The Stone Key is a 2008 science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 novel by Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Jane Carmody is an Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy, children's literature, and young adult literature.-Biography:Carmody began work on the highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles at the age of fourteen...

, set in a post apocalyptic world. It is the fifth book in the Obernewtyn Chronicles

Obernewtyn Chronicles

The Obernewtyn Chronicles is a series of science fiction and fantasy novels by Australian author Isobelle Carmody. The series has a post apocalyptic setting, and depict a world long after its destruction by a global nuclear holocaust....

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Background

The Stone Key was first published in Australia on 4 February 2008 by Viking Children's Books

Viking Press

Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...

 in trade paperback format. In the United States it has been separated into two books, entitled Wavesong and The Stone Key respectively. The Stone Key was a short-list nominee for the 2008 Aurealis Award for best young-adult novel but lost to Finnikin of the Rock

Finnikin of the Rock

Finnikin of the Rock is a 2009 young-adult fantasy novel by Melina Marchetta. It follows the story of Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian who have been away from home for ten years, since the royal family was killed...

by Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta is an Australian writer and teacher. She is the middle child of three daughters. Melina is best known as the author of Looking For Alibrandi. She has twice been awarded the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers, in 1993 and 2004.- Biography :Melina Marchettaborn in Sydney on 25...

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Synopsis

When Elspeth sets out from Obernewtyn to Sutrium to testify at the trial of a rebel traitor, she quickly learns not everyone has welcomed the changes caused by the rebellion. Pitted against an invasion, Elsepth finds herself on her strangest and most dangerous journey yet. Drawn into the heart of the Herder Faction, she learns of the terrible plot to destroy the west coast. To stop it, Elspeth risks everything, for if she dies, she will never be able to complete her quest to destroy the weaponmachines which wiped out the Beforetime; but if she succeeds, it might just bring her to the final clue needed to find them...

Reception

A reviewer for the Canberra Times feels that the message of The Stone Key is that "freedom... is messy".

Awards and nominations

In 2008, The Stone Key was shortlisted for "Young Adult Novel" in the Aurealis Awards.

Publication history

Single Book Publications:

Year	Country	Publisher	Media Type	Cover Designer	Pages	ISBN
2008	AUS	Penguin Books Penguin Books Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...	Paperback	Les Petersen	1000

Split Books:

Year	Country	Title	Publisher	Media Type	Cover Designer	Pages	ISBN
2008	US	Wavesong	Random House Random House Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...	Paperback	Les Petersen	467
2011	UK		Bloomsbury Publishing	Paperback		480
2008	US	The Stone Key	Random House	Paperback		483
2011	UK		Bloomsbury Publishing	Paperback		576