The story of Jonah and the whale has been retold as a sci-fi adventure.

The story of Jonah and the whale has been retold as a sci-fi adventure. Jo Sheringham is the author of Jonah And The Bony-Finned Asteroid Fish, a sci-fi re-working of the biblical story published by Bible Society. 

Jo, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, says, the story is definitely not just for children. ‘We think of it as a children’s story,’ she says, ‘but it really isn’t. It’s about a grumpy old man and his dealing with a tricky situation and his relationship with God which is also becoming trickier. Anyone can relate to that.’

The book is set in the fictional world of Joppa, Planetary Gateway to the Stars, and sees Jonah run away by space ship to escape the Post Bot that is bringing him messages from God. Finally, he’s swallowed by a bony-finned asteroid fish, fears death, is ultimately regurgitated and heads to his original mission on the planet of Ninevah. 

‘I didn’t have any agenda,’ says Jo, who has previously published crime and romance books on Kindle. ‘I just wanted to make people see that it’s not a story for children, and that God doesn’t give up on people.’

She describes the account as ‘a big and little story: the story of one man, but also of the merciful heart of God.’

You can purchase Jonah and the Bony-Finned Asteroid Fish on our online shop now. 

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Jo’s other retelling, Daniel, is available to buy on Amazon.