The Fated Sky
Ratings77
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings77
Average rating4.3
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. The Verge—Best SFF Books for August 2018 io9 —Best SFF Books for August 2018 Unbound Worlds —Best SFF Books for August 2018 Tor.com —Best SFF Books for August 2018 Kirkus Online —Best SFF Books for August 2018 Nerdmuch —Best SFF Books for August 2018 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. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Series
3 primary books9 released booksLady Astronaut Universe is a 8-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by Mary Robinette Kowal.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book is way more action packed than the first one. It feels more sci-fy-ish with a great deal of ordinary human life details. And that makes the story and the characters feel alive. Underneath the astronaut's objective problem-solving attitude we get a glimpse of their inner world with flaws, fears and anxiety. I emphasized with every character, even Parker who we all know from the first book is kind of a jerk.
And it's an epic adventure: ships going on a 3 year mission to start a colony in Mars. I used my suspension of disbelief on how they created micro gravity in some areas of the ship and how they could cultivate plants while on the space travel. I mean, it was the 60's, could we really have come up with a ship capable of journeying for 3 years with humans inside? I like to think that we could, but deep inside it feels improbable.
After I bought the idea that, yes, we could go to Mars with the technology available in the 60's, it's an amazing tale of how that trip would go. Elma York is a great character and I felt right by her side while reading. She is smart, goal driven and extremely curious. It was refreshing to see her discussion with Nathaniel about having kids or not. And their line of thought was so aligned with mine!
Diversity, racism and human rights discussions are intertwined with the story. There is even a Brazilian astronaut that curses in Portuguese.
Anyway, highly recommended as an entertaining and exciting soft sci-fi read!
If you liked the first book, you'll probably like the second.
CAWPILE
9 8 8 7 8 9 8
CAWPILE SCORE
C-9
A-8
W-8
P-7
I-8
L-9
E-8
TOTAL-8.14/10
Mary Robinette Kowal does an amazing job of potraying real characters doing both mundane and extraordinary tasks. I love the relationships she builds and the work put into understanding the “tech”
4.5 stars but I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first book.
