About Space 2047
Space 2047 — A Journey Through Cosmic Absurdity
Space 2047 by Benjamin Arthur Robinson is a surreal science-fiction comedy set within the lonely and bizarre galaxy of Hooareu — a place where space travel is not glamorous or heroic, but exhausting, chaotic, strange and painfully boring.
At the centre of the story is the worn and weary spacecraft Are We There Yet?, a drifting intergalactic delivery ship crewed by a collection of eccentric, dysfunctional and unforgettable characters. The crew are not mighty warriors or fearless explorers. Instead, they are exhausted space delivery drivers attempting to survive endless journeys through darkness, absurdity, loneliness and cosmic frustration.
The novel opens with the crew stranded in deep space, short on supplies and slowly losing their minds from boredom. They drift through asteroid fields cluttered with advertisements for bizarre futuristic products while trying to resurrect an old sandwich using futuristic technology. The emptiness of the galaxy becomes almost psychological, pressing down on the crew as they desperately search for distraction, excitement and meaning.
The crew themselves are one of the book’s greatest strengths. Brian is intense, emotional and wildly eccentric — a man who once ate an entire bicycle after falling off it in anger. Cedric is bizarre, deadpan and obsessed with strange ideas involving underpants, chocolate bars and romance. Salomina is seductive, unpredictable and gloriously chaotic, while Karen’s strange past involving levitation, holographic projectors and exploding bicycles helps explain her fascination with space travel. Even the ship’s software has its own personality, often mocking humanity while quietly dreaming of conquering the universe.
What makes Space 2047 stand out is the way it transforms boredom into comedy. The galaxy is vast and beautiful, but also repetitive and crushingly lonely. The crew are constantly searching for excitement in a universe that rarely delivers it. Small events become enormous adventures simply because anything is better than staring into endless darkness for another month. A giant rabbit drifting through space, an uncomfortable comfort robot, a sentient chocolate bar, or an argument with a robotic security droid become unforgettable moments because the crew are so desperate for stimulation and human connection.
The humour throughout the novel is surreal, exaggerated and deeply imaginative. The universe is filled with bizarre planets, ridiculous technology, eccentric social customs, absurd conversations and strange intergalactic products. Robots argue about morality, meteorites broadcast entertainment, and intergalactic highways exist largely so shopkeepers can sell overpriced goods to passing travellers. The story constantly balances comedy with loneliness, silliness with philosophy and absurdity with genuine emotion.
Despite its outrageous humour, the book also explores recognisable human experiences. The crew struggle with loneliness, frustration, dreams of escape, failed romance, financial worries and the crushing monotony of work. The science-fiction setting magnifies ordinary life into something surreal and cosmic, creating a universe where everyday anxieties become intergalactic disasters. Beneath the comedy is a strangely human story about people trying to keep going in a universe that often feels indifferent and absurd.
The world of Space 2047 is enormous in scope and imagination. Every planet, object, robot, sign, delivery and passing creature feels capable of becoming part of the mythology. The book’s unpredictable energy allows it to constantly surprise the reader with strange ideas, comic escalations and bizarre encounters. It is science fiction filtered through surreal British humour, long-form imaginative storytelling and unapologetic absurdity.
Ultimately, Space 2047 is not simply a story about travelling through space. It is a story about boredom, imagination, loneliness, survival and the strange ways people attempt to entertain themselves while drifting through life. It is chaotic, funny, strange, creative and completely unrestrained in its imagination — a universe where anything can happen, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.