This way, they can use their mind tricks on many thousands of people watching TV. But once again, the clever children stop them.

Wheelie In The Stars: A Dream of Freedom

Wheelie In The Stars was published in 1976. It's about drone workers on a harsh factory planet. They dream of building a secret motorbike. They want to ride it in the open spaces. But gasoline and engines are against the rules. Their attempts could get them into big trouble with the authorities who watch everything.

Time Trap: A Journey Through Time

This book, also from 1976, follows a teenager in the late 21st century. He finds out he can travel through time. He uses a special drug given by his "Uncle" Lipton. Uncle Lipton is over 130 years old and expects to live much longer. Together, they escape their boring present. They travel to the past to experience life there. But time travel has its own dangers. And Uncle Lipton isn't completely honest about why he wants to travel through time. This book was even made into a film in Denmark.

Monster Maker: Bringing Creatures to Life

Monster Maker was turned into a 45-minute television special. It was directed by Giles Foster and starred Harry Dean Stanton.

The Starstormers Series

The Starstormers series includes five books. They were published between 1980 and 1983. The books are Starstormers, Sunburst, Catfang, Evil Eye, and Volcano. A group of children are tired of being left at a boarding school on Earth. Their parents are colonizing a new planet. So, the children decide to build their own spaceship. They use old equipment. They want to join their parents. But first, they must face the mysterious Octopus Emperor!

See also

In Spanish: Nicholas Fisk para niños