Calling Major Tom

David M Barnett Trapeze. Out now What if ground control called Major Tom and he told them to “bugger off” and made small children cry on phoneins? That’s how it is with astronaut Thomas Major – divorced, miserable and bitter. He’s delighted to be jetting away from Earth and everyone on it. But a chance contact with a family in Wigan, reminds him he used to have a heart. The flashbacks to Thomas’ teenage years explain his descent into misery. They are full of nostalgic detail and beautifully drawn characters. Tongue in cheek, with delicious jokes, and peppered with cultural references. Utterly irresistible. DEIRDRE O’BRIEN