Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie and his family board the flying Great Glass Elevator after Willy Wonka has rewarded him with the ownership of his chocolate factory. The Elevator accidentally goes into orbit, and Mr. Wonka docks them at the Space Hotel USA. Their interception of the hotel is mistaken by approaching astronauts and hotel staff in a Commuter Capsule and listeners on Earth (including U.S. President Lancelot R. Gilligrass) as an act of space piracy and they are variously accused of being enemy agents, spies and aliens. Shortly after their arrival, they discover that the hotel has been overrun by dangerous, shape-changing alien monsters known as Vermicious Knids, who threaten them until they leave. A Knid follows them into the Elevator, planning an attack, but its tail gets bruised because the elevators were designed to protect against Knid attacks. The Knid swears revenge against Wonka.

Meanwhile, with the passengers gone, the President allows the Commuter Capsule to dock with the Space Hotel. Upon entry by the astronauts and the Space Hotel staff, the Knids devour several staff, prompting an immediate evacuation by the rest of the group. The Elevator comes back just in time to see the entire Knid infestation coming in on the attack. Charlie suggests towing the Commuter Capsule back to Earth. During a last attempt by the Knids to tow the craft away to their home planet Vermes, they are incinerated in Earth's atmosphere. Wonka releases the Commuter Capsule while the Elevator crashes through the roof of the chocolate factory.

Back in the factory, three of Charlie's grandparents refuse to leave their bed. Mr. Wonka gives them a rejuvenation formula called "Wonka-Vite". They take more than needed, resulting in two of them becoming babies and Georgina vanishing, having become "−2". Charlie and Wonka journey to "Minusland", where they track down Georgina's spirit. As she has no physical presence, Wonka sprays her with the opposite of "Wonka-Vite" – "Vita-Wonk" – to age her again. Wonka admits that it is not an accurate way to age a person, but the only way to dose "minuses". Upon leaving, they discover that Georgina is now 358 years old. Wonka combines multiple dosages of Wonka-Vite to rejuvenate Georgina; as she gets younger she recalls events in history. Using cautious doses of Vita-Wonk, the three grandparents are restored to their original ages.

Immediately afterwards, Willy Wonka gets a telegram from President Gilligrass, thanking everyone for their heroic efforts and inviting them to the White House. They accept the invitation, though as they approach the city, the grandparents realize they are still in their bedclothes. The Marine One lands on the roof of a department store so everyone can be attired in appropriate wear for the visit.

• ISBN 0-394-82472-5 (hardcover, 1972)
• ISBN 0-394-92472-X (library servings, 1972)
• ISBN 0-04-823106-1 (board book, 1973)
• ISBN 0-14-030755-9 (paperback, 1975)
• ISBN 0-14-032043-1 (paperback, 1986, illustrated by Michael Foreman)
• ISBN 0-14-032870-X (paperback, 1988)
• ISBN 0-670-85249-X (hardcover, 1995)
• ISBN 0-14-037155-9 (paperback, 1995)
• ISBN 0-14-038533-9 (paperback, 1997)
• ISBN 0-375-91525-7 (library binding, 2001)
• ISBN 0-14-131143-6 (paperback, 2001)
• ISBN 0-375-81525-2 (hardcover, 2001)
• ISBN 0-14-240412-8 (paperback, 2005)
• ISBN 0-141-80780-6 (audio CD read by Eric Idle)
• ISBN 978-0141357850 (paperback, 2018, colour edition illustrated by Quentin Blake)