A Book Review: The Calculating Stars
Title of the book: The Calculating Stars
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 3rd of July 2018
Genre: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Alternate History
Why I picked up this book:
Jeez, is March really almost over already? I don’t know about you but I spend half my time wondering if it is still March 2020 and the other half I keep begging for time to slow down. Oh well – I guess reading more books isn’t exactly going to change anything but at least it means I get to fill my time with countless adventures.
This is yet another book that I received in one of the more recent subscription boxes from the fabulous Chocolate and Book. I decided to dive into it right now because I have been reading a lot of fantasy books recently. Some more disappointing than others. I tried to switch that up by quickly grabbing a thriller, which in truth wasn’t much better, as you can read here. Guess the next best option is Science fiction!
If I had known this one was yet again part of a series, I might have pushed it back up on the ‘to-read list’ but, here we are. Can’t say I regret it though – I tore through the book in 3-days. Which is telling enough if you ask me.
About the author:
Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Lady Astronaut series and historical fantasy novels: The Glamourist Histories series and Ghost Talkers. She’s the President of SFWA, a member of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses, and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the RT Reviews award for Best Fantasy Novel, the Nebula, and Locus awards.
Her novel The Calculating Stars is one of only eighteen novels to win the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in a single year.
As a professional puppeteer and voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), Mary Robinette has performed for LazyTown (CBS), the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jim Henson Pictures, and founded Other Hand Productions. Her designs have garnered two UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence, the highest award an American puppeteer can achieve. She also records fiction for authors such as Kage Baker, Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi.
Synopsis:
On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.
Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. 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. Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.
Review of the book:
Let me start by saying there is a lot to love about this book. However, can we agree on one thing, pretty please? When we are writing what is meant to be an erotic scene, can we stop dancing around the subject and try to make it fit in with the overarching theme of the book! If I have to read about ‘ his fingers reaching the centre of my delight,’ or ‘He initiated my launch sequence’ one more time, I am going to have a catastrophic meltdown! It’s childish and distracting and the only times I was rudely pulled out of the story. We’re all adults here or some semblance of at least, can we stop being so squeamish about sex!
Now with that rant out of the way, let’s actually take a look at this story. One of the things that are so interesting about this novel is the alternative history aspect. How would a nation, still reeling with the effects of the Second World War grapple with a catastrophic event wiping out the government and a significant chunk of the population? Would it cause tensions to blow over in these already strained times?
I have to commend the author. As she manages to weave enough facts and figures from our own history into this story, so it did not feel unbelievable at any point. In fact, it feels as if you are reading a story that could have developed parallel to our own. The way things could have been, if only…
The nods to segregation, racism, sexism and the stigma on mental health issues pull our thoughts back to the fairly-recent past. Seeing Elma’s blinders slowly fall off, as she is confronted with her own privilege, her perception of the world which is at constant odds with reality, was a personal highlight to me, as it was done in such a gentle way.
Elma is believable and dare I say charming. She is impatient and battles her own demons such as paralyzing stage fright, and at times is overly ambitious, or even a tad arrogant. However, she is also frighteningly intelligent, willing to help others where she can, and able to put everything aside for the good of the mission. Her husband Nathaniel is utterly perfect, and perhaps that is where there is a slight issue. A husband who is devoted to his wife’s career, supports her through her battle with mental health, would risk his own standing to better hers – in 1950’s America? I sincerely doubt so!
The story starts gun blazing. The first 100 pages go by in the blink of an eye with enough grit and grime to leave you a little sore. Though the story slows down considerably once we have grappled with the aftermath of the Meteorite Strike, it never becomes boring. Instead, it switches to a perfectly suitable blend of science, math and character development. Don’t get me wrong my understanding of the actual science is limited at best, and even that is a stretch of the truth, but it all feels believable and well researched. The final pages had me clinging to the edge of my seat, ready to read the sequel when I finally get around to it.
What are your thoughts? Are you ready to jump in the next rocket with Dr. Elma York and get this moon colony well and truly underway? Or did you feel parts of the story were lacking? Let me know in the comment section below, but until then – just one more page!