The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

Winner of the 2019 Nebula, Locus and Hugo Awards, I had high hopes for this, the first in the Lady Astronaut Series. Honestly, I was disappointed. 

Overall I would say the set up is good and the world building is pretty solid: A comet hits 1950’s America and doesn’t wipe out life as we know it (for now), just the whole east coast. Leaving a humanitarian crisis in its wake, the comet also triggers a slow motion extinction event and a world which must now come together with a plan to colonise space. 

So far, so good and the story carries along OK, but all in all, it feels overly long and too schmalzy for my taste. The feminism is heavy handed, there’s not much character development, and the romantic elements quite honestly stray into gag-inducing (if I ever some across another bit of rocket/blast off innuendo I will punch someone).

I guess if you like airport literature and are intrigued by the idea of historical sci-fi, this might be your bag. It wasn’t mine and I won’t be continuing with the series.

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Buy on kindle £5.99 

Paperback from Blackwells £7.77

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