Eight-year-old Sultan AlWahshi publishes debut space adventure
Sultan AlWahshi has selected the year 3045 with the certainty of someone who has already surveyed it. The eight-year-old Emirati author pictures a skyline of immense buildings, flying cars moving overhead and robots woven into daily life. It is a future distant enough to accommodate every possibility his imagination can produce. In Sultan’s Time Travel Adventure, his newly published children’s…
Eight-year-old Emirati author Sultan AlWahshi has published his debut children's book, "Time Travel Adventure," featuring a space odyssey through a black hole to the year 3045. In his imaginative tale, a young astronaut named Sultan embarks on a routine mission and ends up in a futuristic world filled with flying cars, tall buildings, and robots.
Selim AlWahshi, Sultan's father, describes his son's innate curiosity about black holes as the inspiration for the story. Sultan's debut book marks him as the youngest author published by Sandstorm Comics, Abu Dhabi's leading comic book studio. The story caught the attention of Sandstorm Comics' editorial team during their annual open submissions program, which invites creators of all ages to pitch their original ideas.
Editor-in-chief Mo Abedin praised Sultan's incredible imagination and the simple yet effective criteria they use in selecting stories. Sultan's central character, Sultan, shares more than just his name with the real author. Sultan himself is reflected in the character, embodying his creator's curiosity and adventurous spirit. During the editing process, Sultan's editor, Rayan, encouraged him to add a new challenge for his protagonist, resulting in a thrilling confrontation with villains and giving the book its most exciting sequence.
Sultan's visual identity was brought to life by Greg Baldwin, a renowned character designer, illustrator, and founder of Lost Bear Studios. The collaboration resulted in stunning illustrations that captivated Sultan and added a new dimension to his story. Despite his young age, Sultan views writing as a fun and natural part of his life, fitting seamlessly into his routine of school, homework, and extracurricular activities.
His mother and teacher have consistently supported his storytelling, from grade school days to his first publication. Now, Sultan's book is set to reach his classmates and teacher when school resumes in August, marking a significant milestone in his young author journey.
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