Tor Books
The Fated Sky: A Lady Astronaut Novel
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Mary Robinette Kowal continues the grand sweep of alternate history begun in The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky looks forward to 1961, when mankind is well-established on the moon and looking forward to its next step: journeying to, and eventually colonizing, Mars.
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Of course the noted Lady Astronaut Elma York would like to go, but there's a lot riding on whoever the International Aerospace Coalition decides to send on this historic--but potentially very dangerous--mission? Could Elma really leave behind her husband and the chance to start a family to spend several years traveling to Mars? And with the Civil Rights movement taking hold all over Earth, will the astronaut pool ever be allowed to catch up, and will these brave men and women of all races be treated equitably when they get there? This gripping look at the real conflicts behind a fantastical space race will put a new spin on our visions of what might have been.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780765398949
EAN:
9780765398949
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
384
Authors:
Mary Robinette Kowal
Publisher:
Tor Books
Published Date: 2018-21-08
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I did enjoy book 2 in the Lady Astronauts. Most of this book is the journey from Earth to Mars and the number of issues the crew have both on the journey and the racial/gender issues of the 1960s. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as book 1 because the plot was a bit more simple and the final payoff was a bit of a disappointment but I do want to continue the series.
So glad I found this series. Love the detailed alt history story created. Love the sci fi details and the characters who you come to care for. Can't wait for the next book. Even found the various short stories written to supplement the development.
Reading this series for a second time, in order to be ready for the fourth bookJust as good the second time around.
It's 1961 and the race is on to get a manned mission to Mars. And some how Elma, the Lady Astronaut, isn't going. Well, that is until things start to go sour with funding and the International Aerospace Coalition needs her famous name and face aatached to the mission. But agreeing to go means giving up a lot. Her chances of having children will be sacrificed, 3 years with husband & family will be gone, and she may lose friends over the decision. But Mars is important. Post-Meteor Strike Earth needs to colonize to save its population.But it is still the United States and the World in the 1960s, and that comes with its own political baggage. Even without the Meteor heating up climate change early. This novel brings them all: Racial tensions (Jim Cow, South Africa's Apartheid). Mental illness (esp. anxiety). Career vs family. Gender tensions & gender roles. Sexual harassment.I absolutely love this world and how it mixes the struggles of our past with the struggles of our now. It softens the delivery as we recognize that, oh, our world still hasn't grown past all this. But look, change CAN happen. Space isn't just for white men with perfect smiles (oh but they aren'tso perfect and unflappable either). We could have gone to Mars with human calculators and punch cards. We STILL CAN!Okay... I have to stop babbling about this series. Just GO READ IT.You should definitely read book 1 The Calculating Stars 1st - it won the Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and Campbell awards and is fantastic
This was another great installment in this series. Much like Andy Weir's The Martian, the author mixes just the right amount of analytical science jargon with human emotion and depth to make the story feel realistic while keeping me engaged.
