This gorgeous LEGO artwork set is under $40 for Amazon's Prime Day

(Image credit: LEGO)

When is a LEGO set a piece of art? While the company has produced tens of thousands of sets in the last few decades, I'm having a hard time thinking of one that's been quite this striking.

We've already highlighted the LEGO Millennium Falcon and Iron Man Nano Gauntlet Prime Day discount, but this LEGO Ideas Tales of the Space Age is a stunning departure.

The four 'postcard' style designs lean on different colors that work well with the vast blackness of space. There's the bluish hue of the shooting star, a pinkish rocket launch, an orange backdrop for a lunar base, and the turquoise and green black hole.

Read our Amazon Prime Day science deals page for big discounts on the best health and fitness kit and science gear as we enter the summer sales event.

Each of the individual designs comes with its own instruction manual, too, making it ideal for social building, while the less complex nature of each build lends itself well to a family activity where even younger builders can take part.

There are 688 pieces overall; you can position them in whichever order you prefer. There's a sort of lo-fi vibe that makes the vastness of space feel almost cozy, to the point where I'm tempted to pick these up for my own home office to build with my son!

Key features: 688 pieces, four designs, can hang on a wall or placed freestanding

Price history: This is the best price we've seen thus far, but it's not necessarily just for Prime Day — the price dropped on July 8.

Price comparison: Amazon: $39.99 | Walmart: $39.99 | Best Buy: $49.99

Reviews consensus: A relatively simple build that offers something unique, the LEGO Tales of the Space Age set is easy to assemble but leaves a lasting impression - particularly if you put them on your wall, or dot them around an office space. It's great for social building, too.

Space: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You're looking for a piece of art for your home and are a big astro-enthusiast.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a more complex build - the Tales of the Space Age set won't take you too long to put together.

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Lloyd Coombes freelance tech and fitness writer for Live Science. He's an expert in all things Apple as well as in computer and gaming tech, with previous works published on TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Live Science and more. You'll find him regularly testing the latest MacBook or iPhone, but he spends most of his time writing about video games as Gaming Editor for the Daily Star. He also covers board games and virtual reality, just to round out the nerdy pursuits.