alternative history – The Spine View

The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal

I am in love with the Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal and have been waiting eagerly for the third installment, The Relentless Moon. It is scheduled to hit the shelves on July 14^th and I was very fortunate to get an advanced copy from the publisher. Be sure to get your copy ASAP because the author did not disappoint with this gripping tale of sabotage and intrigue in the first lunar colony.

The focus of this book is on Nicole Wargin, a very minor character in the previous books, instead of Elma York. Though the plot does run in parallel to book two of the series, The Fated Sky. Because Nicole is the wife of a powerful politician, this has enabled her to secure a space on the rocket that will take the first team of civilian colonists to the moon.

The trouble begins before they even land on the moon. It appears that the lunar landing craft has been sabotaged and it is only because of the intense training that no lives are lost. Of course, the trouble does not end there. Mysterious power outages plague the colony among other things. It has everyone on edge waiting for the next disaster to happen. The one that result in lives lost. Nicole puts the skills she learned in WWII as a spy to good use as she works on figuring out who is friend and who is foe before it is too late.

What I loved most about this book is that it is both plot and character driven. Let’s start with the plot. First it was believable. I can easily see how the extremists would stop at nothing to achieve their goals including murder. Secondly, the twists that the plot took are ingenious and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat through most of the book.

I also fell in love with Nicole. She, like Elma, is flawed yet strong in ways that are unforeseen. As in the other two books, the author presents these flaws and shows how the character struggles with them. Nicole is also an ambitious and tenacious person and those traits have served her well. Yet, despite a very successful career and a husband that loves her, she struggles with anorexia. She sometimes feels out of control and food is one thing she can control. The author examines this in depth along with the various relationships Nicole has with coworkers and her spouse. This made for a powerful story and one I know I will read again.

This book is in my top five of the year so far and I doubt that will change as the year progresses. I believe it will appeal to readers of Science Fiction in addition to other readers. For example, if you enjoy Nora Roberts works, this is one you should add to your reading list. It would also make a good book club pick because there is a lot to talk about. Gender, and race issues among other topics are highlighted in the book.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal, is an alternative history story that feels as real as the words on the page. The story of Elma York and her desire to become a Lady Astronaut will have you gritting your teeth at the injustices she faces and clapping your hands when she overcomes them. I was captivated from the start.

Elma York and her husband are away on vacation when a meteorite strikes the east coast with devastating effects. The east coast is basically wiped off the map and the ensuing tsunami destroys coastal regions across the globe. It is not long before Elma, a gifted mathematician, realizes the full extent of the crisis. This meteor was large enough to trigger a mass extinction event.

In 1952 rocket technology is in its infancy and Washington DC and government as we know it has been destroyed. When the International Aerospace Collation is formed, Elma has dreams of going to space and then the moon as a computer. The only thing holding her back is being female. She has all the qualifications include the jet flight hours she gained as a WASP pilot in WWII. It will be an uphill battle and the stress of actually being in the public eye just maybe her undoing.

I loved, loved, loved this book. The writing was just outstanding and the author knows how to capture your attention and keep it. The writing style reminded me of Octavia Butler and George R. R. Martin. Yes, in my opinion, the author deserves to be counted in the company of these great authors. I see why this book has won so many awards, and believe me when I say it is well deserved.

Besides the writing, the charisma of the MC, Elma York, was brilliantly done. She is not your typical strong female lead. She has her failings. What endeared me to her was her strength in spite of the odds being stacked against her. She was able to recognize her short comings without letting them stand in the way of the thing she desire most, to be an astronaut. Through all the uphill battles she fought, she did it with a dignity we rarely see today and she remained true to herself.

The plot reminded me a little of A Gentleman in Moscow. There is not a lot going on, the story is all about the character and no so much about the events. The post-apocalyptic issue of an extinction event was very much on the side lines and I could have cared less. The author used the event to discuss social issues, that are still relevant today, in a thought provoking way. I highly recommend this book to all readers who love Sci-Fi. Yet, even if you are not a big fan of Sci-Fi this story will still have a lot of appeal. The quality of the writing alone will captivate you. Please don’t be put off by the Sci-Fi label because it is so much more and so good.

The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew

Title: The Big Lie
Author: Julie Mayhew
Pub. Date: 25-Aug2015
Rating: 4 Stars

What if the UK surrendered to Germany during WWII? What would life be like today under the German Reich? This is the back drop for the coming-of-age story of Jessika “Jess” Keller in The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew.

Jess is the daughter of a powerful British Nazi party leader and is set to become an international skating champion. She is a good girl, as she must be if she wants to remain alive under this regime. Then there is Clementine, just Clem to Jess, who is Jess’s best friend. Clem’s family are resistors. They are dangerous and the Reich is watching. Continue reading “The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew”