Nova by Fanie Viljoen
Nova (Afrikaans Young-Adult Science Fiction, Series Book 1)
The opening volume of Fanie Viljoen's award-winning Afrikaans science-fiction series for young readers
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Nova: Die begin
- Author: Fanie Viljoen
- Publisher: LAPA Uitgewers, Pretoria
- Publication Date: 2016
- ISBN-13: 9780799349801
- Edition Details: Tweede uitgawe (Second Edition), Sesde druk (Sixth Printing).
- Binding: Publisher's illustrated glossy card wrappers, perfect bound.
- Physical Format: Medium softcover, approximately 200 x 130 mm. Part of the Nova series (Book 1).
- Language: Afrikaans
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Wraps: The glossy blue and black illustrated wrappers with green title lettering are clean and bright. The spine is intact, with printed title and author and no obvious creasing. There is a small dark mark or scuff near the bottom-left corner of the front cover and at the foot of the spine, and a faint white vertical hinge line near the spine on the front cover. The corners are fairly sharp and the cover edges show light handling wear.
- Interior: The pages are clean and white, with no foxing, markings or writing seen. The binding is tight. There is a slight corner crease or bend at the top right of the page with p. 41.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Nova: Die begin is the first volume in Fanie Viljoen's five-book Nova series, published by LAPA Uitgewers in Pretoria. It is an Afrikaans science-fiction mystery for young readers, set in the army town of Nova.
Lucas and his family notice strange lights near the town, and the secretive military projects there raise uncomfortable questions. Lucas and his friends are drawn into a dangerous adventure full of riddles, and the story unfolds into an encounter with extraterrestrial forces.
Science fiction is a very small field in Afrikaans youth literature, and this series is regarded as a welcome addition to it. The book won the ATKV children's book award in 2011, which makes the opening volume of interest to collectors of modern Afrikaans youth fiction and of the author's work.
Author Profile: Fanie Viljoen
Hendrik Stephanus (Fanie) Viljoen, born on 2 January 1970, is an award-winning Afrikaans writer and artist. He worked as a training consultant at Sanlam from 1990 to 2006 and has written full-time since 2006. He lives in Bloemfontein.
His other works include BreinBliksem, Pynstiller and Onderwêreld. His honours include the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature (twice) and the M.E.R. prize. He has also published in English, including Scarred Lions, whose Afrikaans version, Leeus met Letsels, was nominated for the IBBY Honour List in 2014.
Nova Die begin Fanie Viljoen · Afrikaans science fiction for young readers · Fanie Viljoen Nova series · ATKV children's book award winner · Afrikaans youth fiction LAPA · Nova reeks boek 1
