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On a Sunbeam
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On a Sunbeam
On a Sunbeam is a science fiction webcomic, later released as a graphic novel, by American cartoonist Tillie Walden. Set in a spacefaring science fiction world, the plot follows the development of the protagonist Mia, who joins the crew of the maintenance ship Aktis and attempts to reconnect with a lost love. It was nominated for the 2017 Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic and the graphic novel won the 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
The story is set in outer space that has been colonized by humanity via fish-like spaceships. In addition to other planets, mankind has colonized island-like asteroids and constructed moving, foundation-less buildings.
The story is told non-linearly; a series of flashbacks relating to the protagonist, Mia, are presented concurrently with present events.
Five Years Ago:
A freshman at Cleary's School for Girls, Mia is rebellious and apathetic about her studies, which prove to alienate her from her classmates. Mia is passionate about Lux, a school sport that sees students build and pilot hovercraft to obtain orbs known as "planets", and hopes to become a Lux pilot someday. To this end, she sneaks into the Lux gym during a school assembly, but is caught and sent to the principal's office for trespassing.
There, she meets Grace Hill, a creative but shy new kid. The two girls become friends, getting closer after Mia fights a group of bullies to retrieve Grace's prized necklace that was stolen from her, and eventually fall in love.
Mid-school year, Grace is requested home by her enigmatic family. She reveals to Mia that she hails from The Staircase, a floating archipelago located on the far reaches of the cosmos. The Staircase is not easily inhabited due to violent storms that threaten to erode the surface, but is also home to fantastical wildlife, hot springs and so-called "healing rock". A long time ago, the Hill family colonized The Staircase, and proceeded to go to war in its defense against outside forces hoping to use the natural resources for themselves. In the aftermath, a mutual agreement illegalized passage through The Staircase's border. Grace was delivered to Cleary, despite protests from her family, thanks to Alma and Charlotte (nicknamed "Char"), a married couple and the crew of the ship Aktis, who illegally help those stranded on The Staircase cross the border. Now, rock formations on The Staircase's exterior are forecasted to shift, blocking the only path to the interior, and the Hills want Grace to return immediately, or else risk never seeing her again.
The Hills send Grace's sisters to retrieve her; they arrive at night and plan on departing the next morning. That morning, as Mia makes her way from her dormitory to Grace's suite, she is kidnapped and imprisoned in a closet by her bullies, seeking revenge for the fight. Mia manages to escape, but finds that Grace and her family have already departed.
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On a Sunbeam
On a Sunbeam is a science fiction webcomic, later released as a graphic novel, by American cartoonist Tillie Walden. Set in a spacefaring science fiction world, the plot follows the development of the protagonist Mia, who joins the crew of the maintenance ship Aktis and attempts to reconnect with a lost love. It was nominated for the 2017 Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic and the graphic novel won the 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
The story is set in outer space that has been colonized by humanity via fish-like spaceships. In addition to other planets, mankind has colonized island-like asteroids and constructed moving, foundation-less buildings.
The story is told non-linearly; a series of flashbacks relating to the protagonist, Mia, are presented concurrently with present events.
Five Years Ago:
A freshman at Cleary's School for Girls, Mia is rebellious and apathetic about her studies, which prove to alienate her from her classmates. Mia is passionate about Lux, a school sport that sees students build and pilot hovercraft to obtain orbs known as "planets", and hopes to become a Lux pilot someday. To this end, she sneaks into the Lux gym during a school assembly, but is caught and sent to the principal's office for trespassing.
There, she meets Grace Hill, a creative but shy new kid. The two girls become friends, getting closer after Mia fights a group of bullies to retrieve Grace's prized necklace that was stolen from her, and eventually fall in love.
Mid-school year, Grace is requested home by her enigmatic family. She reveals to Mia that she hails from The Staircase, a floating archipelago located on the far reaches of the cosmos. The Staircase is not easily inhabited due to violent storms that threaten to erode the surface, but is also home to fantastical wildlife, hot springs and so-called "healing rock". A long time ago, the Hill family colonized The Staircase, and proceeded to go to war in its defense against outside forces hoping to use the natural resources for themselves. In the aftermath, a mutual agreement illegalized passage through The Staircase's border. Grace was delivered to Cleary, despite protests from her family, thanks to Alma and Charlotte (nicknamed "Char"), a married couple and the crew of the ship Aktis, who illegally help those stranded on The Staircase cross the border. Now, rock formations on The Staircase's exterior are forecasted to shift, blocking the only path to the interior, and the Hills want Grace to return immediately, or else risk never seeing her again.
The Hills send Grace's sisters to retrieve her; they arrive at night and plan on departing the next morning. That morning, as Mia makes her way from her dormitory to Grace's suite, she is kidnapped and imprisoned in a closet by her bullies, seeking revenge for the fight. Mia manages to escape, but finds that Grace and her family have already departed.