The Calculating Stars
Ratings192
Average rating4.1
A quick read and I liked it. But a little slow for my taste.
Felt it got too bogged down with all the internal dialog about taking Miltown.
The first of the Lady Astronaut series and I savored this. It combined so many elements that I love: space, alternate history, the 50s and very smart women. There was action, tension, drama and math. That may not make this book for everyone but for a nerd like me, it was almost perfect.
An alternate history where in 1952 a meteoroid triggers climate change early and energizes the race to leave the planet. Math wizz, physicist and WASP pilot Elma York has her eyes set on becoming an astronaut. But it's still the 50ies and tradition and sexism stand in her way.
Well, this was an entertaining and addictive easy read, I even want to read the next one!
I thought this book started off quite strong with an alternative history plot line, where a meteorite hitting earth and the threat of an extinction event kickstarts the space program in the 1950s.
However I felt it went a little downhill a bit from there as we got stuck into the plot line of the discrimination women faced in the 1960s in the workplace (and their lack of place within it as equals). Which yes, is real and happened and it sucks but I guess it didn't feel quite uplifting to read at times..
Nonetheless an interesting book though.
Originally posted at www.emgoto.com.
I liked the premise. I liked the way it highlighted sexism, misogyny and racism in the 50s. I enjoyed some of the set pieces of the story.
But for the most part I didn't enjoy the pace, didn't really connect with the characters, and the soft sex scenes were horrendously cringy with their space/engineer innuendos which made me eye roll. I'm not sure I'll pursue the series, which is a shame as I enjoyed the novella.