Waiting in The Sky

Synopsis

Despite living on Earth for almost thirty years, Simon Armstrong knows he is not of our world.

Still, with his interplanetary mission almost over, he’ll soon be saying goodbye to a life he’s struggled to navigate and the humans he doesn’t much like. The only creature he’ll likely miss will be Merle, the antisocial cat he shares his home with.

Simon does, however, have a minor problem — he has no idea how They will orchestrate his extraction from our planet. With the threads of his earthly existence unravelling by the day, all he can do is wait patiently for a sign.

Then, with time running out, he stumbles upon a significant clue to his departure. What Simon doesn’t know is that clue could uncover a truth more arcane than any alien world.

About This Book

Waiting in The Sky is unlike anything else Keith has written. There’s no time travel, no supernatural elements, and no dead man in double-denim. It’s a straight novel — his most personal, and arguably his most accomplished.

On the surface, it reads like the story of a man who believes he’s an alien, waiting to be extracted from Earth. But Waiting in The Sky is really a novel about identity, loneliness, and what it means to navigate a world that doesn’t feel like it was built for you. Simon Armstrong sees the world differently from everyone around him — consumed by numbers, rigid routine, and a profound disconnection from the people in his life. The question at the heart of the book isn’t whether Simon is from another planet. It’s whether he can find a place on this one.

Readers have compared it to Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Matt Haig’s The Humans — stories told from the perspective of an outsider looking in, where the real revelation is about the protagonist themselves. If those books resonated with you, this one will too.

Who Is This Book For?

Waiting in The Sky appeals to readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction told from an unusual perspective. It’s a natural fit for anyone who loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Humans, or The Rosie Project — books that explore what it’s like to experience the world through a mind that works differently.

It also appeals to readers looking for fiction that explores neurodivergence, identity, and belonging with warmth and honesty. And for long-time fans of Keith’s work, it’s a chance to see a different side of his writing — quieter, more introspective, but no less compelling.

A Personal Book

Keith has described Waiting in The Sky as his most personal novel. He wrote it during 2021 as a deliberate departure from his usual genre, aiming for something that would appeal to a mainstream literary audience. The result is a book with more emotional depth and fewer laughs than his time travel comedies — though Keith’s dry wit is still very much present in Simon’s observations about the absurdity of human behaviour.

It’s a standalone novel with no connection to any of Keith’s other books or series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waiting in The Sky a science fiction novel?
The premise suggests it might be, and that’s deliberate. But no — this is not a sci-fi novel. It’s a contemporary literary novel with a cleverly constructed premise. The less you know going in, the more rewarding the experience will be.

Is it similar to Keith’s other books?
Not really. There’s no time travel, no fantasy, and no series to follow. This is a standalone, character-driven novel with a more literary tone. Keith wrote it as a deliberate step into different territory. Readers who enjoy his storytelling but want something with more emotional weight will find a lot to love here.

What are the themes?
Identity, loneliness, belonging, routine, grief, and what happens when your understanding of yourself is fundamentally challenged. It’s a book about seeing the world differently — and the courage it takes to let people in.

Who narrates the audiobook?
The audiobook is narrated by Sam Legg and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.

Is it funny?
It has moments of dry, observational humour — Simon’s bewilderment at human behaviour is often very funny. But the overall tone is more poignant than comic. This is a book that will make you think and feel more than it will make you laugh.