One Giant Read was an out of this world virtual shared reading experience which ran between 2015 and 2017.

One Giant Read began life as a project to celebrate Tim Peake and the Principia Mission, brought to you by Literature Works in partnership with The UK Space Agency, Royal National Institute of Blind People and supported by Gollancz, The Poetry Archive and Plymouth University.

Launching its journey alongside Tim Peake’s Principia Mission to the International Space Station, One Giant Read offered those who remained on Earth a themed reading and writing challenge designed to bring space science to diverse audiences in ways which engage and expand our audience’s science interests and knowledge.

For every month Tim was away, the One Giant Read website showcased the very best science fiction writers and poets through audio clips, poetry recordings and interviews, with video messages from Scientists about the impact and influences science fiction writing has had on science fact as well as on their passion for science.

Presenting a collision of science fact and science fiction, One Giant Read made a range of reading materials, exclusive interviews and recordings accessible to people living with sight loss.

With Tim back down to earth, our mission comes to an end in June; but if you’re a science-fiction aficionado or entirely new to the genre, you can still visit the One Giant Read archive with us or explore some of our favourite moments from the project here …

Philip Haines - Science Fiction and its Influence on Science Fact
One Giant Read interviews Philip Haines Head of Telecom Business Development at the European Space Agency and finds out how he thinks science fiction has influenced science fact!
Alan Brunstrom on the impact of Science Fiction on Science Fact
One Giant Read interviews Alan Brunstrom, Liaison Officer at the European Space Agency about the impact of science fiction on science fact.
Libby Jackson, Astronaut Flight Education Manager at the UK Space Agency
One Giant Read talks to Libby Jackson, Astronaut Flight Education Manager at the UK Space Agency about the science that inspired her to get into science.
One Giant Read Talks to Professor Ian Stewart
Professor Ian Stewart talks to One Giant Read about how the novels of Willard Price inspired him to become an explorer and adventurer. He discusses his job as a geologist and the existence of new, undiscovered worlds.
Captain Bob Hone: STEM Inspirations
Captain Bob Hone, a lecturer in navigation at Plymouth University, tells us how he got into maritime science and explores the similarities between maritime navigation and space navigation.
Professional Geek & Horror Nerd: S.D. Perry
One Giant Read caught up with author S.D. Perry to ask her about Labyrinth, novelisations from comics, her other science fiction work & the dark, dark world of the xenomorph ...
Anthony Caleshu
One Giant Read caught up with professor of poetry at Plymouth University Anthony Caleshu to ask about his work, and the world of poetry ...
Susan Buckle: STEM Inspirations
One Giant Read talked to Susan Buckle, Astronaut Education Programme Support Manager at the UK Space Agency about her career in science.
Jeremy Curtis: STEM Inspirations
One Giant Read talks to Jermey Curtis, Head of Education and Skills at the UK Space Agency about the science fiction that inspired him to get into science.
Professor Tony Balpaeme: STEM Inspirations
Professor Tony Belpaeme, who specialises in robotics tells One Giant Read about what he does and how he got into science.
An interview with Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster has written novelisations for some of the most important Science Fiction films ever - including Alien & Star Wars.
An interview with Stephen Baxter
One Giant Read caught up with Science Fiction superstar and multiple fiction awards winner Stephen Baxter to find out what inspires him to write Sci-Fi ...
Readalong the post-apocalypse!
From The Walking Dead to Fallout 4, the world of the Post-Apocalypse is rife and ravaged for screen storytelling. We take a look at some of the best books from the end of the world ...
An interview with David A Goodman
When we reviewed the brilliant Autobiography of James T Kirk we were lucky enough to interview author David A Goodman about all things Trek ...
An interview with Gareth L Powell
Gareth L Powell is an award winning science fiction writer. He has written five science fiction novels, perhaps most notably his hugely popular alternate history Ack-Ack Macaque series.
We love SciFi soundtracks!
As a backbeat to wonder and adventure, and occasionally terror and chaos, the Sci-Fi movie genre has been blessed over the years with some of the very best finest music in the universe ...
Alasdair Reynolds
Alastair Reynolds is the author of twelve science fiction novels and over fifty short stories in the genre. One Giant Read caught up with Alastair to find out what he loves about science fiction.
Adam Nevill
"The apocalypse and mass extinction may not be an existential future state; is there a greater horror for a writer of horror?" - One Giant Read chats with horror star Adam Nevill.
Simon Barraclough
One Giant Read caught up with Simon Barraclough to discover his thoughts on the relationship between science and poetry.
Roz Morris
Roz Morris published nearly a dozen novels and achieved sales of more than 4 million copies - and nobody saw her name because she was a ghostwriter.
Star Trek Costumes
Reviewing the brilliant Star Trek Costumes One Giant Read caught up with auctions expert Helen Hall to ask about the biggest Star Trek auction of all time ...
Dr Mike McCulloch: STEM Inspirations
Lecturer in geomatics at Plymouth University, Dr Mike McCulloch tells One Giant Read why he became a scientist.
Natasha Stephen on HG Wells
Scientific officer at Plymouth University Natasha Stephen talks about HG Wells & The First Men in the Moon.
Tim Peake's Spacewalk
The were some incredible moments during Principia. Tim's spacewalk was simply out of this world unforgettable ...

Visit the One Giant Read Archive

Literature Works would like to thank everyone who was involved in this project and give special thanks to:

  • The UK Space Agency
  • European Space Agency
  • Libby Jackson
  • Susan Buckle
  • Jeremy Curtis
  • Major Tim Peake -for providing us with inspiration and a reason to keep looking skyward. Go Tim Go!
  • Gollancz
  • Lydia Gittins
  • Philippa Ward
  • RNIB
  • Pulse Studios
  • Matrix, especially Mike and Tom
  • All the writers, publishers, scientists and space industry professionals who made One Giant Read possible
  • Our fabulous #GiantReaders

Thank you all – it was out of this world!