Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Science Fiction / Space Exploration / Alternative History
Mary Robinette Kowal's science fiction debut explores the premise behind her award-winning "Lady Astronaut of Mars"
A meteor decimates the U.S. government and paves the way for a climate cataclysm that will eventually render the earth inhospitable to humanity. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated timeline in the earth’s efforts to colonize space, as well as an unprecedented opportunity for a much larger share of humanity to take part.
One of these new entrants in the space race is Elma York, whose experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too—aside from some pesky barriers like thousands of years of history and a host of expectations about the proper place of the fairer sex. And yet, Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions may not stand a chance.
The Calculating Stars is the first installment in author Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut series. The story begins on March 3, 1952 and ends July 20, 1958. In this reality, Dewey is the President not Truman. Elma York and her husband, Nathaniel, are on vacation in the Poconos.
They both work for the newly-formed National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics. Nathaniel is the chief engineer and has a reputation for
putting America’s first satellites in space. Elma is a mathematician, and a former WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilot) pilot during World War II.
While on vacation in the Poconos, a meteor slams into the Atlantic just off the east coast. It destroys Washington D.C. and wreaks havoc up and down the seaboard. Elma and Nathaniel manage to get out and fly to Wright-Patterson Air Base, the only fully operational military base within range. Upon landing, Elma and Nate learn that the impact was equal to Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombs going off at the same time. The impact causes fires, and earthquakes, and untold numbers of dead. The Federal government was in sessions at the time. The only survivor it seems is the Agricultural Secretary Charles Brannan who is now the acting President until an election can be held.
Nate asks Elma to calculate the size of the meteor so he can can convince a paranoid military leadership, which includes Dwight D. Eisenhower, that the Soviets had nothing to do with this. As she crunches the numbers, she realizes that in 50 or 60 years the Earth will be too hot for survival. A literal greenhouse affect will take place making it very unlikely that anyone will survive. Humanity must come together to find a way to colonize outer space. With the entirety of the East Coast affected by the blast, the International Aerospace Coalition, which is created in 1956, moves operations to Kansas.
Meanwhile, a group of men only astronauts are training to become the first in space. It is later learned that women's bodies can better handle the G forces that astronauts experience traveling into space. Even though Elma is one of the fastest "computers" in the IAC, her heart desires to become a astronaut. She meets every single requirement except for being a woman. Thankfully, that changes or this wouldn't be called "Lady Astronauts." The IAC opens up slots for (7) elite women astronauts including Emma and her friend Nicole Wargin. Elma, as a pilot, has the same skills as any man.
Unfortunately for Elma, who suffers from anxiety, she becomes the unintended face of the space program as she pushes to also include women in the astronaut program. These women are from all sorts of backgrounds including black air show pilots. Even with the events spiraling out of control since the meteorite impact, this is still 1950s America, and a woman's place is in the kitchen, not in space. The bigotry is accurate and clearly portrayed without exaggeration or avoidance of the topics. Elma is composed of the stuff we want to cheer and she carries us along with a convincing humanity that includes a heart as large and full one could wish for.
Her relationship with Nathaniel is wonderfully portrayed, but sometimes it goes a bit overboard when it comes to sexual tension and the desire for sex. Even though Elma is clearly intelligent and worthy of being a main character, her privilege and moral dilemmas get checked plenty of times in a way that makes her honest and human. Curious since she supposed to be a Southern Jewish woman. Living up to her own values becomes a process well worth following. Yes, there is a bigoted, sexist character, but he’s almost a cardboard trope of an insensitive 1950’s misogynist. We've come a long way baby, but we have a long way to go.
This is a really thoughtful story and well written. It is also well researched. The author did her research and involved amazing resources including former astronauts in support for strong realism. This would be great for fans of “Hidden Figures” or to inspire young girls into STEM. I would have liked to add a bit more realism to the story. If you are a follower of NASA, you know that men died on the way to outer space. As of October 2019, about 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or attempting dangerous space missions.
Apollo I, February 21, 1967, the mission never flew; a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 on January 27 killed all three crew members. Apollo 11 was heading to the moon but never landed due to an explosion. Thanks to the brilliance of the astronauts and engineers, they came home alive. Then NASA created the space shuttle. Columbia and the STS-107 crew were lost Feb. 1, 2003, during re-entry. The Orbiter Challenger was destroyed in an explosion during ascent in January 1986. In the present years, Space X has done remarkable things including returning the US to space by our own vehicles and not relying on Russia. But, they've experienced some horrible things along the way as well.
As a personal note, when I was 7 years old forward, we watched the Apollo program which succeeded in landing the first humans on the Moon from 1969 to 1972. I remember Neil Armstrong saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Today, Space X and NASA want to put men & women on Mars. I hope I am alive to see it! “The Calculating Stars” was published in 2018 and won many awards including the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus. Kowal wrote it after penning a short story titled “The Lady Astronaut of Mars” which won the Hugo for Best Novelette in 2014. I recommend NOT reading The Lady Astronaut of Mars until after you've finished this series. There are major spoilers for the series.
While on vacation in the Poconos, a meteor slams into the Atlantic just off the east coast. It destroys Washington D.C. and wreaks havoc up and down the seaboard. Elma and Nathaniel manage to get out and fly to Wright-Patterson Air Base, the only fully operational military base within range. Upon landing, Elma and Nate learn that the impact was equal to Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombs going off at the same time. The impact causes fires, and earthquakes, and untold numbers of dead. The Federal government was in sessions at the time. The only survivor it seems is the Agricultural Secretary Charles Brannan who is now the acting President until an election can be held.
Nate asks Elma to calculate the size of the meteor so he can can convince a paranoid military leadership, which includes Dwight D. Eisenhower, that the Soviets had nothing to do with this. As she crunches the numbers, she realizes that in 50 or 60 years the Earth will be too hot for survival. A literal greenhouse affect will take place making it very unlikely that anyone will survive. Humanity must come together to find a way to colonize outer space. With the entirety of the East Coast affected by the blast, the International Aerospace Coalition, which is created in 1956, moves operations to Kansas.
Meanwhile, a group of men only astronauts are training to become the first in space. It is later learned that women's bodies can better handle the G forces that astronauts experience traveling into space. Even though Elma is one of the fastest "computers" in the IAC, her heart desires to become a astronaut. She meets every single requirement except for being a woman. Thankfully, that changes or this wouldn't be called "Lady Astronauts." The IAC opens up slots for (7) elite women astronauts including Emma and her friend Nicole Wargin. Elma, as a pilot, has the same skills as any man.
Unfortunately for Elma, who suffers from anxiety, she becomes the unintended face of the space program as she pushes to also include women in the astronaut program. These women are from all sorts of backgrounds including black air show pilots. Even with the events spiraling out of control since the meteorite impact, this is still 1950s America, and a woman's place is in the kitchen, not in space. The bigotry is accurate and clearly portrayed without exaggeration or avoidance of the topics. Elma is composed of the stuff we want to cheer and she carries us along with a convincing humanity that includes a heart as large and full one could wish for.
Her relationship with Nathaniel is wonderfully portrayed, but sometimes it goes a bit overboard when it comes to sexual tension and the desire for sex. Even though Elma is clearly intelligent and worthy of being a main character, her privilege and moral dilemmas get checked plenty of times in a way that makes her honest and human. Curious since she supposed to be a Southern Jewish woman. Living up to her own values becomes a process well worth following. Yes, there is a bigoted, sexist character, but he’s almost a cardboard trope of an insensitive 1950’s misogynist. We've come a long way baby, but we have a long way to go.
This is a really thoughtful story and well written. It is also well researched. The author did her research and involved amazing resources including former astronauts in support for strong realism. This would be great for fans of “Hidden Figures” or to inspire young girls into STEM. I would have liked to add a bit more realism to the story. If you are a follower of NASA, you know that men died on the way to outer space. As of October 2019, about 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or attempting dangerous space missions.
Apollo I, February 21, 1967, the mission never flew; a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 on January 27 killed all three crew members. Apollo 11 was heading to the moon but never landed due to an explosion. Thanks to the brilliance of the astronauts and engineers, they came home alive. Then NASA created the space shuttle. Columbia and the STS-107 crew were lost Feb. 1, 2003, during re-entry. The Orbiter Challenger was destroyed in an explosion during ascent in January 1986. In the present years, Space X has done remarkable things including returning the US to space by our own vehicles and not relying on Russia. But, they've experienced some horrible things along the way as well.
As a personal note, when I was 7 years old forward, we watched the Apollo program which succeeded in landing the first humans on the Moon from 1969 to 1972. I remember Neil Armstrong saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Today, Space X and NASA want to put men & women on Mars. I hope I am alive to see it! “The Calculating Stars” was published in 2018 and won many awards including the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus. Kowal wrote it after penning a short story titled “The Lady Astronaut of Mars” which won the Hugo for Best Novelette in 2014. I recommend NOT reading The Lady Astronaut of Mars until after you've finished this series. There are major spoilers for the series.
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