The Pioneers

An edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure series illustrated in full color that follows a group of children are selected for a mission to save the mankind! Their astonishing journey brings them to the outer reaches of our solar system.

The fourth book in the adventure series continues the edge-of-your-seat story of the young pioneers who travel to the distant planet Kepler62. In this story, the lush, green planet that they land on is more suitable for life than anyone could have imagined. It’s like a paradise compared to the barren earth they left behind. Once the children start building their base camp they find traces of other forms of life. Will they be friendly or hostile? Meanwhile, Ari and Marie are becoming increasingly disillusioned by Olivia’s secrecy surrounding the mission. And when Joni falls ill, the children look for help elsewhere - with disastrous results.

Co-author Bjørn Sortland is an accomplished Norwegian fiction writer and Professor of Creative Writing. Sortland’s books have been published in 28 countries. He has written 68 books to date and his body of work includes children’s and young adult books, novels, picture books, and suspense novels, and he has received numerous Norwegian and international literary awards. His writing often deals with the strange and complex aspects of the children’s universe, infused with warmth, humour, and a sensitivity to the difficulties of growing up, including issues of love, identity, and pain.

Co-author Timo Parvela is a highly regarded Finnish writer known for his ability to capture the minds and imaginations of young readers through humour and a touch of magic. His books have been widely recognized and have been translated into more than 30 languages, with worldwide sales of over 6 million copies. In addition to several adaptations for theatre and film, Parvela’s work is often used in the Finnish school curriculum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy/Education from Jyväskylä University and worked as a primary school teacher for almost a decade before becoming a full-time writer in 1996. His first published work was the young adult novel ＂About a Boy＂ (Poika) in 1989, and he has written over 100 books in his career thus far. His most popular and enduring series, ＂Ella and Friends,＂ has followed the adventures of a primary school class and their teacher in over 30 books (and counting), which have been translated into over 25 languages. Parvela has written over 100 books and his other successful series include the Finlandia Prize-winning ＂Seesaw Trilogy＂, ＂Purdy & Barker＂ series, and ＂Pete＂ books, as well as the 13-part ＂Kepler62＂ series and his newest ＂Mission Nearly Impossible＂ series and ＂Shadows＂ trilogy. He is married and has two grown children, and lives in Kirkkonummi, in southern Finland.

Illustrator Pasi Pitkänen is a renowned Finnish illustrator, graphic designer, and published picture book author with a degree in Graphic Design from Aalto University. He has also studied animation, cinema, and astrology, and has previously worked at Rovio Entertainment as an illustrator, character designer, and graphic artist. Pitkänen’s illustrations for Rovio’s Angry Birds books have been published worldwide. Pitkänen is highly praised for his skilled and atmospheric illustrations in many children’s book series, including the Kepler62 series written by Timo Parvela and Bjørn Sortland, as well as the Pete books and Shadows Trilogy written by Parvela, and Tuutikki Tolonen’s Monster Nanny series. Pitkänen has also written and illustrated two picture books of his own, and his works have been published in over 30 languages. In his free time, Pitkänen enjoys quantum physics, trashy films, baking, and insects. He draws inspiration for his work from popular culture, nature, and his own childhood experiences. Pitkänen currently lives in Gothenburg, Sweden, but also spends extended periods in Japan.

Translator Owen Witesman is the most prolific translator of literature from Finnish into English ever, with dozens of titles to his credit, including novels, children’s books, poetry, graphic novels, and nonfiction. His translations for children and young adults include The Snow White Trilogy by Salla Simukka and beloved Tatu and Patu titles such as This is Finland, This is Helsinki, and Tatu and Patu’s Marvelous Christmas. His recent adult fiction titles include Dog Park by Sofi Oksanen and Oneiron by Laura Lindstedt, 2015 winner of the Finlandia Prize for Literature. In addition to translating, Owen also teaches advanced Finnish language courses and mentors beginning translators. He is a founding member of the Finnish-English Literary Translation Cooperative.