1.
The law of universal gravitation
2.
What you see isn't everything
3.
21 grams
4.
escape velocity
5.
Light and color
6.
Harmony of dissonance
7.
Ring Nebula
8.
View effect
9.
Appear like a comet
10.
Einstein and Stephen Hawking
11.
quantum mechanics
12.
It's empty
13.
Chaos
14.
Wave effect
15.
Big! Bang!
16.
But the Earth still turns
17.
Stairway to Space

Author's Note
Books that helped me

A girl who loves science, uncovering the secrets of the universe!
A fairy tale that shows new possibilities in science fiction narratives

Jisoo, who is devastated after losing her entire family in an accident, becomes engrossed in the 'parallel universe theory', which claims that other universes exist besides our own.
The belief that her family is living happily in another universe is a great comfort to Jisoo.
Jisoo, who became interested in science after learning about the theory of parallel universes, meets her neighbor, a physicist, by chance on the stairs of her apartment building, and they become best friends, regaining the vitality of her daily life.
Then one day, the grandmother suddenly disappears, leaving behind only an incomprehensible coded message.
Not wanting to lose someone precious again, Jisoo desperately begins to solve the case with her friends and decipher the code of clues left behind by her grandmother.
Author Jeon Su-gyeong met readers by winning the grand prize in the children's book category of the 23rd Changbi 'Good Children's Book' manuscript contest with her work, 'Stairway to Space.'
Living up to the review that it is “a work that can shift the paradigm of science fiction literature,” the author has created a new narrative that crosses the lines between science fiction and mystery, excitingly depicting the process by which a science-loving protagonist uncovers the secrets of the universe.
The amazing imagination that stretches out into space increases the immersion of the reader, and the main character's rational reasoning process, borrowing various scientific theories to solve problems, provides a thrilling pleasure.


The beautiful world of science that deepens and enriches life
A fairy tale that teaches the "beauty of science" through "literary imagination."

The reason I like physics is because it shows us the secret truths hidden behind the visible world.
(Page 18)

For Jisoo, who recalls scientific theories and connects them to reality in any situation, science is more than just knowledge; it is a key to growth that helps her maintain her daily life and realize the truth of life.
Having learned how to overcome grief through the theory of parallel universes, Jisoo applies the law of universal gravitation to her fateful encounter with her grandmother, and seeing the Ring Nebula, a beautiful image of a star dying, she comes to believe that death is not always so terrible.
On the other hand, when trying to figure out the whereabouts of the missing grandmother, Einstein's theory of relativity comes to mind and the concept of movement in space and time is brought to mind.
The earth science and physics knowledge discussed in the work encourages Jisoo and motivates him to move forward, while being described at a child's level, providing readers with clues to problem solving and allowing them to imagine the next story.

One day my grandmother said:
“You must break free from the gravity that oppresses you at every moment.
Got it? You're going to space!” (…) I pretended to be a rocket in front of my grandmother.
“Now, we are escaping gravity at incredible speed.
“Whoosh!” (pages 43-44)

In "Stairway to Space," science is a beautiful world that deepens and enriches life.
The scenes that brilliantly harmonize the protagonist's daily life with complex scientific theories and convey the beauty of science in a way that only literature can, convince the judges that it is "a human story that is not confined to science fiction."
Even young readers who normally struggle with science will find themselves immersed in the captivating world of Jisoo's story as they follow along.


The secrets of the universe hidden in the everyday spaces we pass by every day!
A special 'realistic SF' fairy tale because it's a story about the here and now.

The main character, Jisoo, is a welcome character not only because she is a science-obsessed girl, but also because she is an ordinary child, which is rare in science fiction fairy tales.
The setting of the protagonist, who feels like a friend living next door, uncovering the secrets of the universe in familiar spaces like an 'apartment', 'playground', and 'library' makes it easier to empathize with the protagonist, while also awakening the imagination to look at everyday life in a new way.
Jisoo's maternal uncle who cares for her, her dependable friends, and her kind neighbors are also familiar people who are likely to be around her.
Here, the paintings of artist So Yoon-kyung, who has focused on coloring the invisible world through picture books such as 『Hotel Paradise』 and 『Combi』, beautifully depict the unknown world of space and strongly draw readers into the work.

The imagination that the mysteries of the universe are hidden here in this place where we, ordinary people, live, comforts Jisoo with the belief that we can meet again a precious person who has left us, and leaves readers who close the book with the expectation and lingering feeling that Jisoo's story will continue in some universe.
We hope that 『Stairway to Space』, with its powerful narrative and beautiful message, will be loved by young readers for a long time.