Does anyone own Rebecca's World by Terry Nation?

[MajorMajor]

Long shot -
I have an old copy of this book from my childhood & was thinking about reading it to my two sons. I've just found though that it's missing the first 8 pages! (Most of chapter 1). Is there anyone who can help - give me an overview of what happens at the beginning? It's out of print otherwise I'd buy a new copy, but there does seem to be a CD out there so someone might be able to tell me what happens before Rebecca falls into the telescope?

thanks!

[trumpton]

I dont have a copy but you can buy it through abebooks here

[MajorMajor]

Oh thanks trumpton, I'll fork out for the book or audio book if no-one comes through with the answer! I've just had a look at my copy and most of the chapters are only 2 or 3 pages so I'm probably only missing a couple of pages of actual story-line

[drjohnsonscat]

Yes me me me! I loved it as a child and still have my copy which is now worth quite a bit apparently because it's out of print (madness).

I've lent it to my nephew otherwise I would type out the first few pages but you haven't really missed any storyline. It's just that Rebecca is at home and she's bored and she can't go out so she's just wondering about the house and goes into her father's study (which she's not allowed to do) and goes over to look at the telescope (which she's not allowed to touch) and looks at a star through the telescope and she thinks someone might be looking at her from the star - I think that's the point where she falls into the telescope.

I've actually just found the first chapter being read on youtube

[MajorMajor]

Thanks drjohnsonscat! I thought that was probably it but was worried I'd miss something vital. Second hand copies are going for over £20 on ebay so keep yours safe! My old copy says 55p on the back. Sadly without the first 8 pages it's probably worth zero.

[bigbadbarry]

I might have it upstairs or in the heap in the garage (erm, if the latter I may got and rescue it ;) ). If I can dig it out I will scan then pages for you

[MajorMajor]

ooh thanks bigbadbarry

[bumpybecky]

I've got it, but no idea where it is. Might take a while to track in down...

[darthsillius]

I've got it in the loft. I lioved it too. £20 though! I have looked through all my stuff to see what I could eBay but I never thought of that!

Will have s look for it in an. You have reminded me I havent read it to my son yet.

[MajorMajor]

Thanks all. Think my son is not sure about a story where the hero is a girl, but hopefully he'll come round

[darthsillius]

Found it! My son is very boysey but has no objection to girl protaganists. I even read him an abridged version of Heidi. I might even try him with my huge collection of Noel Streatfield or The Little Princess.

Chapter 1 starts on page 7. There's a picture of her house in the country and her (in Victorian clothing) going into the room with the telescope.

I like the opening sentence
"Rebecca lived in a big house in the country. At least it seemed like a big house to her, but then she was quite small."
Its the 11th day of the school holidays and she is bored, and annoying her mother with moping around the house. Her mother tells her to play in her room.

She goes upstrairs and tries walking with her eyes closed on the landing and crashes into a vase. It breaks and water is everywhere. Shes says it's not fair and she will get blamed for that.

(I always worry that reading books I loved as a child or teenager will ruin them for me as I will start siding with the parents. Am sure if I re-read Catcher in the Rye I will just get irritated with Holden not identify with him).

She closes her eyes again and ends up outside her father's study. She knocks, no answer so goes in. He has a brand new astral telescope which she has been forbidden to touch.

She's does touch it and sees one star outside the window. She bets the people on that star aren't bored and are having exciting adventures. She wonders if she will be able to see them through the telescope. So she looks. She wishes she could go there for a visit.

She then has a feeling that someone is looking at her from the other end of the telescope in the star. She would then appear to be very tiny.

Then its page 9 which you perhaps have? She starts to feel smaller, the star becomes larger and brighter. She reaches out to touch it, then she has a whirling feeling and a buzzing in her ears.

Then its all over and she opens her eyes and she in a place she has never seen before.

[trumpton]

Just to say that I use Associated Books to search for out of print childhood books , they search all over the world for booksellers . Also Book Butler . I have managed to get books from as far away as Canada for very reasonable prices.

[MajorMajor]

Fab, thanks Darthsillius ! And thanks trumpton for the links

[Raahh]

I had been searching for this for years, but it is always so expensive. Then I saw a cheap one, and realised it was the cd.

I have very fond memories of this book from school- but most people I mentioned it to hadn't ever heard of it!

[stigofthelump]

Wow can I just say, a huge thank you all for this thread, for years I have had a strong memory of a book I borrowed from the library when I was a girl. All I could remember was a girl called Rebecca and something about trees in a weird land. Nobody has ever known what I was on about until now!
Such a shame its out of print, I will have to get hold of it somehow :)

[trumpton]

^ see my post of 13.35 Friday 13th about abebooks. ^

[trumpton]

My ^^^ didn't work^

[trumpton]

Abe books have it in CD and book format.

[suburbandream]

So pleased I found this thread! I loved this book as a child, it was the very first book I read in a day and I read it over and over after that. I'd been thinking about getting it for the DCs but couldn't find it anywhere, I've now ordered it through Abe Books, thank you trumpton

[saintlyjimjams]

Oh this was one of my favourite books as a child. I must still have it somewhere. Will have to dig it out for the boys..

[MajorMajor]

I'm happy if I've reminded people of this brilliant book....enjoy

[peggyblackett]

I had a copy, which was kept at my nan's. I loved it. Unfortunately it has gone walkabout to her local charity shop I suspect. I will treat myself to a copy when I return to work.

[AbigailAdams]

This was one of my favourite books too. Thanks for reminding me.

[IamtheSnorkMaiden]

I've been after a copy of this for years but it's too flippin' expensive.

We had it read to our class at school in the 80s and it's stayed with me. Great book.

[JinnyClaypole]

Oh I have a charity shop copy of this, thought I'd get rid of it is it wasn't as creepy as I remember it being (it really weirded me out as a child). Off to find it and ebay it tomorrow...

[drjohnsonscat]

The one with the Larry Learmonth illustrations is the one to look out for I think.