Cosmic

“Dad was furious because while he’d been worrying himself sick I hadn’t been worried at all. Why wasn’t I worried? Because I knew he’d come back for me. I never thought for a minute he wouldn’t. When you’re a kid you think your dad can do anything.”

This quote reveals Liam’s idealized perception of fatherhood, using childlike logic and repetition to show how much he trusted his dad. Ironically, because Liam has yet to experience what it’s like, he doesn’t yet fully understand The Importance of Fatherhood, introducing this as an important theme. The last line is both nostalgic and bittersweet, emphasizing a universal childhood belief in parental strength. In addition, it foreshadows Liam’s journey into becoming a father figure, where he’ll experience increasing maturity and responsibility.

“I slashed at the brown candy floss with Dad’s razor, which did get rid of it. Sadly, it also got rid of a lot of blood.”

Dark humor and sensory imagery help convey Liam’s desperate, clumsy attempt to appear older by shaving off his facial hair. The juxtaposition of the childish candy floss with his father’s razor is a metaphor for his internal struggle between childhood and adulthood. His injury becomes a symbolic moment of failed maturity, showing that growing up isn’t as easy as pretending, while also foreshadowing the real-life experiences that force Liam to mature.

“I remember sitting in that cupboard, feeling like the rest of the world had completely vanished and that I was now orbiting the Sun entirely on my own, on a chair. Planet Panda Pop.”

This quote uses hyperbole and metaphor, comparing Liam’s isolation before the play to being in outer space alone. The name “Planet Panda Pop” adds a humorous tone but also deepens the sense of detachment and alienation. The moment symbolically foreshadows Liam’s future literal isolation in space, and is the beginning of his understanding as someone who is small in comparison to its vastness.

“Sometimes you don’t need to take the Elixir of the Mages first. Sometimes if you simply step up to the monster, the elixir just comes.”

This line uses extended metaphor and allusion to the online game World of Warcraft, translating Liam’s internal courage into the language of the game. It symbolizes the idea that confidence and bravery come from action, not preparation. This is a key moment in Liam’s character development, where he begins to take bold risks and steps into a more fatherly, leadership role, illustrating the theme of Growing Up and Becoming Responsible.

“I felt I’d mastered Level One of Being a Dad. Now I had to get myself a daughter.”

Liam uses a gaming metaphor to describe his early attempts at pretending to be a father, reflecting how he interprets serious life experiences through a childlike lens. The phrase suggests both his immaturity and his desire to grow into the role, implying that parenting is a quest that involves increasing difficulty, just like his game. This line highlights The Importance of Fatherhood as a theme and foreshadows the father-daughter relationship that develops between Liam and Florida.

“Hello, lucky winners. I cannot wait to see you all at our secret headquarters and I hope you’re having a comfortable journey. I ran this competition for fathers because I believe that fathers have a lot to give. My father, for instance, gave me the Drax Communications Company. For my twelfth birthday.”

This quote uses irony and juxtaposition to poke fun at privilege and power, especially through the absurdity of receiving a corporation as a birthday gift. Dr. Drax’s tone seems formal and cheerful, but the underlying tone reveals a lack of empathy and perspective. Her relationship with her father contrasts starkly with Liam’s, emphasizing the idea that fatherhood means different things to different people. In addition, Drax also cleverly foreshadows the “giving” of the children away to the mission, as she later reveals her initial plan for all the fathers to stay behind.

“Golf while Florida was looking around a rocket.

Golf while she was getting ready to be a taikonaut.

Golf.

Golf.”

The repetition of “Golf” creates a rhythmic monotony that reflects Liam’s desire for adventure, excitement, and thrill. The line uses internal monologue to show Liam’s growing awareness of what being a father really looks like. It sharpens the contrast between performative fatherhood and Liam’s increasingly genuine role as one.

“Even the Possibility Building didn’t look that solid, until the Sun rolled up and peeled a strip of shadow off its back, as though it was a huge red banana. And then it tore up all the other shadows like tissue paper and there was everyone unwrapped on the tarmac, like surprises.”

This passage uses personification and visual imagery to compare the sun to a painter or magician unwrapping the day. The metaphor mirrors the children themselves, as each one is about to be tested and the true core of their strength revealed. The playful tone contrasts with the gravity of space travel, adding to the whimsical but suspenseful mood.

“We all held hands, took a breath and jumped. Bombs of sand exploded around us as we went faster and faster.”

The sensory imagery of this scene creates a sense of motion and danger, paralleling the thrill and risk of venturing into the unknown. The act of holding hands symbolizes trust and unity, especially as Liam continues to bond with the kids and become their father figure. This quote foreshadows the much bigger jump they’ll take into space.

“When I woke up I was in bed. This was so unexpected that at first I thought I’d been abducted by aliens.”

Humor and exaggeration demonstrate Liam’s ongoing immersion in space travel. The unexpected return to normality contrasts with the bizarre and extreme experiences he had while inebriated, emphasizing how his perspective has already begun to shift. It shows how surreal and disorienting his journey has become, blurring the distinction between reality and adventure.

“What does she mean, weightless? We’re going to lose weight?”

This quote uses verbal irony and wordplay to showcase the innocence and misunderstanding often associated with scientific terminology. Such misunderstandings define Florida until she starts to learn more about space travel and gain a deeper interest in science. It’s also a moment of comic relief amid the tension of preparing for zero-gravity training. Florida’s literal interpretation contrasts with Liam’s growing grasp of complex ideas.

“The dome is where all the best rides are. These are not rides like you’ve seen before. Their names are all to do with the history of space exploration: the Giant Leap, Lake of Fear, Sea of Storms. The biggest one—The Vortex—looks like a kitchen blender from the land of giants.”

This description uses allusion and metaphor, referencing space history while comparing the Vortex to a blender to create a mix of fact and fantasy. The names of the rides evoke a sense of grandeur but also a palpable sense of terror. This builds suspense and demonstrates Liam’s need to experience life to the fullest possible extent.

“To start with, the washing machine chugged round at something like the speed of a light woollens wash. Then it went up to gear to something like color-fast cottons, and after that worryingly fast—like a spin dryer, and then it suddenly started slowing down again.”

This extended metaphor humorously compares the Vortex experience to laundry cycles, likening the terrifying event to familiar, everyday imagery. It reflects Liam’s playful but observant narration and also juxtaposes everyday life with the extreme. Liam interprets the extraordinary through an ordinary lens, demonstrating his childlike perspective even as he assumes adult responsibilities.

“Next up was Samson One, who bounced off the atmosphere and into outer space. It didn’t bother him. He seemed to quite like the idea of accelerating until you turned into a beam of light.”

This line uses hyperbole and metaphysical imagery to show Samson One’s fascination with logic and science. It’s a rare moment of characterization for Samson One, who typically only emphasizes people’s reliance (or, sometimes, overreliance) on logic. The moment also satirizes the seriousness of space training, adding levity to something terrifying, to reflect how the children process it.

“That’s the scary thing about children. They will vote to go into space with someone who is dangerously useless if it means they get a longer go on the PlayStation.”

This quote uses sarcasm and social commentary to critique how modern children sometimes prioritize entertainment over safety. In addition, it mocks the decision-making in competitions and society, where charisma or bribes can outweigh competence. Liam’s awareness of this dynamic shows his growth in understanding people and his budding responsibilities as a leader.

“I felt really lonely that night. I think it must be the only time I’ve been in a house on my own at night. And now look—I felt bad on my own in a house. Now I’m on my own in the universe.”

This passage uses contrast to show how Liam’s feelings of loneliness deepen, from a simple empty house to the vastness of the universe. It illustrates the theme of How a Change in Environment Can Change One’s Perspective. The repetition of sentence structure and word choice emphasizes his growing sense of isolation. Liam becomes increasingly introspective the closer he gets to the launch.

“‘Where you’re going—it seems far away and dangerous. But you will come back.’

Which is more or less exactly what my dad said to me on my first day at Waterloo High.”

This moment uses parallelism to reflect how life’s scariest experiences often echo each other, no matter how large or small. The comparison of high school to space travel shows how emotional reassurance is sometimes not only helpful but also needed. In addition, it emphasizes Liam’s continued reliance on his father’s words for strength, despite having to become that kind of figure himself now. This quote helps illuminate The Importance of Fatherhood as a theme.

“The Infinite Possibility was two hundred feet high. At the top you could feel it swaying in the wind. And you could hear the wind rolling in and out of the pipes and engines, sobbing and sighing and generally sounding miserable.”

This quote uses personification and auditory imagery to make the rocket seem alive and almost mournful, as though the mission is bound to go wrong. The contrast between the rocket’s name and the haunting sounds it makes creates a mood of ironic foreboding. It reflects Liam’s unease and the tension before launch, showing that awe is often paired with fear.

“And somewhere in the middle of it the voice of DraxControl was shouting in my ear.

Then it stopped.

Then it shouted.

Then it stopped again.

The Earth vanished.

And then came back.

Then vanished.

And then came back.

And then we stopped rolling.

And Earth was gone.

No one said a word.”

The fragmented structure and repetition here reflect the disorientation and suspense of launch and create a poetic format amid the story’s prose. The rhythm builds tension, and the vanishing Earth becomes a symbol of disconnection from home and normalcy. This moment indicates a profound shift in the narrative, as Liam is now truly in space, and the magnitude of that reality has led everyone into silence.

“I know it sounds mad, but I could see every one of their eyelashes. I wanted to count them. I could hear their breathing. I could hear eyelids opening and closing. Everything.”

Extreme detail and sensory overload describe the heightened awareness that comes with fear and adrenaline. Liam’s focus on small things like eyelashes shows both wonder and the feeling of being alive that comes from nearly dying. In this moment, Liam develops an appreciation for living that he never felt before.

“What if stars were just pixels? And Earth was less than a pixel? What does that make us? And what does that make me? Not even dust. I felt tiny. For the first time in my life I felt too small.”

This quote uses metaphor and existential questions to express the awe and significance of space. Liam’s thoughts mirror a common perspective in space narratives, where personal concerns seem unimportant compared to the entire universe. The moment is a turning point in his maturity, as he no longer sees himself as pretending to be big. He recognizes that he is just one small part of something much more massive, emphasizing the theme of How a Change in Environment Can Change One’s Perspective.

“I’m putting this phone away now till the children are back on board.”

This moment represents a shift in Liam’s maturity and self-perception. He now separates himself from the kids, acknowledging his leadership role, which thematically highlights Growing Up and Becoming Responsible. It’s a moment in which Liam goes from being a child pretending to be a father to an actual father figure capable of protecting those he cares about.

“They smelled slightly fireworky. This was because some elements of the Moon dust they’d trailed in had reacted with the oxygen inside the Dandelion. And they were covered in the dust. Just covered.”

The children being covered in moon dust emphasizes how space has changed them and how it will now always be part of them. The moon dust symbolizes their transformation, showing how the journey has literally and metaphorically changed them. The smell of fireworks symbolically connects to earlier descriptions of space as looking like a freeze-frame of fireworks.