Socialite Gilda Kirkpatrick to write kids sci-fi book

Socialite Gilda Kirkpatrick has teamed up with local astrophysicists to write a new children's book. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Socialite Gilda Kirkpatrick has teamed up with local astrophysicists to write a new children's book.

She decided to write the book after realising a lot of children's fiction didn't contain any real science, Kirkpatrick said.

"It really struck me how sci-fi has no basis in fact and I thought there was an opportunity to do something different," she said.

The advertising company director said her comic-style graphic novel Astarons was aimed at parents who wanted their children to be entertained while learning.

University of Auckland physics lecturers Dr Nick Rattenbury and Dr JJ Eldridge were scientific consultants for Astarons.

The graphic novel followed the adventures of cosmic 'guardians' on a mission to save the universe from destruction.

The protagonists had abilities and personalities derived from real planets' attributes.

"What's the personality of this planet?' is not a question we had ever asked ourselves before," Dr Rattenbury said.

"It's been a great opportunity as an educator to work in a fictional context but with characters that can convey real astrophysical concepts."

Dr Eldridge said: "I may not live on a starship but my work as an astrophysicist is as close to my ideal career as it's possible to get, so the opportunity to be involved in this project was irresistible."

Animator Myles Lawford illustrated the book.

Gareth Jensen, a 3D animation specialist whose credits included King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia, also worked on the book.

Astarons was expected to be launched next Thursday and go on sale on Monday, September 21.