Nominated for the Carnegie medal 2020
Shortlisted for the STEAM Children’s Book Prize 2020
Coventry Inspiration Book Awards 2021 winner
Wealthy students from across the galaxy come to learn at the prestigious academy where Hugo toils as a watchmaker. But he is one of the lucky ones. Many androids like him are jobless and homeless. Someone like Dorian could never understand their struggle – or so Hugo thinks when the pompous duke comes banging at his door. But when Dorian’s broken time-travel watch leads them to discover a sinister scheme, the pair must reconcile their differences if they are to find the culprit in time.
A wildly imaginative sci-fi adventure from YA star Lauren James, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+.
The Starlight Watchmaker is a 20,000 word novella published in paperback and eBook by Barrington Stoke. The sequel The Deep-Sea Duke is out now. Read the first chapter here.
Tumblr tag | Writing inspirations
“A rich and brilliantly bonkers story of aliens and androids. Its themes of social justice and equality really set it apart in the sci-fi genre.” – The Belfast Telegraph
“An enthralling sci-fi adventure that has shades of Star Trek while exploring themes of discrimination and class.” – South Wales Evening Post
“This mystery story is a fun and easy read with a twist in the end. Highly recommended.” – The Book Curator
Fanart by Laya aroaessidhe
Buy a Hugo (tattooed android) pin on my Etsy
Moodboard about the book
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxzMlpMg4Fw/
Fancast
Hugo (voice) – Eddie Redmayne
Dorian (voice) – Jack Farthing
Ada (voice) – Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Playlist
Campus//Vampire Weekend
Like Real People Do//Hozier
Death of a Bachelor//Panic! at the Disco
When the Party’s Over//Kina Grannis
Moodboard by charlottesomewhere
Latest posts about The Starlight Watchmaker
- Climate change in The Deep-Sea DukeThe Deep-Sea Duke is out now! You can read the first chapter here on Archive of Our Own. (My account there also contains over 70,000 words of deleted scenes and short stories from the worlds of my other novels.) InContinue reading “Climate change in The Deep-Sea Duke”
- Introducing The Deep-Sea Duke + reading the first chapter – sci-fi novella publishing 4th Feb!Read the first chapter here. When Hugo and Ada travel to their friend Dorian’s planet for the holidays, android Hugo is anxious about being accepted by Dorian’s powerful family. But when they arrive on Hydrox, there are more pressing thingsContinue reading “Introducing The Deep-Sea Duke + reading the first chapter – sci-fi novella publishing 4th Feb!”
- Cover reveal for The Deep-Sea DukeI’m so excited to share the cover of The Deep-Sea Duke, coming out with Barrington Stoke in Feb 2021. This is set on an underwater planet, who are facing a climate crisis as refugees from a nearby planet keep arriving.Continue reading “Cover reveal for The Deep-Sea Duke”
WREN / LAUREN JAMES 